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it up into the hands of men whose search is gold； whose thirst is wealth；
to whom men's souls and bodies are counters in a game？ How came you to
give up the folk that were given into your hands； into the hand of the
speculator and the gamester； as though they were dumb beasts who might be
bought or sold？
〃'Take back your sword； Great Peoplebut wipe it first； lest some of the
gold and blood stick to your hand。
〃'What is this； I see！the sword of the Great People； transformed to
burrow earth for gold； as the snouts of swine for earth nuts！ Have you no
other use for it； Great Folk？
〃'Take back your sword； and； when you have thoroughly cleansed it and wiped
it of the blood and mire； then raise it to set free the oppressed of other
climes。
〃'Great Prince's Daughter； take heed！ You put your sword into the hands of
recreant knights； they will dull its edge and mar its brightness； and； when
your hour of need comes and you would put it into other hands； you will
find its edge chipped and its point broken。 Take heed！ Take heed！'
〃Cry to the wise men of England： 'You； who in peace and calm in shaded
chambers ponder on all things in heaven and earth； and take all knowledge
for your province； have you no time to think of this？ To whom has England
given her power？ How do the men wield it who have filched it from her？
Say not； What have we to do with folk across the waters； have we not matter
enough for thought in our own land？ Where the brain of a nation has no
time to go； there should its hands never be sent to labour： where the
power of a people goes； there must its intellect and knowledge go； to guide
it。 Oh； you who sit at ease； studying past and futureand forget the
presentyou have no right to sit at ease knowing nothing of the working of
the powers you have armed and sent to work on men afar。 Where is your
nation's swordyou men of thought？'
〃Cry to the women of England： 'You； who repose in sumptuous houses； with
children on your knees； think not it is only the rustling of the soft
draped curtains； or the whistling of the wind； you hear。 Listen！ May it
not be the far off cry of those your sword governs； creeping towards you
across wide oceans till it pierces even into your inmost sanctuary？
Listen！
〃For the womanhood of a dominant people has not accomplished all its labour
when it has borne its children and fed them at its breast： there cries to
it also from over seas and across continents the voice of the child…
peoples'Mother…heart； stand for us！' It would be better for you that
your wombs should be barren and that your race should die out； than that
you should listen； and give no answer。'〃
The stranger lifted his hands upwards as he spoke； and Peter saw there were
the marks of old wounds in both。
〃Cry aloud to the working men and women of England： 'You； who for ages
cried out because the heel of your masters was heavy on you； and who have
said； 'We curse the kings that sit at ease； and care not who oppresses the
folk； so their coffers be full and their bellies satisfied； and they be not
troubled with the trouble of rule'； you； who have taken the king's rule
from him and sit enthroned within his seat； is his sin not yours today？ If
men should add but one hour to your day's labour； or make but one fraction
dearer the bread you eat； would you not rise up as one man？ Yet； what is
dealt out to men beyond seas whom you rule wounds you not。 Nay； have you
not sometimes said； as kings of old： 'It matters not who holds out our
sword； marauder or speculator； so he calls it ours； we must cloak up the
evil it has done！' Think you； no other curses rise to heaven but yours？
Where is your sword？ Into whose hand has it fallen？ Take it quickly and
cleanse it！'〃
Peter Halket crouched； looking upwards； then he cried： 〃Master； I cannot
give that message； I am a poor unlearn'd man。 And if I should go to
England and cry aloud； they would say； 'Who is this； who comes preaching to
a great people？ Is not his mother with us； and a washerwoman； and was not
his father a day labourer at two shillings a day？' and they would laugh me
to scorn。 And； in truth； the message is so long I could not well remember
it； give me other work to do。〃
And the stranger said； 〃Take a message to the men and women of this land。
Go； from the Zambezi to the sea； and cry to its white men and women； and
say： 'I saw a wide field； and in it were two fair beasts。 Wide was the
field about them and rich was the earth with sweet scented herbs； and so
abundant was the pasturage that hardly might they consume all that grew
about them： and the two were like one to another； for they were the sons
of one mother。 And as I looked； I saw； far off to the northward； a speck
within the sky； so small it was； and so high it was； that the eye scarce
might mark it。 Then it came nearer and hovered over the spot where the two
beasts fed：and its neck was bare； and its beak was hooked； and its talons
were long； and its wings strong。 And it hovered over the field where the
two beasts were； and I saw it settle down upon a great white stone； and it
waited。 And I saw more specks to the northward； and more and more came
onward to join him who sat upon the stone。 And some hovered over the
beasts； and some sharpened their beaks on the stones； and some walked in
and out between the beasts' legs。 And I saw that they were waiting for
something。
〃'Then he who first came flew from one of the beasts to the other； and sat
upon their necks； and put his beak within their ears。 And he flew from one
to the other and flapped his wings in their faces till the beasts were
blinded； and each believed it was his fellow who attacked him。 And they
fell to； and fought； they gored one another's sides till the field was red
with blood and the ground shook beneath them。 The birds sat by and
watched； and when the blood flowed they walked round and round。 And when
the strength of the two beasts was exhausted they fell to earth。 Then the
birds settled down upon them； and feasted； till their maws were full； and
their long bare necks were wet； and they stood with their beaks deep in the
entrails of the two dead beasts； and looked out with their keen bright eyes
from above them。 And he who was king of all plucked out the eyes； and fed
on the hearts of the dead beasts。 And when his maw was full； so that he
could eat no more； he sat on his stone hard by and flapped his great
wings。'
〃Peter Simon Halket； cry to the white men and women of South Africa： 'You
have a goodly land； you and your children's children shall scarce fill it；
though you should stretch out your arms to welcome each stranger who comes
to live and labour with you。 You are the twin branches of one tree； you
are the sons of one mother。 Is this goodly land not wide enough for you；
that you should rend each other's flesh at the bidding of those who will
wet their beaks within both your