Tale of Archais

28 THE TALE OF ARCHAIS To wander curst and lonely through the dire black brake. And this thing is my mother, whose foul tomb Is a black serpent, spotted with the gloom Of venomous red flecks, and poisonous sweat, While on her flat lewd head the mark is set Of utter loathsomeness ; and I, her child Born of incestuous lust, and sore defiled With evil parentage, am now (Most just Unpitying Zeus !) condemned with her, I must The hated semblance of a serpent wear When noon rides forth upon the crystal air. ” While yet she spake, the dwindling shadow ran Beneath the feet of Charicles, the wan Waste water glinted free, and to the deep Cool pebbles did the kiss of sunshine creep ; The busy lark forgot for joy to sing, And all the woods with fairy voices ring ; The hills in dreamy langour seem to swoon Through the blue haze ! behold, the hour of noon ! And lo ! there came to pass the dreadful fate Her lips had shuddered out ; her pulses bate