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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


A VISION by OSCAR WILDE

First Line: TWO CROWNED KINGS, AND ONE THAT STOOD ALONE
Last Line: "AND LAST (WIDE STREAM OF TEARS!) EURIPIDES."

TWO crowned Kings, and One that stood alone
With no green weight of laurels round his head,
But with sad eyes as one uncomforted,
And wearied with man's never-ceasing moan
For sins no bleating victim can atone,
And sweet long lips with tears and kisses fed.
Girt was he in a garment black and red,
And at his feet I marked a broken stone
Which sent up lilies, dove-like, to his knees.
Now at their sight, my heart being lit with flame
I cried to Beatrice, "Who are these?"
And she made answer, knowing well each name,
"Pschylos first, the second Sophocles,
And last (wide stream of tears!) Euripides."



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