| |
| GOE, 1 soule, the bodie’s guest, | |
| Vpon a thanklesse arrant: | |
| Feare not to touch the best; | |
| Thy truth shall be thy warrant: | |
| Goe, since I needs must dye, | 5 |
| And giue them all the lye. | |
| |
| Say to the court, it glowes | |
| And shines like painted wood; | |
| Say to the church, it shewes | |
| What’s good, but does no good: | 10 |
| If court and church reply, | |
| Then giue them both the lye. | |
| |
| Tell potentates, they liue | |
| Acting, but oh! their actions | |
| Not loued vnless they giue; | 15 |
| Nor strong but by affection: | |
| If potentates reply, | |
| Giue potentates the lye. | |
| |
| Tell men of high condition, | |
| That manage the estate, | 20 |
| Their purpose is ambition, | |
| Their practice onely hate; | |
| And if they once reply, | |
| Then giue them all the lye. | |
| |
| Tell those that braue it most, | 25 |
| They beg for more by spending, | |
| Who in their greatest cost | |
| Like nothing but commending: | |
| And if they make reply, | |
| Then giue them all the lye. | 30 |
| |
| Tell Zeale it wants deuotion; | |
| Tell Loue it is but lust; | |
| Tell Time it meets but motion; | |
| Tell Flesh it is but dust: | |
| And wish them not reply, | 35 |
| For thou must giue the lye. | |
| |
| Tell Age it daily wasteth; | |
| Tell Honour how it alters; | |
| Tell Beauty how she blasteth; | |
| Tell Fauour how it falters: | 40 |
| And as they shall reply, | |
| Giue euery one the lye. | |
| |
| Tell Wit how much it wrangles | |
| In fickle points of nicenesse: | |
| Tell Wisdome she entangles | 45 |
| Herself in ouerwiseness: | |
| And when they doe reply, | |
| Straight giue them both the lye. | |
| |
| Tell Physicke of her boldnesse; | |
| Tell Skill it is preuention; | 50 |
| Tell Charity of coldnesse; | |
| Tell Law it is contention: | |
| And as they doe reply, | |
| Then giue them still the lye. | |
| |
| Tell Fortune of her blindnesse; | 55 |
| Tell Nature of decay; | |
| Tell Friendship of vnkindnesse; | |
| Tell Justice of delay: | |
| And if they will reply, | |
| Then giue them all the lye. | 60 |
| |
| Tell Arts they haue no soundnesse, | |
| But vary by esteeming; | |
| Tell Schooles they want profoundnesse, | |
| And stand so much on seeming: | |
| If Arts and Schooles reply, | 65 |
| Giue Arts and Schooles the lye. | |
| |
| Tell Faith it’s fled the citie; | |
| Tell how the Countrey erreth; | |
| Tell Manhood shakes off pitie; | |
| Tell Vertue least preferreth: | 70 |
| And if they doe reply, | |
| Spare not to giue the lye. | |
| |
| So, when thou hast, as I | |
| Commanded thee, done blabbing; | |
| Because to giue the lye | 75 |
| Deserues no lesse than stabbing; | |
| Stab at thee he that will, | |
| No stab thy soule can kill. | |
