Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–89). Poems. 1918. | | 29. Felix Randal | | | FELIX RANDAL the farrier, O he is dead then? my duty all ended, | | Who have watched his mould of man, big-boned 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 | 5 | 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, | 10 | 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 and battering sandal! | | | See Notes. | | | |