Читать книгу Traffics and Discoveries - Rudyard Kipling - Страница 5

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!

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.

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!

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?

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!