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LIB. XI. - Homer, The English Works, vol. X (Iliad and Odyssey) [1839]

Edition used:

The English Works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury; Now First Collected and Edited by Sir William Molesworth, Bart., (London: Bohn, 1839-45). 11 vols. Vol. 10.

Part of: The English Works of Thomas Hobbes, 11 vols.

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LIB. XI.

    Ulysses’ descent into Hell, and discourses with the ghosts of the deceased heros.

  • When we were come unto the sea-side, where
  • Our ship lay, which we shov’d into the deep;
  • We rear our mast, pull up our sails, and bear
  • Aboard with us one male, one female sheep.
  • 5And so for Hell we stood, with fears in mind,
  • And tears in eye. But the fair Circe sent,
  • To bear us company, a good fore-wind,
  • That kept our sails full all the way we went.
  • To winds and steerage we our way commend,
  • 10And careless sit from morning till ’twas dark;
  • Then found ourselves at th’ Ocean’s farthest end,
  • Where up to land the wind had forc’d our bark.
  • Here dwell the Cimbers, hid in clouds and mist,
  • Whom thou, O Phœbus, with thy golden eye,
  • 15Nor coming from the sky to earth e’er seest,
  • Nor when from earth thou mountest to the sky;
  • But live, poor men, under a horrid night.
  • Here seek we for the place of which the wise
  • Circe had told us, and soon on it light,
  • Ulysses’ descent into Hell.

  • 20And thither fetch’d the sheep for sacrifice.
  • Then with my sword i’ th’ ground I digg’d a pit,
  • And round about it wine with honey pour;
  • And round again pure wine pour after it,
  • Then water pure. O’er all I sprinkle flour;
  • 25And vowed, to those feeble folk, to kill,
  • As soon as I to Ithaca should come,
  • A barren heifer, and the altar fill
  • With many more good things I had at home.
  • And promis’d to Tiresias alone
  • 30A fat black ewe, the best in all my cotes.
  • When I my vows and pray’rs had rightly done,
  • Of both the victims straight I cut the throats.
  • Their reeking blood streamed down into the pit;
  • Out come the ghosts; maids, youths, decrepid age,
  • 35And tender virgins, they all scented it;
  • And warriors clad in gory arms, all rage,
  • And rushing out of Hell, with hideous cry,
  • About the blood bustling they go and turn,
  • Which not a little frighted me. Then I
  • 40Bade flay the victims, and their bodies burn,
  • And say their pray’rs to Pluto and his queen.
  • With sword in hand I sat on the pit’s brink,
  • Resolv’d till I Tiresias had seen,
  • That not a ghost a drop of blood should drink.
  • 45First came my soldier Elpenor’s spirit,
  • Which left the body just when we set sail,
  • So that we had no leisure to inter it;
  • His heavy fate I did with tears bewail.
  • How now, quoth I, Elpenor? art thou here
  • 50Already? Couldst thou me so much outstrip?
  • I first came forth, and left thee in the rear,
  • Hast thou on foot outgone my good black ship?
  • Then said Elpenor: Issue of Jove, divine
  • Ulysses, I had come along with th’ bark,
  • 55But that the Devil and excess of wine
  • Made me to fall, and break my neck i’ th’ dark.
  • I went to bed late by a ladder steep,
  • At top o’ th’ house the room was where I lay;
  • Wak’d at the noise of parting, half asleep,
  • 60Headlong I hither came, the nearest way.
  • Now I adjure you by your father, and
  • Your wife, and son, and all his seed to come,
  • (For I assured am that you will land
  • Where Circe dwells before your going home),
  • 65To see I have the rites due to the dead.
  • Fear th’ anger of the Gods above, and burn
  • My body with my arms, from foot to head,
  • And cast on earth to cover o’er my urn.
  • This done, for men hereafter sailing by,
  • 70Raise me a little tomb of earth by th’ shore,
  • That they may eas’ly see where ’tis I lie.
  • Lastly, upon it upright plant my oar.
  • All this, quoth I, I’ll do upon my word.
  • Thus we discours’d amongst the shades. He stood
  • 75While I continued with my naked sword
  • To keep the sprites from tasting of the blood.
  • Then came Anticlia my mother’s ghost.
  • Alive I left her, when to Troy I sail’d,
  • To fight against it in the Argive host.
  • 80Now seeing her, exceedingly I wail’d;
  • And though I grieved were to keep away
  • My mother from the loved blood, yet still
  • In the same posture patiently I stay,
  • Till I might know Tiresias his will.
  • 85Then came the soul of old Tiresias,
  • And of the gilded staff he had in’s hand.
  • Poor man, quoth he, perceiving what I was,
  • What brought thee hither to this ugly land?
  • Stand back awhile, and take your sword away,
  • 90That I may drink, and the unerring word
  • Of Fate deliver to you. I obey,
  • Retire, and up I put my trusty sword.
  • Then said the good old prophet: You are come,
  • Honour’d Ulysses, to enquire of me,
  • 95What the Gods say about your going home.
  • I tell you true, ’twill not be easily.
  • I think you’ll not escape at sea unseen
  • Of angry Neptune, who I do not doubt
  • Will do his worst, and make you feel his spleen,
  • 100For Polyphemus’ eye which you put out.
  • Yet for all that, you may to Ithaca
  • Safely return, if you can but command
  • Your passion when in th’ isle Thrinacia,
  • An island lying in your way you land;
  • 105There feed the kine of the all-seeing Sun,
  • And flocks of goodly sheep. Hurt none of these.
  • Then shall your ship her course with safety run
  • At length to Ithaca, though not with ease.
  • But if you touch them, I denounce a wreck
  • 110To your good ship, and death to all your crew.
  • And though yourself may happen to come back
  • At last, and this unhappy fate eschew,
  • ’Twill be alone, and in a ship not yours;
  • Besides that, when you are returned home
  • 115You’ll fall into the danger of the wooers,
  • Who for your wife’s and meat’s sake thither come.
  • But you will be reveng’d of these; and when
  • You shall have made away these wooers, go
  • With oar on shoulder, to a land where men
  • 120Inhabit that the briny sea not know,
  • Nor ever mingle salt with what they eat,
  • Nor ever saw the ship with crimson face,
  • Nor yet those wings which do the water beat,
  • Call’d oars, to make your good ship go apace.
  • 125Now mark me well, when thou shalt meet a man
  • Just at the end of Neptune’s utmost bound,
  • Bearing upon his shoulder a corn-fan,
  • Stick down thy lusty oar upon the ground;
  • There sacrifice to the world’s admiral,
  • 130For new admittance, a ram, boar, and bull;
  • Then home again, and offer unto all
  • The Gods by name an hundred oxen full.
  • Your death will not ungentle be, for which
  • Age shall prepare you, and your soul unglue
  • 135Insensibly. Your people shall be rich
  • Which round about you dwell. All this is true.
  • Tiresias, quoth I, when he had done,
  • ’Tis well. My mother yonder I espy
  • Amongst the shades; she knoweth not her son;
  • 140What shall I do to make her know ’tis I?
  • That, quoth he, I can tell you easily.
  • What soul soever you admit to drink,
  • To what you ask will make a true reply;
  • Those you put back, back into Hell will slink.
  • 145The prophet having thus my fate foretold,
  • Into the house of Pluto back retir’d.
  • I o’er the blood my former posture hold,
  • But let my mother drink as she desir’d.
  • She knew me then, and wept. My son, said she,
  • 150How came you to this place of ours so dark?
  • Th’ ocean and so many gulphs there be
  • ’Twixt you and us, that but with a good bark
  • No living man can pass. Come you but now
  • From Troy, and all this while have wand’ring been,
  • 155You and your company? You have, I trow,
  • Your wife Penelope by this time seen.
  • Mother, said I, the cause I came this way
  • Was to ask counsel of Tiresias.
  • Since I with Agamemnon went to Troy,
  • 160In Ithaca or Greece I never was.
  • But, mother, tell me, pray you, how came you
  • Unto this place? Was it by sickness long?
  • Or did Diana with a death undue
  • Send you down hither to this feeble throng?
  • 165And tell me if my father and my son
  • Remain as formerly in their estate;
  • Or that some prince of Greece my wife have won,
  • Supposing me now cast away by fate?
  • Tell me besides, whether Penelope
  • 170Remain at home together with my son,
  • Assisting him to rule my family;
  • Or whether she be married, and gone?
  • Your wife, said she, does still continue there;
  • For your long absence weepeth days and nights.
  • 175Your son still holds his own, and makes good cheer;
  • Oft he invited is, and oft invites.
  • Your father from his vineyard never budges;
  • Rich coverlets and bedding he refuses;
  • Ne’er comes to the town; in winter with his drudges
  • 180To lay him down, sleep by th’ fire he uses.
  • In vile array in summer-time he creeps,
  • Till vintage pass, about his fruit-trees round,
  • And visits them each one; at night he sleeps
  • On bed of heaped leaves upon the ground.
  • 185Thus lies he griev’d and pining with the thought
  • Of your sad fate; afflicted too with age.
  • The like sad thoughts me also hither brought:
  • I neither died by Diana’s rage,
  • Nor any long-consuming malady;
  • 190But very woe, thinking that you were dead,
  • My noble, dear Ulysses, made me die;
  • My soul thus hither from my body fled.
  • When she had spoken, I would very fain
  • Have ta’en her in my arms; three times I grasp’d
  • 195At the beloved shadow, but in vain.
  • Mine arms I closed, but did nothing clasp.
  • Sore griev’d hereat, I said unto my mother,
  • I am your son, why do you fly me so?
  • Why may we not, embracing one another,
  • 200Although in Hell, give ease unto our woe?
  • Hath Proserpine, my sorrows to augment,
  • Sent me a phantom in my mother’s stead?
  • Oh no, quoth she, my son, she’d no intent
  • T’ abuse you. ’Tis the nature of the dead.
  • 205We are no longer sinews, flesh, and bones,
  • We are substances incorporeal,
  • All that ’s consumed i’ th’ fun’ral fire; when once
  • That’s done, it in itself stands several;
  • Flies like a dream. No, go your ways to th’ light,
  • 210And tell all I have told you to your wife,
  • That she may know in this perpetual night
  • The dead enjoy an everlasting life.
  • When we had thus discours’d, the ladies came,
  • Sent out by Proserpine to taste the blood;
  • 215Daughters and wives to princes of great fame,
  • And round about me at the pit they stood.
  • But I to know each one that came to drink,
  • Studied awhile; then thought this counsel best,
  • With sword in hand t’ abide upon the brink,
  • 220Whilst one was drinking to keep off the rest.
  • There was not one but I enquired her name
  • And pedigree. All told me who they were.
  • And first of all the well-born Tyro came,
  • Who said Salmoneus was her ancestor,
  • 225And that of Cretheus she had been the wife,
  • And on Enipeus had enamour’d been
  • Once on a time whilst she remained in life;
  • On Enipeus, fair’st stream that e’er was seen,
  • Upon whose bank, Neptune, that chanc’d to spy her,
  • 230On Enipeus’ sweet stream drew her aside,
  • And at the river’s mouth laid him down by her,
  • Between two waves rais’d high, their deed to hide.
  • When he love’s work had done, Thou shalt, said he,
  • Ere th’ year be ended, bring forth children twain,
  • 235Who princes both of great renown shall be.
  • I Neptune am; the Gods ne’er work in vain.
  • See you that they be educated well,
  • Till they shall be at man’s estate arriv’d.
  • So go you home: my name you must not tell.
  • 240This said, into the rolling sea he div’d.
  • Her time being come, she was delivered
  • Of two great boys, Neleus and Pelias,
  • Who for the service of high Jove were bred.
  • One king of Pyle, th’ other of Iolcas was.
  • 245The noble lady Tyro, besides these,
  • Did many other goodly children bear:
  • Amatheon, and Æson, and Pheres,
  • But these her husband Cretheus’ children were.
  • Next came the daughter of Æsopus (who
  • 250Through Theban fertile plains and meadows runs)
  • Antiope. Of Jove she boasteth too,
  • That by him she conceived had two sons;
  • Their names were Zethus and Amphion. They
  • The founders were of Thebes; with walls and towers,
  • 255And sev’n strong gates they fenc’d it ev’ry way
  • Against invasion from all neighb’ring powers.
  • Amphitrion’s wife Alcmena there I saw,
  • That lov’d by Jove brought Hercules to life.
  • And the king Cretheus’ daughter Megara,
  • 260That was the mighty Hercules his wife.
  • I saw there also the unfortunate
  • Mother of Œdipus, Jocasta bright,
  • That blindly did a horrid act, by fate,
  • Which the Gods’ pleasure was should come to light.
  • 265Not knowing him, she married her own son;
  • Not knowing him, he his own father slew:
  • When they perceived both what they had done,
  • She hang’d herself; her Furies him pursue.
  • Chloris I saw, whom Neleus did wed
  • 270For beauty, got by the son of Joseus,
  • And with great dower he gain’d her to his bed;
  • Her father Amphion rul’d Orchomenus.
  • She queen of Pyle, by Neleus had three boys;
  • Nestor, Chronius, Periclumenus;
  • 275And one fair daughter to make full their joys,
  • Pero by name, for beauty wondrous.
  • The princes round about were suitors to her;
  • But Iphiclus had Neleus’ cattle ta’en,
  • And Neleus was resolved to bestow her
  • 280On him that could his herds fetch back again.
  • There was a prophet undertook the task;
  • But ta’en by clowns, and into prison pent,
  • For answering Iphyclus t’ all he could ask
  • Was freed, and did the thing he underwent.
  • 285I saw the wife too of Tyndareus there,
  • Fair Leda; she two twins unto him bare,
  • Pollux, good cuffer; Castor, cavalier:
  • Twins, and alive, though under ground they are,
  • And have obtained of their father Jove
  • 290Both to be canonized Gods; but so,
  • As he that is to-day in heaven above,
  • Shall be to-morrow amongst men below.
  • Iphimedea, Alciæus’ wife,
  • I saw, that did two sons to Neptune bear,
  • 295Otus and Ephialtes; of short life;
  • The greatest and the fairest that ever were
  • Except Orion; each at nine years old
  • Between the shoulders was nine cubits wide,
  • And was in length nine cubits four times told,
  • 300And all the Gods in heaven terrified;
  • And threat’ned them with war, and heav’n to storm
  • They Ossa set upon Olympus high,
  • And Pelius on Ossa, and so form
  • Against the sky a mighty battery;
  • 305And surely they had storm’d it had they been
  • At man’s estate; their beards were not yet grown;
  • Apollo kill’d them with his arrows keen,
  • Ere on their cheeks appeared any down.
  • Phædra and Procris there I also saw,
  • 310And Minos’ daughter Ariadne, whom
  • Theseus was bringing towards Attica
  • From Creta, but he could not bring her home;
  • Diana killed her in Dia isle
  • On Bacchus’ quarrel. There I did behold
  • 315Mæra and Clymene, and th’ woman vile
  • Eryphile, that her own husband sold.
  • To name the ladies all I saw, would make
  • My tale to last all night. ’Tis bed-time now,
  • Here or aboard, though not till you think fit;
  • 320Till you think fit, and give command to row.
  • This said, the company deep silence seiz’d,
  • Delighted with the things they heard him speak.
  • The queen herself, Arete, no less pleas’d,
  • At last resolv’d the silence thus to break.
  • 325Princes, what think you of this man so rare,
  • His look, his stature, and his noble heart?
  • My guest he is, but you have all a share
  • In th’ honour of this visit. Ere he part
  • Make him a present to relieve his need.
  • 330Be liberal, have no respect to thrift;
  • For you the Gods from fear of want have freed
  • With wealth abundant. Do not pinch your gift.
  • Old Echinous said: The queen says right;
  • We shall do well her counsel to obey.
  • 335But since in king Alcinous lies the might,
  • ’Tis better first to hear what he will say.
  • Then said Alcinous, It shall be so,
  • Unless I bear the name of king in vain;
  • Let not the stranger till to-morrow go;
  • 340Till we prepare our gift he must remain.
  • As for his passage we will all provide,
  • And chiefly I that do the sceptre bear.
  • To whom the wise Ulysses thus replied:
  • Renown’d Alcinous, that reignest here,
  • 345Though a whole year you should command my stay,
  • It will not trouble me. Nay, that I’d chuse,
  • Since you intend to send me rich away:
  • For I am sure I shall no honour lose
  • By coming richly home. Kings that have store
  • 350Of wealth, are better commonly obey’d,
  • And by their subjects are respected more,
  • Than those whose treasuries and chests are void.
  • There be, the king said, many that can lie;
  • But there is form and sense in all you say;
  • 355Both your own fate you tell with harmony,
  • And of the Greeks with whom you went to Troy.
  • I should be well content to sit up here
  • All the night long, so you would undertake
  • To tell me ev’ry thing that you saw there.
  • 360To him Ulysses then did answer make:
  • Renowned king Alcinous, you know
  • There is a time for talk, a time for rest;
  • But since you long to hear, I’ll tell you now
  • Whom else I saw, and what fate them oppress’d.
  • 365And first the saddest end of those that had
  • Escap’d the fury of the enemy,
  • And in their countries landed were and glad,
  • Were murder’d by a woman’s treachery.
  • The female ghosts scatter’d by Proserpine,
  • 370Some one way, some another; thither came
  • Atrides’ soul, first of the masculine,
  • And others with him, whose fates were the same.
  • No sooner he the blood had tasted, but
  • He knew me, sorely wept, and would have cast
  • 375His arms about my waist, but could not do’t,
  • For now, alas, his strength was gone and past.
  • I griev’d to see him, and thus to him said:
  • King Agamemnon, what fate brought you hither?
  • Were you by Neptune on the sea betray’d.
  • 380And hither sent by fury of the weather?
  • Or landing to find booty, met with death?
  • Or else besieging of some town were slain?
  • Or for fair women were bereav’d of breath?
  • Then Agamemnon answer’d me again:
  • 385Noble Ulysses, I lost not my life
  • By Neptune’s fury, nor in fight at land
  • For booty or for women; but my wife
  • Did basely kill me by Ægistus’ hand.
  • At my first landing he invited me,
  • 390And slew me then when I at supper sate.
  • Just as a man would kill a cow, so he
  • Kill’d me. There’s no such woful death as that.
  • My friends were butcher’d like so many swine,
  • Which when within a mighty rich man’s hall
  • 395Numbers of men invited are to dine
  • At wedding, or at feast, are made to fall.
  • You very many men have seen to die
  • In ranged battle, and in single fight,
  • But never felt such pity certainly
  • 400As you had felt, had you but seen this sight,
  • How we ’mongst tables on the ground did lie,
  • That ran with blood. But my heart most did rue
  • To hear Cassandra, Priam’s daughter, cry,
  • Whom close beside me Clytemnestra slew.
  • 405Then, though I were at the last gasp, I tried
  • If groping I might find my fallen sword;
  • But the curs’d woman push’d it from my side.
  • I died; to close mine eyes she’d not afford.
  • Nothing so cruel as a woman yet
  • 410Did nature e’er produce; a thought so ill
  • In any other breast did never sit,
  • As her own loving husband’s blood to spill.
  • Yet this my wife, to the eternal shame
  • Of all the sex, (not only of the bad,
  • 415But ev’n of those that have no evil fame),
  • Betray’d my life, and of my death was glad.
  • Jove meant to Atreus’ seed, said I, great spite
  • By womankind. By Helen first. At Troy,
  • For her sake, many lost their lives in fight,
  • 320And Clytemnestra now did you betray.
  • Therefore, said Agamemnon, never trust
  • A woman more, although she be your own.
  • Tell her not all you think: somewhat you must;
  • And somewhat keep t’ yourself to her unknown.
  • 325But you, Ulysses, need not fear your wife,
  • Icareus’ daughter, fair Penelope;
  • She loves you better than to take your life:
  • A wife so wise will scorn disloyalty.
  • When we for Troy set forth together, then
  • 430She gave suck to your son; but he is grown
  • A man by this time, and takes place with men;
  • Is rich, and one day shall his father own,
  • And he and you at home embrace each other.
  • But I was not allow’d my son to see,
  • 435But was first murder’d by his wicked mother.
  • Now hear ye; if you will be rul’d by me,
  • Let no man know beforehand, when and where
  • You mean to land in Ithaca. Beware
  • Of suffering your bark in sight t’ appear.
  • 440Remember still, women unfaithful are.
  • But tell me, have you nothing all this while
  • Heard of my son Orestes? Whether he
  • At Sparta with his uncle be, or Pyle?
  • For dead he is not, I know certainly.
  • 445Alas, said I, Atrides, how should I,
  • That wand’ring was at sea, hear any news
  • Whether alive or dead he be? Or why
  • Should I with tales uncertain you abuse?
  • Discoursing thus, and weeping there we stood,
  • 450When great Achilles’ soul appear’d to us;
  • And with him also the two spirits good
  • Of stout Patroclus and Antilochus.
  • The soul of Ajax, son of Telamon,
  • Was also there, who ’mongst those warriors tall
  • 455The goodliest person was, except the son
  • Of Peleus, who did much excel them all.
  • Achilles drank, and presently me knew,
  • And said, Ulysses, what brought you to Hell?
  • What plot upon the dead you hither drew,
  • 460Where none but shades of wretched mortals dwell?
  • Achilles, said I, I was forc’d to come
  • T’ inquire of th’ wizard, old Tiresias,
  • What the Fates say about my going home,
  • Whether or no, and how ’twill come to pass.
  • 465For since I came from Troy I have not seen
  • Nor Ithaca, nor any Grecian shore;
  • For toss’d and cross’d at sea I still have been;
  • But you are now as well as heretofore.
  • Like any God we honour’d you at Troy,
  • 470And here among the ghosts you are obeyed.
  • Death hath not chang’d your state; you still enjoy
  • A regal power. To this Achilles said:
  • Talk not to me of honour here in Hell;
  • I’d rather serve a clown on earth for bread,
  • 475Than be, of all things incorporeal,
  • That are, or ever shall be, supreme head.
  • But tell me of my son, Neoptolemus;
  • Whether he came to Troy, and how he fought;
  • And of my aged father, Peleus,
  • 480Whether he keep his place, or be put out.
  • For since much time his vigour hath decay’d,
  • Some foe, it may be, hath usurp’d his place
  • In Pthia, and in Hellas where he sway’d,
  • And put him, with his people, in disgrace.
  • 485But were I now above, and strong as then,
  • When for the Greeks I fought at Ilium,
  • And slew so many of their bravest men,
  • And to my aged father’s house should come;
  • If there I were, ’twould not be very long
  • 490Before I made some of their hearts to ache,
  • That go about to do my father wrong,
  • And would by force his honour from him take.
  • When he had done, I made him answer thus:
  • Concerning Peleus I can nothing say;
  • 495But of your son, stout Neoptolemus,
  • I know enough: ’twas I brought him to Troy
  • From Scyros’ isle. In council, always he
  • First spake his mind, and never spake but well.
  • Nestor and I, sometimes, and only we,
  • 500Th’ advice he gave were able to refel.
  • In fight, he sought no shelter in the throng,
  • But ever out he ran before the rest,
  • To show his courage and his strength among
  • Those foes that were in Troy esteem’d the best.
  • 505The names of all he slew I cannot tell;
  • They are too many. But ’twas by his sword
  • That great Eurypylus in battle fell,
  • Of all the Trojan aids the goodli’st lord,
  • Excepting Memnon. After, when we were
  • 510Within the wooden horse concealed, and I
  • The power had of ordering all things there,
  • I never saw your son to wipe his eye,
  • Or to wax pale, as many of us did.
  • He never longed to be set on land
  • 515From out the hole in which we all lay hid;
  • And to his hilt he often put his hand,
  • And often to his spear. And when at last
  • We won, and rifled had the town of Troy,
  • He home into his country safely passed,
  • 520His ship well-laden with his part o’ th’ prey.
  • And which is more, he came off safe and sound;
  • Though Mars each way threw deaths and wounds about
  • Amongst the crowd, he ne’er received wound,
  • Neither from them that shot, nor them that fought.
  • 525This said, the swift Achilles’ soul retir’d,
  • Strutting into the mead of Asphodel,
  • Proud of his son, to hear what he desir’d.
  • Then other grieved souls their stories tell.
  • Only the soul of Ajax stood off mute
  • 530And sullen, because I did from him bear
  • Achilles’ armour in that sad dispute,
  • Where Pallas and the Trojans judges were.
  • I would I had not had that victory,
  • Which cost the life of him that was the most
  • 535Admir’d by all, for form and chivalry,
  • Except Achilles, in the Argive host.
  • I gently to him spake Ajax, said I,
  • Forget that cursed armour now at last;
  • And since you dead are, let your anger die:
  • 540For why, the Gods determin’d had to cast
  • Those arms amongst us for a punishment,
  • Offended with us, what e’er was the matter,
  • And us’d them as an engine, with intent
  • Our greatest tower, which was yourself, to batter.
  • 545For whom the Argives did lament no less
  • Than for Achilles, Thetis’ son. Come nigh,
  • And hear what I can answer, and suppress
  • Your mighty heart awhile. So ended I.
  • To this just nothing he replied, but went
  • 550Int’ Erebus ’mongst other shadows dim;
  • Yet there, I think, he would have been content
  • To speak to me, if I to speak to him.
  • But I desired others’ souls to see.
  • Then Minos there, the son of Jove, I saw,
  • 555With golden sceptre, dealing equity
  • To souls that stood and sat to hear the law.
  • Next after him, I saw the great Orion;
  • A mighty club he carried in his hand;
  • And hunted the wild boar, and bear, and lion,
  • 560Which when he lived he had kill’d on land.
  • There also saw I Titius. He lay
  • Upon his back, stretch’d out full acres nine.
  • He the fair Leto had, upon the way
  • To Pytho, injur’d; Leto, Jove’s concubine.
  • 565Two vultures on his breast, on each side one,
  • Sate dipping of their beaks into his liver.
  • He stirreth not, but lets them still alone;
  • And thus devouring it, they stay for ever.
  • And Tantalus I saw up to the chin
  • 570In water clear, and longing sore to drink;
  • But as he bow’d himself to take it in,
  • Some devil always made the water sink.
  • Close o’er his head hung pleasant fruit, and ripe
  • Pears and pomegranates, olives, apples, figs,
  • 575Which ever when he ready was to gripe,
  • A sudden wind still whisk’d away the twigs.
  • And Sisyphus I saw, who ’gainst the hill,
  • With hands and feet, a heavy stone doth roll;
  • But when unto the top he brings it, still
  • 580The naughty stone falls back into the hole.
  • Then to ’t he goes afresh, with no less pain
  • He heaves and sweats, and dusty is all o’er;
  • And when ’tis up, he labour’d has in vain,
  • For still it serves him as it did before.
  • 585Then Hercules I saw,—I mean his sprite,
  • For he is with th’ immortal Gods above,
  • And taken has to wife Hebe the bright,
  • Daughter of Juno, and of mighty Jove.
  • The dead about him made a fearful cry,
  • 590Like frighted fowl. A golden belt he wore,
  • With wild beasts wrought, and slaughters cunningly,
  • The like shall never be, nor was before.
  • He saw, and knew me presently, and spake:
  • Renown’d Ulysses, why left you the light?
  • 595Alas, were you constrain’d to undertake
  • This task as I was, by a meaner wight?
  • Who, though Jove’s son I was, did me constrain
  • Full many other labours t’undergo.
  • But he thought this would put me to most pain,
  • 600Th’ infernal dog upon the earth to show.
  • I did it though, and dragg’d him up to th’ light,
  • By Mercury’s and by Athena’s aid.
  • Having thus said, he vanish’d out of sight
  • ’Mongst other phantoms. But I still there stay’d,
  • 605Hoping more heroes of th’ old time to see;
  • And more had surely seen of heavenly race,
  • Theseus, Pirythous, whom t’ had pleased me,
  • If longer I had dar’d to keep my place.
  • For then, from out of Hell, with hideous cry,
  • 610Thousands of souls about me gathered,
  • And frighted me; but most afraid was I,
  • Lest Proserpine should send out Gorgon’s head.
  • Then went I to my ship and company,
  • And for a while our oars at sea we plied:
  • 615But after we were on the main, then we
  • A fair gale had, and pass’d the ocean wide.