Jephthah and Other Mysteries

166 MYSTERIES : SONNETS. TO THE AUTHOR OF THE PHRASE: “I AM NOT A GENTLEMAN AND I HAVE NO FRIENDS.” I. ELF-DAMNED, the leprous moisture of thy veins Sickens the sunshine, and thine haggard eyes, Bleared with their own corrupting infamies, Glare through the charnel-house of earthly pains, Horrible as already in hell. There reigns The terror of the knowledge of the lies That mock thee ; thy death’s double destinies Clutch at the throat that sobs, and chokes, and strains. Self-damned on earth, live out thy tortured days, That men may look upon thy face, and see How vile a thing of woman born may be. Then, we are done with thee; go, go thy ways To other hells, thou damned of God hereafter, "Mid men’s contempt and hate and pitiless laughter.