Danegeld

I am posting a poem here that I believe to be in the public domain.

This poem has a specific political context, but I believe that it has applications across a wide variety of socio-political ethics and strategy.

When someone threatens you with anything to manipulate your decision-making ... refuse to knuckle to them.



[Dane·geld (dān'gĕld') also Dane·gelt (-gĕlt') n. A tax levied in England from the 10th to the 12th century to finance protection against Danish invasion.]

Dane-geld
(A.D. 980-1016)

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 to 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 says:—

“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 plays it is lost!”