The Bite

And truly, I had never seen the like of what I then saw. I saw a young shepherd, writhing, choking, convulsed, his face distorted, and a heavy black snake hung out of his mouth. Had I ever seen so much disgust and pale dread a single face? Had he perhaps been asleep? Then the snake had crawled into his throat—and there bit itself fast. My hand tore at the snake and tore-in vain! It could not tear the snake out of his throat. Then it cried out of me: “Bite! Bite! “The head off! Bite!”—so it cried out of me, my horror, my hatred, my disgust, my pity, all my good and my bad cried out with a single cry.— You bold ones around me! You venturers, adventurers, and those of you who have embarked wi...View all