When, like a dream, the soul assumes her flight. The light then of the living with most haste, O son, contend to. This thy little taste Of this state is enough; and all this life Will make a tale fit to be told thy wife.’ This speech we had; when now repair’d to me More female spirits, by Persephoné Driv’n on before her. All th’ heroës’ wives, And daughters, that led there their second lives, About the black blood throng’d. Of whom yet more My mind impell’d me to inquire, before I let them all together taste the gore, For then would all have been dispers’d, and gone Thick as they came. I, therefore, one by one Let taste the pit, my sword drawn from my thigh, And stand betwixt them made, when, sev’rally, All told their stocks. The first, that quench’d her fire, Was Tyro, issued of a noble sire. She said she sprung from pure Salmoneus’ bed, And Cretheus, son of Æolus, did wed; Yet the divine flood Enipëus lov’d, Who much the most fair stream of all floods mov’d. Near whose streams Tyro walking, Neptune came, Like Enipëus, and enjoy’d the dame. Like to a hill, the blue and snaky flood Above th’ immortal and the mortal stood, And hid them both, as both together lay, Just where his current falls into the sea. Her virgin waist dissolv’d, she slumber’d then; But when the God had done the work of men, Her fair hand gently wringing, thus he said: ‘Woman! rejoice in our combinéd bed, For when the year hath run his circle round (Because the Gods’ loves must in fruit abound) My love shall make, to cheer thy teeming moans, Thy one dear burden bear two famous sons; Love well, and bring them up. Go home, and see That, though of more joy yet I shall be free, Thou dost not tell, to glorify thy birth; Thy love is Neptune, shaker of the earth.’ This said, he plung’d into the sea; and she, Begot with child by him, the light let see Great Pelias, and Neleus, that became In Jove’s great ministry of mighty fame. Pelias in broad Iolcus held his throne, Wealthy in cattle; th’ other royal son Rul’d sandy Pylos. To these issue more This queen of women to her husband bore, Æson, and Pheres, and Amythaon That for his fight on horseback stoop’d to none. Next her, I saw admir’d Antiope, Asopus’ daughter, who (as much as she Boasted attraction of great Neptune’s love) Boasted to slumber in the arms of Jove, And two sons likewise at one burden bore To that her all-controlling paramour, Amphion, and fair Zethus; that first laid Great Thebes’ foundations, and strong walls convey’d About her turrets, that seven ports enclos’d, For though the Thebans much in strength repos’d, Yet had not they the strength to hold their own, Without the added aids of wood and stone. Alcmena next I saw, that famous wife Was to Amphitryo, and honour’d life Gave to the lion-hearted Hercules, That was of Jove’s embrace the great increase. I saw, besides, proud Creon’s daughter there, Bright Megara, that nuptial yoke did wear With Jove’s great son, who never field did try