| Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922. | | | | The New Knighthood |
| | | WHO gives him the Bath? | |
| “I,” said the wet, | |
| Rank-Jungle-sweat, | |
| “I’ll give him the Bath!” | |
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| Who’ll sing the psalms? | 5 |
| “We,” said the Palms. | |
| “Ere the hot wind becalms, | |
| “We’ll sing the psalms.” | |
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| Who lays on the sword? | |
| “I,” said the Sun, | 10 |
| “Before he has done, | |
| “I’ll lay on the sword.” | |
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| Who fastens his belt? | |
| “I,” said Short-Rations, | |
| “I know all the fashions | 15 |
| “Of tightening a belt!” | |
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| Who gives him his spur? | |
| “I,” said his Chief, | |
| Exacting and brief, | |
| “I’ll give him the spur.” | 20 |
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| Who’ll shake his hand? | |
| “I,” said the Fever, | |
| “And I’m no deceiver, | |
| “I’ll shake his hand.” | |
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| Who brings him the wine? | 25 |
| “I,” said Quinine, | |
| “It’s a habit of mine. | |
| “I’ll come with his wine.” | |
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| Who’ll put him to proof? | |
| “I,” said All Earth. | 30 |
| “Whatever he’s worth, | |
| “I’ll put to the proof.” | |
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| Who’ll choose him for Knight? | |
| “I,” said his Mother, | |
| “Before any other, | 35 |
| “My very own Knight.” | |
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| And after this fashion, adventure to seek, | |
| Was Sir Galahad made;—as it might be last week! | | | | |
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