Chapter VI: Prologue (5)

But, as I thought of these things, many remembrances crept out of my mind, crowding upon me: for, when I was a liegeman of Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans, and also when I was a priest of Queen Isis in the land of Khem, I had been oblivious of many great and wily deeds which I had done in the morning of the world. But, now, I began to remember many things concerning lofty Ilion, and wars, and windy Fate, and my sometime comrades there; and the black bow of Eyrytos vibrated in my hand, and my glance fixed itself on the dazzling sheen of my huge silver shield; and the bow sang to me of implacable young yellow-haired Akhilleys, and faithful temerarious Patrokles his friend, and fearless ruddy-headed Neoptolemos his son, and magnanimous Agamemnon shepherd of the people and leader of the Argive hosts, and aged Phoinix who (when a boy) obeyed his mother, and proud insane Aias, and Aitolian Diomedes of the loud war-cry with whom I spied on the Dardanians and stole the horses of Rhesos king of the Thrakians, and Idomeneys the Kretan fierce as flame, and my own dear son wise Telemakhos, and, also, the blameless foes of the rolling-eyed Argives, to wit, pious runaway Aineias and accursed crest-tossing Hektor, and old Priam with his sons Lykaon and Kebriones and godlike Polydoros the runner, all blameless, and woman-mad Paris of the splendid body, and also equal-handed Asteropaios: nor was I unmindful of bandy-legged woolly-haired Thersites, the very ugliest man of all who came to Ilion. And, furthermore, my singing bow began to sing to me, and it sang of the white-armed slave Lyrnessian Briseis, and of the inquisitive Deidamia, and of perfidious Klytaimnestra wife of Agamemnon, and of unhappy Andromakhe, and of prudent Penelope, and of beautiful golden Helen daughter of Zeys the Swan.

But the mind in my lordly breast busied itself with causes and effects: for I began to understand many more things, and one thing specially above all things, this, to wit, that these heroes (my friends and enemies) strove as I strove, and endured as I endured, and contrived their plans as I contrived my very wily plans, all for a prize and a crown. And, further, it seemed to me that, in all my striving after wisdom, there was one branch of knowledge which I had not considered even rudimentarily: for, as far as I remembered, I had never permitted myself (as all other heroes permit themselves) to go stark mad for love of a woman. But that was chiefly due to my nature, which caused me to hide my soft and hungry heart beneath a hard and cruel armour of proof. Yet other men, not less brave (though far less wily) than I, loved women, not coolly, as I had loved prudent Penelope (whom I always used most respectfully and kindly), but perfervidly and even hairily and with utter self-renunciation. And I began to wonder why my wisdom had omitted to take count of rather more than half the human race. And I began to wonder whether my comrades had gained certain rewards of wisdom by their madness which I, by my wily self-control had not attained. For I suddenly remembered the old adage, _What I gained, I lost: What I lost, I won: What I gave, I have._

Now I blamed divine Memory: for she was treating me in a scurvy and niggardly manner, doling out mere handfuls of all the wealth of notions and ideas which, from time to time, I had been used to store in her cells. For the wise man ought not to utter a judgment until he knows all the matter to be judged. And I did not know all. Wherefore I put myself to ponder the little which I knew.

And, one by one, slowly, and painfully, certain other matters were brought out and laid before my mind.

For I remembered that the oldest and the youngest and the most venerated and by far the most exceedingly powerful of all the gods is Love. And, also, I remembered that each one of us, who stamp on the wide-bosomed earth, is no more than a moiety and counterpart of a perfect human creature. For, very early in the morning of the world, Zeys Pampator cut all mortals in two, halving them, for a religious reason, and on account of their ineffable prepotence. Wherefore, having once been a whole being, and being now but the half of a whole being, all articulately-speaking men most fervently desire and pursue any other creature whom they take to be their lost counterpart, that the two halves may again be mingled and fused in one: for, as Plato definitely teaches, _Love is the Desire and Pursuit of the Whole_. For which cause, I was aware that all men and all women needed nothing more than this, and nothing so much as this, that Love should work out perfectly, each finding other, returning to the aboriginal nature. These things, then, occupied the mind in my breast.

And, moreover, I considered how that I was going (obeying the Delphic oracle) where I twice had been before, once alive and once dead, to wit, to the House of Hades, tremendous king of infernal shades, whom I was to despoil of his treasure and the crown of all wisdom. Yet, still, I knew not what that treasure and crown might be. And, having remembered thus much of the past, I held a sort of council with my noble mind, which determined me to despoil that king of whatever might seem to be of greatest worth in his kingdom.

Wherefore, having summoned Thalos my slave, bathed and purified, I set the magic mirror on his palm, bidding him to gaze therein, and laying a very strong spell on him so that he should have clear sight of that one thing of which I had no knowledge.

And his little body became rigid; and his long black eyes stared; and the sweet sweat oozed like dewdrops from his flesh, and he shook with fear, insomuch that I chained his arms and legs with my own hands as in brazen manacles, forcing him to do my will. And, when I refused him permission to swoon, then his rigours took him stupendously; and, being as rigid as a strung bow, he began to declare his vision, saying: _The golden goddess, sitting with her star-crowned brothers, in the dark, disdaining a victorious hero, and an unmanlike king, and a shepherd beloved of goddesses, and innumerable warriors contending among themselves._ And then I could no longer hold him: for limb-relaxing Sleep, the all-subduer, drew him from me.

But I knew what I wanted to know.

For this utterance was all of a piece with the divination which my same slave had made, when he wore a young Egyptian body on the sacred river of Khem, saying: _The silver god, leading the golden goddess, from the dark._ For who was the golden goddess in the dark, but fair long-robed golden Helen daughter of Zeys the Swan, dwelling in the unlighted House of Hades?

And who were her star-crowned brothers, but the Great Twins, godlike youths, Kastor the tamer of horses and Polydeykes the pugilist, star-crowned sharers of immortality?

And whose blameless homage was refused by Golden Helen, but that of the victorious hero Theseys, and that of sandy-haired old impotent Menelaos, and that of the woman-mad shepherd Paris beloved of Hera and Aphrodite and Pallas Athene most righteous of goddesses?

And for whom, but for Golden Helen, had innumerable warriors, my comrades and my enemies, contended during ten long years of war, and after?

And I asked of the mind in my lordly breast, saying: Who, then, is the Treasure of Hades?

And my mind answered me, saying: Who but Golden Helen, sought of all men.

Then, indeed, the mind in my dear breast bounded with an unmentioned and unthought-of joy in thinking of these things, and in remembering also the things which were to come, to wit, the leading of the golden goddess from the dark, the moving with her among gods and goddesses, and the sitting with her on a throne.

In this manner did I find out the meaning of the Delphic oracle and the spoil which I was to win from the king of the netherworld with the crown of all wisdom.

THE SIXTEENTH PAPYRUS

But I went to Tainaron, where the hollow ship lay at anchor in a little cove to the west of the headland, being too great to draw up on the black beach; and, indeed, at Tainaron there is no sand fit for such a purpose. But I came ashore on a raft made of spars and planks, which the slaves of my galley pushed before them swimming, thrusting the sea back with their strong legs. And the raft carried also my gear, and my silver-shining chariot adorned with crabs and moons in mother-of-pearl with its mystic charioteer poised on the front of the rail: but my four white horses swam lustily apart, having no fear of deep water.

Not every day does mortal man drive down in awful pomp to the dark House of Hades. And, indeed, I did not know the way: nor was there a sacrifice proper for so great an occasion ready to my hand. Wherefore, I mentioned the point in a prayer addressed to my grandsire, wing-footed Hermes, inhabiting olympian palaces; and he sent me a Dream, to tell me how to prepare for his coming. But the Dream said that I was to build up an altar of stones on a mound of earth, and to make a fire, and to sacrifice my four white horses to the areiopagos of the immortals; and, after the sacrifice, I was to feast with my crew; and, at moonset, I was to cast fresh fennel on a clear fire, having dismissed all the lusty slaves to my galley with a commandment there to await my return.

But, when I awakened, the sun was close above the distant mountains, all ruddy with his hard day’s course and ready for the evening. And I bade my slaves to build up an altar, and to do all other things which the Dream had commanded me: but they were unwilling to slay the beautiful horses; and they coughed horribly when I did it myself; and they made no difficulty about thoroughly enjoying themselves at the feast when the sacrifice was duly done. And, in the midst of the sacrifice, a portent was vouchsafed to me: for the smoke of my burnt-offering was not blown abroad by the evening breeze: but it ascended straightly as a column to the sky above. And this I knew to be a very favourable omen, auguring that my sacrifice was accepted as pleasing to the areiopagos of divine ones who inhabit olympian palaces.

And, with a glad heart, I did on my shining panoply, the silver-shining armour of Akhilleys, and his god-made shield, with the singing bow of Eyrytos: so that I shone like the star which rises in autumn, whose resplendent rays shine among many stars in the depths of the night. But I slung my revolver on my body, in a secret hollow of my armour, having fed it full and made it ready to spit dire death.

But, when my mariners had cut me many faggots of fresh fennel, heaping the same in a stack apt to my hand, then, indeed, I dismissed them to the hollow ship, with a commandment to await my return, all as the Dream had ordained.

And, as soon as I was alone, I very eagerly began to cast choice twigs of fennel on the redly-glowing embers of my sacrifice. And the sweet face of the moon became pale and paler, as the face of a dear woman about to swoon; and she snatched up a few soft mists wherewith to cloak herself in her going. For black night was creeping up the vault of heaven to overwhelm her; and she fled before him, as a maid flies before a blameless Ethiopian slave, whose bestial nostrils snuffle as he capers meditating very evil deeds. And anon she escaped with her purity. But I sat down to wait: nor did sweet Sleep light on my eyelids, when I contemplated the Pleiades, and setting Arktoyros, and the Bear (which they also call the Waggon) turning itself and watching Orion, but it alone does not share in the washing of the ocean.

But soon there was nothing between me and the darkness, excepting the glow of my fire. And I, being very eager for an apparition, grasped the stalks of fennel by handfuls, flinging them on to the roaring blaze, till all the world was awhirl with the fragrant greyish-blue smoke beloved of my grandsire Hermes, beneficial son of Zeys.

And, very far away, I heard a noise as of the noise of a single thunderclap. But I was aware that it was the clang of the great gate on lofty Olympos closing behind the wing-footed messenger who was coming in answer to my prayer.

But, while I was awaiting his swift arrival, I ceased not to feed the flame with the magic herb. And, suddenly, I became aware that I was not alone. For a Presence was very near me, but hidden by the clouds of scented smoke; and two glowing eyes were fixed upon me: also, from time to time, I caught a glimpse of horns and pointed ears very terrible of aspect.

Then, indeed, sharp Fear tried to lay her clammy hand upon my heart: as a boy of evil mind, desiring to annoy his bedfellow, slips a wet toad into the white armpit of him sleeping. And I said to myself, in the words of one dying: _I am about to see Pan_.[37] For I remembered the adage concerning a man who is given over unto sweet white Death, of whom it is said _Let him see Pan_.[38] For, indeed, it is known that the faces of the dead shew one thing very clearly, and that is that they have found out everything which there is to be known by mortal man, and are satisfied, as we all have seen in the dear beautiful face of Diyllos: so that, in saying of such an one _He has seen Pan_,[39] it is signified that he is satisfied with perfect knowledge, having seen All. Wherefore, for the moment, I wondered whether the crown of my wisdom was to come to me (by the will of the gods) in this manner.

But the mind in my lordly breast instantly bade me to face fate with a brave and dauntless countenance: for which cause, I summoned all my boldness, fearlessly gazing upon the glowing eyes amid the smoke, being determined to know all which there was to be known, without counting the cost, and meeting sweet Death unflinchingly and as a lover. Thus, for some moments, I eyed rustic Pan: for the silvan god indeed was looking upon me. But, as white Death gave no sign of approaching me, I remembered that I had no cause for fear, seeing that my veins were filled with the ichor of the immortal gods as well as with the blood of a man.

But, at length, Pan came out of the smoky cloud and stood before me, goat-footed, hairy. His voice, when he spoke, was like the sound of leaves lying in the forest which sigh when some wanton breeze disturbs their slumbers. And he said: “Now do I greet thee, O Stranger. And whence comest thou? And what manner of man art thou? Art thou violent and wild and not just? Or art thou hospitable, and hast thou a holy mind? For I rejoice to see that thou art not like other earth-trampling men, who incontinently die (a most foolish and reprehensible custom) whensoever as they set eyes on me, rendering themselves unfit for serious conversation, while I am a-weary of the prattle of the children of hills and streams and trees.”

But I made audacious answer to the simple country-god, saying: “O Pan, folk say that I am both thy half-brother and thy step-father: for I am King Odysseys, the sacker of cities, and prudent Penelope (who was my wife) bore thee to Hermes, my immortal grandsire. Wherefore we should be kin of some kind, I and thou.”

Whereat he laughed merrily; and he answered: “Thou thyself dost not believe that tale, O wily Odysseys: for thou well knowest that I am as old as Time, being own brother to great Khronos. Nevertheless, any god might indeed be proud to call cousins with King Odysseys. Wherefore, tell me, O cousin, whence thou art now come: for it seemeth that nephew Hades hath relaxed his grim ward of thee.”

But, ere I could open my lips in reply, the rustic god cried: “Aha! Who cometh here? ’Tis young Hermes, as I live with goats!”

Thus he spoke. But I saw the grey-blue smoke-cloud broken by golden radiances flashing here and there. And, looking, we beheld now the golden wand, now the beautiful swiftly-flying limbs shod with golden-winged sandals, now the cloak of gold and purple tissue blown back from the body in flight; and, anon, the youthful bird of heaven burst upon us out of the fume in all the inmarcesible splendour of nude immortality.

In this manner, I first saw Hermes, the Luck-bringer, my grandsire, a god.

FOOTNOTES:

[37] ΟΨΕϹΘΑΙ ΜΕΛΛΩ ΤΟ ΠΑΝ.

[38] ΒΛΕΠΕΤΩ ΤΟ ΠΑΝ.

[39] ΕΩΡΑΚΕ ΤΟ ΠΑΝ: I am reluctantly compelled to confess that I have quite failed to trace these illuminating adages to any source prior to the year B.C. 45; and can only recommend application to the erudite author of a treatise called _Dodo_, whose writings clearly demonstrate that he has at least a very fair working knowledge of their ideal content. A. H.

THE SEVENTEENTH PAPYRUS

Now that divine young one of gods came to me holding in his hand the halters of four white horses, all mad, incomparable in splendour, tossing their heads, and stamping with their feet. And Pan looked curiously upon us, while sprightly Hermes took me to his beautiful large breast, calling me Son and Child: for the heart of the youthful god was glad when he saw the goat-footed divine one with whom I stood as an equal; and the sheen of my silver-shining armour glittered with moony gems. And, first, he began to speak very eloquently (as his manner is), having a tale to tell of the cause of his lateness in coming.

For he said that the blessed gods, having sniffed the savour of my sacrifice with pleasure, graciously deigned to acknowledge the same by a gift. And, seeing that I had not hesitated to offer my only horses, those divine ones were pleased to send me another team. Wherefore, four heavenly steeds were selected from that godly stock which the indomitable hero Herakles won from King Laomedon. But, when quick-eyed though blindfolded Love had seen my grandsire about to descend bearing away beautiful horses, he had howled (that dire intractable boy), only for the sake of annoying, saying that steeds ought not to be sent to me, seeing that he himself (even Love) with his burning breath and wide-sailing wings was ready to come at my call to be my beast, my bird, my bearer of burdens and deep delight for ever and ever. But, when Hermes persisted (for the thing was an order from the All-father which must be obeyed), then Divine Eros had betaken himself to his bow and arrows, shooting through the bars of heaven’s gate, so that more than nine times the halters had been severed, and the horses had gone free, galloping here and there, till, at last, being caught and herded safely out of range, they were led down to me, apparently docile and ready for the traces. Such was the apology of Hermes.

But Pan, standing by and listening attentively, saw how highly I was in favour with the gods of lofty Olympos; and he stooped, picking up a sprig of fragrant fennel, wherewith he touched my two eyes, saying: “Receive the power of seeing as the gods see.”

And instantly he was gone, I know not where. But Hermes laughed, triumphantly merry, saying: “Thou, O my brave child, hast indeed won old Pan’s favour: for few there be to whom he would communicate this virtue, a very signal one, as thou shalt know anon.”

Thus having spoken, he bade me to prepare for my fearsome journey. But, while I obeyed him, he illuminated my mind with knowledge of the ordeals through which I was to pass: yet he could not tell me everything, for the time was short; and, as much of the rest as he might, he said that he would tell me by the way. For he was going with me as far as was permitted. But I went even gleefully, having so affable and so splendid a young god for my comrade.

But I yoked the white steeds to the well-wrought chariot, carven of silver inlaid with adornments of crabs and moons in mother-of-pearl, whereon was poised the silver Love, blindfolded, naked, larger than life, and just in the act of flight. But my grandsire examined my glittering armour; and, having approved it, he wrapped me in my great trailing mantle of tissue of silver lined with white furs and clasped with the signs of the crab and the moon. Furthermore, he gave me a heavenly amulet for my use and comfort, formed of two chalcedonyxes having the similitude of eyes set in the Sign of the Crab in a silver finger-ring, saying that I would need it on occasion. And he let me twist long stalks of fennel into a monstrous torch, three stalks with seven stalks and nine stalks, nineteen in all. And, having lighted it, we mounted my chariot, both I and the god.

Now the silver Love on the chariot was motionless and dumb, as the manner of gods is when they are made of metal: yet it evidently was a very potent and unheard-of magic, though neither Hermes nor I, Odysseys, wily and knowing as we both were, fully understood it, for the divine ones inhabiting olympian palaces had not manifested their will in this particular. For which cause, I stood in my proper place on the left:[40] but Hermes went to the other side of the flying Love, seizing the reins, and urging the huge white horses onward with the shouts of a charioteer. But they plunged madly forth into the cloud of fennel-smoke.

I closed my eyes, smarting with the murky reek. But the flaming firebrand which I bore flared like a banner far behind me: so that, though I love sunlight as well as any man alive, I gladly and joyously went (god-driven) from the grain-giving earth to the netherworld, dashing into the secret adit whereby the souls of dwellers in daylight go down to the dark house of Hades. Thus, then, I went, to despoil the king of shades.

But we galloped on, at more than mortal speed, down the broad path, never slipping nor stumbling: for Hephaistos had shodden the heavenly steeds, and Hermes drove them, mightily encouraging them with shoutings. And my firebrand, fanned by the wind of the speed of my going, flamed on the pallor of dead men, terror-stricken, who were passing down the same road, like sheep unshepherded, toward old Kharon and his insatiable barge.

We came to the shelving river-bank; and the Old Man of Styx drove many souls from our path as the silver-shining chariot dashed irresistibly into the stink of the putrid stream. But my lusty horses swam swiftly to the farther hythe; and Hermes buoyed up the ponderous chariot with magic so that it did not sink. But we speeded on, over sandy desolate wastes, veiled in impenetrable gloom. Fast and faster tore those untiring stallions of matchless breed; and the whirling wheels span round; and chill winds blew in our faces, so that I wrapped myself shivering in my furry cloak. League after league we flew, through unpeopled wildernesses; and the earth became no more sandy, but thick with salt, which flashed back the gleam of my fast-burning torch, lying wide-spread on both sides of the narrowing way.

But when I (being inquisitive) addressed a word to my grandsire concerning the phrenetic speed of our going, and what should come thereafter, and the salt which lay by the way, then, indeed, he answered me, saying: “The tides of hell are flowing fast; and, as we crossed Styx at the slack, so we must cross Pyriphthlegethon at the full, or we shall not win through: for none may traverse those dread streams excepting at such times. Nor can a man tarry upon the banks, by reason of the singularly putrid fumes arising. Neither may a man dally in this wilderness of salt, which is sacrosanct: for every grain thereof contains selections from the body of a dead man, and thus they are preserved against the day when they shall be required for use once more.”

To whom I, without delay, spoke boldly, saying: “And what of those men who (by the sanction of the gods) have not died until after they have occupied several different bodies?” For I was thinking of Amenemhat and of Neandros and Thalos, and of the other persons whom I myself (from time to time) have metamorphosed.

But young Hermes responded to me, saying: “Know, O inquisitive wily and well-beloved child, that, in every body of a mortal, there is that which is beautiful and that which is hideous, just as, in every soul of a mortal, there is that which is good and that which is evil. Wherefore, it is the will of Zeys, the Father of all, that the evil and the hideous shall perish everlastingly, but the good and the beautiful blended together shall live in immortal palaces.”

And it seemed to me very strange to hear such words of wisdom coming from a youth, whose cheeks of summer hue shewed not the tender mother of the vine-down. But he, Hermes, the powerful Argicide, fell again to urging the heavenly steeds, crying: “On, on, to the house of shady Hades!”

And the gloom before us was illumined with a dull-red glow, which shot up into the dark vault like a roof above our heads: for, indeed, we were rushing into the very abysses of the netherworld; and the light grew clearer and more fierce to us advancing. But, behind us, we left a trail of smoke from my flaming firebrand, and a trail of steam from the straining stallions. And the cold wind died; and immensurable flames streamed upward from the river of fire, licking invisible heights, flashing and flickering. And I heard my divine charioteer praising great Zeys with bated breath, for that we were come at a propitious time. For, as we flew down to the blackened shore, our wheels drove heavily among the crackling cinders; and the flames died, and evanesced: for, as the tides of the accursed mystic river were flowing full, the flames (which blazed and roared through ebb and flow) were hushed in phosphorescent silence.

But my mighty steeds, mad by nature, plunged bravely in the stream which bubbled and boiled with recent heat: yet, because of their heavenly breed, they (already mad) succumbed not to the scalding flood, though they screamed with terror and piety, as did Ares (potent in battle) when (wounded by Diomedes son of Tydeys) he fell, covering seven acres, and fled (bellowing) to Paieon (the surgeon of the gods) to be healed of his hurt. But, when we were on the other side of that flaming moat which surrounds the city of the dead, Hermes assuaged the pangs of my mad horses with a holy _Spell_ which he contrived to remember just then, so that they became much madder than they ever had been before and went most valiantly onward.

Then, also, that same divine one of gods cried aloud to me, saying: “If thou thyself canst remember any inchantments, work them well now, O master of crafts: for this locality is very fatal to miserable mortals as a rule; and twice already thou hast escaped herefrom alive: but, for a third attempt something extremely exquisite of magic will be found desirable.”

Thus he admonished me. But I instantly recited aloud most potent _Spells_, to wit, _The Spell of Sniffing the Air and Getting Power over the Water in the Netherworld_, and _The Spell of Not Dying Again in the Netherworld_,[41] making the proper _Signs_, and saying:

“_I take hold of air and water: I watch and guard the egg of the great cackler._

“_It groweth, and I will grow: it sniffeth the air, and I will sniff the air._

“_It liveth, and I will live: I will triumph in the air and the water of the netherworld._

“_Let the place of hiding things be opened: for I will not be treated with scorn._

“_I will not submit to any violence: nor will I die again in the netherworld._”

And, having thus composed and fortified my will, we continued to rage furiously onward.

Now the gloom of the place was very grey and terrible, insomuch that the mad heads of my horses were invisible to us standing behind them in the chariot, for a dense fog was enveloping the netherworld. And, anon, we found our way blocked by a great and monstrous wall which frowned blackly in the shade, wherein loomed a mountainous barbacan fortified with turrets and pierced by a tremendous gate. But the gate was guarded by unsleeping Kerberos, the hound of hell spoken of by Pythian Phoibos Apollon, barking at me with three ugly heads and gnashing the relative mouthfuls of teeth. Whom my grandsire appeased, silencing him with the _Word of Power_.[42]

But divine Hermes began to warn me, saying that his business ended in the realms of shady Hades, his uncle; and he gave me to know that, in what more remained to be done, I must trust only in myself: but he bade me to be very wary regarding the mood in which I should find surly King Hades, biding my time and not precipitantly asking inopportune or excessive favours. And these were the mandates which he had brought to me from Zeys Pantokrator and Pampator. But, when he had said these things and embraced me, and when he had whispered a most pious and secret monition, then, indeed, he kicked off and vanished away; and his swift winged-sandals bore him again to the summit of lofty Olympos.

But I lifted up my voice, terrifically shouting to the warden of the gate. And a blameless titan peered over the battlements, and brayed with the formidable degorgement of a trumpet, demanding of me the password. Whom I answered in the language of the gods, speaking one of the _Words_ which Hermes had left with me, but I may not write it on account of a religious reason. And instantly the gate unfolded its enormous hinges.

In these circumstances, then, I came thundering in my silver-shining chariot invading the city of infernal shades.

FOOTNOTES:

[40] But was “the left” really his proper place? A. H.

[41] These are well-known Egyptian inchantments, and Mr. C. perhaps had them from the Rt. Rev. Amenemhat of Tanis. A. H.

[42] “Down, dog, down!” is the exact (though perhaps somewhat colloquial) rendering of this particular _Spell_. _Cf._ Lucian. A. H.

THE EIGHTEENTH PAPYRUS

Now I was all alone. And, before me on both sides, there stretched a sad-coloured meadow, apparently interminable, thickly sown with flowers of pinkish pear-like asphodel. And no sky smiled above my head: but only an impenetrable dark-grey mist, which hung down also, like the curtains of a tent, at a very little distance on all sides of me. But the mind in my noble breast warned me to pause, and to ponder, and to contrive a few new wiles before going further. Wherefore, having abated the madness of my horses, I betook myself to deep thought.

And it appeared to me very desirable that I should not manifest myself to the denizens of that neighbourhood, wheresoever they might be concealing themselves, without the full equipage and paraphernalia proper to a personage of my quality. And I very greatly wished that I had brought at least my two slaves, Neandros and Thalos, the one on account of his stalwart virtue, the other on account of his luminous innocence, and both full of grace, that they might serve me if need should arise. And I began to consider whether there was any magic whereby I might summon them to my side: for I already had done so many wonderful things by myself, and the heavenly gods had shewn themselves so entirely favourable to me, that I was not at any time daunted when confronted by what the purely stupid man is wont to cringe to as a sheer impossibility. For the minds of the prudent, indeed, are flexible. And a master of magic (who is thoroughly in earnest) may achieve unmentioned and unthought-of deeds, of course with the aid of the immortal gods.

But, while I was pondering these high matters, I saw two young boys, like twin-brothers, coming toward me across the meadow of asphodel and emerging from the obscurity of the mist. They were well-grown and in the prime of their age; and their gait betokened a very divine origin. Both were most sweet and gentle of aspect: but this one was of dusky hue, crowned with a garland of white poppies, and (in his tender hand) he bore a dark horn, from which (from time to time) he scattered a fine dust in the air, and an obsequious zephyr carried it away to fall on the eyes of mortals: but that one was of a candid whiteness colder than hoar-frost, such as I never have seen on the grain-giving earth either in marble or milk or the delicate flesh of the young in the clear of the moon, or the snow which falls in winter; and his pure candour was crowned with a garland of pinkish pearl-like asphodel, and in his soft hand he bore a torch extinguished. Wherefore, I recognized them for dusky Sleep the All-tamer, and pale kind Death his brother, the twin sons of Khronos.

And now, indeed, the mind in my lordly breast spoke loudly, telling me what I ought to do. For which cause, I addressed a simple word to these divine ones; shewing the _Sign of Life_, engaging their aid by spells unutterable. But, when I had mentioned my desire of having with me Neandros my squire and Thalos my foot-boy, whose lives were bound unto mine, which itself was terminable only at the supernal will of the god, then, white Death (coldly smiling) turned away, saying that the matter concerned his brother. Wherefore, I made my petition to care-dispersing Sleep, saying the _Spell_: “_O Sleep, king of all blessed gods and of all men, if ever indeed thou didst lend an ear to mine intreaty, now, too, be persuaded; and I will own gratitude to thee all my days._”[43]

And the dusky god also was favourable to me: for, having cast a pinch of dust from his horn into the air, it fell on the eyelids of Neandros and Thalos waiting for me in my hollow ship at Tainaron, so that their limbs were relaxed, and they submitted themselves to divine Sleep, who brought them straight to me in the meadow of asphodel.

But, when we three had ascended the silver-shining chariot, I gave the reins to my squire standing on my right hand: but my foot-boy attended me, eagerly clutching the rail behind. Thus, I, with Neandros and Thalos, swiftly galloped onward through the grey gloom, approaching the palace of shady King Hades.

And, having whizzed through its brazen portal, we drave horrifically into an immeasurable hall. And the awfully whirring wheels of my chariot, with the silver Love perched upon it, amazed the uncountable multitudes collected therein, insomuch that whimpering Fear took possession of all, and Rumour went squealing everywhere, whispering that some hero from out of the sunlight alive was invading the house of Hades. But I cared naught for the ineffectual gibberings of mere shades.

And I pursued my way to where I saw the great black throne set, with the very shady god enthroned thereon, and Queen Persephone by his side, and a court below him of the arbiters of the dead, Aiakos, Minos, Rhadamanthos, just, inexorable, most venerable, uttering immutable dooms for mortal men. And, near by, I saw also great-hearted yellow-haired Akhilleys, the greatest hero and faithfullest friend which the world has ever seen; and my heart in my dear breast leaped when he hailed me passing by, recognizing on me his glittering armour which I had won as a spoil: for, to have a trusty comrade in such a shady place is very good.

But, when I checked my chariot before the throne, then, King Hades (the most righteous of gods) sternly addressed me, saying: “Tell me thy name, O Stranger greatly-daring, and thy father’s name; and say also how thou comest hither.”

And thus I answered him: “O King of Tartarean realms and dreadful brother of Zeys, my father’s name was James--may the gods grant rest to his gentle soul,--and I am Nicholas the Crab, client of the Muses and of far-darting Phoibos Apollon. But divine Hermes brought me hither, acknowledging me to be his own grandson, called Odysseys son of Laertes by all articulately-speaking men who walk in the sweet sunlight.”

But the brow of blameless Hades became blacker than starless night; and he frowned so ferociously that even his shady eyes were shrouded. And he cried: “So thou art that much-contriving Odysseys, who aforetime camest hither and twice escaped alive. And now thou wouldst perplex me with a wily tale, mixing Was with Will-be and Is in a medley, and bearing a double name full of deceit. But doubtless that is part of thy evil purpose: for thy purpose cannot but be evil. Perchance thou hast it in mind to depose me, or even to steal away with my queen, divine Persephone. But, since thine overweening audacity has driven thee, foolish, to place thyself in my power a third time, thou shalt not now escape me.” And he howled for titans to trammel me, as a trickster.

Thus he spoke. But, when I saw giants towering like mountains near me, in the gloom, then, instantly, I broke my necklace of heliotrope stones moistened with the juice of marigolds; and I thrust the two halves of it into the hands of my two trusty slaves, making the _Act of Will_ for them, whereby they became unseen, even by Stygian gods, unknowing it. But I gave them a short command. And the stalwart Neandros started my horses, goading them again to madness in the twinkling of an eye, turning them, so that my slaves and my chariot went ramping out of the palace of blameless Hades like a flash of white thunder. By which means, both my slaves evaded the Tyrant of Tartaros. But, being visible and willing, I remained: for, as yet I had not done any of the wily deeds which I had come to do, and, moreover, there was no retreat for me till I had ravished a spoil from the king of the shades. Furthermore, I was not unmindful of the very pious and secret monitions which Hermes had whispered to me at parting, when he said: _Under-go to Over-come_.[44]

And, so, I waited; and gigantic hands were thrust down out of obscurity, which seized me, and shook me violently to and fro over enormous areas: so that giddiness nauseated me, and the eyes in my face refused to continue seeing, and my strength also rebelled and left me, and the utter darkness of oblivion settled upon me, shrouding the senses of my soul.

Thus, then, I began my ordeals in the Quest of the Treasure of Hades.

FOOTNOTES:

[43] This is perfectly Homeresque. A. H.

[44] I am almost inclined to say that this delicious epigram contains the whole body of Christian doctrine. But of course I speak under correction. A. H.

THE NINETEENTH PAPYRUS

But when, anon, I had recollected my forces, I was in a pit, dismal, slimy, creeping with long cold worms. And great chains, also, were hanged to my wrists and waist and ankles. But, far above my head, there was a little window, very heavily barred; and, through it, there came a dull-red glow from the distant River Pyriphthlegethon. And the shrieks and moans of damned souls in mind-grieving torment elsewhere was the music provided for my entertainment.

As for myself, it seemed that I had been stripped of my armour, and (indeed) of all which I had brought with me from the sunlight; and, now, I was mother-naked, gyved also, and with no gear which would deliver me from my plight, excepting the knowledge of sacred spells which was stored in my mind, and a large quantity of natural strength which was stored in my body. But I rejoiced, seeing that I was unhurt, and as able as ever: because I was aware that I should have the greater fame when I should have passed through this ordeal. For there is not any greater renown for a man, while he exists, than what he shall have earned naked with his feet and his hands.

But, first, I gathered up the weight of my fetters, to try to break them; and, when I felt them to be as massive as the cable of my galley, then I let them drop again, not to waste time: for my noble mind began to devise insidious wiles. But, when the chains clashed against the slimy floor, I heard a sound of a drawing of bolts, and a brazen door was opened in my pit near by. And, to me, there entered a very gravely objectionable individual.

For she was a barren virgin of inconceivable antiquity, whose skinny arms were joined to her withered body by membraneous wings such as are the wings of bats and vampires and pterodactyls and all other flying dragons; and her slit mouth grinned disgustingly, having loose yellow fangs dangling from the dripping corners: vipers, also, writhed in the dankness of her sparse hair; and her hands were filled with torches and scourges. Moreover, what I took to be blood was oozing out of her pustulous eyeballs. And thus she said: “How now, O wily Odysseys! And art thou yet alive? For we deemed that the titans had shaken the life from thy white bones. And that, indeed, would have made our task an easy one: for we are not accustomed to torment live men here among the shades.”

Thus she spoke: but the mind in my lordly breast bade me to treat this blameless Erinnys with affability while keeping her at arm’s length, that I might gain a benefit from her conversation without coming to close quarters with her. For, when a female of this kind prevails, her audacity is more than one can bear without blasphemy; and, when she is affrighted or affronted, she is a still greater mischief to her house and city. Wherefore I said: “Hail, O divine one of goddesses, serpent-crowned, for I am ignorant of thy blessed name, or I would ask thee where we are.”

But to me the most righteous of furies responded, saying: “I am night-born Tisiphone, a scratcher of earth-walking men after they are dead. But this is the dungeon where Pirithoos lay to be scratched by me during a hundred years.”

Now there is nothing more terrible than such an impudent female as this. Wherefore, having prepared a wile, not to enrage her, but to delude her, by seeming to be overcome by piety and terror, then, I let my mouth gape like a fool’s while I repeated after her: “A hundred years!”

But she began to be garrulous. But I watched for an opportunity of entangling her in her talk. And thus she chattered: “Yea, here indeed lay Pirithoos, son of Ixion, during a hundred years. For King Hades would not give him to sweet Death, so black was his crime. But, every night, we sisters three tormented his body as though he were dead, using fiery tortures and nail-tearings, until the decree came that his shade should repose in peace, being purged. But thou, also, O much-enduring Odysseys, will lie here, chained, purging thy presumptuous prepotence: but, not till after thy death, may we deal with thee according to thy doom, whatever that may be.”

And, having thus enlightened me, the very excessive Fury suddenly left me, with extempore shrieks and a flapping of her skinny wings.

Thereafter, I forget how some days passed: for a prisoner may not reckon the flight of Time in the region of Tartaros, excepting by marking the ebb and flow of the fiery tides of Pyriphthlegethon. Moreover, I was occupied in my mind, reviewing all my store of magic wisdom and contriving many wiles.

And, by chance, one day, I became aware that I was hearing a song; and the sound of it seemed to come from very far away, sweetly, like the voice of a cicada drunk on dewdrops,[45] which, in the woods, sitting on a tree, sends forth a delicate lily-like voice.

Now, in the house of shady Hades (most righteous of gods), this is the condition of mortals when they are dead. For their nerves have no longer flesh and bones: but the strong force of burning fire subdues them, when first the mind leaves the white bones; and the soul, gibbering like a dream, flits and flutters away. Wherefore, the souls of the dead cannot sing, nor do they attempt it, being occupied in shrieking with agony and fear. For which cause, I was vastly amazed to hear so very sweet a song, so grave, so quiet in tone; and, having summoned all my strength, despite the weighty manacles which trammelled me, I leaped up to the high barred window which looked out into the gloom. But I saw little more than that my dungeon was a pit in a rocky height: for it happened to be the hour of slack tide, when the flames of Pyriphthlegethon die down for a while.

And the wonderful song came more clearly from below, thrilling the darkness of black night.

But, when, anon, the voice was silent, I wedged myself (as best I could) into the narrow alcove of the window, waiting for the ebb of the tide, when I might see more plainly in the light of the increscent flames.

And, when the flickering gleam of the fires leaped up, I saw that my pit was a cell in a watch-tower perched high above the walls of the house of blameless Hades. But there was a great gulph fixed below, and bleak meadows beyond, swept by mists and winds of hell.

And, while I gazed, the lily-like voice began again to sing, maidenlike, very solemn, and of entrancing sweetness. But I, listening, heard it; and the heart in my dear breast thrilled strangely: for it seemed as though Memory (that divine one of goddesses) was opening yet once more certain chambers in my mind, unknown, or unremembered; and I was aware of treasures stored therein, whose very existence I had forgotten. But the simple song went sadly on, as though the singer sat in patience waiting, singing only just to pass the time, but always with hope, very faint indeed but never-failing, ever-enduring, in the depth of her maiden breast. And thus she sang:

_Once, a flower, in a garden where gold sunlight
flamed on all with its fervent splendour, flourish’d
stainless aye, from the tender seed’s upspringing
to the snow of its yet-unfolded blossom.
When, at length, on its stem so straight and slender,
fragrant, delicate, fresh, this blossom budded,
men from near and a host from far came, each one
longing only to pluck and wear the full flower.
Came a stripling of noble mien and stately,
strong and clean as a sword. His bright eyes saw her,
shyly paused to admire, and pass’d in silence:
but she, pure as a priestess, ne’er forgot him.
Came a hero in triumph, wearing garlands
woven close with the glory of full-blown roses;
and he stole from her place the snow-white blossom--
rescued soon by the two who were her wardens,
Came a noisily-shouting dotard, jealous
for the bud, which he knew not how to cherish:
him, the lord of the garden fair permitted;
and he carried away the prize unfolded.
Came one mad with the scents of gaudy posies,
One who revell’d in robbing other gardens:
he, the delicate blossom, ravish’d: but she
never open’d for him her snow-white petals.
Last of all, then, the gods in grace restored her
to the peace of the sunlit garden’s splendour;
and the youth who, afore, had seen and loved her,
would have taken her: but dire Fate o’ertook him.
Still she blooms in a garden, where the winter
frost and cold cannot quench the golden sunlight
in her heart, nor the storms defile her whiteness;
waiting, till, on his breast, she bursts in full flower._[46]

And the strange sweet dancing rhythm made my pulses bound; and my breath came quickly in accord. For it was like a sudden-blazing thunderbolt illuminating the recesses of my mind; and I remembered the object of my quest, to wit, Golden Helen, who, when I was not much more than a boy, had watched me faring girded high through the ford of Eyrotas near windy Lakedaimon--Golden Helen, whom her star-crowned brothers (Kastor the tamer of horses and Polydeykes the pugilist) had rescued from the blameless hero Theseys carrying her away when she was a tender girl,--Golden Helen, whom King Tyndareys had given in so-called marriage to loud-shouting impotent old sandy-haired Menelaos, blameless, and blubber-lipped,--Golden Helen, whom woman-mad Paris had reft from her farcical husband,--Golden Helen, who had come again to me in the land of Khem, long ages since, pure as snow or fire, and always mine alone,--Golden Helen, whom black Fate had reft from me, when I died that time by the sacred river of Egypt, being wounded to death by blameless Kirke’s son and mine, unknowing Telegonos.[47]

But now, indeed, I knew of a truth that Golden Helen was that very Treasure of Hades which I had come to win: for, by favour of Queen Persephone, she was safe in the netherworld, and only there, for in the netherworld there are no men capable of worrying a lady, but merely shades of men, who are quite negligible; and, there, she (being immortal) could live faithful to me and not altogether without certain amenities. Wherefore, with a great shout, I called her by name.

And she made answer, half-amazed and half-afraid, saying: “Who calleth me with the voice of one long dead?”

To whom I replied: “I am Odysseys, grandson of Hermes, victor over all sorts of people; and I am come here for thee, O high-born long-robed Helen whom I love.”

Thus I spoke. But the golden goddess, filled with joy, said: “O Odysseys, I have waited long. But now where art thou?”

To whom I answered, saying: “I am imprisoned by shady Hades in a pit in one of his towers. But canst thou see me at any window, O Golden Helen, for I can not see thee.”

She said: “I see thee not, O much-enduring Odysseys. But thou shalt soon escape and come to me: for, though it is not safe for me to go alone among the gods (married and unmarried) of lofty Olympos to plead for thee, and, though shady Hades doth regard me with disfavour, yet my twin-brothers (who are dead to-day in the netherworld where I can speak firmly to them) will be all alive to-morrow in the neighbourhood of the immortals, such being their destiny. And they shall demand graces from my lordly sire Zeys Pantokrator.”

Thus she spoke; and, incontinent, sped away about my business. But I, being refilled with hopeful ideas, felt my great strength increasing every moment. Wherefore, with loud laughter, I came down from the hollow window, beginning to break my bonds. Now, had I been on earth or sea, I should have used certain magic recipes known to me, whereby the bitter iron would have crumpled up in sheer bewilderment: but I wished it to be said of me that I had won the Treasure of Hades with my naked strength as far as possible, if (indeed) it should be permitted to me by the gods inhabiting olympian palaces. Wherefore, I set my sinews to work: for youth was hotter than ever in my veins and my life was raging within me. And, having tasted the name of the golden goddess desired of all men, I made that my only spell; and then indeed I burst great fetters with my little fingers. And, with the same spell (and lusty loin-heavings), I tore at the staple inset in a flag-stone, dragging it from its socket. And, with the same spell (and a mighty swelling of my hardened body), I wrenched asunder the last hoop of iron; and stood free among my splendidly-shattered shackles.