False Prophets



False bards the sacred fire pervert
Whose songs are won without desert
Who falsehoods weave in specious lays
To gild the base with virtue's praise

From court to court, from tower to tower
In warrior's tent, lady's bower
For gold, for wine, for fire
They tune their throats at all men's hire

Their harps re-echo wide and far
With sensual love, and bloody war
And drunkenness, and flattering lies
Truth's light may shine for other eyes

From court to court, from tower to tower
In warrior's tent, lady's bower
For gold, for wine, for fire
They tune their throats at all men's hire
False prophets

They love to talk, they hate to think
All day they sing, all night they drink

The bird will fly, the fish will swim
The bee the honied flowers will skim
Its food by toil each creature brings
Except false bards and worthless kings

Learning and wisdom claim to find
Homage and succour from mankind
But learning's right and wisdom's due
Are falsely claimed by slaves like you
Slaves like you

True bards know truth, and truth will show
Ye know it not, nor care to know
Your king's weak mind false judgment warps
Rebuke his wrong, or break your harps
False prophets