With LL I think this as pertinent as it ever was, perhaps more so. The City of Brass by Kipling:
In
a land that the sand overlays – the ways to her gates are untrod –
A
multitude ended their days whose gates were made splendid by God,
Till
they grew drunk and were smitten with madness and went to their fall,
And
of these is a story written: but Allah Alone knoweth all!
When
the wine stirred in their heart their bosoms dilated.
They
rose to suppose themselves kings over all things created –
To
decree a new earth at a birth without labour or sorrow –
To
declare: “We prepare it to-day and inherit to-morrow.”
They
chose themselves prophets and priests of minute understanding,
Men
swift to see done, and outrun, their extremest commanding –
Of
the tribe which describe with a jibe the perversions of Justice –
Panders
avowed to the crowd whatsoever its lust is.
Swiftly
these pulled down the walls that their fathers had made them –
The
impregnable ramparts of old, they razed and relaid them
As
playgrounds of pleasure and leisure, with limitless entries,
And
havens of rest for the wastrels where once walked the sentries;
And
because there was need of more pay for the shouters and marchers,
They
disbanded in face of their foemen their yeomen and archers.
They
replied to their well-wishers’ fears – to their enemies laughter,
Saying:
“Peace! We have fashioned a God Which shall save us hereafter.
We
ascribe all dominion to man in his factions conferring,
And
have given to numbers the Name of the Wisdom unerring.”
They
said: “Who has hate in his soul? Who has envied his neighbour?
Let
him arise and control both that man and his labour.”
They
said: “Who is eaten by sloth? Whose unthrift has destroyed him?
He
shall levy a tribute from all because none have employed him.”
They
said: “Who hath toiled, who hath striven, and gathered possession?
Let
him be spoiled. He hath given full proof of transgression.”
They
said: “Who is irked by the Law? Though we may not remove it.
If
he lend us his aid in this raid, we will set him above it!
So
the robber did judgment again upon such as displeased him,
The
slayer, too, boasted his slain, and the judges released him.
As
for their kinsmen far off, on the skirts of the nation,
They
harried all earth to make sure none escaped reprobation.
They
awakened unrest for a jest in their newly-won borders,
And
jeered at the blood of their brethren betrayed by their orders.
They
instructed the ruled to rebel, their rulers to aid them;
And,
since such as obeyed them not fell, their Viceroys obeyed them.
When
the riotous set them at naught they said: “Praise the upheaval!
For
the show and the world and the thought of Dominion is evil!”
They
unwound and flung from them with rage, as a rag that defied them,
The
imperial gains of the age which their forefathers piled them.
They
ran panting in haste to lay waste and embitter for ever
The
wellsprings of Wisdom and Strengths which are Faith and Endeavour.
They
nosed out and digged up and dragged forth and exposed to derision
All
doctrine of purpose and worth and restraint and prevision:
And
it ceased, and God granted them all things for which they had striven,
And
the heart of a beast in the place of a man’s heart was given. . . .
. . . . . . . .
When
they were fullest of wine and most flagrant in error,
Out
of the sea rose a sign – out of Heaven a terror.
Then
they saw, then they heard, then they knew – for none troubled to hide it,
A
host had prepared their destruction, but still they denied it.
They
denied what they dared not abide if it came to the trail;
But
the Sword that was forged while they lied did not heed their denial.
It
drove home, and no time was allowed to the crowd that was driven.
The
preposterous-minded were cowed – they thought time would be given.
There
was no need of a steed nor a lance to pursue them;
It
was decreed their own deed, and not a chance, should undo them.
The
tares they had laughingly sown were ripe to the reaping.
The
trust they had leagued to disown was removed from their keeping.
The
eaters of other men’s bread, the exempted from hardship,
The
excusers of impotence fled, abdicating their wardship,
For
the hate they had taught through the State brought the State no defender,
And
it passed from the roll of the Nations in headlong surrender!
Some scorn Kipling, not least the admirable GK Chesterton, but he wasn't infallible, unlike the Church he defended. Regardless, Kipling's surely prophetic.
Swords Up,
LSP
