Page:Departmental Ditties and Ballads and Barrack-Room Ballads, Kipling, 1899.djvu/284

 THE CONUNDRUM OF THE WORKSHOPS

the flush of a new-born sun fell first on Eden's green and gold,

Our father Adam sat under the Tree and scratched with a stick in the mould;

And the first rude sketch that the world had seen was joy to his mighty heart,

Till the Devil whispered behind the leaves, "It's pretty, but is it Art?"

Wherefore he called to his wife, and fled to fashion his work anew—

The first of his race who cared a fig for the first, most dread review;

And he left his lore to the use of his sons—and that was a glorious gain

When the Devil chuckled "Is it Art?" in the ear of the branded Cain.

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