Who drew so hard, ye might discover well

The toughen'd sinews in his neck did swell:

His inward strains drave out his blood-shot eyes,

And springs of sweat did in his forehead rise;

Yet was of naught but of a serpent sped,90

That in his bosom flew and stung him dead:

And this by Fate into her mind was sent,

Not wrought by mere instinct of her intent.

At the scarf's other end her hand did frame,

Near the fork'd point of the divided flame,