106736736He like a thievish dog creeps sadly thence;

737737She like a wearied lamb lies panting there.

738738He scowls and hates himself for his offense;

739739She, desperate, with her nails her flesh doth tear.

740740He faintly flies, sweating with guilty fear;

741741She stays, exclaiming on the direful night;

742742He runs and chides his vanished loathed delight.

107743743He thence departs a heavy convertite;

744744She there remains a hopeless castaway.

745745He in his speed looks for the morning light;

746746She prays she never may behold the day.

747747"For day," quoth she, "night's scapes doth open lay,

748748And my true eyes have never practiced how

749749To cloak offenses with a cunning brow."

108750750"They think not but that every eye can see

751751The same disgrace which they themselves behold;

752752And therefore would they still in darkness be,

753753To have their unseen sin remain untold.

754754For they their guilt with weeping will unfold,

755755And grave, like water that doth eat in steel,

756756Upon my cheeks, what helpless shame I feel."

109757757Here she exclaims against repose and rest

758758And bids her eyes hereafter still be blind.

759759She wakes her heart by beating on her breast,

760760And bids it leap from thence, where it may find

761761Some purer chest to close so pure a mind.

762762Frantic with grief thus breathes she forth her spite

763763Against the unseen secrecy of night.

110764764"O comfort-killing Night, image of hell,

765765Dim register and notary of shame,

766766Black stage for tragedies and murders fell,

767767Vast sin-concealing chaos, nurse of blame,

768768Blind muffled bawd, dark harbor for defame,

769769Grim cave of death, whisp'ring conspirator

770770With close-tongued treason and the ravisher!"