"White As Foam" by Renée Vivien
Originally published in Vivien's 1904 collection of short stories, La Dame à la louve, titled "Blanche comme l'Écume." A look at Andromeda's thoughts as she's tied to the rock, waiting for the Sea Monster to come for her.
White as foam against grey rocks, Andromeda looked out at the sea and burned with desire for Space.
Under the weight of golden chains, she was impregnated with sunlight as the sea breeze blew through her loose hair. The laughter of the sea and its bedazzling waves penetrated her soul.
She waited for Death; she waited, white as foam against grey rocks.
She felt already lost in infinity, like she was one with the horizon, with the golden waters and the distant mists, with all the world. She didn't fear Death with her chaste eyes or her grave hands; she feared only the Love that ravaged her spirit and her flesh.
White as foam against grey rocks, she thought, by remaining virginal to her virginal Death, the merciful Gods would spare her from the bitter defilement of relentless Eros.
Suddenly, her eyes fixed themselves, dilated, on the Sea Monster who approached from distant lands towards its immobile prey, towards the royal victim.
Its sinister scales were dripping blue and green water, and sparkled like lightning. It was magnificent and formidable. And its vast eyes held the depth of the Ocean which cradled the creature with its rhythms and dreams.
From her lips spouted a cry of both terror and love. Her eyelids trembled before closing under the sensuality of its gaze. Her lips tasted the bitter flavor of Death.
…But her hour of salvation had come, and the Hero appeared, armed by the Parthéna and the summer lightning. [1] The battle took place over the waves, and soon the sword of Perseus emerged victorious. The Monster dissipated slowly into the darkness of the sea.
As the winner was breaking the Captive's chains, he stopped once he saw the silent reproach of her tears.
And Andromeda cried out slowly:
"Why could you not leave me to perish in the grandeur of Sacrifice? I was intoxicated with the beauty of my Destiny and delighted with the Lethean kiss. [2] Oh, Perseus, know that only the Sea Monster will ever know my passionate moan, and that Death is less grim to me than your imminent embrace."
Translator's Notes
- In the myth, the Hero, Perseus, is armed with Athena's shield and Hermes' sword. As "Parthéna" translates to "virgin" in Greek and was a common epithet for Athena, I assume that's referring to her, which leaves "summer lightning" (un éclair d’été) to mean Hermes, I guess? I'm not really sure, honestly. ➥
- "Lethean" refers to either the mythical Lethe river, whose waters cause the dead to forget their time on earth, or its personification, the Goddess of Oblivion. ➥