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by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844 - 1889)

Felix Randal
Language: English 
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, 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 and battering sandal!

Text Authorship:

  • by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844 - 1889) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Felix Randal", 1999 [medium voice and piano] [ sung text checked 1 time]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2007-05-07
Line count: 14
Word count: 151

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