BeforetheoldPeshawurGate，whereKurdandKaffirmeet，TheGovernorofKabuldealttheJusticeoftheStreet，Andthatwasstraitasrunningnooseandswiftasplungingknife，Tho’hewhoheldthelongerpursemightholdthelongerlife。
　　TherewasahoundofHindustanhadstruckaEuzufzai，Whereforetheyspatuponhisfaceandledhimouttodie。
　　ItchancedtheKingwentforththathourwhenthroatwasbaredtoknife；
　　TheKaffirgrovelledunder-hoofandclamouredforhislife。
　　ThensaidtheKing：“Havehope，Ofriend！Yea，Deathdisgracedishard；
　　Muchhonourshallbethine“；andcalledtheCaptainoftheGuard，YarKhan，abastardoftheBlood，socity-babblesaith，AndhewashonouredoftheKing——thewhichissalttoDeath；
　　AndhewassonofDaoudShah，theReiverofthePlains，AndbloodofoldDuraniLordsranfireinhisveins；
　　And’twastotameanAfghanpridenorHellnorHeavencouldbind，TheKingwouldmakehimbutchertoayelpingcurofHind。
　　“Strike！”saidtheKing“King’sbloodartthou——
　　hisdeathshallbehispride！”
　　Thenlouder，thatthecrowdmightcatch：“Fearnot——hisarmsaretied！”
　　YarKhandrewcleartheKhyberknife，andstruck，andsheathedagain。
　　“Oman，thywillisdone。”quothhe；“aKingthisdoghathslain。”
　　AbdhurRahman，theDuraniChief，totheNorthandtheSouthissold。
　　TheNorthandtheSouthshallopentheirmouthtoaGhilzaiflagunrolled，WhenthebiggunsspeaktotheKhyberpeak，andhisdog-Heratisfly：
　　Yehaveheardthesong——Howlong？Howlong？
　　WolvesoftheAbazai！
　　Thatnightbeforethewatchwasset，whenallthestreetswereclear，TheGovernorofKabulspoke：“MyKing，hastthounofear？
　　Thouknowest——thouhastheard。”——hisspeechdiedathismaster’sface。
　　AndgrimlysaidtheAfghanKing：“IruletheAfghanrace。
　　Mypathismine——seethoutothine——to-nightuponthybedThinkwhotherebeinKabulnowthatclamourforthyhead。”
　　ThatnightwhenallthegateswereshuttoCityandtothrone，Withinalittlegarden-housetheKinglaydownalone。
　　Beforethesinkingofthemoon，whichistheNightofNight，YarKhancamesoftlytotheKingtomakehishonourwhite。
　　Thechildrenofthetownhadmockedbeneathhishorse’shoofs，Theharlotsofthetownhadhailedhim“butcher！”fromtheirroofs。
　　Butashegropedagainstthewall，twohandsuponhimfell，TheKingbehindhisshoulderspake：“Deadman，thoudostnotwell！
　　’TisilltojestwithKingsbydayandseekaboonbynight；
　　Andthatthoubearestinthyhandisalltoosharptowrite。
　　Butthreedayshence，ifGodbegood，andifthystrengthremain，Thoushaltdemandoneboonofmeandblessmeinthypain。
　　ForIammercifultoall，andmostofalltothee。
　　Mybutcheroftheshambles，rest——noknifehastthouforme！”
　　AbdhurRahman，theDuraniChief，holdshardbytheSouthandtheNorth；
　　ButtheGhilzaiknows，erethemeltingsnows，whentheswollenbanksbreakforth，Whenthered-coatscrawltothesungarwall，andhisUsbeglancesfail：
　　Yehaveheardthesong——Howlong？Howlong？
　　WolvesoftheZukaKheyl！
　　Theystonedhimintherubbish-fieldwhendawnwasinthesky，Accordingtothewrittenword，“Seethathedonotdie。”
　　Theystonedhimtillthestoneswerepiledabovehimontheplain，Andthosethelabouringlimbsdisplacedtheytumbledbackagain。
　　Onewatchedbesidethedrearymoundthatveiledthebatteredthing，AndhimtheKingwithlaughtercalledtheHeraldoftheKing。
　　Itwasuponthesecondnight，thenightofRamazan，ThewatcherleaningearthwardheardthemessageofYarKhan。
　　Fromshatteredbreastthroughshrivelledlipsbrokeforththerattlingbreath，“CreatureofGod，delivermefromagonyofDeath。”
　　TheysoughttheKingamonghisgirls，andriskedtheirlivesthereby：
　　“ProtectorofthePitiful，giveordersthathedie！”
　　“Bidhimendureuntiltheday。”alagginganswercame；
　　“Thenightisshort，andhecanprayandlearntoblessmyname。”
　　Beforethedawnthreetimeshespoke，andonthedayoncemore：
　　“CreatureofGod，deliverme，andblesstheKingtherefor！”
　　Theyshothimatthemorningprayer，toeasehimofhispain，Andwhenheheardthematchlocksclink，heblessedtheKingagain。
　　Whichthingthesingersmadeasongforalltheworldtosing，SothattheOuterSeasmayknowthemercyoftheKing。
　　AbdhurRahman，theDuraniChief，ofhimisthestorytold，HehasopenedhismouthtotheNorthandtheSouth，theyhavestuffedhismouthwithgold。
　　Yeknowthetruthofhistenderruth——andsweethisfavoursare：
　　Yehaveheardthesong——Howlong？Howlong？
　　fromBalkhtoKandahar。
　　THEBALLADOFTHEKING’SJEST
　　Whenspring-timeflushesthedesertgrass，OurkafilaswindthroughtheKhyberPass。
　　Leanarethecamelsbutfatthefrails，Lightarethepursesbutheavythebales，AsthesnowboundtradeoftheNorthcomesdownTothemarket-squareofPeshawurtown。
　　Inaturquoisetwilight，crispandchill，Akafilacampedatthefootofthehill。
　　Thenbluesmoke-hazeofthecookingrose，Andtent-pegansweredtohammer-nose；
　　Andthepicketedponies，shagandwild，Strainedattheirropesasthefeedwaspiled；
　　AndthebubblingcamelsbesidetheloadSprawledforafurlongadowntheroad；
　　AndthePersianpussy-cats，broughtforsale，Spatatthedogsfromthecamel-bale；
　　Andthetribesmenbellowedtohastenthefood；
　　Andthecamp-firestwinkledbyFortJumrood；
　　AndtherefledonthewingsofthegatheringduskAsavourofcamelsandcarpetsandmusk，Amurmurofvoices，areekofsmoke，TotellusthetradeoftheKhyberwoke。
　　Thelidoftheflesh-potchatteredhigh，Thekniveswerewhettedand——thencameI
　　ToMahbubAlithemuleteer，Patchinghisbridlesandcountinghisgear，Crammedwiththegossipofhalfayear。
　　ButMahbubAlithekindlysaid，“Betterisspeechwhenthebellyisfed。”
　　Soweplungedthehandtothemid-wristdeepInacinnamonstewofthefat-tailedsheep，Andhewhoneverhathtastedthefood，ByAllah！heknowethnotbadfromgood。
　　Wecleansedourbeardsofthemutton-grease，Welayonthematsandwerefilledwithpeace，Andthetalkslidnorth，andthetalkslidsouth，Withtheslidingpuffsfromthehookah-mouth。
　　Fourthingsgreaterthanallthingsare，——
　　WomenandHorsesandPowerandWar。
　　Wespakeofthemall，butthelastthemost，ForIsoughtawordofaRussianpost，Ofashiftypromise，anunsheathedswordAndagray-coatguardontheHelmundford。
　　ThenMahbubAliloweredhiseyesInthefashionofonewhoisweavinglies。
　　Quothhe：“OftheRussianswhocansay？
　　Whenthenightisgatheringallisgray。
　　ButwelookthatthegloomofthenightshalldieInthemorningflushofablood-redsky。
　　Friendofmyheart，isitmeetorwiseTowarnaKingofhisenemies？
　　WeknowwhatHeavenorHellmaybring，ButnomanknoweththemindoftheKing。
　　ThatunsoughtcounseliscursedofGodAttesteththestoryofWaliDad。
　　“Hissirewasleakyoftongueandpen，HisdamwasacluckingKhuttuckhen；
　　Andthecoltbredclosetotheviceofeach，Forhecarriedthecurseofanunstanchedspeech。
　　Therewithmadness——sothathesoughtThefavourofkingsattheKabulcourt；
　　Andtravelled，inhopeofhonour，farTothelinewherethegray-coatsquadronsare。
　　TherehaveIjourneyedtoo——butI
　　Sawnaught，saidnaught，and——didnotdie！
　　Heharkedtorumour，andsnatchedatabreathOf`thisoneknoweth’and`thatonesaith’，——
　　LegendsthatranfrommouthtomouthOfagray-coatcoming，andsackoftheSouth。
　　ThesehaveIalsoheard——theypassWitheachnewspringandthewintergrass。
　　“Hot-footsouthward，forgottenofGod，BacktothecityranWaliDad，EventoKabul——infulldurbarTheKingheldtalkwithhisChiefinWar。
　　Intothepressofthecrowdhebroke，Andwhathehadheardofthecomingspoke。
　　“ThenGholamHyder，theRedChief，smiled，Asamothermightonababblingchild；
　　Butthosewhowouldlaughrestrainedtheirbreath，WhenthefaceoftheKingshoweddarkasdeath。
　　EvilitisinfulldurbarTocrytoarulerofgatheringwar！
　　Slowlyheledtoapeach-treesmall，Thatgrewbyacleftofthecitywall。
　　Andhesaidtotheboy：`TheyshallpraisethyzealSolongastheredspurtfollowsthesteel。
　　AndtheRussisuponusevennow？
　　Greatisthyprudence——awaitthem，thou。
　　WatchfromthetreeThouartyoungandstrong，Surelythyvigilisnotforlong。
　　TheRussisuponus，thyclamourran？
　　Surelyanhourshallbringtheirvan。
　　WaitandwatchWhenthehostisnear，Shoutaloudthatmymenmayhear。’
　　“Friendofmyheart，isitmeetorwiseTowarnaKingofhisenemies？
　　Aguardwassetthathemightnotflee——
　　Ascoreofbayonetsringedthetree。
　　Thepeach-bloomfellinshowersofsnow，Whenheshookathisdeathashelookedbelow。
　　BythepowerofGod，whoaloneisgreat，Tilltheseventhdayhefoughtwithhisfate。
　　Thenmadnesstookhim，andmendeclareHemowedinthebranchesasapeandbear，Andlastasasloth，erehisbodyfailed，Andhehungasabatintheforks，andwailed，Andsleepthecordofhishandsuntied，Andhefell，andwascaughtonthepointsanddied。
　　“Heartofmyheart，isitmeetorwiseTowarnaKingofhisenemies？
　　WeknowwhatHeavenorHellmaybring，ButnomanknoweththemindoftheKing。
　　Ofthegray-coatcomingwhocansay？
　　Whenthenightisgatheringallisgray。
　　Twothingsgreaterthanallthingsare，ThefirstisLove，andthesecondWar。
　　AndsinceweknownothowWarmayprove，Heartofmyheart，letustalkofLove！”
　　THEBALLADOFBOHDATHONE
　　ThisistheballadofBohDaThone，ErstaPretendertoTheebaw’sthrone，WhoharriedthedistrictofAlalone：
　　HowhemetwithhisfateandtheV。P。P。
　　AtthehandofHarendraMukerji，SeniorGomashta，G。B。T。
　　BohDaThonewasawarriorbold：
　　HisswordandhisSniderwerebossedwithgold，AndthePeacockBannerhishenchmenboreWasstiffwithbullion，butstifferwithgore。
　　HeshotatthestrongandheslashedattheweakFromtheSalweenscrubtotheChindwinteak：
　　Hecrucifiednoble，hesacrificedmean，Hefilledoldladieswithkerosene：
　　Whileoverthewaterthepaperscried，“Thepatriotfightsforhiscountryside！”
　　ButlittletheycaredfortheNativePress，ThewornwhitesoldiersinKhakidress，Whotrampedthroughthejungleandcampedinthebyre，Whodiedintheswampandweretombedinthemire，Whogaveuptheirlives，attheQueen’sCommand，ForthePrideoftheirRaceandthePeaceoftheLand。
　　Now，firstofthefoemenofBohDaThoneWasCaptainO’Neilofthe“BlackTyrone“，AndhiswasaCompany，seventystrong，WhohustledthatdissoluteChiefalong。
　　TherewereladsfromGalwayandLouthandMeathWhowenttotheirdeathwithajokeintheirteeth，Andworshippedwithfluency，fervour，andzealThemudontheboot-heelsof“Crook“O’Neil。
　　Buteverablightontheirlabourslay，Andevertheirquarrywouldvanishaway，Tillthesun-driedboysoftheBlackTyroneTookabrotherlyinterestinBohDaThone：
　　And，sooth，ifpursuitinpossessionends，TheBohandhistrackerswerebestoffriends。