Mask Of Prometheus

The cursed Prometheus, who is haunted behind his mask, by the Lord of the Underworld.

I bespeak of a tale I share aghast on this cold day,
Marr'd in the shade of a madness unholy and grim,
As I wander adrift from shore to shore with the sway,
Whilst, I am haunt'd by a dreadful mask and by him. 
II
I was born in a small thorp in southern Greece ere, 
And nam'd after the mighty Greek god Prometheus,
Wean'd amidst those winding hills beside the mere, 
The son of a shepherd with the name of Demetrius.
III
Soon, I left my homeland of Greece within a year,
Till I had raught those drifting waters off Scotland, 
And I wrought as a blacksmith where I could bear,
When I wedd'd a fair and buxom lady from England.
IV
But after four years, I grew weary of this thralldom,
As I sought for better and wishful things in this life,
When I was free of burthen and could have selfdom,
And no longer to wallow within this endless strife.
V
Therefore, I left my life of shadowy guilt behind,
My Jane, my wonts, my struggles, for bold greed,
As I ne'er ween'd that my life would be so unkind,
Forsaking the warnings downright, I did not heed. 
VI
One night in London, I met a rather uncanny fellow, 
Within that shivery dock I had drudg'd at midnight,
As I heard the odd words of a man eerie and mellow, 
Who stood before the bright glow of the moonlight. 
VII
Dress'd in black, with a walking stick and top hat,
"Ne'ermore, shall thee drown in a drudgery amain,
And have to swink unwant'dly and dwell as a foul rat,
For I can make thee truly, a man wealthy and fain. 
VIII
I stopp'd unloading the freight and said afterwards,
"Bloody be, you have startl'd me! Do I know you sir?"
He said nothing more, until I had walk'd backwards,
"Don't be afeard, for 'tis only those waves that stir."
IX
"What do you want? Are you lost? I ask'd forthwith,
"Lost, no more than thee, who is full of empty want,
I know thee Prometheus, thou wert a blacksmith,
Son of a Greek shepherd. Thou lookest so gaunt."
X
Behind his smirk, I bore my truth harsh and stark,
That I could not easily eschew or bury withinward,
As my drear life was e'ermore unfulfill'd and dark, 
Within that mistrust that had led me thitherward.
XI
"What must I give? No one gives anything so freely!"
I ask'd the fiend, as he star'd into my eyes sternly,
"Forsooth, for the world is full of men who are seely,
With brains too fecklessly drain'd by books learnly."
XII
I ask'd again, "Then tell me now, what must I give?"
He put his walking stick onto my chest saying only,
"Thy soul and nothing more, so that I can e'er live,
And thee could rid thyself of woe dull and lonely."
XIII
On that unwise night, I made a deal with the devil,
And I would be doom'd to my misgiving and deed, 
As my selfish craving had become wanton and evil, 
Within the strong unsteadiness of my wayward need. 
XV
After five years of ne'er-ending nights of sheer thrill,
I grew tiresome of the nightlife and lustful women,
And the devil that was wielding my head and will, 
As I yearn'd for my belov'd Jane and my brethren. 
XV
I had forlet my life in London and head'd northward, 
Leaving behind the wealth and sins that had grown,
And led by the shelter of a broad land there leeward,
But, he follow'd me to e'ery abode that was known.
XVI
One dreadful night I still bethink, as I walk'd home, 
I saw the willowy man again, standing nigh and tall,
"Thou canst hide from here onto the slums of Rome, 
As I shall find thee where'er, behind any hard wall!"
XVII
"I wale to be free, and to break that oath I swore,
I loathe being stingy, or giving my soul in death,
Forget who I am, for I long for those days of yore.
Begone, I shall not give you my soul or my breath!"
XVIII
I saw the wrath in his wode eyes as they had glar'd,
"No one hath durst me, and thou shalt be the first,
But I shall give back thy life," he said as he star'd.
He said, "O I shall find a soul to quench my thirst."
XIX
Before he had dwin'd into the depth of the night,
He quoth his last words, "Know the warmth of fire!'
Swiftly, I found myself burning in the blazing light, 
As I leap'd into the sea, beyond the shores of mire.
XX
Through the wonder of God, I was spott'd by a boat, 
Where I was fed and taken care of by old fishermen, 
Yet my body had burnt in the fire as I drift'd afloat,
And soon, I was wrapt in cloths, by kind kinsmen.
XXI
When I awoke after those six days of a long sleep,
I was thrav'd to thole those unsightly marks fore'er,
And to live in the darkness of gloom bleak and deep,
Where my happiness anon with Jane betid'd ne'er.
XXII
Thus, I roam the earth way-worn as a laden wretch,
Behind an awful mask that hid my unbearable guise,
Whence the days and nights then haunt and dretch,
With the forthcoming sunsets and dawns that rise. 
XXIII
My belov'd and winsome Jane had wedd'd anew,
Whilst, I dree in this sadness accurst and begotten,
As a foul wight without a grave or ashes to strew,
And my hollow soul and name had been forgotten. 
XXIV
I am Prometheus, born in a small thorp in Greece,
The son of a shepherd and wean'd by the hillside,
Where I was the lad beyond those clouds of fleece,
And now, I am a scorn'd man riding the high tide.