What vaileth trouth or by it to take payn,
To stryve by stedfastnes for to attayne
To be juste and true and fle from dowblenes,
Sythens all alike, where ruleth craftines,
Rewarded is boeth fals and plain?
Sonest he spedeth, that moost can fain;
True meanyng hert is had in disdayn.
Against deceipte and dowblenes
What vaileth trouth?
Decyved is he by crafty trayn
That meaneth no gile and doeth remayn
Within the trapp withoute redresse
But for to love, lo, such a maisteres,
Whose crueltie nothing can refrayn,
What vaileth trouth?