Page:Departmental Ditties and Ballads and Barrack-Room Ballads, Kipling, 1899.djvu/159

Rh More trains, more troops, more dust, and then all's done.

Four years, and I forget. If I forget

How will they bear me in their minds? The North

Safeguarded—nearly (R-b-rts knows the rest),

A country twice the size of France annexed.

That stays at least. The rest may pass—may pass—

Your heritage—and I can teach you naught.

"High trust," "vast honour," "interests twice as vast,"

"Due reverence to your Council"—keep to those.

I envy you the twenty years you've gained,

But not the five to follow. What's that? One!

Two!—Surely not so late. Good-night. Don't dream.