HYPOCHONDRIACUS

hypochondriacus

(october,1800.textof1818)

bymyselfwalking,

tomyselftalking,

whenasiruminate

onmyuntowardfate,

scarcelyseemi

alonesufficiently,

blackthoughtscontinually

crowdingmyprivacy;

theycomeunbidden,

likefoesatawedding,

thrustingtheirfaces

inbetterguests'places,

peevishandmalecontent,

clownish,impertinent,

dashingthemerriment:

soinlikefashions

dimcogitations

followandhauntme,

strivingtodauntme.

inmyheartfestering,

inmyearswhispering,

"thyfriendsaretreacherous,

thyfoesaredangerous,

thydreamsominous."

fierceanthropophagi,

spectra,diaboli,

whatscaredst.anthony,

hobgoblins,lemures,

dreamsofantipodes,

night-ridingincubi

troublingthefantasy,

alldireillusions

causingconfusions;

figmentsheretical,

scruplesfantastical,

doubtsdiabolical,

abaddonvexethme,

mahuperplexethme,

lucifertearethme——

jesu!maria!liberatenosabhisdiristentationibusinimici.