m--'thou hast
had shelter under my roof, and warmth at my hearth; thou hast returned
evil for good; thou hast smitten and haply slain the thing that loved me
and was mine: nay, more, the creature, above all others, consecrated to
gods and deemed venerable by man,--now hear thy punishment. By the
moon, who is the guardian of the sorceress--by Orcus, who is the
treasurer of wrath--I curse thee! and thou art cursed! May thy love be
blasted--may thy name be blackened--may the infernals mark thee--may thy
heart wither and scorch--may thy last hour recall to thee the prophet
voice of the Saga of Vesuvius! And thou,' she added, turning sharply
towards Ione, and raising her right arm, when Glaucus burst impetuously
on her speech:

'Hag!' cried he, 'forbear! Me thou hast cursed, and I commit myself to
the gods--I defy and scorn thee! but breathe but one word against yon
maiden, and I will convert the oath on thy foul lips to thy dying groan.
Beware!'

'I have done,' replied the hag, laughing wildly; 'for in thy doom is she
who loves thee accursed. And not the less, that I heard her lips
breathe thy name, and know by what word to commend thee to the demons.
Glaucus--thou art doomed!' So saying, the witch turned from the
Athenian, and kneeling down beside her wounded favorite, which she
dragged from the hearth, she turned to them her face no more.

'O Glaucus!' said Ione, greatly terrified, 'what have we done?--Let us
hasten from this place; the storm has ceased. Good mistress, forgive
him--recall thy words--he meant but to defend himself--accept this
peace-offering to unsay the said': and Ione, stooping, placed her purse
on the hag's lap.

'Away!' said she, bitterly--'away! The oath once woven the Fates only
can untie. Away!'

'Come, dearest!' said Glaucus, impatiently. 'Thinkest thou that the
gods above us or below hear the impotent ravings of dotage? Come!'

Long and loud rang the echoes of the cavern with the dread laugh of the
Saga--she deigned no further reply.

The lovers breathed more freely when they gained the open air: yet the
scene they had witnessed, the words and the laughter of the witch, still
fearfully dwelt with Ione; and even Glaucus could not thoroughly shake
off the impression they bequeathed. The storm had subsided--save, now
and then, a low thunder muttered at the distance amidst the darker
clouds, or a momentary flash of lightning affronted the sovereignty of
the moon. With some difficu