| |
| NAKED and brave thou goest | |
| Without one glance behind! | |
| Hast thou no fear, Agathocles, | |
| Or backward grief of mind? | |
| |
| The dreamy dog beside thee | 5 |
| 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. | 10 |
| What Delphic saying compels thee | |
| Of kings or topless towers? | |
| |
| That little blowing mantle | |
| Thou losest from thine arm— | |
| No shoon nor staff, Agathocles, | 15 |
| Nor sword, to fend from harm! | |
| |
| Thou hast the changed impersonal | |
| Awed brow of mystery— | |
| Yesterday thou wast burning, | |
| Mad boy, for Glaucöe. | 20 |
| |
| 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— | 25 |
| Brings thee what place of rest? | |
| Wine-sweet are Glaucöe’s kisses, | |
| Flower-soft her budding breast. | |
| |
| He seems to hearken, Glaucöe, | |
| He seems to listen and smile; | 30 |
| (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.) | 35 |
| Agathocles, farewell! | |
| |
