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