Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922.
Sir Richards Song
I
To take from England fief and fee;
But now this game is the other way over—
But now England hath taken me!
And a boy’s heart, so whole and free;
But now I sing in another manner—
But now England hath taken me!
Asking news of my ship at sea,
He will remember his own hour—
Tell him England hath taken me!
That rules my Father so cunningly,
She will remember a maiden’s power—
Tell her England hath taken me!
A nimble and naughty page is he,
But he will come to suffer and pity—
Tell him England hath taken me!
In the pleasant orchards of Normandie,
Tell her youth is the time for mating—
Tell her England hath taken me!
That lift their eyebrows scornfully,
Tell them their way is not my way—
Tell them England hath taken me!
Knights and Captains in your degree;
Hear me a little before I am blamèd—
Seeing England hath taken me!
There are two things he cannot flee.
Love is the first, and Death is the second—
And Love in England hath taken me!