CUERVO - Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia

82 PARACELSUS
Placarded through the town as one whose spite
Had near availed to stop the blessed effects
Of the doctor's nostrum, which, well seconded
By the sudary, and most by the costly smoke­
Not leaving out the strenuous prayers sent up
Hard by, in the abbey-raised the prince to life;
To the great reputation of the seer,
Who, confident, expected all along
The glad event-the doctor's recompense­
Much largess from his highness to the monks­
And the vast solace of his loving people,
Whose general satisfaction to increase,
The prince was pleased no longer to defer
The burning of some dozen heretics,
Remanded 'till God's mercy should be shown
Touching his sickness, as a prudent pledge
To make it surer: last of all were joined
Ample directions to all loyal folk
To swell the complement, by seizing me
Who-doubtless some rank sorcerer-had endeavoured
To thwart these pious offices, obstruct
The prince's cure, and frustrate Heaven, by help
Of certain devils dwelling in his sword.
By luck, the prince in his first fit of thanks
Had forced this bauble on me as an earnest
Of further favours. This one case may serve
To give sufficient taste 01 many such,
So let them pass: those shelves support a pile
Of patents, licenses, diplomas, titles,
From Germany, France, Spain, and Italy:
They authorise some honour: ne'ertheless,
I set more store by this Erasmus sent;
He trusts me; our Frobenius is his friend,
And him " I raised" (nay, read it) " from the dead"
I weary you, I see; I merely sought
To show, there's no great wonder after all
That while I fill the class room, and attract
A crowd to Basil, I get leave to stay;
And therefore need not scrup1e to accept
The utmost they can offer-if I please:
For 'tis but right the world should be prepared
To treat with favour e'en fantastic wants
Of one like me, used up in serving her.
Just as the mortal, whom the Gods in part
Devoured, received in place of his lost limb
Some virtue or other-cured disease, I think;
You mind the fables we have read together.
Feslus. You do not tl ink I comprehend a wonl :
The time was, Aureole, you were apt enough
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