"His hand sought the folds of her veil and, responsive, the shelter of snakes rose about her.
"'Wait, friends, till he touches me!'
"Swift, with quick fear in it, came the stern warning, and then there was silence.
"Oh! beautiful night with spent stars of the jasmine, spent leaves of the roses, spent life nigh to death 'mid its darkness, its fragrance.
"Oh! beautiful face, free of veiling with spent stars of eyes and spent rose leaves of lips.
"'My beloved!'
"Like a sigh came the whisper, and slowly as stars in the evening their eyes grew to brightness, and closer and closer their lips grew to kisses.
"'Wait, friends, till he touches me.'
"That was her order, and swift to the second, the snakes struck between them.
"Oh, beautiful death by the kiss of a lover! Oh, merciful poison of passion."