Part 13 (2/2)
The Lair of the Wolf is his refuge, and where he has made him his home, Not even the Head Wolf may enter, not even the Council may come.
The Lair of the Wolf is his refuge, but where he has digged it too plain, The Council shall send him a message, and so he shall change it again.
If ye kill before midnight, be silent, and wake not the woods with your bay, Lest ye frighten the deer from the crops, and the brothers go empty away.
Ye may kill for yourselves, and your mates, and your cubs as they need, and ye can; But kill not for pleasure of killing, and _seven times never kill Man!_
If ye plunder his Kill from a weaker, devour not all in thy pride; Pack-Right is the right of the meanest; so leave him the head and the hide.
The Kill of the Pack is the meat of the Pack. Ye must eat where it lies; And no one may carry away of that meat to his lair, or he dies.
The Kill of the Wolf is the meat of the Wolf. He may do what he will, But, till he has given permission, the Pack may not eat of that Kill.
Cub-Right is the right of the Yearling. From all of his Pack he may claim Full-gorge when the killer has eaten; and none may refuse him the same.
Lair-Right is the right of the Mother. From all of her year she may claim One haunch of each kill for her litter; and none may deny her the same.
Cave-Right is the right of the Father--to hunt by himself for his own: He is freed of all calls to the Pack; he is judged by the Council alone.
Because of his age and his cunning, because of his gripe and his paw, In all that the Law leaveth open, the word of the Head Wolf is Law.
_Now these are the Laws of the Jungle, and many and mighty are they; But the head and the hoof of the Law and the haunch and the hump is--Obey!_
'A SERVANT WHEN HE REIGNETH'
(For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: for a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; for an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.--PROV. x.x.x. 21, 22, 23.)
Three things make earth unquiet, And four she cannot brook; The G.o.dly Agur counted them And put them in a book-- Those Four Tremendous Curses With which mankind is cursed: But a Servant when He Reigneth Old Agur counted first.
An Handmaid that is Mistress We need not call upon, A Fool when he is full of Meat Will fall asleep anon.
An Odious Woman Married May bear a babe and mend.
But a Servant when He Reigneth Is Confusion to the end.
His feet are swift to tumult, His hands are slow to toil, His ears are deaf to reason, His lips are loud in broil.
He knows no use for power Except to show his might, He gives no heed to judgment Unless it prove him right.
Because he served a master Before his Kings.h.i.+p came, And hid in all disaster Behind his master's name, So, when his Folly opens The unnecessary h.e.l.ls, A Servant when He Reigneth Throws the blame on some one else.
His vows are lightly spoken, His faith is hard to bind.
His trust is easy broken, He fears his fellow-kind.
The nearest mob will move him To break the pledge he gave-- Oh a Servant when He Reigneth Is more than ever slave!
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