fangs her heel
Pierc'd, and she instant dy'd. Her, when long-mourn'd
In upper air, the Rhodopeian bard
Ventur'd to seek in shades, and dar'd descend
Through the Taenarian cave to Stygia's realms.
'Mid shadowy crowds, and bury'd ghosts he goes,
To Proserpine, and him who rules the shades
With sway ungrateful. There he strikes the strings
Responsive to his words, and this his song.--
"Gods of this subterraneous world, where all
"Of mortal origin must come, permit
"That I the truth declare; no tedious tales
"Of falshood will I tell. Here came I not
"Your dusky Hell to view: nor to o'ercome
"The triple-throated Medusaean beast
"Snake-hair'd;--my wife alone my journey caus'd,
"Whose heel a trampled serpent venom'd stung:
"Snatch'd in her bloom of years. Much did I wish,
"My loss to bear; nor ought forbore to strive;
"But love o'ercame. Well do the upper gods
"That deity confess. In doubt I stand
"If here too he is known; but here I judge
"His power is felt: the ancient rape, if true,
"Proves love ev'n you first join'd. You I implore,
"By all those regions fill'd with dread; by this
"Chaos immense; your ample realm, all fill'd
"With silence; once again the thread renew
"Eurydice too hasty lost. To you
"We all belong; a little while we stay,
"Then soon or late to one repose we haste:
"All hither tend; this is our final home.
"You hold o'er human kind a lengthen'd reign.
"She too, when once her years mature are fill'd,
"To you again, must by just right belong.
"I then request her only as a loan:
"But should the fates this favor me refuse,
"Certain I'll ne'er return. Two deaths enjoy."--
The bloodless shadows wept as thus he sung,
And struck the strings in concord with his words.
Nor Tantalus at flying waters caught;
Nor roll'd Ixion's wheel: the liver gnaw'd
The birds not: rested on their empty urns
The Belides: and Sisyphus, thou sat'st
Upon thy stone. Nay fame declares, then first,
Vanquish'd by song, the furies felt their cheeks
Wetted with tears. Nor could the royal spouse,
Nor he who rules deep darkness, him withstand
Thus praying; and Eurydice is call'd.
Amid the recent dead she walk'd, and still
Halted with tardy steps from her late wound.
Her, when the bard of Thrace receiv'd, this law
Receiv'd he also: that his eyes reverse
He should not bend, till past Avernus' realms;
Else he'd the granted favor