Quotes from Rudyard Kipling

Ow! He is there. Ahoo! He is there. Under the feet of Rama lies the Lame One! Up, Shere Khan! Up and kill! Here is meat; break the necks of the bulls!

They did not hang medals, in those days, on all who by accident had heard a gun fired.

Hsh! He is asleep. We will not wake him, for his strength is very great. The kites have come down to see it. The black ants have come up to know it. There is a great assembly in his honor.

Alala! I have no cloth to wrap me. The kites will see that I am naked. I am ashamed to meet all these people.

Sing to your fledglings again, Mother, oh lift up your head!

When a snake misses its stroke, it never says anything or gives any sign of what it means to do next.

Lend me thy coat, Shere Khan. Lend me thy gay striped coat that I may go to the Council Rock.

By the Bull that bought me I made a promise—a little promise. Only thy coat is lacking before I keep my word.

With the knife—with the knife that men use—with the knife of the hunter, I will stoop down for my gift.

Waters of the Waingunga, Shere Khan gives me his coat for the love that he bears me. Pull, Gray Brother! Pull, Akela! Heavy is the hide of Shere Khan.

The Man Pack are angry. They throw stones and talk child's talk. My mouth is bleeding. Let me run away.

Cross that rules the Southern Sky! Stars that sweep, and turn, and fly Hear the Lovers' Litany: - 'Love like ours can never die!

Here Rikki-tikki interrupted, and the rest of the song is lost.)

This is true; we all say so.

Waters of the Waingunga, the Man Pack have cast me out. I did them no harm, but they were afraid of me. Why?

Wolf Pack, ye have cast me out too. The jungle is shut to me and the village gates are shut. Why?

Rikk-tikk-tikki-tikki-tchk!

As Mang flies between the beasts and birds, so fly I between the village and the jungle. Why?

Sung in honor of Rikki-tikki-tavi)

I dance on the hide of Shere Khan, but my heart is very heavy. My mouth is cut and wounded with the stones from the village, but my heart is very light, because I have come back to the jungle. Why?

I am two Mowglis, but the hide of Shere Khan is under my feet.

All the jungle knows that I have killed Shere Khan. Look—look well, O Wolves!

Ahae! My heart is heavy with the things that I do not understand.

We of the jungle have no dealings with them. We do not drink where the monkeys drink; we do not go where the monkeys go;