[xpe]

> Pay the Dane the Danegeld when he asks.

For context, from Wikipedia:

> "Dane-geld" is a poem by British writer Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936). It relates to the unwisdom of paying "Danegeld", or what is nowadays called blackmail and protection money. The most famous lines are "once you have paid him the Danegeld/ You never get rid of the Dane."

I don't follow why you reference blackmail or protection money. Can you explain?

[Noos]

I guess I misused it some. I felt it more was "pay the conqueror his due when he asks, and get on with the business of living." The Dane is already here, and we aren't getting rid of him.