Felix Randal the farrier,
O is he dead then? my duty all ended,
Who have watched
his mould of man, bigboned and hardy-handsome
Pining, pining,
till time when reason rambled in it, and some
Fatal four disorders, fleshed there, all
contended?
Sickness broke him. Impatient, he cursed at
first, but mended
Being anointed and all; though a heavenlier heart began some
Months earlier,
since I had our sweet reprieve and ransom
Tendered to him. Ah well, God rest him all road ever he offended!
This
seeing the sick endears them to
us, us too it endears.
My tongue had taught thee comfort, touch had quenched
thy tears,
Thy tears that touched my
heart, child, Felix, poor Felix Randal;
How far from then forethought of, all thy more
boisterous years,
When thou at the random grim forge, powerful amidst
peers
Didst fettle for the great
grey drayhorse his bright & battering
sandal!
