 | War poems with some others |  |
II
Wer einmal lügt, den glaubt man nicht
Und wenn er auch die Wahrheit spricht.
Und wenn er auch die Wahrheit spricht.
‘Who once has lied’—I learned in youth
The precept in an old refrain—
‘Will never be believed again
Not even when he tells the truth.’
But you with purpose to deceive
Remodelled that old rhyme
To ‘Lie not once but all the time,
And many people will believe.’
| War poems with some others | |