Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/309

 The hunter and the hunted know how that last pause is death— The blood had chilled about her heart, she reared and fell and died.

Our Gods were kind. Before he heard the maiden's piteous scream A log upon the Delhi road, beneath the mare he lay— Lost mistress and lost battle passed before him like a dream; The darkness closed about his eyes. I bore my King away!

HE freed dove flew to the Rajah's tower— Fled from the slaughter of Moslem kings— And the thorns have covered the city of Gaur. Dove—dove—oh, homing dove! Little white traitor, with woe on thy wings!

The Rajah of Dacca rode under the wall; He set in his bosom a dove of flight— "If she return, be sure that I fall." Dove—dove—oh, homing dove! Pressed to his heart in the thick of the fight.

"Fire the palace, the fort, and the keep— Leave to the foeman no spoil at all. In the flame of the palace lie down and sleep If the dove—if the dove—if the homing dove Come and alone to the palace wail."