What then of vice or virtue loudly claimed?

Each act of man oft marked by sought-for ends,

And in such aims see verity defamed

As conscience crafts the guise that guilt defends.

To dress a wrong in right seems falsehood clear

Yet hearts may denounce lies with veiled intent,

Where reason swayed may boast of candor’s sphere,

And gilded guile stride forth in confidence.

All proof, when tried, is rarely wholly true

For that deemed white oft bears a tinge of grey,

Perhaps ‘tis best to judge by what we do

Not take mere words as gospel when we weigh.

Where reason bends to shadows darkly wrought,

There rarely gleams a truth as bright as sought.