"I WAS STARED AT, HOOTED AT, GRINNED AT, CHATTERED AT, BY MONKEYS, BY PAROQUETS, BY COCKATOOS. I RAN INTO PAGODAS, AND WAS FIXED, FOR CENTURIES, AT THE SUMMIT, OR IN SECRET ROOMS: I WAS THE IDOL; I WAS THE PRIEST; I WAS WORSHIPPED; I WAS SACRIFICED. I FLED FROM THE WRATH OF BRAMA THROUGH ALL THE FORESTS OF ASIA: VISHNU HATED ME; SEVA LAID WAIT FOR ME. I CAME SUDDENLY UPON ISIS AND OSIRIS: I HAD DONE A DEED, THEY SAID, WHICH THE IBIS AND THE CROCODILE TREMBLED AT. I WAS BURIED FOR A THOUSAND YEARS, IN STONE COFFINS, WITH MUMMIES AND SPHINXES, IN NARROW CHAMBERS AT THE HEART OF ETERNAL PYRAMIDS. I WAS KISSED, WITH CANCEROUS KISSES, BY CROCODILES; AND LAID, CONFOUNDED WITH ALL UNUTTEMBLE SLIMY THINGS, AMONGST REEDS AND NILOTIC MUD."
