The Epileptic

His splendid heart is set within a frame Of manly massiveness, and giant limbs. And strong to move, he helps the maimed and the lame, While his pride of strength the laugher brims His eyes and spreads. He heaves his might chest In mirth at every feeble joke and jest. But sometimes in the height of joy he’ll start Pale-cheeked, as though within his ear he heard Some shocking whisper calling at this heart, And knew the call, and trembled at its word. And so he passes into horridness, Within the claw of some hot fiend of prey, And fights with blinded hands and pitiless, Till back again he lisps his dreary way.