3

It is noble to die of love, and honourable to remain

uncuckolded for a season.

And she speaks ill of light women,

and will not praise Homer

Because Helen’s conduct is “unsuitable.”

VI

WHEN, when, and whenever death closes our eyelids,

W

Moving naked over Acheron

Upon the one raft, victor and conquered together,

Marius and Jugurtha together,

one tangle of shadows.

Caesar plots against India,

Tigris and Euphrates shall, from now on, flow at his bidding,

Tibet shall be full of Roman policemen,

The Parthians shall get used to our statuary

and acquire a Roman religion;

One raft on the veiled flood of Acheron,

Marius and Jugurtha together.

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