Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/392

 Cloke Thou our undeserving,

Make firm the shuddering breath,

In silence and unswerving

To taste Thy lesser death!

Ah, Mary pierced with sorrow,

Remember, reach and save

The soul that comes to-morrow

Before the God that gave!

Since each was born of woman,

For each at utter need—

True comrade and true foeman—

Madonna, intercede!

E'en now their vanguard gathers,

E'en now we face the fray—

As Thou didst help our fathers,

Help Thou our host to-day.

Fulfilled of signs and wonders,

In life, in death made clear—

Jehovah of the Thunders,

Lord God of Battles, hear!



1918

"Ille autem iterum negavit."

first time that Peter denied his Lord

He shrank from the cudgel, the scourge and the cord,

But followed far off to see what they would do,

Till the cock crew—till the cock crew—

After Gethsemane, till the cock crew!

