"One against two—and two that urge their odds
To uttermost—I needs must try resource!
Madam, I laid me prostrate, bade you spurn
Body and soul: you spurned and safely spurned
So you had spared me the superfluous taunt
'Prostration means no power to stand erect,
Stand, trampling on who trampled—prostrate now!'
So, with my other fool-foe: I was fain
Let the boy touch me with the buttoned foil.
And him the infection gains, he too must needs