Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/194

For out of many ventures
    That sailed with hope as high,
My own have made the better trade,
    And Admiral am I.

To me my King’s much honour,
    To me my people’s love—
To me the pride of Princes
    And power all pride above;
To me the shouting cities,
    To me the mob’s refrain:—
“Who knows not noble Valdez,
    Hath never heard of Spain.”

But I remember comrades—
    Old playmates on new seas—
Whenas we traded orpiment
    Among the savages—
A thousand leagues to south’ard
    And thirty years removed—
They knew not noble Valdez,
    But me they knew and loved.

Then they that found good liquor,
    They drank it not alone,
And they that found fair plunder,
    They told us every one,
About our chosen islands
    Or secret shoals between,
When, weary from far voyage,
    We gathered to careen.

There burned our breaming-fagots
    All pale along the shore:
There rose our worn pavilions—
    A sail above an oar;