The night Don Juan came to pay his fees To Charon, by the caverned water's shore, A beggar, proud-eyed as Antisthenes, Stretched out his knotted fingers on the oar. Mournful, with drooping breasts and robes unsewn The shapes of women swayed in ebon skies, Trailing behind him with a restless moan Like cattle herded for a sacrifice. Here, grinning for his wage, stood Sganarelle, And here Don Luis pointed, bent and dim, To show the dead who lined the holes of Hell, This was that impious son who mocked at him. The hollow-eyed, the chaste Elvira came, Trembling and veiled, to view her traitor spouse. Was it one last bright smile she thought to claim, Such as made sweet the morning of his vows? A great stone man rose like a tower on board, Stood at the helm and cleft the flood profound: But the calm hero, leaning on his sword, Gazed back, and would not offer one look round. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SESTINA: ALTAFORTE by EZRA POUND THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 49. WILLOWWOOD (1) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI THE CREMATION OF SAM MCGEE by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE ENGLAND IN 1819 by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY THERE IS NO LOVING AFTER DEATH by ASCLEPIADES OF SAMOS THE WAKE OF THE KING OF SPAIN by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD PSALM 82 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE |