The Whole of it came not at once — Apoplexy

The Whole of it came not at once－¹
'Twas Murder by degrees－
A Thrust－and then for Life a chance－
The Bliss to cauterize－

The Cat reprieves the Mouse ⁵
She eases from her teeth
Just long enough for Hope to tease－
Then mashes it to death－

'Tis Life's award－to die－⁹
Contenteder if once－
Than dying half－then rallying
For consciouser Eclipse－

(F.485/J.762)

[3] Thrust:: stroke, apoplexy.
[4] cauterize:: to disable the feelings, paralyze, a result of stroke.
[11] rallying:: recovering from the stroke.
[12] Eclipse:: a slow death.

To burning with hot irons, &c. An allusion to cauterizing, sometimes recommended in cases of apoplexy. ─ Hudibras: A Poem (1822)