“These chambers clear of every mortal soul;
Leave me alone the patient to control.
No prying ear may linger in the hall;
I’ve things to ask may not be heard by all.”115
The place was cleared; no soul remained within,
Save leech and patient; other, none was seen.
In gentlest tones he asked: “Where was thy home?
For each town’s folk a different cure must come.
What friends, what family hast left behind,—
Companions, playmates, who to thee were kind?”