Lit with a low blush to the braided hair, And rose-colored and cold like very dawn, Golden and godlike, chastely with chaste lips, A faint grave laugh; and all they held their peace, And she passed by them. Then one cried, "Lo now, Shall not the Arcadian shoot out lips at us, Saying all we were despoiled by this one girl?" And all they rode against her violently And cast the fresh crown from her hair, and now They had rent her spoil away, dishonoring her, Save that Meleager, as a tame lion chafed, Bore on them, broke them, and as fire cleaves wood, So clove and drove them, smitten in twain; but she Smote not nor heaved up hand; and this man first, Plexippus, crying out, "This for love's sake, Sweet," Drove at Meleager, who with spear straightening Pierced his cheek through; then Toxeus made for him, Dumb, but his spear shake; vain and violent words, Fruitless; for him, too, stricken through both sides The earth felt falling.... ... And these being slain, None moved, nor spake.[251] Of this fearful sequel to the hunt, Althæa has heard nothing. As she bears thank offering to the temples for the victory of her son, the bodies of her murdered brothers meet her sight. She shrieks, and beats her breast, and hastens to change the garments of joy for those of mourning. But when the author of the deed is known, grief gives way to the stern desire of vengeance on her son. The fatal brand, which the Destinies have linked with Meleager's life, she brings forth. She commands a fire to be prepared. Four times she essays to place the brand upon the pile; four times draws back, shuddering before the destruction of her son. The feelings of the mother and the sister contend within her. Now she is pale at the thought of the purposed deed, now flushed again with anger at the violence of her offspring. Finally, the sister prevails over the mother:--turning away her face, she throws the fatal wood upon the burning pile. Meleager, absent and unconscious of the cause, feels a sudden pang. He burns; he calls upon those whom he loves, Atalanta and his mother. But speedily the brand is ashes, and the life of Meleager is breathed forth to the wandering winds. When at last the deed was done, the mother laid violent hands upon herself. [Illustration: FIG. 135. THE DEATH OF MELEAGER]