Vast empty shell! br Impertinent, preposterous abortion! br With vacant stare, br And ragged hair, br And every feature out of all proportion! br Embodiment of echoing inanity! br Excellent type of simpering insanity! br Unwieldy, clumsy nightmare of humanity! br I ring thy knell! br br To-night thou diest, br Beast that destroy'st my heaven-born identity! br Nine weeks of nights, br Before the lights, br Swamped in thine own preposterous nonentity, br I've been ill-treated, cursed, and thrashed diurnally, br Credited for the smile you wear externally - br I feel disposed to smash thy face, infernally, br As there thou liest! br br I've been thy brain: br I'VE been the brain that lit thy dull concavity! br The human race br Invest MY face br With thine expression of unchecked depravity, br Invested with a ghastly reciprocity, br I'VE been responsible for thy monstrosity, br I, for thy wanton, blundering ferocity - br But not again! br br 'T is time to toll br Thy knell, and that of follies pantomimical: br A nine weeks' run, br And thou hast done br All thou canst do to make thyself inimical. br Adieu, embodiment of all inanity! br Excellent type of simpering insanity! br Unwieldy, clumsy nightmare of humanity! br Freed is thy soul! br br (THE MASK RESPONDETH.) br br Oh! master mine, br Look thou within thee, ere again ill-using me.