Page:Rewards and Fairies (Kipling, 1910).djvu/49

 COLD IRON

&apos;Gold is for the mistress—silver for the maid!

Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.'

'Good!' said the Baron, sitting in his hall,

'But Iron—Cold Iron—is master of them all!'

So he made rebellion 'gainst the King his liege,

Camped before his citadel and summoned it to siege—

'Nay!' said the cannoneer on the castle wall,

'But Iron—Cold Iron—shall be master of you all!'

Woe for the Baron and his knights so strong

When the cruel cannon-balls laid 'em all along!

He was taken prisoner, he was cast in thrall,

And Iron—Cold Iron—was master of it all!

Yet his King spake kindly (Ah, how kind a Lord!)

'What if I release thee now and give thee back thy sword?'

'Nay!' said the Baron, 'mock not at my fall,

For Iron—Cold Iron—is master of men all.'

&apos;Tears are for the craven, prayers are for the clown—

Halters for the silly neck that cannot keep a crown.'

'As my loss is grievous, so my hope is small,

For Iron—Cold Iron—must be master of men all!

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