The Dawn of the XIXth Century in England: A social sketch of the timesAshton, John
History
The Dawn of the XIXth Century in England: A social sketch of the times
Ashton, John
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
“2. Ye shall not have any graven images upon your Coin, in marble,
wood, or metal, which might represent any person above me; nor shall ye
acknowledge any person to excel me, whether he be among the living, or
the dead, whether he be in the happy land of the enlightened French, or
in the cursed island of the dull English; for I, the Chief Consul of
France, am a jealous hero, and visit disobedience of an individual upon
a whole nation, and of a father upon the children, and upon the third
and fourth generation of them that hate me; and show mercy unto them
that love me, and humble themselves.
“3. Ye shall not trifle with my name, nor take it in vain; nor shall
you suffer that any other nation, treat it disrespectfully; for I will
be the sole commander of the earth, and make you triumph over your
enemies.
“4. Remember that ye keep the days of prayers, and pray for me as the
head of the nation, and the future conqueror of the base English. Ye
shall pray fervently with your faces cast upon the ground, and not look
at the priest when he pronounces my name; for I am a jealous hero, and
delight in my priests because they are humble, and I have regarded the
lowliness of their hearts, and forgiven them all their past iniquities.
And, ye priests, remember the power of him who made you his creatures,
and do your duty.
“5. Respect and honour all French heroes, that ye may find mercy in
mine eyes for all your iniquities, and that ye may live in the land in
which I, the Lord your Commander, lives.
“6. Ye shall not murder each other, save it be by my own commands, for
purposes that may be known to me alone; but of your enemies, and all
those nations that will not acknowledge your, and my greatness, ye may
kill an infinite number; for that is a pleasing sight in the eyes of
your supreme Commander.
“7. Ye shall not commit adultery at home, whatever ye may do in the
land of the infidels, and the stiff-necked people; for they are an
abomination to the Lord your Commander.
“8. Ye shall not steal at home, but suppress your covetousness and
insatiable desire for plunder until ye may arrive in the land of your
enemies. Ye shall neither steal from them with indiscretion, but seem
to give with the left hand, when the right taketh.
“9. Ye shall not bear false witness against your neighbour, if he
should distinguish himself in the land of the enemies.
“10. Ye shall not covet anything of your neighbour, but everything of
your enemies—his jewels, his gold, his silver, his horse or ass, his
maid, his daughter, his wife, or anything in which your hearts find
delight; and ye may take it, but still with cunning; for the Lord your
Commander loveth mildness more than strength, to please the people
when he plunders. Use the sword in battle, cunning after it; look for
plunder, but subject the people to me. Herein lie all my Commandments,
and those who keep them shall be protected by my power, and prosper in
all their undertakings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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