| |
| “GOLD is for the mistress—silver for the maid— | |
| Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.” | |
| “Good!” said the Baron, sitting in his hall, | |
| “But Iron—Cold Iron—is master of them all.” | |
| |
| So he made rebellion ’gainst the King his liege, | 5 |
| Camped before his citadel and summoned it to siege. | |
| “Nay!” said the cannoneer on the castle wall, | |
| “But Iron—Cold Iron—shall be master of you all!” | |
| |
| Woe for the Baron and his knights so strong, | |
| When the cruel cannon-balls laid ’em all along; | 10 |
| He was taken prisoner, he was cast in thrall, | |
| And Iron—Cold Iron—was master of it all! | |
| |
| Yet his King spake kindly (ah, how kind a Lord!) | |
| “What if I release thee now and give thee back thy sword?” | |
| “Nay!” said the Baron, “mock not at my fall, | 15 |
| For Iron—Cold Iron—is master of men all.” | |
| |
| “Tears are for the craven, prayers are for the clown— | |
| Halters for the silly neck that cannot keep a crown.” | |
| “As my loss is grievous, so my hope is small, | |
| For Iron—Cold Iron—must be master of men all!” | 20 |
| |
| Yet his King made answer (few such Kings there be!) | |
| “Here is Bread and here is Wine—sit and sup with me. | |
| Eat and drink in Mary’s Name, the whiles I do recall | |
| How Iron—Cold Iron—can be master of men all!” | |
| |
| He took the Wine and blessed it. He blessed and brake the Bread, | 25 |
| With His own Hands He served Them, and presently He said: | |
| “See! These Hands they pierced with nails, outside My city wall, | |
| Show Iron—Cold Iron—to be master of men all!” | |
| |
| “Wounds are for the desperate, blows are for the strong. | |
| Balm and oil for weary hearts all cut and bruised with wrong. | 30 |
| I forgive thy treason—I redeem thy fall— | |
| For Iron—Cold Iron—must be master of men all!” | |
| |
| “Crowns are for the valiant—sceptres for the bold! | |
| Thrones and powers for mighty men who dare to take and hold.” | |
| “Nay!” said the Baron, kneeling in his hall, | 35 |
| “But Iron—Cold Iron—is master of men all! | |
| Iron out of Calvary is master of men all!” | |
| |
