| Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922. | | | | The Queen’s Men |
| | | VALOUR and Innocence | |
| Have latterly gone hence | |
| To certain death by certain shame attended. | |
| Envy—ah! even to tears!— | |
| The fortune of their years | 5 |
| Which, though so few, yet so divinely ended. | |
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| Scarce had they lifted up | |
| Life’s full and fiery cup, | |
| Than they had set it down untouched before them. | |
| Before their day arose | 10 |
| They beckoned it to close— | |
| Close in confusion and destruction o’er them. | |
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| They did not stay to ask | |
| What prize should crown their task— | |
| Well sure that prize was such as no man strives for; | 15 |
| But passed into eclipse, | |
| Her kiss upon their lips— | |
| Even Belphœbe’s, whom they gave their lives for! | | | | |
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