of death be mercifully placed at the feet of Aphrodite, that her victim may be able to offer himself up in sacrifice."
*
* *
Now the secret messengers were eunuchs. And they came again to the palace, and whispered in the ears of the silver-bearded King:—
"He has again poured out the blood of the doves, and he sings the sacred Hymn of Homer, and kisses her marble body until his lips bleed; —and the goddess still smiles the smile of perfect loveliness that is pitiless."
And the King answered:—
"It is even as I desire."
A second time the messengers came to the palace, and whispered in the ears of the iron-eyed King:—
"He bathes her feet with his tears: his heart is tortured as though crushed by fingers of marble; he no longer eats or slumbers, neither drinks he the waters of the Fountain of Bronze;—and the goddess still smiles the mocking smile of eternal and perfect loveliness that is without pity and without mercy."
