Oh, Agathocles, fare thee well! Naked and brave thou goest Without one glance behind! Hast thou no fear, Agathocles, Or backward grief of mind? The dreamy dog beside thee Presses against thy knee; He, too, oh, sweet Agathocles, Is deaf and visioned like thee. Thou art so lithe and lovely And yet thou art not ours. What Delphic saying compels thee Of kings or topless towers? That little blowing mantle Thou losest from thine arm -- No shoon nor staff, Agathocles, Nor sword, to fend from harm! Thou hast the changed impersonal Awed brow of mystery -- Yesterday thou wast burning, Mad boy, for Glaucoe. Philis thy mother calls thee: Mine eyes with tears are dim, Turn once, look once, Agathocles -- ( The gods have blinded him. ) Come back, Agathocles, the night -- Brings thee what place of rest? Wine-sweet are Glaucoe's kisses, Flower-soft her budding breast. He seems to hearken, Glaucoe, He seems to listen and smile; ( Nay, Philis, but a god-song He follows this many a mile. ) Come back, come back, Agathocles! ( He scents the asphodel; Unearthly swift he runneth. ) Agathocles, farewell! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A LAST PRAYER by HELEN MARIA HUNT FISKE JACKSON THE MORAL FABLES: THE WOLF AND THE WETHER by AESOP TO MISS F. B. ON ASKING FOR MRS. BARBAULD'S LOVE AND TIME by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD SONG OF OWL'S HEAD by NORMAN WILLIAMS BINGHAM |