New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-28
THE Ballad or THE KINGS JEST


When springtlme nushes the desert grass,
our Lahlas wind through the Khyber Pass.
Lean the camels but TAT the ifa,is,
Iight are the purses but heavy the bale-. -
A. The snow bound tiudc Of the north comes down
TO the market square u PcShawur town.
In a turquoise twilight, crisp and chill.
kafla campcd ut the FOO 81 the mn.
Then blue smoke haze OF the cooking rose
And tent peg answered 10 hammer nose
And the pickcted ponies, shag ana WIZ,
strincd Al The ropes as the iecd was wa. P,' pS
And tho bubbliug camels beside the lphh
Sprawlrd for a nrl0ng adown the road
And the Persian pus'y-cais. brought Tor SAFE
~pat ~ the dogs from tho canel-Oale -,
And the trils,. men beloved Ia ha-teI the food,
Ana the camp hrcs twinkled by Fort Jumrood
And there hed on the winG' OF the satnerlh i Jus"
A savOnr OF camel and carpets "a MUSK,
\ murInur OF voices, a reeh 81 sinokc
TO tell US the trade OF the Khyber woke
The I'D 81 the hc,h.pot chattered high
The knives were whctfed and-then came
To Mahbnb Ali the muletcer.
Patching his brides and counting MS gear
Crommcd with the gossip of half year.
But Mshbub A. the kindly. aid
Netter l. speech when the belly u ied
80 we plunged the hand 10 the mid.wrst deep
In cinnamon stew Of the fat tailed sheep,
And he who never hath tasted the food,
By Allah he knoweth not bad from good
We eleansed our boards OF the mutton grease,
Ana t The O talk sid north the talk sid .eaih,
with the sliding pun. from the h hOoNnT '"o"'
Women and horses and power ana war
We spake Of them all but the las, me ne most
nr1Sr ! shfty promisc' a. unsileaihod sword.
And gray-coat srlsrd on the hcimund ford.
IN the fashion OF one who i, weaving lies.
onotn he "Of the Russinns who can sayl
WneT we tI ISoR That ths Coon Of the night Shall die
In the morning hush Of blood-rcd SKY
Friend OF my heart, is IL meet or wise
70 warn a King III hi enemies
We know what heaven or hon may bring,
nat no nan knoweth tho mind OF the King
THAT unsought counsel j. cursed oil hod'
Attestcth the story Of wan Dau.
. HIS Sire was leaky Of tongue and pen.
nj, dam was "A clucsins khuttuck hen,
And The colt bred clos 10 the Yi,e OF cE ss speech
rbcrrwth madness-so that he sought
Tyr favor II Kings ut the Cabul court
AID travelled. IN hope Of honor. iar
TO The inc where the gray coat squadrons are.
There have | journeyed too-bni |
saw nnmght. aid naught and-did rot die
lie hearked % rumOr. and snatch'd AT presth
OF This one krowcth and That one saith
Legends thai ran from month 20 mouth ca.
Of u gray.cOat coming. ana SACK ~ inc eouth'
These have also hcaFd-thev pas
With each new spri and the winter grass.
eHottooi ,ou,hword. forgotten of God.
Gnck 10 the city ran Wall Pad,
Even 10 Cuhul-n full durhar
The King held talk with his Chief in War.
Into the pres, Of the crowd he broke
And what be had heard OF the coming spoke
Then Cholam IIydcr. The Rcd Chief, smiled,
A. "a mOther might on \ habbli'g chid
Bat those would leueh restrained their breath,
When the face Of the King showed dark as death.
Evil II Is In full Dunbar
To crv To a ruler OF gathering war
SLOW ~ he led to q peach tree small.
That grew by a cleft OF the city wall.
And he said 10 the hoy They shall praise thy zen
30 long ~ The red squirt follows the steel.
And the Russ Is upon lis even now
Great is thy pridcpcc-wait them. thou
Watch from the tree Thou art young and strong
surely thy vigil il not for long
The Russ Is upon MS. thy clamor rnnl
surely nm hour shall bring the van.
Wait aud watch. When the host Is near
shout aloud that my mon may hear.
Friend Of my heart. j. IT meet or wise
10 warn King Of his enemies ,
A guard was set that he might not flee
A score OF bayonet> rlngCd the tree.
The peach bloom fell In showers OF snow,
When he shook at his death rs he looked below.
Dy the power OF tod, who alone Is great.
Til the twentieth day he fought with his fate.
Then madness took him. and men declare
lie moved In the branches rs ape and bear.
And last rs u sloth. ere his body failed
Aud he hung like bat In The forks. and walled,
And sleep the cord OF his hands united,
And he fell. and was caught on the points, and died
Heart OF my heart is IL meet or wise
To warn q King Of his enemies
We know what heaven or hell may bring.
But no man knowcth the mind OF the King.
OF tho gray coat coming who can say
When the night Is gathering all Is gray.
Two things greater than all things IRE.
The first Is love and the second war
And since we know not how war may prove,
Heart Of my heart let us talk Of love -