Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IX. Tragedy: Humor. 1904. | | | | Humorous Poems: II. Miscellaneous | | The Latest Decalogue | | Arthur Hugh Clough (1819–1861) |
| | | THOU shalt have one God only: who | |
| Would be at the expense of two? | |
| No graven images may be | |
| Worshipped, save in the currency. | |
| Swear not at all; since for thy curse | 5 |
| Thine enemy is none the worse. | |
| At church on Sunday to attend | |
| Will serve to keep the world thy friend: | |
| Honor thy parents; that is, all | |
| From whom advancement may befall. | 10 |
| Thou shalt not kill; but need’st not strive | |
| Officiously to keep alive. | |
| Adultery it is not fit | |
| Or safe (for woman) to commit. | |
| Thou shalt not steal: an empty feat, | 15 |
| When ’t is as lucrative to cheat. | |
| Bear not false witness: let the lie | |
| Have time on its own wings to fly. | |
| Thou shalt not covet; but tradition | |
| Approves all forms of competition. | 20 | | | |
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