er home and her parents, yielding to a
mad passion. And what disgrace will not be mine? Alas for my
infatuation! Far better would it be for me to forsake life this very
night in my chamber by some mysterious fate, escaping all slanderous
reproach, before I complete such nameless dishonour."

She spake, and brought a casket wherein lay many drugs, some for
healing, others for killing, and placing it upon her knees she wept. And
she drenched her bosom with ceaseless tears, which flowed in torrents as
she sat, bitterly bewailing her own fate. And she longed to choose a
murderous drug to taste it, and now she was loosening the bands of the
casket eager to take it forth, unhappy maid! But suddenly a deadly fear
of hateful Hades came upon her heart. And long she held back in
speechless horror, and all around her thronged visions of the pleasing
cares of life. She thought of all the delightful things that are among
the living, she thought of her joyous playmates, as a maiden will; and
the sun grew sweeter than ever to behold, seeing that in truth her soul
yearned for all. And she put the casket again from off her knees, all
changed by the prompting of Hera, and no more did she waver in purpose;
but longed for the rising dawn to appear quickly, that she might give
him the charms to work the spell as she had promised, and meet him face
to face. And often did she loosen the bolts of her door, to watch for
the faint gleam: and welcome to her did the dayspring shed its light,
and folk began to stir throughout the city.

Then Argus bade his brothers remain there to learn the maiden's mind and
plans, but himself turned back and went to the ship.

Now soon as ever the maiden saw the light of dawn, with her hands she
gathered up her golden tresses which were floating round her shoulders
in careless disarray, and bathed her tear-stained cheeks, and made her
skin shine with ointment sweet as nectar; and she donned a beautiful
robe, fitted with well-bent clasps, and above on her head, divinely
fair, she threw a veil gleaming like silver. And there, moving to and
fro in the palace, she trod the ground forgetful of the heaven-sent woes
thronging round her and of others that were destined to follow. And she
called to her maids. Twelve they were, who lay during the night in the
vestibule of her fragrant chamber, young as herself, not yet sharing the
bridal couch, and she bade them hastily yoke the mules to the chariot to
bear her to the bea