Page:Collected poems Robinson, Edwin Arlington.djvu/246

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VARIATIONS OF GREEK THEMES


You told of the two children you had borne,
And then of Euphron, whom you leave to mourn.
"One stays with him," you said,
"And this one I bring with me to the dead."

VIII

THE OLD STORY

(Marcus Argentarius)

Like many a one, when you had gold
Love met you smiling, we are told;
But now that all your gold is gone,
Love leaves you hungry and alone.

And women, who have called you more
Sweet names than ever were before,
Will ask another now to tell
What man you are and where you dwell.

Was ever anyone but you
So long in learning what is true?
Must you find only at the end
That who has nothing has no friend?

IX

TO-MORROW

(Macedonius)

To-morrow? Then your one word left is always now the same;
And that's a word that names a day that has no more a name.

To-morrow, I have learned at last, is all you have to give :

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