Sublime stands the peak and looks down serene on winds and rain, and only to weary stars affords a resting-place. There is a place – named Taenarum by the Inachian folk – where foaming Malea’s dreaded headland rises into the air, nor suffers any vision to reach its summit. Cerberus lying on the murky threshold perceived them, and reared up with all his mouths wide agape, fierce even to entering folk but now his black neck swelled up all threatening, now had he torn and scattered their bones upon the ground, had not the god with branch Lethaean soothed his bristling frame and quelled with threefold slumber the steely glare. One there, perversely eager beyond the rest ever to revile the gods – thus indeed had he come by a grievous doom – and to repine at happiness, cries: “Good speed, thou lucky one, on what behest soever summoned, whether by Jove’s command, or whether an overmastering Fury drive thee to meet the day, or frenzied witch of Thessaly bid thee come forth from thy secret sepulchre: alas! thou that wilt see the pleasant sky and the sunlight thou didst leave behind and the green earth and the pure river-springs, yet more sadly wilt return again to this darkness.” Then barren woods and spirit-haunted fields and groves of lurid hue stand in amaze, and Earth herself marvels that the backward road lies open, nor even to the dead and those already bereft of light was lacking the livid blight of envy. Behind him follows old Laius’ trembling shade, still halting from his wound for deeper than the hilt had his kinsman’s impious swordthrust pierced into his life and sped the first blow of Avenging Wrath yet on he goes, strengthening his steps with the healing wand. On this side Styx encircling its nine regions, on that a barrier of fiery torrents encloses his path.
Meanwhile the winged son of Maia returns from the cold shades, fulfilling the errand of great Jove on every side sluggish clouds hinder his way and misty air enfolds him, no Zephyrs wafted his course, but the foul vapours of the silent world. Theseus & Burial of the Dead THEBAID BOOK 2, TRANSLATED BY J.
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