by Fate into the body of a woman?

As the battle of feminism dragged its bloody way through all fields of
endeavor in the last century, of their complaint must be significant. A
jumping toothache would hardly be an advantage to a sufferer in turning
his thoughts to poesy. Since verse writers recoil from the suggestion
that dyspepsia is the name of their complaint, let us ask them to
explain its real character to us. To take one of our earliest examples,
what is the malady of William Lisles Bowles' poet, of whom we learn,
Too long had sickness left her pining trace
With slow still touch on each decaying grace;
Untimely sorrow marked his thoughtful mien;
Despair upon his languid smile was seen.
[Footnote: _Monody on Henry Headley._]

We can never know. But with Shelley, it becomes evident that
tuberculosis is the typical poet's complaint. Shelley was convinced that
he himself was destined to die of it. The irreverent Hogg records that
Shelley was also afraid of death from elephantiasis, [Footnote: T. J.
Hogg, _Life of Shelley_, p. 458.] but he keeps that affliction out
of his verse. So early as the composition of the _Revolt of Islam_,
Shelley tells us of himself, in the introduction,

Death and love are yet contending for their prey,

and in _Adonais_ he appears as

A power
Girt round with weakness.
* * * * *