"Empty my bottle, sour my wine, Bend me, you shall not break." "Oh well," said Death, "one woe at a time Before I come and take." * * * * * "You have lost everything in life but the bottle, Youth and woman and friend. Pass on and laugh for a little space yet The laugh that has an end." * * * * * Pantagruel passes and looks around him Brave and merry of soul. But there on the ground lies a dead body, The body of Old King Cole. * * * * * And a Voice said: Take the body up And carry the body for me Until you come to a silent water, By the sands of a silent sea. * * * * * Pantagruel takes the body up And the dead fat bends him down. He climbs the mountains, runs the valleys With body, bottle and crown. * * * * * And the wastes are strewn with skulls, And the desert is hot and cursed. And a phantom shape of the holy bottle Mocks his burning thirst. * * * * * Pantagruel wanders seven days, And seven nights wanders he. And on the seventh night he rests him By the sands of the silent sea. * * * * * And sees a new made fire on the shore, And on the fire is a dish. And by the fire two travelers sleep, And two are broiling fish. * * * * * Don Quixote and Hamlet are sleeping, And Faust is stirring the fire. But the fourth is a stranger with a face Starred with a great desire. * * * * * Pantagruel hungers, Pantagruel thirsts, Pantagruel falls to his knees. He flings down the body of Old King Cole As a man throws off disease. * * * * * And rolls his burden away and cries: "Take and watch, if you will. But as for me I go to France My bottle to refill." * * * * * "And as for me I go to France To fill this bottle up." He felt at his side for the holy bottle, And found it turned a cup. * * * * * And the stranger said: Behold our friend Has brought my cup to me. That is the cup whereof I drank In the garden Gethsemane. * * * * * Pantagruel hands the cup to Jesus Who dips it in sea brine. This is the water, says Jesus of Nazareth, Whereof I make your wine. * * * * * And Faust takes the cup from Jesus of Nazareth, And his lips wear a purple stain. And Faust hands the cup to Pantagruel With the dregs for him to drain.