To Doctor Empiric
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
When men a dangerous disease did 'scape,
Of old, they gave a cock to Aesculape.
Let me give two, that doubly am got free
From my disease's danger, and from thee.
To sacrifice a rooster was a traditional ancient Greek expression of thanksgiving to the god of medicine, Aesclepius, upon recovering from an illness. This is an example of acrostic poetry.
When men a dangerous disease did 'scape,
Of old, they gave a cock to Aesculape.
Let me give two, that doubly am got free
From my disease's danger, and from thee.