Honesty

I am humble, He said But what of being honest?, another asked. I am gentle, He yet professed No, what anent honesty, That shapes one's integrity? He was again questioned. I am friendly, He proudly said, Seeming to have the world by him accommodated. No, are you uncorrupted to them, And corrigible to all men? The other retorted. What got I to do with corrigibility? he queried. For none could in any way be honest perpetually; So we do have to compromise at times. No, no, no, that is wrong! the other began. Honesty is the best virtue In which all other virtues prevail The evidence of man's generosity. For an honest man is an hundred times better— Than a benevolent man in wonder. He pays Peter in Paul's coin And steals from a man and do it a good to another. What if the world were only generous, With no sign of honesty, Would it stand it? For it brings the worlds to a world And peoples to a people. But many lack this golden efficacy of life. Yes, with it all other virtues prevail!