Astonish'd trembles at his fiery bolt, And his dread thunders rattling in the sky." On opening the Odyssey, we present the reader with the interview of Ulysses and his mother in the Shades, and the description of Tyro's amour with Neptune.--Odyss. B. XI. p. 254. "She said; I ardent wish'd to clasp the shade Of my departed mother; thrice I sprang Toward her, by desire impetuous urged, And thrice she flitted from between my arms, Light as a passing shadow or a dream. Then, pierced by keener grief, in accents wing'd With filial earnestness, I thus replied:-- 'My mother, why elud'st thou my attempt To clasp thee, that ev'n here, in Pluto's realm, We might to full satiety indulge Our grief, enfolded in each other's arms? Hath Proserpine, alas! only dispatch'd A shadow to me, to augment my woe?' "Then, instant, thus the venerable form. 'Ah, son! thou most afflicted of mankind! On thee, Jove's daughter, Proserpine, obtrudes No airy semblance vain; but such the state And nature is of mortals once deceased. For they nor muscle have, nor flesh, nor bone; All those, (the spirit from the body once Divorced) the violence of fire consumes, And, like a dream, the soul flies swift away. But haste thou back to light, and, taught thyself These sacred truths, hereafter teach thy spouse.' "Thus mutual we conferr'd. Then, thither came, Encouraged forth by royal Proserpine, Shades female num'rous, all who consorts, erst, Or daughters were of mighty chiefs renown'd. About the sable blood frequent they swarm'd, But I consid'ring sat, how I might each Interrogate, and thus resolv'd. My sword Forth drawing from beside my sturdy thigh, Firm I prohibited the ghosts to drink The blood together; they successive came; Each told her own distress; I question'd all. "There, first, the high-born Tyro I beheld; She claim'd Salmoneus as her sire, and wife Was once of Cretheus, son of Æolus, Enamour'd of Enipeus, stream divine. Loveliest of all that water earth, beside His limpid current she was wont to stray, When Ocean's God (Enipeus' form assumed) Within the eddy-whirling river's mouth Embraced her; there, while the o'er-arching flood, Uplifted mountainous, conceal'd the God And his fair human bride, her virgin zone He loos'd, and o'er her eyes sweet sleep diffused. His am'rous purpose satisfied, he grasp'd Her hand, affectionate, and thus he said. 'Rejoice in this, my love, and when the year Shall tend to consummation of its course, Thou shalt produce illustrious twins, for love Immortal never is unfruitful love.