Rabelais Poem by William Bell Scott

‘Go,’ said the Cardinal Bellay,
‘See how my doctor fares to-day.’
The page skipped off from house to house,
But entered like a noiseless mouse,
Hearing the priest read near the bed,
Where the patient lay as dead;
So just within the door he said—
‘My lord the Cardinal Bellay
Asks how the doctor fares to-day?’

The young voice touched the wandering head:
‘Say he's about to take the leap:
Within the dark—

About to sleep,—
Would that be better?—

He must go
To solve the great Perhaps, just so—
Tell him that’—

‘Dear brother, nay,’
The good priest rising up did say,
‘Beati qui in Domino
Moriuntur!’—

‘Well then, stay,’
Muttered the dear old Rabelais;
‘Bring it me at once, my friend,
I never would the church offend,
It hangs upon that peg you know,
By all means bring my domino.’