Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/681

 INCLUSIVE EDITION, 1885-1918 663

Here, when they heard the horse-bells ring, The ancient Britons dressed and rode

To watch the dark Phoenicians bring Their goods along the Western Road.

Yes, here, or hereabouts, they met To hold their racial talks and such

To barter beads for Whitby jet,

And tin for gay shell torques and such.

But long and long before that time

(When bison used to roam on it) Did Taffy and her Daddy climb

That Down, and had their home on it.

Then beavers built in Broadstonebrook

And made a swamp where Bramley stands;

And bears from Shere would come and look For Taffimai where Shamley stands.

The Wey, that Taffy called Wagai, Was more than six times bigger then;

And all the Tribe of Tegumai They cut a noble figure then!

II

Of all the Tribe of Tegumai

Who cut that figure, none remain, On Merrow Down the cuckoos cry

The silence and the sun remain.

But as the faithful years return And hearts unwounded sing again,

Comes Taffy dancing through the fern To lead the Surrey spring again.