"Whoe'er ye be who come in arms unto our river's hem, Say what ye be! yea, speak from thence and stay your steps forthright! This is the very place of shades, and sleep, and sleepful night; 390 And living bodies am I banned in Stygian keel to bear. Nor soothly did I gain a joy, giving Alcides fare, Or ferrying of Pirithoüs and Theseus time agone, Though come of God they were and matched in valiancy of none: He sought the guard of Tartarus chains on his limbs to lay, And from the King's own seat he dragged the quaking beast away: Those strove to carry off the Queen from great Dis' very bed." The Amphrysian prophet answering, few words unto him said: "But here are no such guiles as this, so let thy wrath go by: Our weapons bear no war; for us still shall the door-ward lie 400 And bark in den, and fright the ghosts, the bloodless, evermore: Nor shall chaste Proserpine for us pass through her kinsman's door: Trojan Æneas, great in arms and great in godly grace, Goes down through dark of Erebus to see his father's face. But if such guise of piety may move thine heart no whit, At least this bough "--(bared from her weed therewith she showeth it)-- "Know ye!" Then in his swelling heart adown the anger sank, Nor spake he more; but wondering at that gift a God might thank, The fateful stem, now seen once more so long a time worn by, He turned about his coal-blue keel and drew the bank anigh 410 The souls upon the long thwarts set therewith he thrusteth out, And clears the gangway, and withal takes in his hollow boat The huge Æneas, 'neath whose weight the seamed boat groans and creaks, And plenteous water of the mere lets in at many leaks. At last the Hero and the Maid safe o'er the watery way He leaveth on the ugly mire and sedge of sorry grey.