The Lie: Difference between revisions
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The truth shall be thy warrant:<br> | The truth shall be thy warrant:<br> | ||
Go, since I needs must die,<br> | Go, since I needs must die,<br> | ||
And give the world the lie. | And give the world the lie.<br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Say to the court, it glows<br> | Say to the court, it glows<br> | ||
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No stab the soul can kill. <br> | No stab the soul can kill. <br> | ||
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'''''The Lie''''' is a political and social | '''''The Lie''''' is a poem of political and social [[satire]] probably written by [[Sir Walter Ralegh]],<ref>While Ralegh is the most likely candidate for this poem's authorship, no definitive conclusion has been reached on the subject.</ref> and published after his death. He commands his soul to go "upon a thankless errand" to tell various bodies and classes of people of their misdeeds and flaws, and if they object, "give them the lie" — a phrase common during Ralegh's time, in effect a challenge to a duel. | ||
==Synopsis and construction== | ==Synopsis and construction== | ||
The poem is written in 13 [[stanza]]s comprised of an ''ababcc'' [[rhyme scheme]]. Ralegh begins with an energetic determination to expose the truth, even in the | The poem is written in 13 [[stanza]]s comprised of an ''ababcc'' [[rhyme scheme]]. Ralegh begins with an energetic determination to expose the truth, even in the social elite, although his doing so will not be well received. | ||
:Go, Soul, the body's guest,<br> | :Go, Soul, the body's guest,<br> | ||
:Upon a thankless errand;<br> | :Upon a thankless errand;<br> | ||
:Fear not to touch the best;<br> | :Fear not to touch the best;<br> | ||
:The truth shall be thy warrant:<br> | :The truth shall be thy warrant:<br> | ||
From there the poem moves quickly through a variety of scenes and situations of wrongdoing and questionable will, all of which Ralegh condemns. The second and third stanzas | From there the poem moves quickly through a variety of scenes and situations of wrongdoing and questionable will, all of which Ralegh condemns. The second and third stanzas accuse the court of being arrogant and yet "rotten", the church of being inactive and apathetic despite its teachings, and the powerful of ruling by manipulating greed and using factions. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist|2}} | |||
*[http://faculty.goucher.edu/eng211/raleghthe_lie_and_guiana.htm http://faculty.goucher.edu/eng211/raleghthe_lie_and_guiana.htm] | *[http://faculty.goucher.edu/eng211/raleghthe_lie_and_guiana.htm http://faculty.goucher.edu/eng211/raleghthe_lie_and_guiana.htm] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:24, 21 December 2020
The Lie
by Sir Walter Ralegh Go, Soul, the body's guest, |
The Lie is a poem of political and social satire probably written by Sir Walter Ralegh,[1] and published after his death. He commands his soul to go "upon a thankless errand" to tell various bodies and classes of people of their misdeeds and flaws, and if they object, "give them the lie" — a phrase common during Ralegh's time, in effect a challenge to a duel.
Synopsis and construction
The poem is written in 13 stanzas comprised of an ababcc rhyme scheme. Ralegh begins with an energetic determination to expose the truth, even in the social elite, although his doing so will not be well received.
- Go, Soul, the body's guest,
- Upon a thankless errand;
- Fear not to touch the best;
- The truth shall be thy warrant:
From there the poem moves quickly through a variety of scenes and situations of wrongdoing and questionable will, all of which Ralegh condemns. The second and third stanzas accuse the court of being arrogant and yet "rotten", the church of being inactive and apathetic despite its teachings, and the powerful of ruling by manipulating greed and using factions.
References
- ↑ While Ralegh is the most likely candidate for this poem's authorship, no definitive conclusion has been reached on the subject.