'Then,' Dick continued, 'I would drop the words—"just as a triumph of evil," and run on—"flourish from childhood, ensnaring the noble, the brave, and the loyal, spreading their nets for destruction,"
'"Harpyiae flourish in ball-rooms, breathing fierce breath
that is poison
Over the promise of manhood, over the faith and the
lovelight
That glows in the hearts of our bravest for all of their
kind that is weaker——"
'All that follows,' Dick added, 'will be recited without emphasis until you come to these two magnificent lines:
'"Harpyiae stand by our altars, Harpyiae sit by our
hearthstones,
Harpyiae suckle our children, Harpyiae ravish our
nation," etc.'
Dick finished with a grand gesture.
'I think you're right. Yes, I understand that a point can be given to these verses that I had not thought of before. I hope my poem touched a chord in your heart? Do you approve of my manner of writing the hexameters?'
'I think the idea very fine, but——'
'But?'
'If you will permit me?'
'Certainly.'