And so what mortals soever sought + 

Unto him of the earth’s afflicted ones, + 

Or with sores by nature’s corruption wrought, + 

Or with limbs deep-gashed by the gleaming bronze, + 

Or the stone hurled far from the whirling sling, + 

Or through feverous summers languishing, + 

Or whom winter had cramped in sinews and bones, + 

He delivered them all, that leechcraft-king, + 

And loosed from their diverse infirmities + 

Or by spells with magic’s nepenthe rife; + 

Or a pain-lulling draught would he pour for these, + 

Or with salves that requickened the fainting life + 

The limbs of those would he swathe around, + 

Or for cureless sores was a remedy found + 

In the merciful knife. + 