Tale of Archais

THE TALE OF ARCHAIS 41 Flames love no more, but fierce defiance now Knotted the veins, suffused them with rich blood, And wrath restrained from sight the torrid flood Of tears ; her eyes were terrible ; she spake : “ Rise for thy life, and flee. Arise, awake, And hide thee in the temple ; Zeus hath spoken To me—me, Queen of Love—O sceptre broken !— O vainest of all realms ! that thou must die. This only chance is left thee yet, to fly Within that sanctity even he not dares To touch with impious hand ; thus unawares Creep in among the columns to a gate My hand shall show thee ; it will open straight And thou must lie forgotten till his rage Have lost its first excess—then may we wage A more successful war against his power.” But Charicles : “ Shall I for one short hour Fly from his tyranny ? Am I such man As should flee from him ? Let the pale and wan Women have fear—in strength of justice, I His vain fierce fury do this hour defy ! ” There shot through Heaven an awful tongue of fire, Attended by its minister, the dire Black thunder. In clear accents, cold and chill,