Article Text
Poem
‘Felix Randal’ by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889)
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With comment by John Birtwhistle
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
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, …
Footnotes
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Competing interests None.
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Provenance and peer review Commissioned; internally peer reviewed.
London: Humphrey Milord, 1918