And they went on, Nearing the river, and from the stream the boatman Beheld them cross the silent forest, nearer, Turning their footsteps toward the bank. He challenged:-- “Whoever you are, O man in armor, coming In this direction, halt where you are, and tell me The reason why you come. This is the region Of shadows, and of Sleep and drowsy Night; I am not allowed to carry living bodies In the Stygian boat; and I must say I was sorry I ever accepted Hercules and Theseus And Pirithous, and rowed them over the lake, Though they were sons of gods and great in courage. One of them dared to drag the guard of Hell, Enchained, from Pluto’s throne, shaking in terror, The others to snatch our queen from Pluto’s chamber.” The Sibyl answered briefly: “No such cunning Is plotted here; our weapons bring no danger. Be undisturbed: the hell-hound in his cavern May bark forever, to keep the bloodless shadows Frightened away from trespass; Proserpine, Untouched, in pureness guard her uncle’s threshold. Trojan Aeneas, a man renowned for goodness, Renowned for nerve in battle, is descending To the lowest shades; he comes to find his father. If such devotion has no meaning to you, Look on this branch at least, and recognize it!” And with the word she drew from under her mantle The golden bough; his swollen wrath subsided. No more was said; he saw the bough, and marvelled At the holy gift, so long unseen; came sculling The dark-blue boat to the shore, and drove the spirits, Lining the thwarts, ashore, and cleared the gangway, And took Aeneas aboard; as that big man Stepped in, the leaky skiff groaned under the weight, And the strained seams let in the muddy water, But they made the crossing safely, seer and soldier, To the far margin, colorless and shapeless, Grey sedge and dark-brown ooze. They heard the baying Of Cerberus, that great hound, in his cavern crouching, Making the shore resound, as all three throats Belled horribly; and serpents rose and bristled Along the triple neck. The priestess threw him A sop with honey and drugged meal; he opened The ravenous throat, gulped, and subsided, filling The den with his huge bulk. Aeneas, crossing, Passed on beyond the bank of the dread river Whence none return.