Abstinence only and False-Seeming
Looked evil, should I speak my deeming.
Whatever air assumed those two,
Fraud peeped from out their hearts untrue.
False-Seeming appears
False-Seeming was of Fraud the son,
Hypocrisy begotten on,10950
That shameful traitress, foul and base,
Who ever, ’neath Religion’s face,
Deceiveth men; when she in view
Appeared, his breath in gasps Love drew,
Love.
And cried: How now! do I then dream?
Speak out, False-Seeming, dost thou deem
That thou by me wert summoned here?
The Lover.
Forced-Abstinence, who stood anear,
Sprang forth, and seized her friend’s right hand:
Constrained-Abstinence.
Quoth she, I pray you understand10960
That I, an’t please you, hither led
False-Seeming; oft hath he bestead
My need, and done me kindly act,
Saving my life by hunger wracked.
Let him among your lieges wait,
Though each and all have earned his hate,
For greatly I desire that he
Win praise for worth and sanctity.
He is my friend, and I his dear,
As faithful comrades wend we here.10970
