from Second Jungle Book

[unpakwon]

Would anyone please explain the following parts in bold in easy English? I think its literal translation is not so difficult, still I'm not sure of what it means. I hope you will paraphrase them more easily.

The vice president spoke to the employees on the subject of loyalty and cooperation. He closed his address with this ringing verse from Kipling's Second Jungle Book.

"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 Pack."

Thank you.

[MrPedantic]

Hello Unpakwon,

A "creeper" is a plant that grows round posts, fences, trees, over walls, etc., like ivy. Similarly, the Law entwines itself through every aspect of our lives.

The second line implies that the individual and the social group to which that individual belongs are interdependent. Thus the strength of an individual lies in his social group (e.g. his family, or his society in general); while the strength of a social group lies in its members.

Does that help at all?

All the best,

MrP

[unpakwon]

Aha! I see.

You've been a great help.

Thanks a million.