Voyage To the Lower World (18-21)

Now, now! What are you doing here? The boat is full, You wait till to-morrow. We can bring you across in the morning.

What right have you to leave me behind,—a shade of twenty-four hours’ standing? I tell you what it is, I shall have you up before Rhadamanthus. A plague on it, she’s moving! And here I shall be left all by myself. Stay, though: why not swim across in their wake? No matter if I get tired; a dead man will scarcely be drowned. Not to mention that I have not a penny to pay my fare.

Micyllus! Stop! You must not come across that way; Heaven forbid!

Ha, ha! I shall get there first, and I shouldn’t wonder.

This will never do, We must get to him, and pick him up.... Hermes, give him a hand up.

And where is he to sit now he is here?_ We are full up, as you may see,

What do you say to the tyrant’s shoulders?

A good idea that.

Up with you then; and make the rascal’s back ache. And now, good luck to our voyage!

Charon, I may as well tell you the plain truth at once. The penny for my fare is not forthcoming; -I have nothing but my wallet, look, and this stick, But if you want a hand at baling, here I am; or I could take an oar; only give me a good stout one, and you shall have no fault to find with me.

To it, then; and I’ll ask no other payment of you.

Shall I tip them a stave?

To be sure, if you have a sea-song about you.

I have several. Look here though, an opposition is starting: a song of lamentation. It will throw me out.

Oh, my lands, my lands!—Ah, my money, my money!— Farewell, my fine palace!—The thousands that fellow will have to squander!—Ah, my helpless children!—To think of the vines I planted last year! Who, ah who, will pluck the grapes?

Why, Micyllus, have you never an Oh or an Ah? It is

Get along with you. What have I to dowith Ohs and Ahs? I’m enjoying the trip!

Still, just a groan or two. It’s expected.

Well, if I must, here goes.—Farewell, leather, farewell! Ah, Soles, old Soles!—Qh, ancient Boots!—Woe’s me! Never again shall I sit empty from morn till night; never again walk up and down, of a winter’s day, naked, unshod, with chattering teeth! My knife, my awl, will be another’s: whose, ah! whose?

Yes, that will do. We are nearly there.

Wait a bit! Fares first, please. Your fare, Micyllus; every one else has paid; one penny.

You don’t expect to get a penny out of the poor cobbler? You’re joking, Charon; or else this is what they call a ‘castle in the air.’ I know not whether your penny is square or round.

A fine paying trip this, I must say! However,—all ashore! I must fetch the horses, cows, dogs, and other livestock. Their turn comes now.

You can take charge of them for the rest of the way, Hermes. I am crossing again to see after the Chinamen, Indopatres and Heramithres. They have been fighting about boundaries, and have killed one another by this time.

Come, shades, let us get on;—follow me, I mean, in single file.