The Danegeld by Rudyard Kipling

A.D. 980-1016

• • IT is always a temptation to an armed and agile nation

  • To call upon a neighbour and to say:--

  • "We invaded you last night--we are quite prepared to fight,

  • Unless you pay us cash to go away."

  • And that is called asking for Dane-geld,

  • And the people who ask it explain

  • That you've only to pay 'em the Dane-geld

  • And then you'll get rid of the Dane!

  • It is always a temptation to a rich and lazy nation,

  • To puff and look important and to say:--

  • "Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the time to meet you.

  • We will therefore pay you cash to go away."

  • And that is called paying the Dane-geld;

  • But we've proved it again and again,

  • That if once you have paid him the Dane-geld

  • You never get rid of the Dane.

  • It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation,

  • For fear they should succumb and go astray;

  • So when you are requested to pay up or be molested,

  • You will find it better policy to say:--

  • "We never pay any-one Dane-geld,

  • Nor matter how trifling the cost;

  • For the end of that game is oppression and shame,

  • And the nation that plays it is lost!"