Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/650

 632 RUDYARD KIPLING'S VERSE

"Look at the stars when a patient is ill, (Dirt has nothing to do with disease,) Bleed and blister as much as you will,

Blister and bleed him as oft as you please." Whence enormous and manifold Errors were made by our fathers of old.

Yet when the sickness was sore in the land,

And neither planets nor herbs assuaged, They took their lives in their lancet-hand

And, oh, what a wonderful war they waged! Yes, when the crosses were chalked on the door

(Yes, when the terrible dead-cart rolled,) Excellent courage our fathers bore

Excellent heart had our fathers of old. None too learned, but nobly bold Into the fight went our fathers of old.

If it be certain, as Galen says

And sage Hippocrates holds as much "That those afflicted by doubts and dismays

Are mightily helped by a dead man's touch," Then, be good to us, stars above!

Then, be good to us, herbs below! We are afflicted by what we can prove, We are distracted by what we know

So ah, so!

Down from your heaven or up from your mould, Send us the hearts of our fathers of old!

THE HERITAGE

QUR Fathers in a wondrous age, Ere yet the Earth was small. Ensured to us an heritage, And doubted not at all