RECESSIONAL God of our fathers, known of old The tumult and the shouting dies An humble and a contrite heart. Far-called our navies melt away 5 10 On dune and headland sinks the fire Lo, all our pomp of yesterday 15 Is one with Nineveh and Tyre! Judge of the Nations, spare us yet, If, drunk with sight of power, we loose Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe Such boasting as the Gentiles use Or lesser breeds without the Law Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget - lest we forget! 5 For heathen heart that puts her trust And guarding calls not Thee to guard Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord! Amen. HELPS TO STUDY RUDYARD KIPLING. At the close of Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee, celebrating the sixtieth year of her reign, this poem appeared in the London Times. A recessional is a hymn sung at the close of a public service, as the clergy and choir are leaving the church. And so this poem records the departure of the kings, captains, and navies after the jubilee celebrations. Its plea for humility in a time of national pride is similar to that made in Lincoln's addresses. 1. On what occasion was this poem written? 2. Why is it called "Recessional"? 3. In the first stanza what is meant by England's "far-flung battle-line"? 4. What is meant by "Dominion over palm and pine"? 5. In times of success and pride, what are we in danger of forgetting? 6. Why is "a humble and a contrite heart" an acceptable sacrifice? 7. What has happened to the pomp of Nineveh and Tyre? 8. In the last stanza, what things are named in which a nation should not put its trust? 9. What is the "reeking tube"? the "iron shard"? Gentiles in the fourth stanza, and heathen in the fifth stanza are used in the sense of " opposed to God," "not of God's people." The imagery and tone of the poem are similar to those of the Old Testament. ROBINSON CRUSOE AND HIS MAN FRIDAY There was one cause for anxiety that kept me constantly on the watch. From time to time I had seen savages land their canoes on my island, but thus far my habitation had not been discovered. I was surprised one morning early to see no less than five canoes, 5 all on shore together on my side of the island, and the people who belonged to them all landed, and out of my sight. The number of them broke all my plans; for seeing so many, and knowing that they always came four, or six, or sometimes more, in a boat, I 10 could not tell what to think of it, or how to attack twenty or thirty men single-handed; so I lay still in my castle. However, I made all the arrangements for an attack that I had formerly provided, and was ready for action. Having waited a good while, listen- 15 ing to hear if they made any noise, at length, being very impatient, I set my guns at the foot of my ladder, and clambered up to the top of the hill; standing so, however, that my head did not appear above the hill, so that they could not perceive me by any means. 20 Here I observed, by the help of my telescope, that they were no less than thirty in number, that they had a fire kindled, and that they had meat dressed. How they had cooked it, I knew not, or what it was; but they were all dancing round the fire. While I was thus looking on them, I perceived by my glass two miserable wretches dragged from the 5 boats. One of them immediately fell, being knocked down, I suppose, with a club or wooden sword, for that was their way, and two or three others were at work immediately, cutting him open for their cookery, while the other victim was left standing by himself, 10 till they should be ready for him. In that very moment, this poor wretch, seeing himself a little at liberty, started away from them, and ran swiftly along the sands directly towards me, I mean towards the part of the coast where my habitation was. 15 I was dreadfully frightened (that I must acknowledge) when I saw him run my way, and especially when, as I thought, I saw him pursued by the whole body. However, I kept my station, and my spirits began to recover when I found that there were not 20 more than three men that followed him. And still more was I encouraged when I found that he outstripped them in running, and gained ground on them, so that if he could but hold it for half an hour, I saw easily he would get away from them all. 25 There was between them and my castle the creek, which I mentioned in the first part of my story, when I landed my cargoes out of the ship; and I saw plainly he must necessarily swim over, or the poor wretch would be taken there. But when the savage escaping came thither, he made nothing of it, though the tide was then up; but plunging in, swam through in about thirty strokes or thereabouts, landed, and ran on with 5 great strength and swiftness. When the three persons came to the creek, I found that two of them could swim, but the third could not, and that, standing on the other side, he looked at the others, but went no farther, and soon after went quietly back, which, as 10 it happened, was very well for him. I observed that the two who swam were more than twice as long swimming over the creek as the fellow was that fled from them. It came now very warmly upon my thoughts, that now was my time to get me a 15 servant, and perhaps a companion or assistant, and that I was called plainly by Providence to save this poor creature's life. I immediately, with all possible haste, fetched my two guns, and getting up again to the very top of the hill, put myself in the way between 20 the pursuers and the pursued, hallooing aloud to him that fled, who, looking back, was at first perhaps as much frightened at me as at them. But I beckoned with my hand to him to come back; and, in the meantime, I slowly advanced toward the two that followed; 25 then rushing at once upon the foremost, I knocked him down with the stock of my gun. Having knocked this |