While fearless she her silver tresses dried; Away she fled; not stags with half such speed, Before the prowling wolf, scud o’er the mead; Not ducks, when they the safer flood forsake, Pursued by hawks, so swift regain the lake; As fast he follow’d in the hot career, Desire the lover wing’d, the virgin fear, A snake unseen now pierced her heedless foot, Quick through the veins the venom’d juices shoot; She fell, and ’scaped by death his fierce pursuit. Her lifeless body, frighted, he embraced, And cried, ‘Not this I dreaded, but thy haste; Oh! had my love been less, or less thy fear: The victory, thus bought, is far too dear. Accursed snake! yet I more cursed than he: He gave the wound; the cause was given by me. Yet none shall say, that unrevenged you died.’ He spoke; then climb’d a cliff’s o’erhanging side, And, resolute, leap’d on the foaming tide. Tethys received him gently on the wave, The death he sought denied, and feathers gave. Debarr’d the surest remedy of grief, And forced to live, he cursed th’ unask’d relief, Then on his airy pinions upward flies,