I am the Spectre at the feasts of the strong men and sneer at their brag. I listen where the weak wail and sneer at them, too, for their wail is old Envy masked as Humility. The strong shall be tricked out of their strength, I say, and knock at the doors of the weak for a dole of black bread; The weak shall become strong, I say, and burrow their way into the thrones of the mighty. The pieces are changed, the game is eternally the same. Only I shall persist in an eternal likeness unto myself— I, neutral, indifferent, sewed up in my silence, my soul the great menstruum of contrasts, the Heel and the Worm.
Publication History
The Shadow-Eater [1915/17 and 1923]
1923 Edition Text Changes
- I say, and > I say, ⁋ And
- [New stanza at “Only I shall persist…”]
- contrasts, the Heel > contrasts, ⁋ The Heel