Posted on 06/04/2021 8:13:59 AM PDT by Jan_Sobieski
The Wrath of the Awakened Saxon by Rudyard Kipling (1917)
It was not part of their blood,
It came to them very late,
With long arrears to make good,
When the Saxon began to hate.
They were not easily moved,
They were icy -- willing to wait
Till every count should be proved,
Ere the Saxon began to hate.
Their voices were even and low.
Their eyes were level and straight.
There was neither sign nor show
When the Saxon began to hate.
It was not preached to the crowd.
It was not taught by the state.
No man spoke it aloud
When the Saxon began to hate.
It was not suddently bred.
It will not swiftly abate.
Through the chilled years ahead,
When Time shall count from the date
That the Saxon began to hate.
(Excerpt) Read more at americandigest.org ...
ajntsa
That’s not Kipling. That’s something someone re-wrote. Here’s the original which, in context, was expressing anti-German sentiment during WW I:
THE BEGINNINGS
It was not part of their blood,
It came to them very late
With long arrears to make good,
When the English began to hate.
They were not easily moved,
They were icy willing to wait
Till every count should be proved,
Ere the English began to hate.
Their voices were even and low,
Their eyes were level and straight.
There was neither sign nor show,
When the English began to hate.
It was not preached to the crowd,
It was not taught by the State.
No man spoke it aloud,
When the English began to hate.
It was not suddenly bred,
It will not swiftly abate,
Through the chill years ahead,
When Time shall count from the date
That the English began to hate.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/13085/13085-h/13085-h.htm#page443
Why not? We sometimes need a little prodding by our non-feminized (masculine) ancestors.
btt.....Love some Kipling
RIP John.
Best Saxon ever!
Everything I read about him is he was great to work with and had a wonderful sense of humor.
I was going to comment the same. Kipling wrote the poem because his son was killed in WWI by the Germans. I don’t think he would like the word “English” changed to “Saxon” (a German tribe who gave their name to three German states; Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Niedersachsen).
To say Kipling wrote “THE WRATH OF THE AWAKENED SAXON” is a lie, a canard that completely reverses the intent of what Kipling wrote. Who published this and ascribed it to Kipling should be ashamed, and I am ashamed and very sorry to see it here on Free Republic.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.