Page:Medea (Webster 1868).djvu/79

 Then an old waiting dame, who deemed the wrath

Of Pan or other god had come on her,

Shrilled the prayer-chaunt; I trow before she saw

The white foam oozing through the mouth, the eyes

Start from their sockets strained, the bloodless flesh.

For then, far other wailing than her chaunt,

Came her great shriek. Straight, to the father's house

Rushed one, another to the new-wed husband,

To tell of the bride's fate; and all the house

Was ringing with incessant hurrying steps.

By this might a swift walker stretching limb

Have touched the goal of the six plethra course,

And she, who had been speechless, with shut eyes,

Fearfully moaned, poor wretch, and started up:

For twofold anguish did make war on her.

For both the golden crown set round her head

Was sending marvellous streams of eating fire,

And the fine-webbed robe, the offering of thy sons,

Was gnawing at the hapless one's white flesh.

But she, sprung from her couch, now flies, ablaze,

Tossing her head and curls this way and that,

Fain to dash off the crown. But all too firm

The golden headband clave; and still the fire