Now this is the Law of the Jungle as old and as true
as the sky;
And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the
Wolf that shall break it must die.
 
As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law
runneth forward and back --
For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the
strength of the Wolf is the Pack.
 
Wash daily from nose-tip to tail-tip; drink deeply,
but never too deep;
And remember the night is for hunting, and forget
not the day is for sleep.
 
The Jackal may follow the Tiger, but, Cub, when
thy whiskers are grown,
Remember the Wolf is a Hunter -- go forth and
get food of thine own.
 
Keep peace withe Lords of the Jungle -- the
Tiger, the Panther, and Bear;
And trouble not Hathi the Silent, and mock not
the Boar in his lair.
 
When Pack meets with Pack in the Jungle, and
neither will go from the trail,
Lie down till the leaders have spoken -- it may
be fair words shall prevail.
 
When ye fight with a Wolf of the Pack, ye must
fight him alone and afar,
Lest others take part in the quarrel, and the
Pack be diminished by war.
 
The Lair of the Wolf is his refuge, and where he
has made him his home,
Not even the Head Wolf may enter, not even
the Council may come.
 
The Lair of the Wolf is his refuge, but where he
has digged it too plain,
The Council shall send him a message, and so
he shall change it again.
 
If ye kill before midnight, be silent, and wake
not the woods with your bay,
Lest ye frighten the deer from the crop, and
your brothers go empty away.
 
Ye may kill for yourselves, and your mates,
and your cubs as they need, and ye can;
But kill not for pleasure of killing, and seven
times never kill Man!
 
If ye plunder his Kill from a weaker, devour
not all in thy pride;
Pack-Right is the right of the meanest; so leave
him the head and the hide.
 
The Kill of the Pack is the meat of the Pack. Ye
must eat where it lies;
And no one may carry away of that meat to
his lair, or he dies.
 
The Kill of the Wolf is the meat of the Wolf. He
may do what he will;
But, till he has given permission, the Pack may
not eat of that Kill.
 
Cub-Right is the right of the Yearling. From all
of his Pack he may claim
Full-gorge when the killer has eaten; and none
may refuse him the same.
 
Lair-Right is the right of the Mother. From all of
her year she may claim
One haunch of each kill for her litter, and none
may deny her the same.
 
Cave-Right is the right of the Father -- to hunt
by himself for his own:
He is freed of all calls to the Pack; he is judged
by the Council alone.
 
Because of his age and his cunning, because of
his gripe and his paw,
In all that the Law leaveth open, the word of
your Head Wolf is Law.
 
Now these are the Laws of the Jungle, and
many and mighty are they;
But the head and the hoof of the Law and the
haunch and the hump is - Obey!