There is something about a swarm that is damaging to the pride of its individual members. - Mervyn Peake

This tower, patched unevenly with black ivy, arose like a mutilated finger from among the fists of knuckled masonry and pointed blasphemously at heaven.

Words were shapes and sounds to him. He saw them, as if he were listening to an unknown language, in shapes.

So you thought you'd come back, my wicked one. Where have you been?"
"In hell," said Titus. "Swigging blood and munching scorpions."
"That must have been great fun, my darling."
"Not so," said Titus, "hell is overrated.