Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/754

 736 RUDYARD KIPLING'S VERSE

Tyr thought hard till he hammered out a plan,

For he knew it was not right (And it is not right) that The Beast should master Man;

So he went to the Children of the Night. He begged a Magic Knife of their make for our sake.

When he begged for the Knife they said : "The price of the Knife you would buy is an eye!"

And that was the price he paid.

Tell it to the Barrows of the Deadrun ahead !

Shout it so the Women's Side can hear ! This is the Buyer of the Blade be afraid !

This is the great god Tyr !

Our women and our little ones may walk on the Chalk,

As far as we can see them and beyond. We shall not be anxious for our sheep when we keep

Tally at the shearing-pond. We can eat with both our elbows on our knees, if we please,

We can sleep after meals in the sun, For Shepherd of the Twilight is dismayed at the Blade,

Feet-in-the-Night have run! Dog-without-a-Master goes away (Hai, Tyr, aie!),

Devil-in-the-Dusk has run !

Then:

Room for his shadow on the grass let it pass !

To left and right stand clear ! This is the Buyer of the Blade be afrcid ! This is the great god Tyr !