And of either serpent he gripped the throat in the hands wherefrom escape there was none, + 

Till the breath of life from their monstrous frames was breathed as the feet of time stole on. + 

But the arrow of horror soul-overpowering smote the maids round the bed of Alkmena cowering. + 

Yea, even she from her couch of the night had leapt of her tunic disarrayed, + 

And with weak woman-hands to beat the monsters’ tyrannous onslaught back she essayed. + 