Truth
by Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343-1400)

1. (a)  Fle fro the pres, and dwelle with sothefastnesse
2. (b)  Suffise thin owne thing, thei it be smal;
3. (a)  For hord hath hate, and clymbying tykelnesse.
4. (b)  Prees hath envye, and wele blent overal.
5. (b)  Savour not more thanne the byhove schal;
6. (c)  Reule weel thiself, that other folk canst reede;
7. (C)  And trouthe schal delyvere, it is no drede.
     
8. (a)  Tempest the nought al croked to redresse
9. (b)  In trust of hire that tourneth as a bal.
10. (a)  Myche wele stant in litel besynesse;
11. (b)  Bywar therfore to spurne ayeyns an al;
12. (b)  Stryve not as doth the crokke with the wal.
13. (c) Daunte thiself, that dauntest otheres dede;
14. (C)  And trouthe schal delyvere, it is no drede.
      
15. (a)  That the is sent, receyve in buxumnesse;
16. (b)  The wrestlyng for the worlde axeth a fal.
17. (a)  Here is non home, here nys but wyldernesse.
18. (b)  Forth, pylgryme, forth! forth, beste, out of thi stal!
19. (b)  Know thi contre! loke up! thonk God of al!
20. (c)  Hold the heye weye, and lat thi gost the lede;
21. (C)  And trouthe schal delyvere, it is no drede.
      
    [L'envoy]
      
22. (a)  Therfore, thou Vache, leve thine olde wrechednesse;
23. (b)  Unto the world leve now to be thral.
24. (a)  Crie hym mercy, that of hys hie godnesse
25. (b)  Made the of nought, and in espec{. i}al
26. (a)  Draw unto hym, and pray in general
27. (c)  For the, and eke for other, hevenelyche mede;
28. (C)  And trouthe schal delyvere, it is no drede.