Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922.
The Law of the Jungle
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And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die.
For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.
And remember the night is for hunting, and forget not the day is for sleep.
Remember the Wolf is a hunter—go forth and get food of thine own.
And trouble not Hathi the Silent, and mock not the Boar in his lair.
Lie down till the leaders have spoken—it may be fair words shall prevail.
Lest others take part in the quarrel, and the Pack be diminished by war.
Not even the Head Wolf may enter, not even the Council may come.
The Council shall send him a message, and so he shall change it again.
Lest ye frighten the deer from the crops, and the brothers go empty away.
But kill not for pleasure of killing, and seven times never kill Man!
Pack-Right is the right of the meanest; so leave him the head and the hide.
And no one may carry away of that meat to his lair, or he dies.
But, till he has given permission, the Pack may not eat of that Kill.
Full-gorge when the killer has eaten; and none may refuse him the same.
One haunch of each kill for her litter; and none may deny her the same.
He is freed of all calls to the Pack; he is judged by the Council alone.
In all that the Law leaveth open, the word of the Head Wolf is Law.
But the head and the hoof of the Law and the haunch and the hump is—Obey!