| Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922. | | | | The Captive |
| | | NOT with an outcry to Allah nor any complaining | |
| He answered his name at the muster and stood to the chaining. | |
| When the twin anklets were nipped on the leg-bars that held them, | |
| He brotherly greeted the armourers stooping to weld them. | |
| Ere the sad dust of the marshalled feet of the chain-gang swallowed him, | 5 |
| Observing him nobly at ease, I alighted and followed him. | |
| Thus we had speech by the way, but not touching his sorrow— | |
| Rather his red Yesterday and his regal To-morrow, | |
| Wherein he statelily moved to the clink of his chains unregarded, | |
| Nowise abashed but contented to drink of the potion awarded. | 10 |
| Saluting aloofly his Fate, he made haste with his story, | |
| And the words of his mouth were as slaves spreading carpets of glory | |
| Embroidered with names of the Djinns—a miraculous weaving— | |
| But the cool and perspicuous eye overbore unbelieving. | |
| So I submitted myself to the limits of rapture— | 15 |
| Bound by this man we had bound, amid captives his capture— | |
| Till he returned me to earth and the visions departed. | |
| But on him be the Peace and the Blessing; for he was great-hearted! | | | | |
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