Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922.

The Outlaws

THROUGH learned and laborious years

They set themselves to find

Fresh terrors and undreamed-of fears

To heap upon mankind.

All that they drew from Heaven above

Or digged from earth beneath,

They laid into their treasure-trove

And arsenals of death:

While, for well-weighed advantage sake,

Ruler and ruled alike

Built up the faith they meant to break

When the fit hour should strike.

They traded with the careless earth,

And good return it gave:

They plotted by their neighbour’s hearth

The means to make him slave.

When all was ready to their hand

They loosed their hidden sword,

And utterly laid waste a land

Their oath was pledged to guard.

Coldly they went about to raise

To life and make more dread

Abominations of old days,

That men believed were dead.

They paid the price to reach their goal

Across a world in flame;

But their own hate slew their own soul

Before that victory came.