Not for himself, but for his pensioner.

Now (truth or phantasy) the shepherd nourished

Fast in his brain, due earnings of transgression,

A creature like to that avenging fly

Once crept unseen in at King Herod's ear,

Tunnelling gradually inwards, upwards,

Heading for flowery pastures of the brain,

And battened on such grand, presumptuous fare

As grew him brazen claws and brazen hair

And wings of iron mail. Old Watkin felt