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.

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