Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TRUTH IS EVER BEST by ANONYMOUS

First Line: WHOSO WOULD HIM WELL ADVISE
Last Line: HE WHO CHOOSETH TRUTH DOTH BEST
Subject(s): RELIGION;TRUTH; THEOLOGY;
WHOSO would him well advise
Of this sad world's way, I ween,
He must needs, forsooth, despise
Falsehood foul, that wrought hath been.
Certes, some day shall be seen
How our toil doth miss its quest,
When Good and Ill be judged, I ween,
We shall find that Truth is best.

Truth is best for king and knight --
Certes, he who runs may read,
Ladies all, so fair and bright,
Truth should love in act and deed.
Merchant-men, in goodly weed,
Who to buy and sell are prest,
Should from falsehood foul be freed,
Follow Truth, 't is ever best.

Verily, I dare to say,
Man nor woman here shall be
But would fain, if but they may,
Have in life prosperity;
And at death would presently
Come to Heaven's eternal rest --
None those goodly courts shall see
Who held not here that Truth was best.

Truth shall judge us all one day,
Righteously, and without wrong,
Then must we both see, and say,
We withstood him overlong.
Therefore lordings, stout and strong,
Judge betimes at Truth's behest;
For God's Love, all men among,
Truth uphold, as aye the best.

Therefore keep this in your mind,
Whoso dealeth with the law,
Ne'er with Falsehood's feints unkind
Stifle right, nor Truth withdraw.
Nay, of Falsehood stand in awe,
Tho' ye be for Truth opprest,
For Christ's Sake, let no gold draw
Thee aside -- since Truth is best.

Would we rule us all with Truth,
Make Him aye our Governour,
Sin nor Sloth should work us ruth,
We should be of Knighthood flower.
Truth in strife shall aye have power,
Greatest, when most hardly pressed,
Stand we faithful in that hour
Vowing, Truth is ever best.

Truth was sometime here our Lord,
Virtue reigned with Him as Queen,
Spain and Britain this record,
Other lands have witness been
That we honour due, I ween,
Did them, bade them here to rest,
Falsehood ne'er with them was seen,
Truth they loved -- 't was ever best.

Would we now let Truth again
O'er us crown and sceptre bear,
Other lands should yield full fain
Fealty and homage fair.
Boldly this I would declare,
Falsehood foul should stand confest,
None, from prince to page would dare
War with Truth, that aye is best.

Falsehood well may reign awhile
When maintained by Avarice,
Greed at last shall him beguile
Tho' in wisdom he be nice.
Falsehood, he hath had his price
In the North, and eke in West,
Hunt him, as the cat hunts mice,
He who chooseth Truth doth best.



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