Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/732

 7i4 RUDYARD KIPLING'S VERSE

Wolf-wise feigning and flying, and wolf-wise snatching his

man. Wrath for their spears unready, their levies new to the

blades

Shame for the helpless sieges and the scornful ambuscades. At hearth and tavern and market, wherever the tale was

told,

Shame and wrath had the Saxons because of their boasts of old. And some would drink and deny it, and some would pray and

atone; But the most part, after their anger, avouched that the sin

was their own.

Wherefore, girding together, up to the Witan they came, And as they had shouldered their bucklers so did they shoul- der their blame.

For that was the wont of the Saxons (the ancient poets sing), And first they spoke in the Witan and then they spoke to the

King:

"Edward King of the Saxons, thou knowest from sire to son, "One is the King and his People in gain and ungain one. "Count we the gain together. With doublings and spread

dismays

"We have broken a foolish people but after many days. "Count we the loss together. Warlocks hampered our arms "We were tricked as by magic, we were turned as by charms. "We went down to the battle and the road was plain to keep "But our angry eyes were holden, and we struck as they

strike in sleep

"Men new shaken from slumber, sweating, with eyes a-stare "Little blows and uncertain dealt on the useless air. "Also a vision betrayed us and a lying tale made bold "That we looked to hold what we had not and to have what

we did not hold: "That a shield should give us shelter that a sword should

give us power "A shield snatched up at a venture and a hilt scarce handled

an hour: