Heaven knew of his death and earth is freed of her hated burden, now that the stars can breathe again. His shade oppresses the rivers of Hell. Old Aeacus shudders and Cerberus bays to stop, in this case, the _entry_ of a ghost. Then those shades which he had sent to death beneath his cruel laws flock round him and hale him away with horrid shoutings to the tribunal of the gloomy judge: even as bees whom a shepherd has disturbed swarm round his head when he would rob them of their sweet honey, and flutter their wings and put forth their stings, making them ready for battle in the fastnesses of their little rock, and seek to defend the * * * * * Page 92 rimosam patriam dilectaque pumicis antra defendunt pronoque favos examine velant. 465 Est locus infaustis quo conciliantur in unum Cocytos Phlegethonque vadis; inamoenus uterque alveus; hic volvit lacrimas, hic igne redundat. turris per geminos, flammis vicinior, amnes porrigitur solidoque rigens adamante sinistrum 470 proluit igne latus; dextro Cocytia findit aequora triste gemens et fletu concita plangit. huc post emeritam mortalia saecula vitam deveniunt. ibi nulla manent discrimina fati, nullus honos vanoque exutum nomine regem 475 proturbat plebeius egens. quaesitor in alto conspicuus solio pertemptat crimina Minos et iustis dirimit sontes. quos nolle fateri viderit, ad rigidi transmittit verbera fratris. nam iuxta Rhadamanthys agit. cum gesta superni curriculi totosque diu perspexerit actus, 481 exaequat damnum meritis et muta ferarum cogit vincla pati. truculentos ingerit ursis praedonesque lupis; fallaces vulpibus addit. at qui desidia semper vinoque gravatus, 485 indulgens Veneri, voluit torpescere luxu, hunc suis inmundi pingues detrudit in artus. qui iusto plus esse loquax arcanaque suevit prodere, piscosas fertur victurus in undas, ut nimiam pensent aeterna silentia vocem. 490 quos ubi per varias annis ter mille figuras egit, Lethaeo purgatos flumine tandem rursus ad humanae revocat primordia formae. * * * * * Page 93 crevices of their home, their beloved pumice-stone cave, swarming over the honeycombs therein.