University of Virginia Library

A-gainste the vice of lyinge.

Capitulo .xiii.

To forge, to fayne,
to flater and lye,
Requiere diuers collours
with wordes fayre and slye,
But the vtteraunce of truthe
is so simple and playne
That it nedeth no studie
to forge or to fayne;
wherfore saye truth,
how euer stand the case,
So shalte thou fynde
more fauour and grace.
Vse truthe, and say truth,
in that thou goest aboute,
For tyme of althinges
the truthe wyll bringe out.
Shame is the rewarde
For lying dewe;
Then auoyde shame,
and vtter wordes trewe.
A lyar by his lying
this profet doth get,
That whan he saith truth
no man wyll him credet;
Then let thy talke
with the truth agree,
And blamed for it
thou shalte neuer bee.
Howe maie a man
a lyer ought truste?
But doubte his dedes,
his woordes being vniuste.
In tellyng of truth
there lougeth no shame,
Where vttring of lyes
deserueth much blame;
And though a lye
from stripes ye once saue,
Thrise for that once
it wyll the desceue;
Truste then to truth,
and neither forge nor fayne,
And followe these preceptes:
from liyng do refraine.