Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/639

 INCLUSIVE EDITION, 1885-1918 621

"In war, your numbers do but raise

Confusion and divided will; In storm, the mindless deep obeys

Not multitudes but single skill. In calm, your numbers, closely pressed, Must breed a mutiny or pest.

"We, even on unchallenged seas,

Dare not adventure where we would,

But forfeit brave advantages

For lack of men to make 'em good;

Whereby, to England's double cost,

Honour and profit both are lost!"

PROPHETS AT HOME

pROPHETS have honour all over the Earth, Except in the village where they were born, Where such as knew them boys from birth, Nature-ally hold 'em in scorn.

W r hen Prophets are naughty and young and vain, They make a won'erful grievance of it;

(You can see by their writings how they complain), But O, 'tis won'erful good for the Prophet!

There's nothing Nineveh Town can give (Nor being swallowed by whales between),

Makes up for the place where a man's folk live, Which don't care nothing what he has been.

He might ha' been that, or he might ha' been this,

But they love and they hate him for what he is.