
The Old Issue
Rudyard Kipling, edited by Jerry Pournelle
All we have of freedom, all we use or know--
Our forefathers bought for us many years ago.
Ancient Right unnoticed as the breath we draw--
Leave to live by no man's leave, underneath Nature's Law--
So they bought us freedom--not at little cost--
Wherefore must we watch for Kings, lest our gain be lost.
Over all things certain, this is sure indeed,
Suffer not the old King: for we know the breed.
Give no ear to bondsmen bidding us endure,
Whining "He is weak and far;" crying "Time will cure."
They that beg us barter--wait his yielding mood--
Pledge the years we hold in trust and pawn our brother's blood--
Howso' great their clamour, whatso'er their claim,
Suffer not the old King under any name!
Nothing here unproven--Nothing here to learn,
It is written what shall fall if the King return.
He shall mark our goings, question whence we came,
Set his guards about us, and all in Freedom's name.
He shall take a tribute; toll of all our ware;
He shall change our gold for arms that we may not bear.
He shall peep and mutter; and the night shall bring
Watchers 'neath our windows, lest we mock the King--
Strangers of his counsel, hirelings of his pay,
These shall deal our Justice: sell--deny--delay.
We shall drink dishonour, we shall eat abuse,
For the Land we live in--for the Tongue we use.
We shall take our station, dirt beneath his feet,
while his hired captains jeer us in the street.
Cruel in the shadow, crafty in the sun,
Far beyond his borders shall his teachings run.
Long-forgotten bondage, dwarfing heart and brain--
All our fathers died to loose he shall bind again.
Here is naught at venture, random or untrue--
Swings the wheel full-circle, brims the cup anew.
Here is naught unproven, here is nothing hid:
Step for step and word for word--so the old Kings did!
Step by step and word by word: who is ruled may read.
Suffer not the old Kings: for we know the breed--
All the right they promise--all the wrong they bring.
Keepers of the Judgment, suffer not the King!