[Note: the word is pronounced “boat”. – Owen]

The true bote of our guilt and shame,
The expiation of our hate,
To own the truth and take the blame,
And not to self-exonerate

These medieval virtues seem
And ancient wisp or fading dream:
For now, all innocence is bought,
And our one sin is getting caught

From Middle English bōte (“advantage, benefit, profit; relief, salvation; atonement, amends, expiation; cure”)

Picture credit : Yung Chao Chen