Heracles and the Flight

60“Then I beheld the mighty Heracles —
The hero’s image —for he sits himself
Among the deathless gods, well pleased to share
Their feasts, and Hebe of the dainty feet —
A daughter of the mighty Zeus
And golden-sandalled Hera —is his wife.
Around his image flitted to and fro
The ghosts with noise, like fear-bewildered birds.
His look was dark as night. He held in hand
A naked bow, a shaft upon the string,
And fiercely gazed, like one about to send
The arrow forth. Upon his breast he wore
The formidable baldric, on whose band
Of gold were sculptured marvels —forms of bears,
Wild boars, grim lions, battles, skirmishings,
And death by wounds, and slaughter. He who wrought
That band had never done the like before,
Nor could thereafter. As I met his eye,
The hero knew me, and, beholding me
With pity, said to me in winged words: —

61“ ‘Son of Laertes, nobly born and wise,
And yet unhappy; surely you do bear
A cruel fate, like that which I endured
While yet I saw the brightness of the sun.
The offspring of Cronian Zeus
Am I, and yet was I compelled to serve
One of a meaner race than I, who set
Difficult tasks. He sent me hither once
To bring away the guardian hound; he deemed
No harder task might be. I brought him hence,
I led him up from Hades, with such aid
As Hermes and the blue-eyed Athena gave.’

62“Thus having spoken, he withdrew again
Into the abode of Hades. I remained
And kept my place, in hope there yet might come
Heroes who perished in the early time,
And haply I might look on some of those —
The ancients, whom I greatly longed to see —
On Theseus and Pirithous, glorious men,
The children of the gods. But now there flocked
Already round me, with a mighty noise,
The innumerable nations of the dead;
And I grew pale with fear, lest from the halls
Of Hades the stern Persephone should send
The frightful visage of the monster-maid,
The Gorgon. Hastening to my ship, I bade
The crew embark, and cast the hawsers loose.
Quickly they went on board, and took their seats
Upon the benches. Through Oceanus
The current bore my galley, aided first
By oars and then by favorable gales.”