The Five Nations

by Rudyard Kipling

THE FIVE NATIONS

TheFiveNations

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By Rudyard Kipling

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NEW YORK
DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & CO.
1903

Copyright, 1903, by
Rudyard Kipling
Published, October, 1903

 

 

THE CAXTON PRESS
New York City, U.S.A.

CONTENTS

	PAGE
DEDICATION Before a midnight breaks in storm,	v
THE SEA AND THE HILLS Who hath desired the Sea?—the sight of salt water unbounded,	1
THE BELL BUOY They christened my brother of old,	4
CRUISERS As our mother the Frigate, bepainted and fine,	8
THE DESTROYERS The strength of twice three thousand horse,	11
WHITE HORSES Where run your colts at pasture?	15
THE SECOND VOYAGE We've sent our little Cupids all ashore,	20
THE DYKES We have no heart for the fishing, we have no hand for the oar,	23
THE SONG OF DIEGO VALDEZ The God of Fair Beginnings,	28
THE BROKEN MEN For things we never mention,	34
THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN Now the Four-way Lodge is opened, now the Hunting Winds are loose,	38
THE TRUCE OF THE BEAR Yearly, with tent and rifle, our careless white men go,	44
THE OLD MEN This is our lot if we live so long and labour unto the end,	49
THE EXPLORER "There's no sense in going further—it's the edge of cultivation,"	52
THE WAGE-SLAVES Oh glorious are the guarded heights,	60
THE BURIAL When that great Kings return to clay	63
GENERAL JOUBERT With those that bred, with those that loosed the strife,	65
THE PALACE When I was a King and a Mason—a Master proven and skilled,	66
SUSSEX God gave all men all earth to love,	69
SONG OF THE WISE CHILDREN When the darkened Fifties dip to the North,	74
BUDDHA AT KAMAKURA Oh ye who tread the Narrow Way,	76
THE WHITE MAN'S BURDEN Take up the White Man's burden,	79
PHARAOH AND THE SERGEANT Said England unto Pharaoh, "I must make a man of you,	82
OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS A Nation spoke to a Nation,	87
"ET DONA FERENTES" In extended observation of the ways and works of man,	90
KITCHENER'S SCHOOL Oh Hubshee, carry your shoes in your hand and bow your head on your breast,	95
THE YOUNG QUEEN Her hand was still on her sword-hilt, the spur was still on her heel,	100
RIMMON Duly with knees that feign to quake,	104
THE OLD ISSUE "Here is nothing new nor aught unproven," say the Trumpets,	107
BRIDGE-GUARD IN THE KARROO Sudden the desert changes,	113
THE LESSON Let us admit it fairly, as a business people should,	117
THE FILES Files,	121
THE REFORMERS Not in the camp his victory lies,	126
DIRGE OF DEAD SISTERS Who recalls the twilight and the ranged tents in order,	129
THE ISLANDERS No doubt but ye are the People—your throne is above the King's,	133
THE PEACE OF DIVES The Word came down to Dives in Torment where he lay,	141
SOUTH AFRICA Lived a woman wonderful,	149
THE SETTLER Here, where my fresh-turned furrows run,	153
Service Songs
CHANT-PAGAN Me that 'ave been what I ve been,	159
M. I. I wish my mother could see me now, with a fence-post under my arm,	163
COLUMNS Out o' the wilderness, dusty an' dry,	170
THE PARTING OF THE COLUMNS We've rode and fought and ate and drunk as rations come to hand,	175
TWO KOPJES Only two African kopjes,	179
THE INSTRUCTOR At times when under cover I 'ave said,	183
BOOTS We're foot—slog—slog—slog—sloggin' over Africa,	185
THE MARRIED MAN The bachelor 'e fights for one,	188
LICHTENBERG Smells are surer than sounds or sights,	191
STELLENBOSH The General 'card the firin' on the flank,	194
HALF-BALLAD OF WATERVAL When by the labour of my 'ands,	197
PIET I do not love my Empire's foes,	199
"WILFUL-MISSING" There is a world outside the one you know,	204
UBIQUE There is a word you often see, pronounce it as you may,	206
THE RETURN Peace is declared, an' I return,	210
RECESSIONAL God of our fathers, known of old,	214