Lamia

"Lamia" by John Keats is a narrative poem written in 1819. When the god Hermes encounters a serpent-woman named Lamia, he restores her human form in exchange for help finding a beautiful nymph. Lamia then pursues Lycius, a youth of Corinth, and they fall in love. But their relationship faces a devastating test when the philosopher Apollonius attends their wedding feast and reveals Lamia's true nature, leading to a tragic conclusion.

Lamia, by John Keats. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #2490.