I'll tell you the tale of the Honesty Flower.
Yes, truly, there is such a thing.
And crave one, you will, for your own private bower,
once hearing the song I’m to sing.

There once was a handsome, but lonely young prince,
who wanted to find a good spouse.
A fun-loving fellow, but not just that, since,
it seems that he also had nous.

He gave every maiden, who lived in his kingdom,
a seed to plant, nurture and groom;
and told them he, truly, would marry the one
who grew the most unblemished bloom.

They all took their seed, and withdrew to their digs,
and nourished it through the dark winter,
and when spring arrived, they showed off their twigs
that burst forth in radiant splendour.

Returning with bright efflorescence, each one,
except for a young servant girl.
‘Though try as she might, seems nothing she’d done
had caused e’en a bud to unfurl.

She stood there so sadly, she looked a poor plight.
while beautiful ladies all slot
around her with blossoms of purist delight,
while laughing at her empty pot.

The prince then began his inspection of view,
and seemed to be taken aback
by all the bright posies of various hue,
there was pink, yellow, red, baby blue, even lilac.

He paused by the girl, then continued his round,
and slowly went right through the place.
Then started again, ‘til again, he was found
standing before she who felt such disgrace.

And, surprising to all, he proclaimed her his queen.
A test he had set there indeed.
He’d honesty sought, to this purpose had seen
to each girl a sterile, dead seed.

Then calling the Court's best magician to measure,
he ordered a waving of mace.
And from her bare pot grew a silver-leaved treasure;
a cluster with petals of soft, violet lace.

So never believe that to cheat has the power
to get you your greatest desire.
The princess was given her own special flower,
named after her virtue, that all should admire.
.