Kipling's Ulster

[British and Proud]

"Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of inquity and the act of violence is in their hands." — isaiah lix. 6.


The dark eleventh hour
draws on and sees us sold
to every evil power
we fought against of old -
rebellion, rapine, hate,
oppression, wrong and greed
are loosed to rule our fate
by England's art and deed.

The faith in which we stand,
the laws we made and guard,
our honour, lives, and land
are given for reward
to murder done by night
to treason taught by day,
to folly, sloth, and spite,
and we are thrust away.

The blood our fathers spilt,
our love, our toils, our pains
are counted us for guilt
and only bind our chains -
before an empire's eyes
the traitor claims his price.
What need of further lies?
We are the sacrifice.

We know the war prepared
on ever peaceful home
we know the hells prepared
for such as serve not rome
the terror, threats, and bread
in market, hearth, and field -
we know, when all is said,
we perish if we yield.

Believe we dare not boast,
believe we dare not fear:
we stand to pay the cost
in all that men hold dear.
What answer from the north?
One law, one land, one throne!
If England drives us forth
we shall not fall alone.

From Wikipedia:

Kipling sympathised with the anti-Home Rule stance of Irish Unionists. He was friends with Edward Carson, the Dublin-born leader of Ulster Unionism, who raised the Ulster Volunteers to oppose "Rome Rule" in Ireland. Kipling wrote the poem "Ulster" in 1912 (?) reflecting this. The poem reflects on Ulster Day (28 September 1912) when half a million people signed the Ulster Covenant.

[Gooding]

A very beautiful poem.Thank you so much for sharing it,BritishandProud!

[Orange&BlueBear]

Kipling also gave money to help the UVF secure arms. A true British patriot.

[Fortis in Arduis]

He is on the list of approved authors.

[Óttar]

I have to say I've lost a bit of my high respect for him after this, despite his knowledge of the Hindustani tongue and India in general. While I believe in peace between Ulster Scots and the Irish, I'm more inclined to sympathize with the latter, as the former are opportunists vehemently opposed to the Irish Gaelic tongue.

[British and Proud]

I have to say I've lost a bit of my high respect for him after this, despite his knowledge of the Hindustani tongue and India in general. While I believe in peace between Ulster Scots and the Irish, I'm more inclined to sympathize with the latter, as the former are opportunists vehemently opposed to the Irish Gaelic tongue.

How so?

[Óttar]

How so?

They settled in Northern Ireland as planters invited by the murderous Cromwell. Ireland is a tiny island, it need not be split in twain no matter how small the 6 northern province block is.

[Osweo]

They settled in Northern Ireland as planters invited by the murderous Cromwell. Ireland is a tiny island, it need not be split in twain no matter how small the 6 northern province block is.

You plainly know nothing about it. I would recommend keeping your nose out of other people's business. Especially considering the fact that comments such as those you have made go a great way to supporting continuing bloodshed in a pointless struggle for something that the majority of people in Northern Ireland do not want.

If you so respected Kipling before, try to figure out WHY he felt as he did. You must have thought him an intelligent insightful man. Could he have been so wrong in this instance?

Plantation began long before Cromwell, the latter was not exceptionally brutal in his day or in comparison with his enemies, Ireland is not 'tiny', and most importantly;

THE 1640s are ANCIENT HISTORY. Present day situations should be looked at as they are.

[Gooding]

Wasn't it His Royal Highness King James Stuart IV of Scotland and I of England who offered the Lowland Protestant Scottish settlers lands in Ulster to ensure a loyal British presence in that region? Please correct me if I'm wrong..

[Osweo]

Wasn't it His Royal Highness King James Stuart IV of Scotland and I of England who offered the Lowland Protestant Scottish settlers lands in Ulster to ensure a loyal British presence in that region? Please correct me if I'm wrong..

His reign saw much if not the majority of it, but there were independent Scotch colonies that went and bought land from Gaelic chieftains earlier. I forget the names and dates...