CHAPTER III
Lêda hoped that the following night the Swan would come back to her, and she waited for it in the reeds by the river-side near the blue egg which was born of their miraculous union.
The Eurotas was covered with swans, but her Swan was not among them. She would have recognized it from a thousand, and even with her eyes shut would have perceived its approach. But it was very certain that the one was no longer there.
Then she took off her garland of water-lily leaves, dropped it into the stream, let down her hair and began to weep.
When after a time she dried her eyes a great Satyr was near her though she had not heard his approach.
Now she was no longer like Phœbe. She had lost her virginity. The satyrs were no longer afraid of her.
She leapt to her feet and drew back in affright.
The Satyr gently said to her: “Who are you?”
“I am Lêda,” she replied.