Nothing in particular

[DispatchDragon]

While looking for the Tommy Atkins quote posted elsewhere , I came
across a wonderful website devoted to RK. Tucked away in it there was
this short Poem - It has nothing to do with aviation classic or otherwise
But having read it - it made me understand why being an Expatriot
is probably best for me -- This was written almost a hundred years ago
but for the United Kingdom it is as current and clear today as the
he wrote it down - Mods you can delete this or whatever - I felt
it time to stand and be counted as A Briton.

Leif

Dane Geld
By Rudyard Kipling

It is always a temptation to an armed and agile nation
To call upon a neighbour and to say: --
"We invaded you last night--we are quite prepared to fight,
Unless you pay us cash to go away."

And that is called asking for Dane-geld,
And the people who ask it explain
That you've only to pay 'em the Dane-geld
And then you'll get rid of the Dane!

It is always a temptation for a rich and lazy nation,
To puff and look important and to say: --
"Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the time to meet you.
We will therefore pay you cash to go away."

And that is called paying the Dane-geld;
But we've proved it again and again,
That if once you have paid him the Dane-geld
You never get rid of the Dane.

It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation,
For fear they should succumb and go astray;
So when you are requested to pay up or be molested,
You will find it better policy to say: --

"We never pay any-one Dane-geld,
No matter how trifling the cost;
For the end of that game is oppression and shame,
And the nation that pays it is lost!"

[Jon.M]

As they say "the more things change ..............."

Nice one Leif, and I don't think it applies only to Britons but to anyone who won't stand for blackmail on a small or large scale.

Dan KH will be along later to explain why it's called "Dane Geld", and that's a lot older than 100 years nearer a thousand.

Jon

Mind you with a name like Leif you no doubt know.