Matho, according to him, was besieging Carthage to recover the zaimph; and he poured out imprecations and sarcasms upon this Barbarian who pretended to the possession of holy things.

Yet it was not this that the priest wished to say.
But just now Salammbo felt no terror of him.

The anguish which she used formerly to suffer had left her.

A strange peacefulness possessed her.
Her gaze was less wandering, and shone with limpid fire.
Meanwhile the python had become ill again; and as Salammbo, on the contrary, appeared to be recovering, old Taanach rejoiced in the conviction that by its decline it was taking away the languor of her mistress.
One morning she found it coiled up behind the bed of ox-hides, colder than marble, and with its head hidden by a heap of worms.

Her cries brought Salammbo to the spot.