Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/789

 INCLUSIVE EDITION, 1885-1918 771

GREAT-HEART

(THEODORE ROOSEVELT IN 1919)

The Interpreter then called for a man-servant of his, one Great-Heart."

Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress."

(CONCERNING brave Captains

Our age hath made known For all men to honour,

One standeth alone, Of whom, o'er both oceans

Both Peoples may say: "Our realm is diminished

With Great-Heart away."

In purpose unsparing,

In action no less, The labours he praised

He would seek and profess Through travail and battle,

At hazard and pain. . . . And our world is none the braver

Since Great-Heart was ta'en !

Plain speech with plain folk,

And plain words for false things, Plain faith in plain dealing

'Twixt neighbours or kings He used and he followed,

However it sped. . . . Oh, our world is none more honest

Now Great-Heart is dead!