“Well, I don’t see anything comical—greatly—except
here an’ there. Specially about those redooced
charges in the guns. Do you see anything
funny in it?”
There was that in his eye which warned me the night
was too wet for argument.
“No, Mr. Pyecroft, I don’t,” I replied.
“It was a beautiful tale, and I thank you very
much.”
THE RUNNERS
News!
What is the word that they tell now—now—now!
The little drums beating in the bazaars?
They beat
(among the buyers and sellers)
"Nimrud—ah
Nimrud!
God
sends a gnat against Nimrud!”
Watchers, O Watchers
a thousand!
News!
At the edge of the crops—now—now—where
the well-wheels are halted,
One prepares to loose the bullocks and
one scrapes his hoe,
They beat
(among the sowers and the reapers)
"Nimrud—ah
Nimrud!
God
prepares an ill day for Nimrud!”
Watchers, O Watchers
ten thousand.
News!
By the fires of the camps—now—now—where
the travellers meet
Where the camels come in and the horses:
their men conferring,
They beat
(among the packmen and the drivers)
"Nimrud—ah
Nimrud!
Thus
it befell last noon to Nimrud!”
Watchers, O Watchers
an hundred thousand!
News!
Under the shadow of the border-peels—now—now—now!
In the rocks of the passes where the expectant
shoe their horses,
They beat
(among the rifles and the riders)
"Nimrud—ah
Nimrud!
Shall
we go up against Nimrud?”
Watchers, O Watchers
a thousand thousand?
News!
Bring out the heaps of grain—open
the account-books again!
Drive forward the well-bullocks against
the taxable harvest!
Eat and lie under the trees—pitch
the police-guarded fair-grounds,
O dancers!
Hide away the rifles and let down the
ladders from the watch-towers!
They beat
(among all the peoples)
"Now—now—now!
God
has reserved the Sword for Nimrud!
God
has given Victory to Nimrud!”
Let
us abide under Nimrud!”
O Well-disposed
and Heedful, an hundred thousand thousand!
