Page:A Treasury of South African Poetry.djvu/207

 "O white man!" spake the Kaffir chief,
 * "We know that thou art brave;

And brave men have not hearts of steel,
 * But save when they can save.

"We come to crave one boon from thee:
 * Reverse thy stern command;

O bid us not depart from here;
 * This is our Fatherland!

"We love it, as the white man loves
 * His home beyond the sea;

Thou would'st not let a stranger take
 * That dear-loved land from thee.

"We'll live in peace, and do thy will;
 * We'll call thy Queen our Queen;

O let us die where we were born,
 * And let this waving green,

"Which waves above our fathers' dust,
 * Once wave above our head;

When white man's herds shall crop the grass
 * Where Kaffir cattle fed."

The white man's brow grew stern, he spake—
 * "No mercy shall be given

To black men who can break their oaths,
 * And fear no God in heav'n.

"Ten years ago you ask'd for peace;
 * The white man gave you peace;

He gave back lands he took from you;
 * From bonds he gave release.