Page:The Seven Seas (Kipling, 1896).djvu/77

 THE KING

', Romance!' the Cave-men said;

'With bone well carved he went away,

Flint arms the ignoble arrowhead,

And jasper tips the spear to-day.

Changed are the Gods of Hunt and Dance,

And he with these. Farewell, Romance!'

'Farewell, Romance!' the Lake-folk sighed;

'We lift the weight of flatling years;

The caverns of the mountain-side

Hold him who scorns our hutted piers.

Lost hills whereby we dare not dwell,

Guard ye his rest. Romance, Farewell!'

'Farewell, Romance!' the Soldier spoke;

'By sleight of sword we may not win,

But scuffle 'mid uncleanly smoke

Of arquebus and culverin.