Bab Ballads (version 2)

<h2><SPAN name="page144"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>THE PANTOMIME &ldquo;SUPER&rdquo; TO HIS MASK</h2> <p class="poetry">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="smcap">Vast</span> empty shell!<br/> Impertinent, preposterous abortion!<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With vacant stare,<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I ring thy knell!</p> <p class="poetry">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To-night thou diest,<br/> Beast that destroy&rsquo;st my heaven-born identity!<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Nine weeks of nights,<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Before the lights,<br/> Swamped in thine own preposterous nonentity,<br/> I&rsquo;ve been ill-treated, cursed, and thrashed diurnally,<br/> Credited for the smile you wear externally&mdash;<br/> I feel disposed to smash thy face, infernally,<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As there thou liest!</p> <p class="poetry">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I&rsquo;ve been thy brain:<br/> <i>I&rsquo;ve</i> been the brain that lit thy dull concavity!<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The human race<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Invest <i>my</i> face<br/> With thine expression of unchecked depravity,<br/> Invested with a ghastly reciprocity,<br/> <i>I&rsquo;ve</i> been responsible for thy monstrosity,<br/> I, for thy wanton, blundering ferocity&mdash;<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But not again!</p> <p class="poetry">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&rsquo;T is time to toll<br/> Thy knell, and that of follies pantomimical:<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A nine weeks&rsquo; run,<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Freed is thy soul!</p> <p style="text-align: center">(<i>The Mask respondeth</i>.)</p> <p class="poetry">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh! master mine,<br/> Look thou within thee, ere again ill-using me.<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Art thou aware<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of nothing there<br/> Which might abuse thee, as thou art abusing me?<br/> A brain that mourns <i>thine</i> unredeemed rascality?<br/> A soul that weeps at <i>thy</i> threadbare morality?<br/> Both grieving that <i>their</i> individuality<br/> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Is merged in thine?</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />