AS TO A FIGURE LEFT SOLITARY ON A UNIQUE FRAGMENT OF GREEK BASSO-RILIEVO A crescent brow -- a quiver thrown Behind the shoulder. A huntress, own. It needs be Artemis. But, nay, It breathes too much of Eve's sweet way, And Artemis is high, austere, Chill as her morn, a goddess mere. She bends, and with one backward hand Adjusts her buskin light, The sidelong face upturned -- how arch! Sure, somebody meets her sight. But never virgin on another Virgin, or approaching brother Turned a look like that, I wis. Profane, if meant for Artemis! Why, could one but piece out the stone -- Complete restore its primal state, Some handsome fellow would be shown, Some Lover she would fascinate By that arch look. -- Nay -- can it be? Again methinks 't is Artemis. Rogue of a Greek! and is it she? Show'st thou the goddess, human yet -- The austere Artemis a coquette? If so in sooth, some latter age In faith's decay begot thine art -- Such impudence of sweet persiflage! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BATTLE-FIELD by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT DARK ROSALEEN by TOMAS COSTELLO THE WOODLARK by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS A DECANTER OF MADEIRA, AGED 86, TO GEORGE BANCROFT, AGED 86 by SILAS WEIR MITCHELL THE ECCENTRIC by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN A NEW PILGRIMAGE: 31 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |