Page:Rudyard Kipling - A diversity of creatures.djvu/77

Rh Ogier sent his wains to Lewes, twenty hours' solemn walk, And drew back great abundance of the cool, grey, healing chalk. And old Hobden spread it broadcast, never heeding what was in't; Which is why in cleaning ditches, now and then we find a flint.

Ogier died. His sons grew English. Anglo–Saxon was their name, Till out of blossomed Normandy another pirate came; For Duke William conquered England and divided with his men, And our Lower River-field he gave to William of Warenne.

But the Brook (you know her habit) rose one rainy Autumn night And tore down sodden flitches of the bank to left and right. So, said William to his Bailiff as they rode their dripping rounds: 'Hob, what about that River-bit—the Brook's got up no bounds?'

And that aged Hobden answered: Tain't my business to advise, But ye might ha' known 'twould happen from the way the valley lies.