Though for a thousand years thou serve it’s strict formule.
Hide not the truth from thought of deep respect for me.
Show forth the whole, in full. Deficiency mayn’t be.
What is’t that tells thee: ‘Play not, joke not with the truth?’[386]
The mirror, balance, God,—who smites falsehood with truth!50
Sure, God hath raised me up for that one sole intent,
That through me truth be preached unto its full extent.
Were this not so, what value’s in me, valued friend?
Did I become instructor, only good to mend?
But shut thy mirror tight within its felten sack,