King
Solomon`s Banquet
"Once
in so often, " King Solomon said,
Watching
his quarrymen drill the stone,
"We
will club our garlic and wine and bread
And
banquet together beneath my Throne.
And
all the Brethren shall come to that mess
As
Fellow-Craftsmen - no more no less.
"Send
a swift shallop to Hiram of Tyre,
Felling
and floating our beautiful trees,
Say
that the Brethren and I desire
Talk
with our Brethren who use the seas.
And
we shall be happy to meet them at mess
As
Fellow-Craftsmen - no more no less.
"Carry
this message to Hiram Abif -
Excellent
Master of forge and mine :-
I
and the Brethren would like it if
He
and the Brethren will come to dine,
(Garments
from Bozrah or morning dress)
As
Fellow-Craftsmen - no more no less.
God
gave the Hyssop and cedar their place -
Also
the Bramble, the Fig and the Thorn -
But
that is no reason to black a man's face
Because
he is not what he wasn't been born,
And,
as touching the Temple, I hold and profess
We
are Fellow Craftsmen - no more and no less.
So
it was ordered and so it was done,
And
the hewers of wood and the Masons of Mark
With
foc'sle hands of the Sidon run
And
Navy Lords from the Royal Ark,
Came
and sat down and were merry at mess
As
Fellow Craftsmen - no more and no less.
The
quarries are hotter than Hyram's forge,
No-one
is safe from the dog-whip's reach.
It's
mostly snowing up Lebanon gorge,
And
it's always blowing off Joppa beach;
But
once in so often, the messenger brings
Solomon's
mandate; "Forget these things!
Brother
to Beggars and Fellow to Kings
Companion
of Princes - forget these things!
Fellow
Craftsmen, forget these things!"
The Mother Lodge
Kipling Menu