The Years Between.
by Rudyard Kipling.
THE ROWERS
1902
(When Germany proposed that England should help her in a naval demonstration to collect debts from Venezuela.)
The banked oars fell an hundred strong, And backed and threshed and ground, But bitter was the rowers" song As they brought the war-boat round.
They had no heart for the rally and roar That makes the whale-bath smoke-- When the great blades cleave and hold and leave As one on the racing stroke.
They sang:--"What reckoning do you keep, And steer her by what star, If we come unscathed from the Southern deep To be wrecked on a Baltic bar?
"Last night you swore our voyage was done, But seaward still we go, And you tell us now of a secret vow You have made with an open foe!
"That we must lie off a lightless coast And haul and back and veer, At the will of the breed that have wronged us most For a year and a year and a year!
"There was never a shame in Christendie They laid not to our door-- And you say we must take the winter sea And sail with them once more?
"Look South! The gale is scarce o"erpast That stripped and laid us down, When we stood forth but they stood fast And prayed to see us drown
"Our dead they mocked are scarcely cold, Our wounds are bleeding yet-- And you tell us now that our strength is sold To help them press for a debt"
"Neath all the flags of all mankind That use upon the seas, Was there no other fleet to find That you strike hands with these?
"Of evil times that men can choose On evil fate to fall, What brooding Judgment let you loose To pick the worst of all?
"In sight of peace--from the Narrow Seas O"er half the world to run-- With a cheated crew, to league anew With the Goth and the shameless Hun!"
THE VETERANS
[Written for the gathering of survivors of the Indian Mutiny, Albert Hall, 1907.]
To-day, across our fathers" graves, The astonished years reveal The remnant of that desperate host Which cleansed our East with steel.
Hail and farewell! We greet you here, With tears that none will scorn-- O Keepers of the House of old, Or ever we were born!
One service more we dare to ask-- Pray for us, heroes, pray, That when Fate lays on us our task We do not shame the Day!
THE DECLARATION OF LONDON
JUNE 29, 1911
("On the re-a.s.sembling of Parliament after the Coronation, the Government have no intention of allowing their followers to vote according to their convictions on the Declaration of London, but insist on a strictly party vote"--_Daily Papers_.)
We were all one heart and one race When the Abbey trumpets blew.
For a moment"s breathing-s.p.a.ce We had forgotten you Now you return to your honoured place Panting to shame us anew.
We have walked with the Ages dead-- With our Past alive and ablaze, And you bid us p.a.w.n our honour for bread; This day of all the days!
And you cannot wait till our guests are sped, Or last week"s wreath decays?
The light is still in our eyes Of Faith and Gentlehood, Of Service and Sacrifice, And it does not match our mood, To turn so soon to your treacheries That starve our land of her food.
Our ears still carry the sound Of our once Imperial seas, Exultant after our King was crowned, Beneath the sun and the breeze.
It is too early to have them bound Or sold at your decrees.
Wait till the memory goes, Wait till the visions fade, We may betray in time, G.o.d knows, But we would not have it said, When you make report to our scornful foes, That we kissed as we betrayed!
ULSTER
1912
("Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works; their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands."--_Isaiah lix 6_)
The dark eleventh hour Draws on and sees us sold To every evil power We fought against of old.
Rebellion, rapine, hate, Oppression, wrong and greed Are loosed to rule our fate, By England"s act and deed.
The Faith in which we stand, The laws we made and guard, Our honour, lives, and land Are given for reward To Murder done by night, To Treason taught by day, To folly, sloth, and spite, And we are thrust away.
The blood our fathers spilt, Our love, our toils, our pains, Are counted us for guilt, And only bind our chains.
Before an Empire"s eyes The traitor claims his price.
What need of further lies?
We are the sacrifice.
We asked no more than leave To reap where we had sown, Through good and ill to cleave To our own flag and throne.
Now England"s shot and steel Beneath that flag must show How loyal hearts should kneel To England"s oldest foe.
We know the war prepared On every peaceful home, We know the h.e.l.ls declared For such as serve not Rome-- The terror, threats, and dread In market, hearth, and field-- We know, when all is said, We perish if we yield.
Believe, we dare not boast, Believe, we do not fear-- We stand to pay the cost In all that men hold dear.
What answer from the North?
One Law, one Land, one Throne.
If England drive us forth We shall not fall alone.