— page 25 —
- Go, Soul! the body's guest,
- Upon a thankless arrant!
- Fear not to touch the Best!
- The truth shall be thy warrant.
- Go! since I needs must die,
- And give the world the lie!
- Say to the Court, it glows
- And shines like rotten wood!
- Say to the Church, it shows
- What's good, and doth no good!
- If Church and Court reply,
- Then given them both the lie!
- Tell Potentates they live
- Acting by others' action!
- Not loved unless they give,
- Not strong but by their faction.
- If Potentates reply,
- Give Potentates the lie!
- Tell men of high condition
- That manage the Estate,
- Their purpose is ambition,
- Their practice only hate!
- And if they once reply,
- Then give them all the lie!
- Tell them that brave it most,
- They beg for more by spending,
- Who in their greatest cost
- Seek nothing but commending!
- And if they make reply,
- Then give them all the lie!
— page 26 —
- Tell Zeal it wants devotion!
- Tell Love it is but lust!
- Tell Time it is but motion!
- Tell Flesh it is but dust!
- And wish them not reply:
- For thou must give the lie.
- Tell Age it daily wasteth!
- Tell Honour how it alters!
- Tell Beauty how she blasteth!
- Tell Favour how it falters!
- And as they shall reply,
- Give every one the lie!
- Tell Wit how much it wrangles
- In tickle points of niceness!
- Tell Wisdom she entangles
- Herself in over-wiseness!
- And when they do reply,
- Straight give them both the lie!
- Tell Physic of her boldness!
- Tell Skill, it is pretension!
- Tell Charity of coldness!
- Tell Law, it is contention!
- And as they do reply,
- So give them still the lie!
- Tell Fortune of her blindness!
- Tell Nature of decay!
- Tell Friendship of unkindness!
- Tell Justice of delay!
- And if they will reply,
- Then give them all the lie!
- Tell Arts they have no soundness,
- But vary by esteeming!
— page 27 —
- Tell Schools they want profoundness,
- And stand too much on seeming!
- If Arts and Schools reply
- Give Arts and Schools the lie!
- Tell Faith, it's fled the City!
- Tell how the Country erreth!
- Tell, Manhood shakes off pity!
- Tell, Virtue least preferreth!
- And if they do reply,
- Spare not to give the lie!
- So when thou hast, as I
- Commanded thee, done blabbing,
- Although to give the lie
- Deserves no less than stabbing,
- Stab at thee he that will!
- No stab the soul can kill.