Snakes in Tradition. 77 



And, as the lava ravishes the mead, 



Spoilt all her silver mail, and golden brede : 



Made gloom of all her frecklings, streaks, and bars, 



Eclipsed her crescents, and lick'd up her stars : 



So that, in moments few, she was undrest 



Of all her sapphires, gems, and amethyst." 



Thereafter she vanishes, goes to Corinth, bewitches a youth 

 of that city, who marries her. To the wedding feast, un- 

 bidden, comes Apollonius the sage, who detects her, fixes 

 his eye, "keen, cruel, penetrant, stinging," upon her. She 

 implores him by gesture to look away. The bridegroom 

 beseeches the sage to spare her. " Fool 7" says Apollonius 

 to the one, and then to the other, "Serpent!" Upon this 

 she gives a frightful scream and is gone 



" And Lysius' arms were empty of delight, 

 As were his limbs of life, from that same night." 



