Tale of Archais

72 THE TALE OF ARCHAIS Through the noon’s haze the world was vast and dim ; The streams and trees and air were shimmering With summer heat and earth’s cool vapouring, When, round his limbs entwined, a fiery snake Hissed in his frightened ear the call “ Awake.” And Zeus arisen strives vainly to release His valiant body from the coils, nor cease His angry struggles in their cruel hold. But all implacable, unyielding, cold, Their sinuous pressure on his breast and thighs, The white teeth sharp and ready otherwise In one fierce snap to slay. There hissed “ Be- ware ! Fear Charicles avenging, and despair ! ” And Zeus beheld the springe his foot was in, And, once more wise, being out of love, would win His freedom on good terms. His liberty For Charicles’ he bartered. Willingly The boy accepts, yet in his eye remains A tender woman-feeling, and his pains, And even Archais’ woes he did forget In the sweep Lethe, that his lip had set To their ripe brim, that he had drained. But now,