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 Coward, poltroon, shaker, squeamer, Blockhead, sluggard, dullard, dreamer, Shirker, shuffler, crawler, creeper, Sniffler, snuffler, wailer, weeper, Earthworm, maggot, tadpole, weevil! Set upon thy course of evil Lest the King of Spectre-land Set on thee his grisly hand!

The spectre of Sir Roderic descends from his frame.

By the curse upon our race—
 * Dead and hearsèd
 * All accursèd!

Each inheriting this place—
 * Sorrows shake it!
 * Devil take it!

Must, perforce, or yea or nay—
 * Yea or naying
 * Be obeying!

Do a deadly crime each day!
 * Fire and thunder,
 * We knocked under—

Some atrocious crime committed Daily ere the world we quitted!

Beware! beware! beware!
 * Gaunt vision, who art thou

That thus, with icy glare
 * And stern relentless brow,
 * Appearest, who knows how?

I am the spectre of the late
 * Sir Roderic Murgatroyd.

Who comes to warn thee that thy fate
 * Thou canst not now avoid.

Alas, poor ghost!
 * The pity you
 * Express for nothing goes: