Among the Greeks and Romans a female demon who devoured children and whose name was used to frighten them. She was a Libyan queen beloved by JUPITER but robbed of her offspring by the jealous JUNO, she became insane and vowed vengence on all children, whom she delighted to entice and devour. The race of Lamiae, in Africa, were said to have the head and breasts of women and the body of a serpent and they enticed strangers into their embraces to devour them. Witches in the MIDDLE AGES were called Lamiae, and Keats' poem Lamia (1820) relates the story of how a bride, when recognized by APOLLONIUS as a serpent or lamia, vanished in an instant. Keats took the substance of his poem from Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy (Pt. III, sect. ii,^? memb. i, subsect. i) whose source was Philostratus (De Vita Apollonii, Bk. IV)]

Rael touches his face to confirm that he is still alive. He writes Death off as an illusion, but notices a thick musky scent hanging in the air. He moves to the corner where the scent is stronger, discovering a crack in the rubble through which it is entering. He tries to shift the stones and eventually clears a hole large enough to crawl out of. The perfume is even stronger on the other side and he sets off to find its source, with a new-found energy.

The scent grows richer, he knows he must be near,

He finds a long passageway lit by chandelier.

Each step he takes, the perfumes change From familiar fragrance to flavours strange.

A magnificent chamber meets his eye.

He finally reaches a very ornate pink-water pool. It is lavishly decorated with gold fittings. The walls around the pool are covered with a maroon velvet up which honeysuckle is growing.

Inside, a long rose-water pool is shrouded by fine mist.

Stepping in the moist silence, with a warm breeze he's gently kissed.

From out of the mist on the water comes a series of ripples.

Thinking he is quite alone, He enters the room, as if it were his own,

But ripples on the sweet pink water Reveal some company unthought of --

Three snakelike creatures are swimming towards Rael. Each reptilian creature has the diminutive head and breasts of a beautiful woman. His horror gives way to infatuation as their soft green eyes show their welcome.

Rael stands astonished doubting his sight,

Struck by beauty, gripped in fright; Three vermilion snakes of female face,

The smallest motion, filled with grace.

Muted melodies fill the echoing hall,

But there is no sign of warning in the siren's call: "Rael welcome, we are the Lamia of the pool.

We have been waiting for our waters to bring you cool."

The Lamia invite him to taste the sweet water and he is quick to enter the pool.

Putting fear beside him, he trusts in beauty blind,

He slips into the nectar, leaving his shredded clothes behind.

As soon as he swallows some liquid, a pale blue luminescence drips off from his skin. The Lamia lick the liquid; very gently as they begin, with each new touch, he feels the need to give more and more.

Peter Gabriel:"I need to be sensually and erotically escorted by three half-woman half-snake creatures, who are going to be slid all over me with their long velvety tongues licking the strange blue liquid which is coming out of my body."

"With their tongues, they test, taste and judge all that is mine.

They move in a series of caresses

That glide up and down my spine.

They knead his flesh until his bones appear to melt, and at a point at which he feels he cannot go beyond, they nibble at his body. Taking in the first drops of his blood, their eyes blacken and their bodies are shaken. Distraught with helpless passion he watches as his lovers die. In a desperate attempt to bring what is left of them into his being, he takes and eats their bodies, and struggles to leave his lovers' nest.

Peter Gabriel:"This gave them indigestion. But I heard this huge roar on my left and a huge express train hurtled into the cave with a giant packet of R-E-double-N-I-E-S on it. So I entwined a huge pearl off and broke it under with a pick axe, stuffed the little bits down their throats; and they shriveled up and died. I then ate what was left of their bodies,"

As they nibble the fruit of my flesh, I feel no pain, Only a magic that a name would stain.

With the first drop of my blood in their veins Their faces are convulsed in mortal pains.

The fairest cries, 'We all have loved you Rael'."

Each empty snakelike body floats,

Silent sorrow in empty boats.

A sickly sourness fills the room,

The bitter harvest of a dying bloom.

Looking for motion I know I will not find,

I stroke the curls now turning pale, in which I'd lain entwined

"O Lamia, your flesh that remains I will take as my food"

It is the scent of garlic that lingers on my chocolate fingers.

Looking behind me, the water turns icy blue,

The lights are dimmed and once again the stage is set for you.

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