Two crownèd 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 Beatricé, `Who are these?'
And she made answer, knowing well each name,
`Æschylos first, the second Sophokles,'
`And last (wide stream of tears!) Euripides.'
Desde un ángulo oscuro de mi estancia, durante más tiempo del que puedo imaginarme, una Esfinge bella y silenciosa me acecha a través de las tinieblas ondulantes. Intangible y quieta, no se alza ni hace el menor movimiento. Poco le importan las lunas de plata y los soles remolinantes. En el aire …