Dane-Geld

Rudyard Kipling | Rudyard Kipling

[Clive]

Dane-Geld

A.D. 980-1016

It is always a temptation to an armed and agile nation
To call upon a neighbour and to say: --
"We invaded you last night--we are quite prepared to fight,
Unless you pay us cash to go away."

And that is called asking for Dane-geld,
And the people who ask it explain
That you've only to pay 'em the Dane-geld
And then you'll get rid of the Dane!

It is always a temptation for a rich and lazy nation,
To puff and look important and to say: --
"Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the time to meet you.
We will therefore pay you cash to go away."

And that is called paying the Dane-geld;
But we've proved it again and again,
That if once you have paid him the Dane-geld
You never get rid of the Dane.

It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation,
For fear they should succumb and go astray;
So when you are requested to pay up or be molested,
You will find it better policy to say: --

"We never pay any-one Dane-geld,
No matter how trifling the cost;
For the end of that game is oppression and shame,
And the nation that pays it is lost!"

[Clive]

Vis-à-vis North Korea

[bigheadfred]

She came to me one morning,
one lonely Sunday morning,
her long hair flowing in the mid-winter wind.
I know not how she found me, for in darkness I was walking,
and destruction lay around me from a fight I could not win.

She asked me name my foe then.
I said the need within some men
to fight and kill their brothers without thought of love or god.
And I begged her give me horses to trample down my enemies,
so eager was my passion to devour this waste of life.

But she would not think of battle that reduces men to animals,
so easy to begin and yet impossible to end.
For she the mother of all men did council me so wisely then
I feared to walk alone again and asked if she would stay.

“Oh lady lend your hand,” I cried,
“Oh let me rest here at your side.”
“Have faith and trust in me,”
she said and filled my heart with life.
“There is no strength in numbers.
Have no such misconception.
But when you need me be assured I won’t be far away.”

Thus having spoke she turned away
and though I found no words to say
I stood and watched until I saw her black cloak disappear.
My labor is no easier, but now I know I’m not alone.
I find new heart each time I think upon that windy day.
And if one day she comes to you drink deeply from her words so wise.
Take courage from her as your prize and say hello for me.

aka victory

[gortklattu]

Uriah Heep?

[bigheadfred]

by god’s grant

[Lowell1775]

It has always amazed me how Kipling speaks to manhood throughout the ages. His morals and messages timeless.
However, Kipling had balls.

This lesson is lost on the metrosexual loafer wearing sunken chested capons that pass for a ruling class now.

The only balls left in DC are found in golf bags and tennis courts.

[bigheadfred]

the greatest band until thane died

[bigheadfred]

Titleist makes tennis balls?

[bigheadfred]

Thanks Clive.

[JoeProBono]

[tumblindice]

`Jaw jaw is better than war war,’ but the NORK Inner Party can start spending some of its nuke money on heating oil and rice for its people.

Yeah right.

Knowing our fearless leaders, we will probably pay China back for the Dane-geld they spend to placate these pricks.
Just give them some more treasury notes, print some more money, rinse, repeat. Our tax dollars. Pay up, kulaks!

[VR-21]

Been a week or two since I listened to Salisbury. Thanks.

[bigheadfred]

Please don’t tell the gun grabbers about Simon.

[VR-21]

No sweat Fred.

[RightOnline]

Awesome, and highly underrated, album.

[GOPJ]

It is always a temptation for a rich and lazy nation, To puff and look important and to say: -- "Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the time to meet you. We will therefore pay you cash to go away."

Thanks for posting.