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I had thee once alive—to slay again !— 
Ah !  Who crawls in upon me like a vain 
Damned ghost ?  Ugh !  blotchy spectre !  Fiend, aroint ! 
Ah Christ, he creeps toward me ;  every joint 
Quivers with passion ;  he will tear my eyes ! 
Away !  more liquor !  come, green cockatrice ! 
Come, filthy draught of fire !  green dancing fiend 
On serpent’s vomit and whore’s spittle weaned, 
Fire my fierce brain !  resolve my rotted heart ! 
Fill me with drunkenness !  How changed thou art, 
Body, from that these women loved so well ! 
God !  will they still lust after me in Hell ? 
But this is Hell !  Aha ! if you were me, 
Blind staring cripple yonder, you should see 
Whether I lie !  A cripple are you then ? 
Look upon me, the leper among men, 
The corpse among the living !  Intercede, 
Good pitying pitiable Christ !  My need 
Is viler than my sins !  Old sins, you tire ! 
Come, some new devilry to reinspire 
My lips with frenzied laughter !  Vain, ah, vain ! 
Th’ extreme of pleasure and the worst of pain, 
I have tasted all.  No more, all hope must end— 
Hope !  Damn that word !  It mocks me like that friend