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Rudyard Kipling
1865-1936
(Ðåäüÿðä Êèïëèíã)
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As I pass through my incarnations in every age and race, I make my proper
prostrations to the Gods of the Market-Place.
Peering through reverent fingers I watch them flourish and fall,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings, I notice, outlast them all.
We were living in trees when they met us. They showed us each in turn.
That Water would certainly wet us, as Fire would certainly burn:
But we found them lacking in Uplift, Vision and Breath of Mind,
So we left them to teach the Gorillas while we followed the March of Mankind.
We moved as the Spirit listed. They never altered their pace,
Being neither cloud nor wind-borne like the Gods of the Market-Place;
But they always caught up with our progress, and presently word would come
That a tribe had been wiped off its icefield, or the lights had gone out in
Rome.
With the Hopes that our World is built on they were utterly out of touch.
They denied that the Moon was Stilton; they denied she was even Dutch.
They denied that Wishes were Horses; they denied that a Pig had Wings.
So we worshipped the Gods of the Market Who promised these beautiful things.
When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promised perpetual peace.
They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would
cease.
But when we disarmed They sold us and delivered us bound to our foe,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "Stick to the Devil you know."
On the first Feminian Sandstones we were promised the Fuller Life
(Which started by loving our neighbour and ended by loving his wife)
Till our women had no more children and the men lost reason and faith,
And the Gods of the Copybook Heading said: "The Wages of Sin is Death."
In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all,
By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul; But, though we had
plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy,
And the Gods of the Copybook Heading said: "If you don't work you die."
Then the Gods of the Market tumbled, and their smooth-tongued wizards
withdrew,
And the hearts of the meanest were humbled and began to believe it was true
That All is not God that Glitters, and Two and Two make Four-
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings limped up to explain it once more.
As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man-
There are only
four things certain since Social Progress began:-
That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire,
And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wobbling back to the Fire;
And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins
When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins,
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn,
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!
ÎÄÍÀ ÍÀ ÊÐÛØÅ..
Alone upon the housetops to the North
I turn and watch the lightnings in the sky
The glamour of thy footsteps in the North.
Come back to me. Beloved, or I die.
Below my feet the still bazar is laid -
Far, far below the weary camels lie -
The camels and the captives of thy raid.
Come back to me. Beloved, or I die.
My father's wife is old and harsh with years,
And drudge of all my father's house am I -
My bread is sorrow and my drink is tears.
Come back to me. Beloved, or I die.
Î×ÀÃÈ
Men make them fires on the hearth
Each under his roof-tree,
And the Four Winds that rule the earth
They blow the smoke to me.
Across the high hills and the sea
And all the changeful skies,
The Four Winds blow the smoke to me
Till the tears are in my eyes.
Until the tears are in my eyes
And my heart is well-nigh broke
For thinking on old memories
That gather in the smoke.
With every shift of every wind
The homesick memories come,
From every quarter of mankind
Where I have made me a home.
Four times a fire against the cold
And a roof against the rain -
Sorrow fourfold and joy fourfold
The Four Winds bring again!
How can I answer which is best
Of all the fires that burn?
I have been too often host or guest
At every fire in turn.
How can I turn from any fire,
On any man's hearthstone?
I know the wonder and desire
That went to build my own!
How can I doubt man's joy or woe
Where 'er his house-fires shine,
Since all that man must undergo
Will visit me at mine?
Oh, you Four Winds that blow so strong
And know that this is true,
Stoop for a little and carry my song
To all the men I knew!
Where there are fires against the cold,
Or roofs against the rain -
With love fourfold and joy fourfold,
Take them my songs again!
HYMN BEFORE ACTION
Ìîëèòâà ïåðåä áîåì
The earth is full of anger, The seas are dark with wrath;
The Nations in their harness Go up against our path:
Ere yet we loose the legions — Ere yet we draw the blade,
Jehovah of the Thunders, Lord God of Battles, aid!
High lust and forward bearing, Proud heart, rebellious brow —
Deaf ear and soul uncaring, We seek Thy mercy now!
The sinner that forswore Thee, The fool that passed Thee by,
Our times are known before Thee —
Lord, grant us strength to die!
For those who kneel beside us At altars not Thine own,
Who lack the lights that guide us, Lord, let their faith atone!
If wrong we did to call them, By honour bound they came;
Let not Thy Wrath befall them, But deal to us the blame.
From panic, pride, and terror, Revenge that knows no rein —
Light haste and lawless error, Protect us yet again.
Cloke Thou our undeserving, Make firm the shuddering breath,
In silence and unswerving To taste Thy lesser death.
Ah, Mary pierced with sorrow,
Remember, reach and save The soul that comes to-morrow
Before the God that gave! Since each was born of woman,
For each at utter need — True comrade and true foeman —
Madonna, intercede!
E’en now their vanguard gathers, E’en now we face the fray —
As Thou didst help our fathers, Help Thou our host to-day.
Fulfilled of signs and wonders, In life, in death made clear —
Jehovah of the Thunders, Lord God of Battles, hear!
“WHEN ‘OMER SMOTE ‘IS BLOOMIN’ LYRE”
When ‘Omer smote ‘is bloomin’ lyre,
He’d ‘eard men sing by land an’ sea;
An’what he thought ‘e might require,
‘E went an’ took — the same as me!
The market-girls an’ fishermen,
The shepherds an’ the sailors, too,
They ‘eard old songs turn up again,
But kep’ it quiet — same as you!
They knew ‘e stole; ‘e knew they knowed.
They didn’t tell, nor make a fuss,
But winked at ‘Omer down the road,
An’ ‘e winked back — the same as us!
Ïîó÷åíèå Ãåíðèõà III ñâîåìó ñûíó
Ñâÿùåííèêè, Ëîðäû. Íàðîä è Êîðîíà
My Father's Chair. Parliaments of Henry III, 1265.
Ê ×ÈÒÀÒÅËÞ
ß äåëèë ñ òîáîþ è õëåá, è ñîëü
I have eaten your bread and salt.
I have drunk your water and wine.
The deaths ye died I have watched beside,
And the lives ye led were mine.
Was there aught I did not share
In vigil or toil or ease, -
One joy or woe that I did not know,
Dear hearts across the seas?
I have written the tale of our life
For a sheltered people’s mirth,
In jesting guise - but ye are wise,
And ye know what jest is worth.
Çàïàä åñòü Çàïàä, Âîñòîê åñòü Âîñòîê
The Ballad of East and West
ÅÑËÈ ÁÛ.
Êîãäà á òû ìîã îñòàòüñÿ õëàäíîêðîâíûì
If
È áóäåò ðàñêðàøåí ïîñëåäíèé õîëñò
L'ENVOI
When Earth's last picture is painted and the tubes are
twisted and dried,
When the oldest colours have faded, and the youngest critic has died,
We shall rest, and, faith, we shall need it -- lie down for an aeon or two,
Till the Master of All Good Workmen shall put us to work anew!
And those that were good shall be happy: they shall sit in a golden chair;
They shall splash at a ten-league canvas with brushes of comets' hair;
They shall find real saints to draw from -- Magdalene, Peter, and Paul;
They shall work for an age at a sitting and never be tired at all!
And only the Master shall praise us, and only the Master shall blame;
And no one shall work for money, and no one shall work for fame,
But each for the joy of the working, and each, in his separate star,
Shall draw the Thing as he sees It for the God of Things as They Are!
Cities and Thrones and Powers
The Four Angels
As Adam lay a-dreaming beneath the Apple Tree
The Angel of the Earth came down and offered Earth in fee.
But Adam did not need it.
Nor the plough he would not speed it
Singing: Earth and Water, Air and Fire,
What more mortal man desire?
(The Apple Tree's in bud)
As Adam lay a-dreaming beneath the Apple Tree
The Angel of the Water offers all seas in fee
But Adam would not take 'em
Nor the ships he wouldn't make 'em
Singing: Water, Earth and Air and Fire,
What more mortal man desire?
(The Apple Tree's in leaf)
As Adam lay a-dreaming beneath the Apple Tree
The Angel of the Air he offered all the air in fee.
But Adam did not crave it.
Nor the flight he would not brave it
Singing: Air and Water, Earth and Fire,
What more mortal man desire?
(The Apple Tree's in bloom)
As Adam lay a-dreaming beneath the Apple Tree
The Angel of the Fire rose up and not a word said he
But he wished a flame and made it
And in Adam's heart he laid it
Singing: Fire, Fire, burning Fire
Stand up and reach your heart's desire!
(The Apple Blossom's set)
As Adam was a-working outside of Eden-Wall
He used the Earth, he used the Seas, he used the Air and all;
Till out of black disaster
He arouse to be a master
Of Earth and Water, Air and Fire,
But never reached his heart's desire!
(The Apple Tree's cut down!)
ÝÏÈÒÀÔÈß
È ÿ êîãäà-òî òàê øàãàë
The Appeal
If I have given you delight
By aught that I have done
Let me lie quiet in that night
Which shall be yours anon.
And for the little little span
The dead are borne in mind
Seek not to questions other than
The books I leave behind
THE LOOKING - GLASS
ÇÅÐÊÀËÎ
Queen Bess was Harry's daughter. Stand forward partners all!
In ruff and stomacher and gown
She danced King Philip down-a-down
And left her shoe to show it was true -
(The very tune I'm playing you)
In Norgem and Brickwall!
The Queen was her chamber, and she was middling old.
Her petticoat was satin and her stomacher was gold.
Backwards and forwards and sideways did she pass,
Making up her mind to face the cruel looking-glass
The cruel looking-glass that will never show a lass
As comely or as kindly or as young as what she was!
Queen Bess was Harry's daughter. Now hand your partners all!
The Queen was in her chamber, a-combing of her hair.
There came a Queen Mary's spirit and it stood behind her chair.
Singing "Backwards and forwards and sideways may you pass,
But I will stand behind you till you face the looking glass,
The cruel looking-glass that will never show a lass
As lovely or unlucky or as lonely as I was!"
Queen Bess was Harry's daughter. Now turn your partners all!
The Queen was in her chamber, a weeping very sore,
There came a Lord Leicester's spirit and it scratched upon the door
Singing "Backwards and forwards and sideways may you pass,
But I will walk beside you till you face the looking glass,
The cruel looking-glass that will never show a lass
As hard and unforgiving or as wicked as you was!"
Queen Bess was Harry's daughter. Now kiss your partners all!
The Queen was in her chamber, her sins were on head head.
She looked the spirits up and down and statelily she said -
"Backwards and forwards and sideways though I've been,
Yet I'm Harry's daughter and I am England's Queen!"
And she faced her looking-glass (and whatever else there was)
And she saw her days was over and she saw her beauty pass
In the cruel looking-glass, that can always hurt a lass
More than any ghost there is or any man there was!
ÄÅÒÈ ÌÀÐÔÛ
The Sons of Mary seldom bother, for they have inherited that good part;
But the Sons of Martha favour their Mother of the careful soul and the troubled
heart.
And because she lost her temper once, and because she was rude to the Lord her
Guest,
Her Sons must wait upon Mary's Sons, world without end, reprieve, or rest.
It is their care in all the ages to take the buffet and cushion
the shock. It is their care that the gear engages; it is their care that the
switches lock.
It is their care that the wheels run truly; it is their care to embark and entrain,
Tally, transport, and deliver duly the Sons of Mary by land and main.
They say to mountains, "Be ye removed." They say to the lesser floods,
"Be dry."
Under their rods are the rocks reproved - they are not afraid of that which
is high.
Then do the hill-tops shake to the summit - then is the bed of the deep laid
bare,
That the Sons of Mary may overcome it, pleasantly sleeping and unaware.
They finger death at their gloves' end where they piece and repiece the living
wires.
He rears against the gates they tend: they feed him hungry behind their fires.
Early at dawn, ere men see clear, they stumble into his terrible stall,
And hale him forth like a haltered steer, and goad and turn him till evenfall.
To these from birth is Belief forbidden; from these till death is Relief afar.
They are concerned with matters hidden - under the earthline their altars are
-
The secret fountains to follow up, waters withdrawn to restore to the mouth,
And gather the floods as in a cup, and pour them again at a city's drouth.
They do not preach that their God will rouse them a little before the nuts work
loose.
They do not teach that His Pity allows them to drop their job when they dam'-well
choose.
As in the thronged and the lighted ways, so in the dark and the desert they
stand,
Wary and watchful all their days that their brethren's days may be long in the
land.
Raise ye the stone or cleave the wood to make a path more fair or flat -
Lo, it is black already with blood some Son of Martha spilled for that!
Not as a ladder from earth to Heaven, not as a witness to any creed,
But simple service simply given to his own kind in their common need.
And the Sons of Mary smile and are blessed - they know the Angels are on their
side.
They know in them is the Grace confessed, and for them are the Mercies multiplied.
They sit at the Feet - they hear the Word - they see how truly the Promise runs.
They have cast their burden upon the Lord, and - the Lord He lays it on Martha's
Sons!
ÑËÀÂÀ ÑÀÄÀ
Our England is a garden that is full of stately views,
Of borders, beds and shrubberies and lawns and avenues,
With statues on tlie terraces and peacocks strutting by;
But the Glory of the Garden lies in more than meets the eye.
For where the old thick laurels grow, along the thin red wall,
You will find the tool- and potting-sheds which are the heart of all;
The cold-frames and the hot-houses, the dungpits and the tanks,
The rollers, carts and drain-pipes, with the barrows and the planks.
And there you'll see the gardeners, the men and 'prentice boys
Told off to do as they are bid and do it without noise;
For, except when seeds are planted and we shout to scare' the birds,
The Glory of the Garden it abideth not in words.
And some can pot begonias and some can bud a rose,
And some are hardly fit to trust with anything that grows;
But they can roll and trim the lawns and sift tlie sand and loam,
For the Glory of the Garden occupielh all who come.
Our England is a garden, and such gardens are not made
By singing: - "Oh, how beautiful!" and sitting in the shade,
While better men than we go out and start their working lives
At grubbing weeds from gravel-paths with broken dinner-knives.
There's not a pair of legs so thin, there's not a head so thick,
There's not a hand so weak and white, nor yet a heart so sick,
But it can find some needful job that's crying to be done,
For the Glory of the Garden glorifieth every one.
Then seek your job with thankfulness and work till further orders,
If it's only netting strawberries of killing slugs on borders;
And when your back stops aching and your hands begin to harden,
You will find yourself a partner in the Glory of the Garden.
Oh, Adam was a gardener, and God who made him sees
That half a proper gardener's work is done upon his knees,
So when your work is finished, you can wash your hands and pray
For the Glory of the Garden, that it may not pass away!
And the Glory of the Garden it shall never pass away!
Çà öûãàíñêîé çâåçäîé
The white moth to the closing bine,
The bee to the opened clover,
And the gipsy blood to the gipsy blood
Ever the wide world over.
Ever the wide world over, lass,
Ever the trail held true,
Over the world and under the world,
And back at the last to you.
Out of the dark of the gorgio camp,
Out of the grime and the gray
(Morning waits at the end of the world),
Gipsy, come away!
The wild boar to the sun-dried swamp,
The red crane to her reed,
And the Romany lass to the Romany lad
By the tie of a roving breed.
The pied snake to the rifted rock,
The buck to the stony plain,
And the Romany lass to the Romany lad,
And both to the road again.
Both to the road again, again!
Out on a clean sea-track —
Follow the cross of the gipsy trail
Over the world and back!
Follow the Romany patteran
North where the blue bergs sail,
And the bows are grey with the frozen spray,
And the masts are shod with mail.
Follow the Romany patteran
Sheer to the Austral Light,
Where the besom of God is the wild South wind,
Sweeping the sea-floors white.
Follow the Romany patteran
West to the sinking sun,
Till the junk-sails lift through the houseless drift.
And the east and west are one.
Follow the Romany patteran
East where the silence broods
By a purple wave on an opal beach
In the hush of the Mahim woods.
“The wild hawk to the wind-swept sky,
The deer to the wholesome world,
And the heart of a man to the heart of a maid,
As it was in the days of old.”
The heart of a man to the heart of a maid —
Light of my tents, be fleet.
Morning waits at the end of the world,
And the world is all at our feet!
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© 2000 Elena and Yacov Feldman