Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/198

’Was Youth would keep no vigil at the bow,
    ’Was Pleasure at the helm too drunk to steer—
We’ve shipped three able quartermasters now.
    Men call them Custom, Reverence, and Fear
                        (Foul weather!)
They are old and scarred and plain, but we’ll run no risk again
    From any Port o’ Paphos mutineer!

We seek no more the tempest for delight,
    We skirt no more the indraught and the shoal—
We ask no more of any day or night
    Than to come with least adventure to our goal
                        (Foul weather!)
What we find we needs must brook, but we do not go to look,
    Nor tempt the Lord our God that saved us whole.

Yet, caring so, not overmuch we care
    To brace and trim for every foolish blast,
If the squall be pleased to sweep us unaware,
    He may bellow off to leeward like the last
                        (Foul weather!)
We will blame it on the deep (for the watch must have their sleep),
    And Love can come and wake us when ’tis past.

Oh launch them down with music from the beach,
    Oh warp them out with garlands from the quays—
Most resolute—a damsel unto each—
    New prows that seek the old Hesperides!
                        (Foul weather!)
Though we know their voyage is vain, yet we see our path again
    In the saffroned bridesails scenting all the seas!
                        (Foul weather!)