In vain we call old notions fudge
And bend our conscience to our dealing.
The Ten Commandments read more

In vain we call old notions fudge
And bend our conscience to our dealing.
The Ten Commandments will not budge
And stealing will continue stealing.

Yet thanks I must you con
That you are thieves professed, that you work not
In holier read more

Yet thanks I must you con
That you are thieves professed, that you work not
In holier shapes; for there is boundless theft
In limited professions.

Stolen sweets are best.

Stolen sweets are best.

Who steals a bugle-horn, a ring, a steed,
Or such like worthless thing, has some discretion;
'Tis read more

Who steals a bugle-horn, a ring, a steed,
Or such like worthless thing, has some discretion;
'Tis petty larceny: not such his deed
Who robs us of our fame, our best possession.

'Tis bad enough in man or woman
To steal a goose from off a common;
But surely read more

'Tis bad enough in man or woman
To steal a goose from off a common;
But surely he's without excuse
Who steals a common from the goose.

To keep my hands from picking and stealing.

To keep my hands from picking and stealing.

O villain, thou hast stol'n both mine office and my name!
The one ne'er got me credit, the other read more

O villain, thou hast stol'n both mine office and my name!
The one ne'er got me credit, the other mickle blame.

Never thrust your own sickle into another's corn.

Never thrust your own sickle into another's corn.

A murderer and a villain,
A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe
Of your precedent read more

A murderer and a villain,
A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe
Of your precedent lord, a vice of kings,
A cutpurse of the empire and the rule,
That from a shelf the precious diadem stole
And put it in his pocket--