Falsehood and Sin Poem by Arthur Guiterman

FROM THE TALMUD

Among the beasts that thronged to fill the ark
Slunk Falsehood in a lizard's borrowed guise
And begged for refuge; but the Patriarch
Denied her, saying, 'He that rules, All-Wise,
Hath given charge that none shall pass within
Save mated pairs, and thou art come alone.'
Then Falsehood, baffled, sought her playmate, Sin,
Imploring, 'Friend, the shape that I have shown
Do thou assume as my pretended mate
That both be saved.' Sin answered, 'I agree;
But give the pledge thou darest not violate
That, henceforth, all thy gains thou'lt yield to me.'
And so 'twas done: As mates they entered in,
And Falsehood's gains are ever claimed by Sin.