Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/610

 S9 2 RUDYARD KIPLING'S VERSE

KAA

Anger is the egg of Fear- Only lidless eyes see clear. Cobra-poison none may leech Even so with Cobra-speech. Open talk shall call to thee. Strength, whose mate is Courtesy. Send no lunge beyond thy length. Lend no rotten bough thy strength. Gauge thy gape with buck or goat, Lest thine eye should choke thy throat. After gorging, wouldst thou sleep? Look thy den be hid and deep, Lest a wrong, by thee forgot, Draw thy killer to the spot. East and West and North and South, Wash thy hide and close thy mouth. (Pit and rift and blue pool-brim, Middle-Jungle follow him!) Wood and Water, Wind and Tree, Jungle-Favour go with thee !

BAGHEERA

In the cage my life began; Well I know the worth of Man. By the Broken Lock that freed Man-cub, 'ware the Man-cub's breed! Scenting-dew or starlight pale, Choose no tangled tree-cat trail. Pack or council, hunt or den, Cry no truce with Jackal-Men. Feed them silence when they say: "Come with us an easy way." Feed them silence when they seek Help of thine to hurt the weak.