Patient in Waiting

Now on one stool together sit

Unwholesome fiesh, unquiet mind

That yet had mastery and wit

To bring all to this place, and find

If haply reason's art may send

The body's sickness to an end.

The part infirm, being grossly made,

Lacks wisdom to conceive its cure

And but unquestioning obeyed

The hest that sent it to this door

Where soon it must lie down afraid

Before the wielder and the blade,

Proving therein most subjugate

Of animals, alone to yield

The ancient privilege of flight

From instrument in hostile wield.

Thus is the runner made ashamed,

The flight blocked, the beast tamed.