Tale of Archais

18 THE TALE OF ARCHAIS He ceased : but out of Heaven no sound of might, No tongue of flame gave answer. Still as night, Silence and sunlight, stream and mead, possessed The whole wide world. The maid’s reluctant breast Heaved with soft passion nowise understood, And her pulse quickened. Through the quiet wood Her answer rang : “ My voice with thine shall break The woodland stillness, for the fountain’s sake. I’ll sing to thee—Lamia ! mother, I obey ! ” In vain the desperate boy pursued the way With awful eyes ; no bruiséd flower betrayed The tender footsteps of a goddess maid ; No butterfly flew frightened ; on the pool No ripple spoke of her ; the streamlet cool Had no small wreath of amber mist to mark Her flight ; she was not there, the silver spark Had flashed and faded ; all the field was bare, No wave of wing bestirred the sultry air, Save only where the noontide lark rose high To chant his liberty. The vaulted sky Was one blue cupola of rare turquoise That shimmered with the heat. His pulses pause