The Gem Puzzle

Full many a gem-the puzzle you have seen-

The dark, unfathomed caves of lying bare;

Full many a sorely puzzled wight, I ween,

Will lose his patience and will loudly swear.

But who, unto dumb foolishness a prey,

This pleasing, anxious puzzle e’er resigned

When he would lie, “I did it’other day,

But how, I cannot now quite bring to mind?”

Nor you, ye proud, impute to these the fault

If never any one believe their tales:

You know full well they’d scarcely earn their salt

By puzzling o’er it till their reason fails.

No further seek their lying to upbraid.

Or ask them how they did the blasted thing;

The puzzle ‘t is that liars them has made,

The wicked swear-words to their lips does bring.