In tender flushes, still the baffled Snake

Circled them round continually, and bay'd

Hoarsely and loud, forbidden to invade

The sanctuary ring—his sable mail

Roll'd darkly through the flood, and writhed and made

A shining track over the waters pale,

Lash'd into boiling foam by his enormous tail.

XX.

And so they sail'd into the distance dim,

Into the very distance—small and white,