Page:Two Mock Epics (Hanuman and Tantum Religio), Lyrics, Post Meridian Verse, The Turret Captain's Toast and other Verses.pdf/95

 Can bear and not lose consciousness,

The torture-trap’s adjustments, lingering

With fond, sweet, child-like tenderness,

Upon the knobs and springs mechanic

On which depend those joys Titanic;

“He’s fainting! Curse! The springs reverse!”

Back fly the walls: with starting eyes

And lolling tongue, his agonies

Prolonged, the shrivelling victim trails

His blackening carcase from the pit,

His smouldering raiment gashed and split.

By the wild work of blistering nails;

Hark! what a world of piteous wails,

“Not husky, though. Oh! he can bear!,”

Once more the sickening furnace flails,

Fiends vomit fire and monsters glare.

“Joy! what a scream!” “He’s gone:” “No, slacken

The walls, and let them cool and blacken

An hour. He’ll bear another bout.”

Now one by one again flash out

The demons, inch by inch the sheet

Of flame contracts; his tabid feet

Stick viscid to the flesh-strewn stones;

Glued to the fiery walls that eat

Into his back and singe the bones

And bubbling muscles—ah! what moans

As slowly thrust on toward the brink—

He writhes upon the demon-claws.

“He’s almost in.” “There: now, a pause

That he may smell the sickening stink

That steams up from th’ obscene abyss.