The features seemed to be extenuated by penury and famine, until they hardly retained the likeness of a human aspect.

The eyes, grey, wild, and wandering, evidently betokened a bewildered imagination.

He held in his hand a rusty sword, clotted with blood, as were his long lean hands, which were garnished at the extremity with nails like eagle's claws.
"In the name of Heaven! who is he ?" said Morton, in a whisper to Poundtext, surprised, shocked, and even startled, at this ghastly apparition, which looked more like the resurrection of some cannibal priest, or druid red from his human sacrifice, than like an earthly mortal.
"It is Habakkuk Mucklewrath," answered Poundtext, in the same tone, "whom the enemy have long detained in captivity in forts and castles, until his understanding hath departed from him, and, as I fear, an evil demon hath possessed him.

Nevertheless, our violent brethren will have it, that he speaketh of the spirit, and that they fructify by his pouring forth." Here he was interrupted by Mucklewrath, who cried in a voice that made the very beams of the roof quiver--"Who talks of peace and safe conduct?
who speaks of mercy to the bloody house of the malignants?
I say take the infants and dash them against the stones; take the daughters and the mothers of the house and hurl them from the battlements of their trust, that the dogs may fatten on their blood as they did on that of Jezabel, the spouse of Ahab, and that their carcasses may be dung to the face of the field even in the portion of their fathers!" "He speaks right," said more than one sullen voice from behind; "we will be honoured with little service in the great cause, if we already make fair weather with Heaven's enemies." "This is utter abomination and daring impiety," said Morton, unable to contain his indignation.
"What blessing can you expect in a cause, in which you listen to the mingled ravings of madness and atrocity ?" "Hush, young man!" said Kettledrummle, "and reserve thy censure for that for which thou canst render a reason.

It is not for thee to judge into what vessels the spirit may be poured." "We judge of the tree by the fruit," said Poundtext, "and allow not that to be of divine inspiration that contradicts the divine laws." "You forget, brother Poundtext," said Macbriar, "that these are the latter days, when signs and wonders shall be multiplied." Poundtext stood forward to reply; but, ere he could articulate a word, the insane preacher broke in with a scream that drowned all competition.
"Who talks of signs and wonders?
Am not I Habakkuk Mucklewrath, whose name is changed to Magor-Missabib, because I am made a terror unto myself and unto all that are around me ?--I heard it--When did I hear it ?--Was it not in the Tower of the Bass, that overhangeth the wide wild sea ?--And it howled in the winds, and it roared in the billows, and it screamed, and it whistled, and it clanged, with the screams and the clang and the whistle of the sea-birds, as they floated, and flew, and dropped, and dived, on the bosom of the waters.