Rewards and Fairies

by Rudyard Kipling

  Cold Iron

  'Gold is for the mistress--silver for the maid! Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.' 'Good!' said the Baron, sitting in his hall, 'But Iron--Cold Iron--is master of them all!'

  So he made rebellion 'gainst the King his liege, Camped before his citadel and summoned it to siege-- 'Nay!' said the cannoneer on the castle wall, 'But Iron--Cold Iron--shall be master of you all!'

  Woe for the Baron and his knights so strong, When the cruel cannon-balls laid 'em all along! He was taken prisoner, he was cast in thrall, And Iron--Cold Iron--was master of it all!

  Yet his King spake kindly (Oh, how kind a Lord!) 'What if I release thee now and give thee back thy sword?' 'Nay!' said the Baron, 'mock not at my fall, For Iron--Cold Iron--is master of men all.'

  'Tears are for the craven, prayers are for the clown-- Halters for the silly neck that cannot keep a crown.' 'As my loss is grievous, so my hope is small, For Iron--Cold Iron--must be master of men all!'

  Yet his King made answer (few such Kings there be!) 'Here is Bread and here is Wine--sit and sup with me. Eat and drink in Mary's Name, the whiles I do recall How Iron--Cold Iron--can be master of men all!'

  He took the Wine and blessed It; He blessed and brake the Bread. With His own Hands He served Them, and presently He said: 'Look! These Hands they pierced with nails outside my city wall Show Iron--Cold Iron--to be master of men all!

  'Wounds are for the desperate, blows are for the strong, Balm and oil for weary hearts all cut and bruised with wrong. I forgive thy treason--I redeem thy fall-- For Iron--Cold Iron--must be master of men all!'

  'Crowns are for the valiant--sceptres for the bold! Thrones and powers for mighty men who dare to take and hold.' 'Nay!' said the Baron, kneeling in his hall, 'But Iron--Cold Iron--is master of men all! Iron, out of Calvary, is master of men all!'

  GLORIANA