NOTE.

It is stated in a note to p. 24, that two copies of the beautiful poem entitled The Lie, are extant in the British Museum, varying materially from that given in the text, and from each other. As perhaps the poem in question possesses not only more merit than any in this collection, but is highly deserving of attention for its general excellence as a composition of that or of any other period, correct copies of both are here introduced. The first is from Harl. MSS. 6910, f. 141; the various readings between which and that inserted in the RHAPSODY, are little more than verbal ones, and apparently arose from carelessness; but those in the second, taken from Harl. MSS. 2296, f. 135, are much more important. Besides an alteration in the arrangement, two whole stanzas have been added, but from its contents, it seems to have been a wanton interpolation, and clearly did not form part of the poem as written by its author. No conclusion can be formed, from the autograph in which these copies exist, as to the person by whom it was composed, for they were evidently made in each instance by a collector.

THE LIE.

(From Harl. MSS. 6910, f. 141.)

Go, soul, thy body's guest,

Upon a thankless errant ;

Fear not to touch the best,

The truth shall be thy warrant :

Go, since I needs must die,

And give them all the lie.

Say to the court, it glows,

And shines like rotten wood; Say to the church, it shows What's good, but doth no good:

If court or church reply,

Do give them both the lie.

Tell potentates they live

Acting by others' actions; Not loved, except they give,

Not strong but by affections:

If potentates reply,

Give potentates the lie.

Tell men of high condition,
That in affairs of state,

Their purpose is ambition,

Their practice only hate :

And if they once reply,

Then give them all the lie.

Tell them that braves it most,

They beg for more by spending,

Who in their greatest cost

Like nothing but commending:

And if they make reply,

Give them likewise the lie.

Tell zeal it 's blind devotion;

Tell love it is but lust; Tell time it 's but a motion;

Tell flesh it is but dust:

And wish them not reply,

Lest thou give them the lie.

Tell age it daily wasteth;

Tell honour how it alters;

Tell truth how that she blasteth ;
Tell favour that she falters:

And as they shall reply,

Give every one the lie.

Tell wit how much she wrangles
In tickle points of niceness;
Tell wisdom she entangles
Herself by much preciseness:

And when they do reply,

Straight give them both the lie.

Tell physic of her boldness;
Tell skill it is prevention;

Tell charity it is coldness;

Tell law it is contention;

And as they do reply,

Then 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 ;

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 of pity;
Tell, virtue least preferreth :
And if they dare reply,

Spare not to give the lie.

So when thou hast, as I

Commanded thee, done babbling;

Although to give the lie,

Deserves no less than stabbing,

Stab at thee who that will,

No stab thy soul can kill !

(From Harl. MSS. 2296, f. 135.)

Go, soul, the body's guest,

Upon a thankless errant;

Fear not to touch the best,

The truth shall be thy warrant:

Go, since I needs must die,

And tell them all they lie.

Say to the Court, it glows,

And shines like rotten wood;

Say to the Church, it shows

What is good, and doth no good:

If Church and Court reply,

Then give them both the lie.

Tell potentates they live

Acting but others' actions;

Not loved unless they give,

Not strong but by their factions:

If Potentates reply,

Then tell all they lie.

Tell men of high condition,
That rules affairs of state,
Their purpose is ambition,

Their practice is on hate:
And if they once reply,

Then tell them all they lie.

Tell those that brave it most,

They beg for more by spending,

Who in the greatest cost

Seek nothing but commending:

And if they do reply,

Then tell them all they lie.

Tell zeal it wants devotion;
Tell love it is but lust;
Tell time it meèts but motion;
Tell flesh it is but dust;

And wish them not reply,
For thou must give the lie.

Tell Lond' of her stews,

And citizens of their usury;
And though it be no news,

Tell courtesans of lechery:

And if they will needs reply,

Then tell them all they lie.