- Published on
Three Gates
If you are tempted to reveal
A tale to you someone has told
About another, make it pass,
Before you speak, three gates of gold.
These narrow gates: First, “Is it true?”
Then, “Is it needful?” In your mind
Give truthful answer. And the next
Is last and narrowest, “Is it kind?”
And if to reach your lips at last
It passes through these gateways three,
Then you may tell the tale, nor fear
What the result of speech may be.
by Beth Day (1835)
If you are tempted to reveal
A tale to you someone has told
About another, make it pass,
Before you speak, three gates of gold.
These narrow gates: First, “Is it true?”
Then, “Is it needful?” In your mind
Give truthful answer. And the next
Is last and narrowest, “Is it kind?”
And if to reach your lips at last
It passes through these gateways three,
Then you may tell the tale, nor fear
What the result of speech may be.
by Beth Day (1835)
3 Comments
I'm trying to find anything out about Beth Day and how you came to list the poem as 1835. Do you have it in a book? There's many incorrect attributions online to other sources.
I concur!! Nonetheless, it is enchanting.
Found copy of this in a book published in 1848. It was a clipping from a newspaper and attributed to a publication "Arabic" by Elizabeth Day. No date. Have pic couldn't paste it here
