Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/338

 God rest you, merry gentlemen, and keep you in your mirth!

Was ever Kingdom turned so soon to ashes, blood, and earth:

'Twixt the summer and the snow—seeding-time and frost—

Arms and victual, hope and counsel, name and country lost!

Singing:—Let down by the foot and the head—

Shovel and smooth it all!

So do we bury a Nation dead …

And who shall be next to fall, good sirs,

With your good help to fall?



1903

Word came down to Dives in Torment where he lay:

"Our World is full of wickedness, My Children maim and slay,

"And the Saint and Seer and Prophet

"Can make no better of it

"Than to sanctify and prophesy and pray.

" Rise up, rise up, thou Dives, and take again thy gold,

"And thy women and thy housen as they were to thee of old.

"It may be grace hath found thee

"In the furnace where We bound thee,

"And that thou shalt bring the peace My Son foretold."

Then merrily rose Dives and leaped from out his fire,

And walked abroad with diligence to do the Lord's desire;

And anon the battles ceased,

And the captives were released,

And Earth had rest from Goshen to Gadire.

