|
| GO, Soul, the body’s guest, |
|
| Upon a thankless errand; |
|
| Fear not to touch the best; |
|
| The truth shall be thy warrant: |
|
| Go, since I needs must die, |
5 |
| And give them all the lie. |
|
|
| Go tell the Court it glows |
|
| And shines like rotten wood; |
|
| Go tell the Church it shows |
|
| What’s good, but does no good: |
10 |
| If Court and Church reply |
|
| Give Court and Church the lie. |
|
|
| Tell Potentates they live |
|
| Acting, but oh! their actions; |
|
| Not loved, unless they give, |
15 |
| Nor strong but by their factions: |
|
| If Potentates reply, |
|
| Give Potentates the lie. |
|
|
| Tell men of high condition, |
|
| That rule affairs of state, |
20 |
| Their purpose is ambition; |
|
| Their practice only hate: |
|
| And if they do reply, |
|
| Then give them all the lie.… |
|
|
| Tell Physic of her boldness; |
25 |
| Tell Skill it is pretension; |
|
| Tell Charity of coldness; |
|
| Tell Law it is contention: |
|
| And if they yield reply, |
|
| Then give them all the lie.… |
30 |
|
| So when thou hast, as I |
|
| Commanded thee, done blabbing; |
|
| Although to give the lie |
|
| Deserves no less than stabbing: |
|
| Yet stab at thee who will, |
35 |
| No stab the Soul can kill. |
