No Truce With Tyrants (2024)

“We will have peace,” said Théoden at last thickly and with an effort. Several of the Riders cried out gladly. Théoden held up his hand. “Yes, we will have peace,” he said now in a clear voice, “we will have peace, when you and all your works have perished–and the works of your dark master to whom you would deliver us. You are a liar, Saruman, and a corrupter a men’s hearts. You hold out your hand it to me, and I perceive only a finger of the claw of Mordor. Cruel and cold! Even if your war on me was just–as it was not, for were you ten times as wise you would have no right to rule me and mine for your own profit as you desired–even so, what will you say of your torches in Westfold and the children that lie dead there? And they hewed Háma’s body before the gates of the Hornburg, after he was dead. When you hang from a gibbet at your window for the sport of your own crows, I will have peace with you and Orthanic. So much for the house of Eorl. A lesser son of great sires am I, but I do not need to lick your fingers. Turn elsewhither. But I fear your voice has lost its charm.”

11And said: This will be the right of the king, that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and put them in his chariots, and will make them his horsem*n, and his running footmen to run before his chariots, 12And he will appoint of them to be his tribunes, and centurions, and to plough his fields, and to reap his corn, and to make him arms and chariots. 13Your daughters also he will take to make him ointments, and to be his cooks, and bakers. 14And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best oliveyards, and give them to his servants. 15Moreover he will take the tenth of your corn, and of the revenues of your vineyards, to give his eunuchs and servants.

16Your servants also and handmaids, and your goodliest young men, and your asses he will take away, and put them to his work. 17Your flocks also he will tithe, and you shall be his servants. 18And you shall cry out in that day from the face of the king, whom you have chosen to yourselves. and the Lord will not hear you in that day, because you desired unto yourselves a king. 19But the people would not hear the voice of Samuel, and they said: Nay: but there shall be a king over us. 20And we also will be like all nations: and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles for us.

1 Samuel: 8: 11-19

“Here is nothing new nor aught unproven,” say the Trumpets, “Many feet have worn it and the road is old indeed.“It is the King—the King we schooled aforetime !” (Trumpets in the marshes—in the eyot at Runnymede!) “Here is neither haste, nor hate, nor anger,” peal the Trumpets, “Pardon for his penitence or pity for his fall.“It is the King!”—inexorable Trumpets— (Trumpets round the scaffold at the dawning by Whitehall!) “He hath veiled the Crown and hid the Sceptre,” warn the Trumpets, “He hath changed the fashion of the lies that cloak his will.“Hard die the Kings—ah hard—dooms hard!” declare the Trumpets, Trumpets at the gang-plank where the brawling troop-decks fill! Ancient and Unteachable, abide—abide the Trumpets! Once again the Trumpets, for the shuddering ground-swell bringsClamour over ocean of the harsh, pursuing Trumpets— Trumpets of the Vanguard that have sworn no truce with Kings! All we have of freedom, all we use or know—This our fathers bought for us long and long ago. Ancient Right unnoticed as the breath we draw—Leave to live by no man’s leave, underneath the Law. Lance and torch and tumult, steel and grey-goose wingWrenched it, inch and ell and all, slowly from the King. Till our fathers ’stablished, after bloody years,How our King is one with us, first among his peers. So they bought us freedom—not at little costWherefore must we watch the King, lest our gain be lost, Over all things certain, this is sure indeed,Suffer not the old King: for we know the breed. Give no ear to bondsmen bidding us endure.Whining “He is weak and far”; crying “Time shall cure.”, (Time himself is witness, till the battle joins,Deeper strikes the rottenness in the people’s loins.) Give no heed to bondsmen masking war with peace.Suffer not the old King here or overseas. They that beg us barter—wait his yielding mood—Pledge the years we hold in trust—pawn our brother’s blood— Howso’ great their clamour, whatsoe’er their claim,Suffer not the old King under any name! Here is naught unproven—here is naught to learn.It is written what shall fall if the King return. He shall mark our goings, question whence we came,Set his guards about us, as in Freedom’s name. He shall take a tribute, toll of all our ware;He shall change our gold for arms—arms we may not bear. He shall break his judges if they cross his word;He shall rule above the Law calling on the Lord. He shall peep and mutter; and the night shall bringWatchers ’neath our window, lest we mock the King— Hate and all division; hosts of hurrying spies;Money poured in secret, carrion breeding flies. Strangers of his counsel, hirelings of his pay,These shall deal our Justice: sell—deny—delay. We shall drink dishonour, we shall eat abuseFor the Land we look to—for the Tongue we use. We shall take our station, dirt beneath his feet,While his hired captains jeer us in the street. Cruel in the shadow, crafty in the sun,Far beyond his borders shall his teachings run. Sloven, sullen, savage, secret, uncontrolled,Laying on a new land evil of the old— Long-forgotten bondage, dwarfing heart and brain—All our fathers died to loose he shall bind again. Kipling, The Old Issue