Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/442

 Thus I will honour pious men whose virtue shines so bright (Though none are more amazed than I when I by chance do right), And I will pity foolish men for woe their sins have bred (Though ninety-nine per cent, of mine I brought on my own head). And, Amorite or Eremite, or General Averagee, The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!

And when they bore me overmuch, I will not shake mine ears, Recalling many thousand such whom I have bored to tears. And when they labour to impress, I will not doubt nor scoff; Since I myself have done no less and—sometimes pulled it off. Yea, as we are and we are not, and we pretend to be, The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!

And when they work me random wrong, as oftentimes hath been, I will not cherish hate too long (my hands are none too clean). And when they do me random good I will not feign surprise. No more than those whom I have cheered with wayside charities. But, as we give and as we take—whate'er our takings be— The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!

But when I meet with frantic folk who sinfully declare There is no pardon for their sin, the same I will not spare Till I have proved that Heaven and Hell which in our hearts we have Show nothing irredeemable on either side the grave. For as we live and as we die—if utter Death there be— The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!

Deliver me from every pride—the Middle, High, and Low— That bars me from a brother's side, whatever pride he show.