The Lie Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABACDD EFEFDD GHIHDD HJHJDD KLMLDD HNHNDD OPOPDD QRRRDD RHRHDD RSRSDD RSRSDD TOTODD DSDSUU

Go Soul the body's guestA
Upon a thankless errandB
Fear not to touch the bestA
The truth shall be thy warrantC
Go since I needs must dieD
And give the world the lieD
-
Say to the court it glowsE
And shines like rotten woodF
Say to the church it showsE
What's good and doth no goodF
If church and court replyD
Then give them both the lieD
-
Tell potentates they liveG
Acting by others' actionH
Not loved unless they giveI
Not strong but by a factionH
If potentates replyD
Give potentates the lieD
-
Tell men of high conditionH
That manage the estateJ
Their purpose is ambitionH
Their practice only hateJ
And if they once replyD
Then give them all the lieD
-
Tell them that brave it mostK
They beg for more by spendingL
Who in their greatest costM
Seek nothing but commendingL
And if they make replyD
Then give them all the lieD
-
Tell zeal it wants devotionH
Tell love it is but lustN
Tell time it is but motionH
Tell flesh it is but dustN
And wish them not replyD
For thou must give the lieD
-
Tell age it daily wastethO
Tell honour how it altersP
Tell beauty how she blastethO
Tell favour how it faltersP
And as they shall replyD
Give every one the lieD
-
Tell wit how much it wranglesQ
In tickle points of nicenessR
Tell wisdom she entanglesR
Herself in overwisenessR
And when they do replyD
Straight give them both the lieD
-
Tell physic of her boldnessR
Tell skill it is pretensionH
Tell charity of coldnessR
Tell law it is contentionH
And as they do replyD
So give them still the lieD
-
Tell fortune of her blindnessR
Tell nature of decayS
Tell friendship of unkindnessR
Tell justice of delayS
And if they will replyD
Then give them all the lieD
-
Tell arts they have no soundnessR
But vary by esteemingS
Tell schools they want profoundnessR
And stand too much on seemingS
If arts and schools replyD
Give arts and schools the lieD
-
Tell faith it's fled the cityT
Tell how the country errethO
Tell manhood shakes off pityT
And virtue least preferrethO
And if they do replyD
Spare not to give the lieD
-
So when thou hast as ID
Commanded thee done blabbingS
Although to give the lieD
Deserves no less than stabbingS
Stab at thee he that willU
No stab the soul can killU

Sir Walter Raleigh



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