Dear Alastair
treble has two distinct meanings
Googling found : Wikipedia : The word treble is used, especially in British English, to mean the singing voice of a boy or girl
I don't know if this helps?
Regards
Peter
Borcherds +44 [0] 121 475 3029
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From: To exchange information and views on the life and work of Rudyard Kipling [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Alastair Wilson [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 27 November 2012 15:06
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: The Seven Seas - A Song of the English.
I would be grateful if any membe can interpret one particualr ohrase from this poem for me.
In the 3rd stanza, RK writes words to the effect 'Unless you pay your dues to the Lord' "Of your children in their bondage shall He ask them treble-talk". It is that last phrase that has me baffled. The first half is clear enough, your children will be held in bondage - rather like the Israelites - if you don't give the Lord his due - but what is the "treble-talk" and why. Today we talk about 'double-talk', meaning lies (to put it simplistically). But treble-talk? If that's double-talk + 50%, why would the Lord ask it of them? All ideas welcome.
Yours,
Alastair Wilson
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