Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Jessie B. Rittenhouse, ed. (1869–1948). The Little Book of Modern Verse. 1917.

Florence Wilkinson

A Memorial Tablet

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 Glaucöe.

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 Glaucöe’s kisses,

Flower-soft her budding breast.

He seems to hearken, Glaucöe,

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!