第8章 Cold Iron

'Gold is for the mistress - silver for the maid!

Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.'

'Good!' said the Baron, sitting in his hall, 'But Iron - Cold Iron - is master of them all!'

So he made rebellion 'gainst the King his liege, Camped before his citadel and summoned it to siege -

'Nay!' said the cannoneer on the castle wall, 'But Iron - Cold Iron - shall be master of you all!'

Woe for the Baron and his knights so strong, When the cruel cannon-balls laid 'em all along!

He was taken prisoner, he was cast in thrall, And Iron - Cold Iron - was master of it all!

Yet his King spake kindly (Oh, how kind a Lord!)

'What if I release thee now and give thee back thy sword?'

'Nay!' said the Baron, 'mock not at my fall, For Iron - Cold Iron - is master of men all.'

'Tears are for the craven, prayers are for the clown -

Halters for the silly neck that cannot keep a crown.'

'As my loss is grievous, so my hope is small, For Iron - Cold Iron - must be master of men all!'

Yet his King made answer (few such Kings there be!)

'Here is Bread and here is Wine - sit and sup with me.

Eat and drink in Mary's Name, the whiles I do recall How Iron - Cold Iron - can be master of men all!'

He took the Wine and blessed It; He blessed and brake the Bread.

With His own Hands He served Them, and presently He said:

'Look! These Hands they pierced with nails outside my city wall Show Iron - Cold Iron - to be master of men all!

'Wounds are for the desperate, blows are for the strong, Balm and oil for weary hearts all cut and bruised with wrong.

I forgive thy treason - I redeem thy fall -

For Iron - Cold Iron - must be master of men all!'

'Crowns are for the valiant - sceptres for the bold!

Thrones and powers for mighty men who dare to take and hold.'

'Nay!' said the Baron, kneeling in his hall, 'But Iron - Cold Iron - is master of men all!

Iron, out of Calvary, is master of men all!'