| THOU SHALT HAVE ONE GOD ONLY ... | UNUM FAS DIVUM ... |
| Arthur Hugh Clough | trans. Colin Sydenham |
|
Thou shalt have one God only; who Would be at the expense of two? No graven images may be Worshipped, except the currency: Swear not at all; for for thy curse Thine enemy is none the worse: At church on Sunday to attend Will serve to keep the world thy friend: Honour thy parents; that is, all From whom advancement may befall: Thou shalt not kill; but needst not strive Officiously to keep alive: Do not adultery commit; Advantage rarely comes of it: Thou shalt not steal; an empty feat, When it’s so 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. |
Unum fas divum modo concelebrare; duorum ..... Omnino pretium est exitiale nimis. Effigies sculptae prohibentur; at ipsa monetam ..... Caesare signatam lex coluisse sinit. Adiurare deos, cuiquam maledicere, noli; ..... Devoveas hostem, num minus ille viget? Rite die pateat reverentia publica sancto; ..... Ritibus his functo dives amicus erit. Fac tueare patrem matremque, videlicet omnes ..... Per quos sorte potes tu meliore frui. Mortem inferre nefas, sed non arcere necesse est; ..... Ille supervacuus fertur ubique labor. Absit adulterium; vetitis ab amoribus illis ..... Exigua et fieri commoda rara solent. Abstineas furto, facinus quod inane videtur; ..... Praemia fert quanto divitiora dolus. Periurare cave; mendax velocius ultro, ..... Tempore concesso, vox properare potest. Rem gestire nefas alienam; at mutua passim ..... Bella fori mores qualiacunque probant. |
Trans. copyright © Colin Sydenham 2006