Poem by Rudyard Kipling

«Limits and Renewals». 1932. 5. The Disciple

"The Church that Was at Antioch"

He that hath a Gospel
  To loose upon Mankind,
Though he serve it utterly --
  Body, soul and mind --
Though he go to Calvary
  Daily for its gain --
It is His Disciple
  Shall make his labour vain.

He that hath a Gospel
  For all earth to own --
Though he etch it on the steel,
  Or carve it on the stone --
Not to be misdoubted
  Through the after-days --
It is His Disciple
  Shall read it many ways.

It is His Disciple
  (Ere Those Bones are dust )
Who shall change the Charter,
  Who shall split the Trust --
Amplify distinctions,
  Rationalize the Claim;
Preaching that the Master
  Would have done the same.

It is His Disciple
  Who shall tell us how
Much the Master would have scrapped
  Had he lived till now --
What he would have modified
  Of what he said before.
It is His Disciple
  Shall do this and more....

He that hath a Gospel
  Whereby Heaven is won
(Carpenter, or cameleer,
  Or Maya's dreaming son),
Many swords shall pierce Him,
  Mingling blood with gall;
But His Own Disciple
  Shall wound Him worst of all!

1. The First Chantey
2. The Last of the Light Brigade
3. London Stone
4. Lady Geraldine's Hardship
5. «Limits and Renewals». 1932. 12. The Threshold

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