IV. The Lye. BY SIR WALTER RALEIGH. ............................................................
This poem is found in a very scarce miscellany intitled "Davison's Poems, or a
poeticall Rapsodie divided into sixe books... The 4th impression newly corrected
and augmented, and put into a forme more pleasing to the reader." Lond. 1621, 12mo.
This poem is reported to have been written by its celebrated author the night before
his execution, Oct. 29, 1618. But this must be a mistake; for there were at least two
editions of Davison's poems before that time, one in 1608,[1] the other in 1611:[2] so
that unless this poem was an after insertion in the 4th. edit. it must have been written
long before the death of Sir Walter. Perhaps it was composed soon after his
condemnation in 1603. See Oldys s Life of Sir Walter Raleigh, p. 173, fol.
GOE, soule, the bodies guest,
Upon a thankelesse arrant;
Feare not to touche the best,
The truth shall be thy warrant:
Goe, since I needs must dye,
And give the world the lye.
Goe tell the court, it glowes
And shines like rotten wood;
Goe tell the church it showes
What's good, and doth no good:
If church and court reply,
Then give them both the lye.
Tell potentates they live
Acting by others actions;
Not lov'd unlesse they give,
Not strong but by their factions;
If potentates reply,
Give potentates the lye.
Tell men of high condition,
That rule affairs of state,
Their purpose is ambition,
Their practise onely hate;
And if they once reply,
Then give them all the lye.
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,
Spare not to give the lye.
Tell zeale, it lacks devotion;
Tell love, it is but lust;
Tell time, it is but motion;
Tell flesh, it is but dust;