84
The Book of Wonder Voyages
she looked boldly up into his face without moving, and began her magic song:
"Life is short, though life is sweet; and even men of brass and fire must die. The brass must rust, the fire
THE BEGUILING OF TALUS
must cool, for time gnaws all things in their turn. Life is short, though life is sweet: but sweeter to live forever; sweeter to live ever youthful like the gods, who have ichor in their veins—ichor which gives life, and youth, and joy, and a bounding heart."
Then Talus said, "Who are you, strange maiden, and where is this ichor of youth?"
Then Medea held up a flask of crystal, and said,
