Poems (Hardy)/Verily
VERILY
A YOUNG knight found a gem of truth Upon a fallow field,And set as safeguards his bright youth And his undinted shield.
But men denied with spear and lance And shamed his truth to dust;With argument and circumstance Himself to death they thrust.
"Then died that truth?" No, no! It lives And grows a gracious tree;And ships that bear the fruit it gives Sail now on every sea.
"The men who slew the young knight brave What fate, the while, have they?"They seek, for aye, beside his grave, The truth they tried to slay!