“Then I beheld the mighty Hercules— The hero’s image—for he sits himself Among the deathless gods, well pleased to share Their feasts, and Hebe of the dainty feet— A daughter of the mighty Jupiter And golden-sandalled Juno—is his wife. Around his image flitted to and fro The ghosts with noise, like fear-bewildered birds. His look was dark as night. He held in hand A naked bow, a shaft upon the string, And fiercely gazed, like one about to send The arrow forth. Upon his breast he wore The formidable baldric, on whose band Of gold were sculptured marvels—forms of bears, Wild boars, grim lions, battles, skirmishings, And death by wounds, and slaughter. He who wrought That band had never done the like before, Nor could thereafter. As I met his eye, The hero knew me, and, beholding me With pity, said to me in winged words:—
“ ‘Son of Laertes, nobly born and wise, And yet unhappy; surely thou dost bear A cruel fate, like that which I endured While yet I saw the brightness of the sun. The offspring of Saturnian Jupiter Am I, and yet was I compelled to serve One of a meaner race than I, who set Difficult tasks. He sent me hither once To bring away the guardian hound; he deemed No harder task might be. I brought him hence, I led him up from Hades, with such aid As Hermes and the blue-eyed Pallas gave.’
“Thus having spoken, he withdrew again Into the abode of Pluto. I remained And kept my place, in hope there yet might come Heroes who perished in the early time, And haply I might look on some of those— The ancients, whom I greatly longed to see— On Theseus and Pirithoüs, glorious men, The children of the gods. But now there flocked Already round me, with a mighty noise, The innumerable nations of the dead; And I grew pale with fear, lest from the halls Of Pluto the stern Proserpine should send The frightful visage of the monster-maid, The Gorgon. Hastening to my ship, I bade The crew embark, and cast the hawsers loose. Quickly they went on board, and took their seats Upon the benches. Through Océanus The current bore my galley, aided first By oars and then by favorable gales.”