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{{TextQuality|50%}}{{poem
{{TextQuality|75%}}{{poem
  | title    = Alnaschar and the Oxen
  | title    = The Centaurs
  | author  = Rudyard Kipling
  | author  = Rudyard Kipling
  | section  =  
  | section  =  
  | previous =
  | previous =
  | next    =
  | next    =
  | notes    = First published in the collection ''[[Debits and Credits]]'' (1926), accompanying the story [[The Bull that Thought|The Bull That Thought]].
  | notes    = First published in the collection ''[[Debits and Credits]]'' (1926), accompanying the story [[The United Idolaters]].
}}
}}


<div class="verse">
<div class="verse">
{{Sc|There’s}} a pasture in a valley where the hanging woods divide,<br />
<poem>
And a Herd lies down and ruminates in peace;<br />
Up came the young Centaur-colts from the plains they were fathered in —
Where the pheasant rules the nooning, and the owl the twilight tide,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Curious, awkward, afraid.
And the war-cries of our world die out and cease.<br />
Burrs on their hocks and their tails, they were branded and gathered in
Here I cast aside the burden that each weary week-day brings<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mobs and run up to the yard to be made.
And, delivered from the shadows I pursue,<br />
 
On peaceful, postless, Sabbaths I consider Weighty Things<br />
Starting and shying at straws, with sidlings and plungings,
Such as Sussex Cattle feeding in the dew!<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Buckings and whirlings and bolts;
At the gate beside the river where the trouty shallows brawl,<br />
Greener than grass, but full-ripe for their bridling and lungings,
I know the pride that Lobengula felt,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Up to the yards and to Chiron they bustled the colts…
When he bade the bars be lowered of the Royal Cattle Kraal,<br />
 
And fifteen miles of oxen took the veldt.<br />
First the light web and the cavesson; then the linked keys
From the walls of Bulawayo in unbroken file they came<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To jingle and turn on the tongue. Then, with cocked ears,
To where the Mount of Council cuts the blue…<br />
The hours of watching and envy, while comrades at ease
I have only six and twenty, but the principle's the same<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Passaged and backed, making naught of these terrible gears.
With my Sussex Cattle feeding in the dew!<br />
 
<br />
Next, over-pride and its price at the low-seeming fence
To a luscious sound of tearing, where the clovered herbage rips,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Too oft and too easily taken — the world-beheld fall!
Level-backed and level-bellied watch 'em move.<br />
And none in the yard except Chiron to doubt the immense,
See those shoulders, guess that heart-girth, praise those loins, admire those hips,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Irretrievable shame of it all!…
And the tail set low for flesh to make above!<br />
 
Count the broad unblemished muzzles, test the kindly mellow skin<br />
Last, the trained squadron, full-charge — the sound of a going
And, where yon heifer lifts her head at call,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Through dust and spun clods, and strong kicks, pelted in as they went,
Mark the bosom's just abundance 'neath the gay and cleancut chin,<br />
And repaid at top-speed; till the order to halt without slowing
And those eyes of Juno, overlooking all!<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Showed every colt on his haunches — and Chiron content!
<br />
</poem>
Here is colour, form and substance, I will put it to the proof<br />
And, next season, in my lodges shall be born<br />
Some very Bull of Mithras, flawless from his agate hoof<br />
To his even-branching ivory, dusk-tipped horn.<br />
He shall mate with block-square virgins — kings shall seek his like in vain,<br />
While I multiply his stock a thousandfold,<br />
Till an hungry world extol me, builder of a lofty strain<br />
That turns one standard ton at two years old.<br />
<br />
There's a valley, under oakwood, where a man may dream his dream,<br />
In the milky breath of cattle laid at ease,<br />
Till the moon o'ertops the alders, and her image chills the stream,<br />
And the river-mist runs silver round their knees!<br />
Now the footpaths fade and vanish; now the ferny clumps deceive;<br />
Now the hedgerow-folk possess their fields anew;<br />
Now the Herd is lost in darkness, and I bless them as I leave,<br />
My Sussex Cattle feeding in the dew! <br />
</div>
</div>
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Centaurs, The}}
[[Category:Poems]]
[[Category:Poems]]
[[Category:Rudyard Kipling]]
[[Category:Rudyard Kipling]]

Latest revision as of 14:11, 21 April 2014

The Centaurs
written by Rudyard Kipling
First published in the collection Debits and Credits (1926), accompanying the story The United Idolaters. Link to further information




Up came the young Centaur-colts from the plains they were fathered in —
    Curious, awkward, afraid.
Burrs on their hocks and their tails, they were branded and gathered in
    Mobs and run up to the yard to be made.

Starting and shying at straws, with sidlings and plungings,
    Buckings and whirlings and bolts;
Greener than grass, but full-ripe for their bridling and lungings,
    Up to the yards and to Chiron they bustled the colts…

First the light web and the cavesson; then the linked keys
    To jingle and turn on the tongue. Then, with cocked ears,
The hours of watching and envy, while comrades at ease
    Passaged and backed, making naught of these terrible gears.

Next, over-pride and its price at the low-seeming fence
    Too oft and too easily taken — the world-beheld fall!
And none in the yard except Chiron to doubt the immense,
    Irretrievable shame of it all!…

Last, the trained squadron, full-charge — the sound of a going
    Through dust and spun clods, and strong kicks, pelted in as they went,
And repaid at top-speed; till the order to halt without slowing
    Showed every colt on his haunches — and Chiron content!

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