Doctor ——

A Rabbi told me: On the day allowed Satan for carping at God's rule, he came, Fresh from our earth, to brave the angel-crowd.

"What is the fault now?" "This I find to blame: Many and various are the tongues below, Yet all agree in one speech, all proclaim

" 'Hell has no might to match what earth can show: Death is the strongest-born of Hell, and yet Stronger than Death is a Bad Wife, we know.'

"Is it a wonder if I fume and fret—  Robbed of my rights, since Death am I, and mine The style of Strongest? Men pay Nature's debt

"Because they must at my demand; decline To pay it henceforth surely men will please, Provided husbands with bad wives combine

"To baffle Death. Judge between me and these!" "Thyself shalt judge. Descend to earth in shape Of mortal, marry, drain from froth to lees

"The bitter draught, then see if thou escape Concluding, with men sorrowful and sage,  A Bad Wife's strength Death's self in vain would ape!"

How Satan entered on his pilgrimage, Conformed himself to earthly ordinance, Wived and played husband well from youth to age

Intrepidly—I leave untold, advance Through many a married year until I reach A day when—of his father's countenance

The very image, like him too in speech As well as thought and deed,—the union's fruit Attained maturity. "I needs must teach

"My son a trade: but trade, such son to suit, Needs seeking after. He a man of war? Tox) cowardly! A lawyer wins repute—

"Having to toil and moil, though—both which are Beyond this sluggard. There's Divinity: No, that's my own bread-winner—that be far

"From my poor offspring! Physic? Ha, we'll try If this be practicable. Where's my wit? Asleep?—since, now I come to think . . . Ay, ay!

"Hither, my son! Exactly have I hit  On a profession for thee. Medicus— Behold, thou art appointed! Yea, I spit

"Upon thine eyes, bestow a virtue thus That henceforth not this human form I wear Shalt thou perceive alone, but—one of us

"By privilege—thy fleshly sight shall bear Me in my spirit-person as I walk The world and take my prey appointed there.

"Doctor once dubbed—what ignorance shall baulk Thy march triumphant? Diagnose the gout  As colic, and prescribe it cheese for chalk—

"No matter! All's one: cure shall come about And win thee wealth—fees paid with such a roar Of thanks and praise alike from lord and lout

"As never stunned man's ears on earth before. 'How may this be?' Why, that's my sceptic! Soon Truth will corrupt thee, soon thou doubt'st no more!

"Why is it I bestow on thee the boon Of recognizing me the while I go Invisibly among men, morning, noon,

"And night, from house to house, and—quick or slow— Take my appointed prey? They summon thee For help, suppose: obey the summons! so!

"Enter, look round! Where's Death? Know—I am he, Satan who work all evil: I who bring Pain to the patient in whate'er degree.

"I, then, am there: first glance thine eye shall fling Will find me—whether distant or at hand, As I am free to do my spiriting.

"At such mere first glance thou shalt understand  Wherefore I reach no higher up the room Than door or window, when my form is scanned.

"Howe'er friends' faces please to gather gloom, Bent o'er the sick,—howe'er himself desponds,— In such case Death is not the sufferer's doom.

"Contrariwise, do friends rejoice my bonds Are broken, does the captive in his turn Crow 'Life shall conquer'? Nip these foolish fronds

"Of hope a-sprout, if haply thou discern Me at the head—my victim's head, be sure!  Forth now! This taught thee, little else to learn!"

And forth he went. Folk heard him ask demure, "How do you style this ailment? (There he peeps, My father, through the arras!) Sirs, the cure

"Is plain as A. B. C.! Experience steeps Blossoms of pennyroyal half an hour In sherris. Sumat!—Lo, how sound he sleeps—

"The subject you presumed was past the power Of Galen to relieve!" Or else, "How's this? Why call for help so tardily? Clouds lour

"Portentously indeed, Sirs! (Naught's amiss: He's at the bed-foot merely.) Still, the storm May pass averted—not by quacks, I wis,

"Like you, my masters! You, forsooth, perform A miracle? Stand, sciolists, aside! At ignorance blood, ne'er so cold, grows warm!"

Which boasting by result was justified, Big as might words be: whether drugged or left Drugless, the patient always lived, not died.

Great the heir's gratitude, so nigh bereft Of all he prized in this world: sweet the smile Of disconcerted rivals: "Cure?—say, theft

"From Nature in despite of Art—so style This off-hand kill-or-cure work! You did much, I had done more: folks cannot wait awhile!"

But did the case change? was it—"Scarcely such The symptoms as to warrant our recourse To your skill, Doctor! Yet since just a touch

"Of pulse, a taste of breath, has all the force With you of long investigation claimed  By others,—tracks an ailment to its source

"Intuitively,—may we ask unblamed What from this pimple you prognosticate?" "Death!" was the answer, as he saw and named

The coucher by the sick man's head. "Too late You send for my assistance. I am bold Only by Nature's leave, and bow to Fate!

"Besides, you have my rivals: lavish gold! How comfortably quick shall life depart Cosseted by attentions manifold!

"One day, one hour ago, perchance my art Had done some service. Since you have yourselves Chosen—before the horse—to put the cart,

"Why, Sirs, the sooner that the sexton delves Your patient's grave, the better! How you stare —Shallow, for all the deep books on your shelves!

"Fare you well, fumblers!" Do I need declare What name and fame, what riches recompensed The Doctor's practice? Never anywhere

Such an adept as daily evidenced Each new vaticination! Oh, not he Like dolts who dallied with their scruples, fenced

With subterfuge, nor gave out frank and free Something decisive! If he said "I save The patient," saved he was: if "Death will be

"His portion," you might count him dead. Thus brave, Behold our worthy, sans competitor Throughout the country, on the architrave

Of Glory's temple golden-lettered for Machaon redivivus! So, it fell That, of a sudden, when the Emperor

Was smit by sore disease, I need not tell If any other Doctor's aid was sought To come and forthwith make the sick Prince well.

"He will reward thee as a monarch ought. Not much imports the malady; hut then, He clings to life and cries like one distraught

"For thee—who, from a simple citizen, Mayst look to rise in rank,—nay, haply wear A medal with his portrait,—always when

"Recovery is quite accomplished. There! Pass to the presence!" Hardly has he crossed The chamber's threshold when he halts, aware

Of who stands sentry by the head. All's lost, "Sire, naught avails my art: you near the goal, And end the race by giving up the ghost."

"How?" cried the monarch: "Names upon your roll Of half my subjects rescued by your skill— Old and young, rich and poor—crowd cheek by jowl

"And yet no room for mine? Be saved I will!  Why else am I earth's foremost potentate? Add me to these and take as fee your fill

"Of gold—that point admits of no debate Between us: save me, as you can and must,— Gold, till your gown's pouch cracks beneath the weight!"

This touched the Doctor. "Truly a home-thrust, Parent, you will not parry! Have I dared Entreat that you forego the meal of dust

"—Man that is snake's meat—when I saw prepared Your daily portion? Never! Just this once,  Go from his head, then,—let his life be spared!"

Whisper met whisper in the gruff response: "Fool, I must have my prey: no inch I budge From where thou see'st me thus myself ensconce."

"Ah," moaned the sufferer, "by thy look I judge Wealth fails to tempt thee: what if honours prove More efficacious? Nought to him I grudge

"Who saves me. Only keep my head above The cloud that's creeping round it—I'll divide My empire with thee! No? What's left but—love?

"Does love allure thee? Well then, take as bride My only daughter, fair beyond belief! Save me—to-morrow shall the knot be tied!"

"Father, you hear him! Respite ne'er so brief Is all I beg: go now and come again Next day, for aught I care: respect the grief

"Mine will be if thy first-born sues in vain!" "Fool, I must have my prey!" was all he got In answer. But a fancy crossed his brain.

"I have it! Sire, methinks a meteor shot  Just now across the heavens and neutralized Jove's salutary influence: 'neath the blot

"Plumb are you placed now: well that I surmised The cause of failure! Knaves, reverse the bed!" "Stay!" groaned the monarch, "I shall be capsized—

"Jolt—jolt—my heels uplift where late my head Was lying—sure I'm turned right round at last! What do you say now, Doctor?" Nought he said,

For why? With one brisk leap the Antic passed From couch-foot back to pillow,—as before, Lord of the situation. Long aghast

The Doctor gazed, then "Yet one trial more Is left me" inwardly he uttered. "Shame Upon thy flinty heart! Do I implore

"This trifling favour in the idle name Of mercy to the moribund? I plead The cause of all thou dost affect: my aim

"Befits my author! Why would I succeed? Simply that by success I may promote The growth of thy pet virtues—pride and greed.

"But keep thy favours!—curse thee! I devote Henceforth my service to the other side. No time to lose: the rattle's in his throat.

"So,—not to leave one last resource untried,— Run to my house with all haste, somebody! Bring me that knobstick thence, so often plied

"With profit by the astrologer—shall I Disdain its help, the mystic Jacob's-Staff? Sire, do but have the courage not to die

"Till this arrive! Let none of you dare laugh!  Though rugged its exterior, I have seen That implement work wonders, send the chaff

"Quick and thick flying from the wheat—I mean, By metaphor, a human sheaf it threshed Flail-like. Go fetch it! Or—a word between

"Just you and me, friend!—go bid, unabashed, My mother, whom you'll find there, bring the stick Herself—herself, mind!" Out the lackey dashed

Zealous upon the errand. Craft and trick Are meat and drink to Satan: and he grinned —How else?—at an excuse so politic

For failure: scarce would Jacob's-Staff rescind Fate's firm decree! And ever as he neared The agonizing one, his breath like wind

Froze to the marrow, while his eye-flash seared Sense in the brain up: closelier and more close Pressing his prey, when at the door appeared

—Who but his Wife the Bad? Whereof one dose, One grain, one mite of the medicament, Sufficed him. Up he sprang. One word, too gross

To soil my lips with,—and through ceiling went Somehow the Husband. "That a storm's dispersed We know for certain by the sulphury scent!

"Hail to the Doctor! Who but one so versed In all Dame Nature's secrets had prescribed The staff thus opportunely? Style him first

"And foremost of physicians!" "I've imbibed Elixir surely," smiled the prince,—"have gained New lease of life. Dear Doctor, how you bribed

"Death to forego me, boots not: you've obtained  My daughter and her dowry. Death, I've heard, Was still on earth the strongest power that reigned,

"Except a Bad Wife!" Whereunto demurred Nowise the Doctor, so refused the fee —No dowry, no bad wife!

"You think absurd This tale?"—the Rabbi added: "True, our Talmud Boasts sundry such: yet—have our elders erred In thinking there's some water there, not all mud?" I tell it, as the Rabbi told it me.