The Star in the West

THE VIRGIN 59 The handmaidens of Aphrodite gather round them , and their silver voices rise in one of those sweet clear songs , already so familiar to our ears , set like a gem in the gold of the narrative . The following rondel I choose for its simplicity and sweetness : Sing , little bird , it is dawn ; Cry ! with the day the woods ring ; Now in the blush of the morn , Sing ! Love doth enchain me and cling , Love , of the breeze that is born , Love , with the breeze that takes wing . Love that is lighter than scorn , Love that is strong as a king , Love , through the gate that is horn , Sing ! The anger of Zeus is aroused . Aphrodite bids Charicles flee , but his passion is too great , he defies the powers . ( They are only gods ; would he have succeeded had they been Grundy ?) The curse of Zeus is reversed : His form did change , and , writhing from her clasp , Fled hissing outward , a more hateful asp Than India breeds to - day . till day Dropped her blue pinions , and the night drew on , And sable clouds banked out the weary sun . The whole course of events is now reversed , Char icles a venomous adder , Archais once again her own divine and glorious self . And this is how we find her the second time : The Tale of Archais , vol . i, p . 14 . 2 Ibid . vol . i, p . 16 .