Tale of Archais

THE TALE OF ARCHAIS 29 Their quick sweet movement ; on the ground she lies Struggling, and rending Heaven with her cries. Like light, in one convulsive pang the snake Leapt in the sunlight, and its body brake With glistening scales that golden skin of hers, And writhing with pure shame, the long grass whirrs With her sharp flight of fury and despair. Then Charicles at last became aware Of the fell death that had him by the throat To mar his music ; like one blind he smote The quivering air with cries of sorrow ; then, Disdaining fear and sorrow, cried to men And gods to help him ; then, resolved to dare All wrath and justice, he rose up to swear ; Lifting his right hand to the sky, that glowed Deadly vermilion, like the poisonous toad That darts an angry red from out its eye, By sword and spear, by maze and mystery, By Zeus’ high house, and by his godhead great, By his own soul, no ardour to abate Until he freed Archais. Like a star Rebellious, thrust beyond the morning’s bar, Erect, sublime, he swore so fierce an oath