Sonnet: On Calumny

Be thou a saint and yet the world won't spare; Be thou most chaste and yet, most tongues will talk; Be thou a crook and yet people don't care; Be thou a tiger yet, some men will stalk. Be thou cruel and yet the world will praise; Be thou too kind and yet the world will taunt; Be thou rigid and yet the world can't face; Be thou timid and yet the world will haunt; Be thou selfish and yet the world loves thee; Be thou selfless and yet the world thee hates; Be thou goodly and yet you are not free; Be thou evil and yet the world thee mates. Be thou yourself and yet the world finds fault; Be thou anything, yet the world will vault.