AndovertheGermanbenchesthebeardedwhisperran：——
“Lager，dergirlsundderdollars，deymakesordeybreaksaman。
IfSchmitthafcollaredderdollars，hecollarsdergirlderemit；
ButifSchmittbustinderpizness，wecollarsdergirlfromSchmitt。”
Theypassedoneresolution：——“Yoursub-committeebelieveYoucanlightenthecurseofAdamwhenyou’velightenedthecurseofEve。
Buttillwearebuiltlikeangels，withhammerandchiselandpen，Wewillworkforourselfandawoman，foreverandever，amen。”
NowthisisthetaleoftheCounciltheGermanKaiserheld——
ThedaythattheyrazoredtheGrindstone，thedaythattheCatwasbelled，ThedayoftheFigsfromThistles，thedayoftheTwistedSands，ThedaythatthelaughofamaidenmadelightoftheLordsofTheirHands。
TOMLINSON
NowTomlinsongaveuptheghostinhishouseinBerkeleySquare，AndaSpiritcametohisbedsideandgrippedhimbythehair——
ASpiritgrippedhimbythehairandcarriedhimfaraway，Tillheheardastheroarofarain-fedfordtheroaroftheMilkyWay：
TillheheardtheroaroftheMilkyWaydiedownanddroneandcease，AndtheycametotheGatewithintheWallwherePeterholdsthekeys。
“Standup，standupnow，Tomlinson，andanswerloudandhighThegoodthatyedidforthesakeofmenoreveryecametodie——
Thegoodthatyedidforthesakeofmeninlittleearthsolone！”
AndthenakedsoulofTomlinsongrewwhiteasarain-washedbone。
“OIhaveafriendonearth。”hesaid，“thatwasmypriestandguide，Andwellwouldheanswerallformeifhewerebymyside。”——
“Forthatyestroveinneighbour-loveitshallbewrittenfair，ButnowyewaitatHeaven’sGateandnotinBerkeleySquare：
Thoughwecalledyourfriendfromhisbedthisnight，hecouldnotspeakforyou，Fortheraceisrunbyoneandoneandneverbytwoandtwo。”
ThenTomlinsonlookedupanddown，andlittlegainwasthere，Forthenakedstarsgrinnedoverhead，andhesawthathissoulwasbare：
TheWindthatblowsbetweentheworlds，itcuthimlikeaknife，AndTomlinsontookuphistaleandspokeofhisgoodinlife。
“ThisIhavereadinabook。”hesaid，“andthatwastoldtome，AndthisIhavethoughtthatanothermanthoughtofaPrinceinMuscovy。”
Thegoodsoulsflockedlikehomingdovesandbadehimclearthepath，AndPetertwirledthejanglingkeysinwearinessandwrath。
“Yehaveread，yehaveheard，yehavethought。”hesaid，“andthetaleisyettorun：
Bytheworthofthebodythatonceyehad，giveanswer——whatha’
yedone？”
ThenTomlinsonlookedbackandforth，andlittlegooditbore，FortheDarknessstayedathisshoulder-bladeandHeaven’sGatebefore：——
“OthisIhavefelt，andthisIhaveguessed，andthisIhaveheardmensay，AndthistheywrotethatanothermanwroteofacarlinNorroway。”——
“Yehaveread，yehavefelt，yehaveguessed，goodlack！
YehavehamperedHeaven’sGate；
There’slittleroombetweenthestarsinidlenesstoprate！
Ononemayreachbyhiredspeechofneighbour，priest，andkinThroughborroweddeedtoGod’sgoodmeedthatliessofairwithin；
Gethence，gethencetotheLordofWrong，fordoomhasyettorun，And。thefaiththatyesharewithBerkeleySquareupholdyou，Tomlinson！”。
TheSpiritgrippedhimbythehair，andsunbysuntheyfellTilltheycametothebeltofNaughtyStarsthatrimthemouthofHell：
Thefirstareredwithprideandwrath，thenextarewhitewithpain，Butthethirdareblackwithclinkeredsinthatcannotburnagain：
Theymayholdtheirpath，theymayleavetheirpath，withneverasoultomark，Theymayburnorfreeze，buttheymustnotceaseintheScornoftheOuterDark。
TheWindthatblowsbetweentheworlds，itnippedhimtothebone，AndheyearnedtotheflareofHell-Gatethereasthelightofhisownhearth-stone。
TheDevilhesatbehindthebars，wherethedesperatelegionsdrew，ButhecaughtthehastingTomlinsonandwouldnotlethimthrough。
“Wotyethepriceofgoodpit-coalthatImustpay？”saidhe，“Thatyerankyoursel’sofitforHellandasknoleaveofme？
Iamallo’er-sibtoAdam’sbreedthatyeshouldgivemescorn，ForIstrovewithGodforyourFirstFatherthedaythathewasborn。
Sitdown，sitdownupontheslag，andanswerloudandhighTheharmthatyedidtotheSonsofMenoreveryoucametodie。”
AndTomlinsonlookedupandup，andsawagainstthenightThebellyofatorturedstarblood-redinHell-Mouthlight；
AndTomlinsonlookeddownanddown，andsawbeneathhisfeetThefrontletofatorturedstarmilk-whiteinHell-Mouthheat。
“OIhadaloveonearth。”saidhe，“thatkissedmetomyfall，AndifyewouldcallmylovetomeIknowshewouldanswerall。”——
“Allthatyedidinloveforbiditshallbewrittenfair，ButnowyewaitatHell-MouthGateandnotinBerkeleySquare：
Thoughwewhistledyourlovefromherbedto-night，Itrowshewouldnotrun，Forthesinyedobytwoandtwoyemustpayforonebyone！”
TheWindthatblowsbetweentheworlds，itcuthimlikeaknife，AndTomlinsontookupthetaleandspokeofhissininlife：——
“OnceIha’laughedatthepowerofLoveandtwiceatthegripoftheGrave，AndthriceIha’pattedmyGodontheheadthatmenmightcallmebrave。”
TheDevilheblewonabranderedsoulandsetitasidetocool：——
“DoyethinkIwouldwastemygoodpit-coalonthehideofabrain-sickfool？
IseenoworthinthehobnailedmirthorthejoltheadjestyedidThatIshouldwakenmygentlementhataresleepingthreeonagrid。”
ThenTomlinsonlookedbackandforth，andtherewaslittlegrace，ForHell-GatefilledthehouselessSoulwiththeFearofNakedSpace。
“Nay，thisIha’heard。”quo’Tomlinson，“andthiswasnoisedabroad，AndthisIha’gotfromaBelgianbookonthewordofadeadFrenchlord。”——
“Yeha’heard，yeha’read，yeha’got，goodlack！
andthetalebeginsafresh——
Haveyesinnedonesinfortheprideo’theeyeorthesinfullustoftheflesh？”
ThenTomlinsonhegrippedthebarsandyammered，“Letmein——
ForImindthatIborrowedmyneighbour’swifetosinthedeadlysin。”
TheDevilhegrinnedbehindthebars，andbankedthefireshigh：
“Didyereadofthatsininabook？”saidhe；andTomlinsonsaid，“Ay！”
TheDevilheblewuponhisnails，andthelittledevilsran，Andhesaid：“Gohuskthiswhimperingthiefthatcomesintheguiseofaman：
Winnowhimout’twixtstarandstar，andsievehisproperworth：
There’ssoredeclineinAdam’slineifthisbespawnofearth。”
Empusa’screw，sonaked-newtheymaynotfacethefire，Butweepthattheybintoosmalltosintotheheightoftheirdesire，OverthecoaltheychasedtheSoul，andrackeditallabroad，Aschildrenrifleacaddis-caseortheraven’sfoolishhoard。
AndbacktheycamewiththetatteredThing，aschildrenafterplay，Andtheysaid：“ThesoulthathegotfromGodhehasbarteredcleanaway。
Wehavethreshedastookofprintandbook，andwinnowedachatteringwindAndmanyasoulwherefromhestole，buthiswecannotfind：
Wehavehandledhim，wehavedandledhim，wehavesearedhimtothebone，Andsureiftoothandnailshowtruthhehasnosoulofhisown。”
TheDevilhebowedhisheadonhisbreastandrumbleddeepandlow：——
“I’mallo’er-sibtoAdam’sbreedthatIshouldbidhimgo。
Yetclosewelie，anddeepwelie，andifIgavehimplace，Mygentlementhataresoproudwouldfloutmetomyface；
They’dcallmyhouseacommonstewsandmeacarelesshost，And——Iwouldnotangermygentlemenforthesakeofashiftlessghost。”
TheDevilhelookedatthemangledSoulthatprayedtofeeltheflame，AndhethoughtofHolyCharity，buthethoughtofhisowngoodname：——
“Nowyecouldhastemycoaltowaste，andsityedowntofry：
Didyethinkofthattheftforyourself？”saidhe；andTomlinsonsaid，“Ay！”
TheDevilheblewanoutwardbreath，forhisheartwasfreefromcare：——
“Yehavescarcethesoulofalouse。”hesaid，“buttherootsofsinarethere，AndforthatsinshouldyecomeinwereIthelordalone。
Butsinfulpridehasruleinside——andmightierthanmyown。
HonourandWit，fore-damnedtheysit，toeachhispriestandwhore：
Nay，scarceIdaremyselfgothere，andyouthey’dtorturesore。
Yeareneitherspiritnorspirk。”hesaid；“yeareneitherbooknorbrute——
Go，getyebacktothefleshagainforthesakeofMan’srepute。
I’mallo’er-sibtoAdam’sbreedthatIshouldmockyourpain，Butlookthatyewintoworthiersinereyecomebackagain。
Gethence，thehearseisatyourdoor——thegrimblackstallionswait——
Theybearyourclaytoplaceto-daySpeed，lestyecometoolate！
GobacktoEarthwithalipunsealed——gobackwithanopeneye，AndcarrymywordtotheSonsofMenoreveryecometodie：
Thatthesintheydobytwoandtwotheymustpayforonebyone——
And。theGodthatyoutookfromaprintedbookbewithyou，Tomlinson！”
BARRACK-ROOMBALLADS
DedicationToTA。
Ihavemadeforyouasong，Anditmayberightorwrong，Butonlyyoucantellmeifit’strue；
IhavetriedfortoexplainBothyourpleasureandyourpain，And，Thomas，here’smybestrespectstoyou！
Othere’llsurelycomeadayWhenthey’llgiveyouallyourpay，AndtreatyouasaChristianoughttodo；
So，untilthatdaycomesround，Heavenkeepyousafeandsound，And，Thomas，here’smybestrespectstoyou！
RK。
DANNYDEEVER
“Whatarethebuglesblowin’for？”saidFiles-on-Parade。
“Toturnyouout，toturnyouout“，theColour-Sergeantsaid。
“Whatmakesyoulooksowhite，sowhite？”saidFiles-on-Parade。
“I’mdreadin’whatI’vegottowatch“，theColour-Sergeantsaid。
Forthey’rehangin’DannyDeever，youcanheartheDeadMarchplay，Theregiment’sin’ollowsquare——they’rehangin’himto-day；
They’vetakenofhisbuttonsoffan’cuthisstripesaway，An’they’rehangin’DannyDeeverinthemornin’。
“Whatmakestherear-rankbreatheso’ard？”saidFiles-on-Parade。
“It’sbittercold，it’sbittercold“，theColour-Sergeantsaid。
“Whatmakesthatfront-rankmanfalldown？”saidFiles-on-Parade。
“Atoucho’sun，atoucho’sun“，theColour-Sergeantsaid。
Theyarehangin’DannyDeever，theyaremarchin’of’imround，They’ave’altedDannyDeeverby’iscoffinontheground；
An’’e’llswingin’arfaminuteforasneakin’shootin’hound——
Othey’rehangin’DannyDeeverinthemornin’！
“’Iscotwasright-’andcottomine“，saidFiles-on-Parade。
“’E’ssleepin’outan’farto-night“，theColour-Sergeantsaid。
“I’vedrunk’isbeerascoreo’times“，saidFiles-on-Parade。
“’E’sdrinkin’bitterbeeralone“，theColour-Sergeantsaid。
Theyarehangin’DannyDeever，youmustmark’imto’isplace，For’eshotacomradesleepin’——youmustlook’imintheface；
Nine’undredof’iscountyan’theregiment’sdisgrace，Whilethey’rehangin’DannyDeeverinthemornin’。
“What’sthatsoblackagin’thesun？”saidFiles-on-Parade。
“It’sDannyfightin’’ardforlife“，theColour-Sergeantsaid。
“What’sthatthatwhimpersover’ead？”saidFiles-on-Parade。
“It’sDanny’ssoulthat’spassin’now“，theColour-Sergeantsaid。
Forthey’redonewithDannyDeever，youcan’earthequickstepplay，Theregiment’sincolumn，an’they’remarchin’usaway；
Ho！theyoungrecruitsareshakin’，an’they’llwanttheirbeerto-day，Afterhangin’DannyDeeverinthemornin’。