"O white man!" spake the Kaffir chief,
"We know that thou art brave;
And brave men have not hearts of steel,
But save when they can save.
"We come to crave one boon from thee:
Reverse thy stern command;
O bid us not depart from here;
This is our Fatherland!
"We love it, as the white man loves
His home beyond the sea;
Thou would'st not let a stranger take
That dear-loved land from thee.
"We'll live in peace, and do thy will;
We'll call thy Queen our Queen;
O let us die where we were born,
And let this waving green,
"Which waves above our fathers' dust,
Once wave above our head;
When white man's herds shall crop the grass
Where Kaffir cattle fed."
The white man's brow grew stern, he spake—
"No mercy shall be given
To black men who can break their oaths,
And fear no God in heav'n.
"Ten years ago you ask'd for peace;
The white man gave you peace;
He gave back lands he took from you;
From bonds he gave release.
