THE DWELLINGS OF THE DEAD.
So they went together through the land of shadows, like unto men who
walk through a wood in a doubtful light, when the moon indeed hath
risen, but there are clouds over the sky. And first they came to
where, in front of the gates of hell, dwell Sorrow and Remorse, and
pale Disease and Fear, and Hunger that tempteth men to sin, and Want,
and Death, and Toil, and Slumber, that is Death's kinsman, and deadly
War; also they saw the chambers of the Furies, and Discord, whose hair
is of snakes that drip with blood. And in this region there is an
ancient elm, in the boughs whereof dwell all manner of dreams, and
shapes of evil monsters, as many as have been, such as were the
Centaurs, half man half horse, and Briareus with the hundred hands,
and others also. These Æneas, when he saw them, sought to slay,
rushing upon them with the sword, but his guide warned him that they
were shadows only.
After this they came to the river of hell, whereon plies the Boatman
Charon. A long white beard hath he and unkempt; and his eyes are fixed
in a fiery stare, and a scarf is knotted upon his shoulder, as is a
pilot's wont. An old man he seemeth to be, but hale and ruddy. Now
there was ever rushing to the bank a great crowd, wives and mothers,
and valiant men of war, boys, and girls dead before they were given in
marriage, and young men laid on the funeral pile before their parents'
eyes. Thick they were as the leaves that fall to the earth at the
first frost of autumn, or as the swallows, when they gather themselves
together, making ready to fly across the sea to the lands of the sun.
And of these Charon would take some into his boat; but others he would
forbid, and drive from the shore. This when Æneas saw, he marvelled,
and said, "O Lady, what meaneth this concourse at the river? What seek
these souls? Why be some driven from the bank and some ferried
across?"
And the Sibyl made answer: "This river that thou seest is the Styx, by
which the Gods in heaven swear, and fear to break their oath. Those
whom thou seest to be driven from the bank are such as have lacked
burial, but those who are ferried across have been buried duly; for
none pass this stream till their bodies have been laid in the grave,
otherwise they wander for a hundred years, and so at last may cross
over."
Much did Æneas pity their ill fortune, and the more when he beheld
Orontes and his Lycians, whom the sea had swallowed up alive before
his eyes. Here likewise there met him his pilot Palinurus, to whom,
when he knew him, for indeed he scarce could see him in the darkness,
he said, "What god took thee from us and drowned thee in the sea?
Surely, in this one matter, Apollo hath deceived me, saying that thou
shouldst escape the sea and come to the land of Italy."
[Illustration: CHARON AND THE GHOSTS.]
Then answered Palinurus, "Not so, great Æneas. For indeed to the land
of Italy I came. Three nights the south wind carried me over the sea,
and on the fourth day I saw the land of Italy from the top of a wave.
And when I swam to the shore, and was now clinging to the rocks, my
garments being heavy with water, the savage people came upon me,
and took me for a prey, and slew me. And now the winds and waves bear
me about as they will. Wherefore I pray thee, by thy father, and
Iülus, the hope of thy house, that thou deliver me from these woes.
Go, therefore, I pray thee, to the haven of Velia, and cast earth upon
me for burial; or give me now thy hand, and take me with thee across
this river."
Then said the priestess, "O Palinurus, what madness is this? Wilt thou
without due burial cross the river, and look upon the awful faces of
the Furies? Think not that the Fates can be changed by prayers. Yet
hear this, and be comforted. They that slew thee, being sore troubled
by many plagues, shall make due expiation to thee, and build a tomb,
and make offerings thereon year by year; and the place where they slew
thee shall be called after thy name."
Then he took comfort and departed. But when they came near to the
river, the Boatman beheld them, and cried, "Stay thou, whoever thou
art, that comest armed to this river, and tell me what thou seekest.
This is the land of Shadows, of Sleep, and of Night. The living may
not be ferried in this boat. An evil day it was when I carried
Hercules, and Theseus, and Pirithoüs, though they were children of the
Gods. For Hercules chained the Watch-dog of hell, and dragged him
trembling from his master's seat. And Theseus and his friend sought to
carry away the Queen even from the chamber of her husband."
Then the Sibyl made answer: "Be not troubled. We came not hither with
evil thoughts. Let the Watch-dog of hell make the pale ghosts afraid;
let your Queen abide in her husband's palace; we will not harm them.
Æneas of Troy cometh down to hell that he may speak with his father.
And if thou takest no account of such piety, yet thou wilt know this
token."
And she showed him the bough of gold. And when he saw it he laid aside
his anger, rejoicing to behold, now after many years, the marvellous
gift. Then he brought near his boat to the bank, and drave out the
souls that were therein, and took on board Æneas and the priestess.
Much did it groan with the weight, and the water poured apace
through the seams thereof. Yet did they come safe across.
[Illustration: CERBERUS.]
Then they saw Cerberus, the Watch-dog, in his cave. And to him the
Sibyl gave a cake of honey and poppy-seed, causing sleep. And this he
swallowed, opening wide his three ravenous mouths, and straightway
stretched himself out asleep across the cave.
After this they heard a great wailing of infants, even the voices of
such as are taken away before they have had lot or part in life. And
near to these were such as have died by false accusation; yet lack
they not justice, for Minos trieth their cause. And yet beyond, they
that, being guiltless, have laid hands upon themselves. Fain would
they now endure hardships, being yet alive, but may not, for the river
keeps them in with its unlovely stream as in a prison. Not far from
these are the Mourning Fields, where dwell the souls of those that
have died of love, as Procris, whom Cephalus slew in error, and
Laodamia, who died of grief for her husband. And among these was Dido,
fresh from the wound wherewith she slew herself. And when Æneas saw
her darkly through the shadows, even as one who sees, or thinketh
that he sees, the new moon lately risen, he wept, and said, "O Dido,
it was truth, then, that they told me, saying that thou hadst slain
thyself with the sword. Tell me, Was I the cause of thy death? Loath
was I, O Queen--I swear it by all that is most holy in heaven or
hell--to leave thy land. But the Gods, at whose bidding I come hither
this day, constrained me; nor did I think that thou wouldst take such
sorrow from my departure. But stay; depart not; for never again may I
speak to thee but this once only."
So he spake, and would fain have appeased her wrath. But she cast her
eyes to the ground, and her heart was hard against him, even as a
rock. And she departed into a grove that was hard by, wherein was her
first husband, Sichæus, who loved her even as he was loved. After this
they came to the land where the heroes dwell. And there they saw
Tydeus, who died before Thebes; and Adrastus, and also many men of
Troy, as the three sons of Antenor, and Idæus, who was the
armour-bearer of King Priam, and bare the arms and drave the chariot
yet. All these gathered about him, and would fain know wherefore he
had come. But when the hosts of Agamemnon saw his shining arms through
the darkness, they fled, as in old days they had fled to the ships;
and some would have cried aloud, but could not, so thin are the voices
of the dead.
[Illustration: ÆNEAS AND THE SHADE OF DIDO.]
Among these he saw Deïphobus, son of Priam. Cruelly mangled was he,
for his hands had been cut off, and his ears and his nostrils
likewise. Scarce did Æneas know him, and he himself in shame would
have hidden his wounds; but the son of Anchises spake to him, saying,
"Who hath dealt so foully with thee, great Deïphobus? Men told me that
on the last night of Troy thou didst fall dead on a heap of Greeks
whom thou hadst slain. Wherefore I built thee a tomb by the sea, and
thrice called aloud thy name. But thee I found not, that I might lay
thee therein."
Then Deïphobus made answer: "Thou hast left nothing undone, but hast
paid me all due honour. But my ill fate and the accursed wickedness of
the Spartan woman have destroyed me. How we spent that last night in
idle rejoicings thou knowest. And she, while the women of Troy danced
before the Gods, stood holding a torch on the citadel, as though she
were their leader, yet in truth she called therewith the Greeks from
Tenedos. But I lay overcome with weariness in my chamber. Then did
she, a noble wife, forsooth! take all the arms out of the house, and
my trusty sword also from under my head; and after brought thereunto
Menelaüs, so hoping to do away her sin against him; and Ulysses also,
always ready with evil counsels. What need of more? May the Gods do so
and more also to them. But tell me why hast thou come hither?"
And it was now past noonday, and the two had spent in talk all the
allotted time. Therefore the Sibyl spake: "Night cometh, Æneas, and we
waste the day in tears. Lo! here are two roads. This on the right hand
leadeth to the palace of Pluto and to the Elysian plains; and that on
the left to Tartarus, the abode of the wicked." And Deïphobus
answered: "Be not wroth, great priestess; I depart to my own place. Do
thou, my friend, go on and prosper."
But as Æneas looked round he saw a great building, and a three-fold
wall about it, and round the wall a river of fire. Great gates there
were, and a tower of brass, and the fury Tisiphone sat as warder. Also
he heard the sound of those that smote upon an anvil, and the clanking
of chains. And he stood, and said, "What mean these things that I see
and hear?" Then the Sibyl made answer: "The foot of the righteous may
not pass that threshold. But when the Queen of hell gave me this
office she herself led me through the place and told me all. There
sits Rhadamanthus the Cretan, and judges the dead. And them that be
condemned Tisiphone taketh, and the gate which thou seest openeth to
receive them. And within is a great pit, and the depth thereof is as
the height of heaven. Herein lie the Titans, the sons of Earth, whom
Jupiter smote with the thunder; and herein the sons of Aloeus, who
strove to thrust the Gods from heaven; and Salmoneus, who would have
mocked the thunder of Jupiter, riding in his chariot through the
cities of Elis, and shaking a torch, and giving himself out to be a
god. But the lightning smote him in his pride. Also I saw Tityos,
spread over nine acres of ground, and the vulture feeding on his
heart. And over some hangs a great stone ready to fall; and some sit
at the banquet, but when they would eat, the Fury at their side
forbids, and rises and shakes her torch and thunders in their ears.
These are they who while they were yet alive hated their brothers, or
struck father or mother, or deceived one that trusted to them, or kept
their riches for themselves, nor cared for those of their own
household (a great multitude are they), or stirred up civil strife.
And of these some roll a great stone and cease not, and some are bound
to wheels, and some sit for ever crying, 'Learn to do righteousness
and to fear the Gods.'"
[Illustration: THE FURY AT THE FEAST.]
And when the priestess had finished these words they hastened on their
way. And, after a while, she said, "Lo! here is the palace which the
Cyclopés built for Pluto and the Queen of hell. Here must we offer the
gift of the bough of gold." And this being accomplished, they came to
the dwellings of the righteous. Here are green spaces, with woods
about them; and the light of their heaven is fuller and brighter
than that which men behold. Another sun they have and other stars.
Some of them contend together in wrestling and running; and some dance
in measure, singing the while a pleasant song; and Orpheus, clad in a
long robe, makes music, touching his harp, now with his fingers and
now with an ivory bow. Here did Æneas marvel to see the mighty men of
old, such as were Ilus, and Dardanus, builder of Troy. Their spears
stood fixed in the earth, and their horses fed about the plain; for
they love spear and chariot and horses, even as they loved them upon
earth. And others sat and feasted, sitting on the grass in a
sweet-smelling grove of bay, whence flows the river which men upon the
earth call the Po. Here were they who had died for their country, and
holy priests, and poets who had uttered nothing base, and such as had
found out witty inventions, or had done great good to men. All these
had snow-white garlands on their heads. Then spake the Sibyl to
Musæus, who stood in the midst, surpassing them all in stature: "Tell
me, happy souls, where shall we find Anchises." And Musæus answered,
"We have no certain dwelling-place: but climb this hill, and ye can
see the whole plain below, and doubtless him whom ye seek."
Then they beheld Anchises where he sat in a green valley, regarding
the spirits of those who should be born in after-time of his race. And
when he beheld Æneas coming, he stretched out his hands and cried,
"Comest thou, my son? Hast thou won thy way hither to me? Even so I
thought that it would be, and lo! my hope hath not failed me."
And Æneas made answer, "Yea, I have come a long way to see thee, even
as thy spirit bade me. And now let me embrace thee with my arms."
But when he would have embraced him it was as if he clasped the air.
Then Æneas looked and beheld a river, and a great company of souls
thereby, thick as the bees on a calm summer day in a garden of lilies.
And when he would know the meaning of the concourse, Anchises said,
"These are souls which have yet to live again in a mortal body, and
they are constrained to drink of the water of forgetfulness." And
Æneas said, "Nay, my father, can any desire to take again upon them
the body of death?" Then Anchises made reply: "Listen, my son, and I
will tell thee all. There is one soul in heaven and earth and the
stars and the shining orb of the moon and the great sun himself; from
which soul also cometh the life of man and of beast, and of the birds
of the air, and of the fishes of the sea. And this soul is of a divine
nature, but the mortal body maketh it slow and dull. Hence come fear
and desire, and grief and joy, so that, being as it were shut in a
prison, the spirit beholdeth not any more the light that is without.
And when the mortal life is ended yet are not men quit of all the
evils of the body, seeing that these must needs be put away in many
marvellous ways. For some are hung up to the winds, and with some
their wickedness is washed out by water, or burnt out with fire. But a
ghostly pain we all endure. Then we that are found worthy are sent
unto Elysium and the plains of the blest. And when, after many days,
the soul is wholly pure, it is called to the river of forgetfulness,
that it may drink thereof, and so return to the world that is above."
Then he led Æneas and the Sibyl to a hill, whence they could see the
whole company, and regard their faces as they came; and he said,
"Come, and I will show thee them that shall come after thee. That
youth who leans upon a pointless spear is Silvius, thy youngest child,
whom Lavinia shall bear to thee in thy old age. He shall reign in
Alba, and shall be the father of kings. And many other kings are there
who shall build cities great and famous. Lo! there is Romulus, whom
Ilia shall bear to Mars. He shall build Rome, whose empire shall reach
to the ends of the earth and its glory to the heaven. Seest thou him
with the olive crown about his head and the white beard? That is he
who shall first give laws to Rome. And next to him is Tullus, the
warrior. And there are the Tarquins; and Brutus, who shall set the
people free, aye, and shall slay his own sons when they would be false
to their country. See also the Decii; and Torquatus, with the cruel
axe; and Camillus winning back the standards of Rome. There standeth
one who shall subdue Corinth; and there another who shall avenge the
blood of Troy upon the race of Achilles. There, too, thou mayest see
the Scipios, thunderbolts of war, whom the land of Africa shall fear;
and there Regulus, busy in the furrows; and there the Fabii, chiefly
him, greatest of the name, who shall save thy country by wise delay.
Such, my son, shall be thy children's children. Others with softer
touch shall carve the face of man in marble or mould the bronze; some
more skilfully shall plead, or map the skies, or tell the rising of
the stars. 'Tis thine, man of Rome, to subdue the world. This is thy
work, to set the rule of peace over the vanquished, to spare the
humble, and to subdue the proud."
Then he spake again: "Regard him who is the first of all the company
of conquerors. He is Marcellus; he shall save the state in the day of
trouble, and put to flight Carthaginian and Gaul."
Then said Æneas, for he chanced to see by his side a youth clad in
shining armour, and very fair to look upon, but sad, and with downcast
eyes, "Tell me, father, who is this? How noble is he! What a company
is about him! but there is a shadow of darkness round his head."
And Anchises made answer, "O my son, seek not to know the greatest
sorrow that shall befall thy children after thee. This youth the
Fates shall only show for a brief space to man. Rome would seem too
mighty to the Gods should he but live! What mourning shall there be
for him! What a funeral shalt thou see, O river of Tiber, as thou
flowest by the new-made tomb! No youth of the race of Troy shall
promise so much as he. Alas! for his righteousness, and truth, and
valour unsurpassed! O luckless boy, if thou canst haply break thy evil
doom thou shalt be a Marcellus. Give handfuls of lilies. I will
scatter the bright flowers and pay the idle honours to my grandson's
shade."
Thus did Anchises show his son things to be, and kindled his soul with
desire of glory. Also he showed him what wars he must wage, and how he
should endure, or, if it might be, avoid the evils to come.
There are two gates of Sleep, of horn the one, by which true dreams go
forth; of ivory the other, by which the false. Then did Anchises send
forth his son and the Sibyl by the ivory gate. And Æneas returned to
the ships, and making sail came to the cape which was afterwards
called Caieta.