d bidden him make this request; and filial devotion would
enable him to perform a task which Orpheus had achieved out of love for
his wife Eurydice, and Pollux through his attachment to his brother
Castor.

"AEneas," replied the priestess, "easy is the descent into Hades: grim
Pluto's gate stands open night and day, but to retrace your steps and
escape to the upper regions will be a difficult task indeed, and one which
few have hitherto been able to accomplish. If, however, you are fixed in
the resolve to pursue so desperate an enterprise, learn what first is to
be done. There is in the dark woods which surround the Lake of Avernus a
certain tree, dense of foliage, on which grows a single bough of gold,
with leaves and twigs of the same precious metal, and no living mortal can
enter Hades unless he has first found and plucked this bough, which is
demanded by Proserpine, the consort of Pluto and queen of the infernal
realms, as her peculiar tribute. When the bough is torn off, another
always grows in its place. Therefore search for it diligently, and when
you have discovered it grasp it with your hand. If the Fates are
propitious to your enterprise, you will be able to pluck it easily; if
otherwise, your whole strength could not tear it from the tree, nor could
you ever sever it with your sword. In the mean time the body of one of
your friends lies lifeless, and demands the funeral rites. First bury him
with proper ceremonies, and then return to me with black cattle for the
sacrifices; and then you shall be able to visit the realms of Hades, to
which most living men are denied an entrance."

With sorrowful thoughts AEneas, closely followed by Achates, now withdrew
from the shrine, and took the way to the shore. Both were greatly
perplexed to know what was the corpse needing burial of which the Sibyl
had spoken. But while they were wondering they came to the beach, and
there, before them, they saw lying the body of Misenus, who had come to a
lamentable end. Misenus was the most skilled among all the Trojans in the
art of blowing the trumpet. He had been, besides, a famous warrior, and
during the siege of Troy was accustomed to be the companion of Hector in
the field, and to fight by his side. When Hector fell, he attached himself
to AEneas, scorning to follow any less illustrious chief, and so had formed
one of the band which the hero was conducting to Latium. But he was
inordinately vain of his skill with the trumpet, an