"Take up the white man's burden," --
That's how they talk to you;
'Tis the hand of merry England,
But the voice of Gunga Dhu.
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"Take up the white man's burden," --
Exploit the brown man's land,
Like Clive and Warren Hastings,
With altruistic hand.
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Call not too loud on Freedom,
For fear the white man's tool
Hear and repeat the story
Of Cawnpore and Cabool;
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Nor call too loud on Justice,
But humor toward the light
The hosts of Egypt's bondage
With treaties red and white.
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Go bind the bloody Sepoy
Upon the canon's end;
By such unanswered logic
Does the white man teach his friend.
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Degrade the path of woman,
In Tommy Atkin's way;
Without benefit of clergy,
In Calcut' and Mandalay.
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Take up the white man's burden,
Send forth the best ye breed,
The new-caught sullen peoples
Must serve your merchants' need.
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Your honor's fire-water
On coral strands shall run;
To every port the poppy
Shall sail with booming gun.
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The brown man bears the burden
Whether he will or no;
But the white man takes the guerdon,
As British coffers show.
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My open speech and simple
A hundred times make plain,
Ye seek another's profit
And work another's gain.
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So take the white man's burden
In philanthropy arrayed;
Take the sympathy of England,
And she will take the trade. |
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