«Однажды ночью я увидел вечность…» Английские стихотворения XVI–XVII веков / I saw Eternity the other night…

/ тебе, тебя, тобой /косвенный падеж от thou [ðaʋ] – ты/; to blab – болтать /о чем-либо/; /= blab out/ разбалтывать, выбалтывать /важные сведения, тайну/) —

Although to give the lie (несмотря на то, что обличать = обличение во лжи; although [ɔ:l'ðəʋ] – хотя, если бы даже; несмотря на то, что)

Deserves no less than stabbing (заслуживает не менее, чем /колющий/ удар /шпагой, кинжалом/; to deserve [dɪ'zɜ:v] smth.

– заслуживать что-либо, быть достойным чего-либо; to stab – наносить колющий удар /ножом, книжалом, шпагой/, колоть, ранить /кинжалом, ножом и т. п./) —

Stab at thee he that will (наноси = пусть наносит тебе удар, кто хочет),

No stab the soul can kill (никакой удар не может убить душу).

Go, soul, the body’s guest,

Upon a thankless errand;

Fear not to touch the best;

The truth shall be thy warrant.

Go, since I needs must die,

And give the world the lie.

Say to the court, it glows

And shines like rotten wood;

Say to the church, it shows

What’s good, and doth no good.

If church and court reply,

Then give them both the lie.

Tell potentates, they live

Acting by others’ action;

Not loved unless they give,

Not strong but by a faction.

If potentates reply,

Give potentates the lie.

Tell men of high condition,

That manage the estate,

Their purpose is ambition,

Their practice only hate.

And if they once reply,

Then give them all the lie.

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,

Then give them all the lie.

Tell zeal it wants devotion;

Tell love it is but lust;

Tell time it is but motion;

Tell flesh it is but dust.

And wish them not reply,

For thou must give the lie.

Tell age it daily wasteth;

Tell honour how it alters;

Tell beauty how she blasteth;

Tell favour how it falters.

And as they shall reply,

Give every one the lie.