My words to his words,—my lies, if you like,

To his lies. Sokrates I nickname thief,

Quack, necromancer; Aristullos,—say,

Male Kirké who bewitches and bewrays

And changes folk to swine; Euripides,—

Well, I acknowledge! Every word is false,

Looked close at; but stand distant and stare through,

All 's absolute indubitable truth

Behind lies, truth which only lies declare!

For come, concede me truth 's in thing not word,