THE INFERNAL MARRIAGE

By Benjamin Disraeli

_Proserpine was the daughter of Jupiter and Ceres. Pluto, the godof Hell, became enamoured of her. His addresses were favoured by herfather, but opposed by Ceres. Under these circumstances, he surprisedher on the plains of Enna, and carried her off in his chariot. _

THE INFERNAL MARRIAGE

PART I. 

 _A Sublime Elopement_

IT WAS clearly a runaway match--never indeed was such a sublimeelopement. The four horses were coal-black, with blood-red manes andtails; and they were shod with rubies. They were harnessed to a basalticcar by a single rein of flame. Waving his double-pronged trident in theair, the god struck the blue breast of Cyane, and the waters instantlyparted. In rushed the wild chariot, the pale and insensible Proserpineclinging to the breast of her grim lover. 

Through the depths of the hitherto unfathomed lake the infernal steedsheld their breathless course. The car jolted against its bed. 'Save me!'exclaimed the future Queen of Hades, and she clung with renewed energyto the bosom of the dark bridegroom. The earth opened; they entered thekingdom of the gnomes. Here Pluto was popular. The lurid populace gavehim a loud shout. The chariot whirled along through shadowy cities andby dim highways, swarming with a busy race of shades. 

'Ye flowery meads of Enna!' exclaimed the terrified Proserpine, 'shall Inever view you again? What an execrable climate!'

'Here, however, in-door nature is charming, ' responded Pluto. 'Tis agreat nation of manufacturers. You are better, I hope, my Proserpine. The passage of the water is never very agreeable, especially to ladies. '

'And which is our next stage?' inquired Proserpine. 

'The centre of Earth, ' replied Pluto. 'Travelling is so much improvedthat at this rate we shall reach Hades before night. '

'Alas!' exclaimed Proserpine, 'is not this night?'

'You are not unhappy, my Proserpine?'

'Beloved of my heart, I have given up everything for you! I do notrepent, but I am thinking of my mother. '

'Time will pacify the Lady Ceres. What is done cannot be undone. In thewinter, when a residence among us is even desirable, I should not besurprised were she to pay us a visit. '

'Her prejudices are so strong, ' murmured the bride. 'Oh my Pluto! I hopeyour family will be kind to me. '

'Who could be unkind to Proserpine? Ours is a very domestic circle. Ican assure you that everything is so well ordered among us that I haveno recollection of a domestic broil. '

'But marriage is such a revolution in a bachelor's establishment, 'replied Proserpine, despondingly. 'To tell the truth, too, I am halffrightened at the thought of the Furies. I have heard that their tempersare so violent. '

'They mean well; their feelings are strong, but their hearts are in theright place. I flatter myself you will like my nieces, the Parcæ. Theyare accomplished, and favourites among the men. '

'Indeed!'

'Oh! quite irresistible. '

'My heart misgives me. I wish you had at least paid them the complimentof apprising them of our marriage. '

'Cheer up. For myself, I have none but pleasant anticipations. I longto be at home once more by my own fireside, and patting my faithfulCerberus. '

'I think I shall like Cerberus; I am fond of dogs. '

'I am sure you will. He is the most faithful creature in the world. '

'Is he very fierce?'

'Not if he takes a fancy to you; and who can help taking a fancy toProserpine?'

'Ah! my Pluto, you are in love. '

'Is this Hades?' inquired Proserpine. 

An avenue of colossal bulls, sculptured in basalt and breathingliving flame, led to gates of brass, adorned with friezes of rubies, representing the wars and discomfiture of the Titans. A crimson cloudconcealed the height of the immense portals, and on either side hoveredo'er the extending walls of the city; a watch-tower or a battlementoccasionally flashing forth, and forcing their forms through the luridobscurity. 

'Queen of Hades! welcome to your capital!' exclaimed Pluto. 

The monarch rose in his car and whirled a javelin at the gates. Therewas an awful clang, and then a still more terrible growl. 

'My faithful Cerberus!' exclaimed the King. 

The portals flew open, and revealed the gigantic form of the celebratedwatch-dog of Hell. It completely filled their wide expanse. Who butPluto could have viewed without horror that enormous body covered withshaggy spikes, those frightful paws clothed with claws of steel, thattail like a boa constrictor, those fiery eyes that blazed like theblood-red lamps in a pharos, and those three forky tongues, round eachof which were entwined a vigorous family of green rattlesnakes!

'Ah! Cerby! Cerby!' exclaimed Pluto; 'my fond and faithful Cerby!'

Proserpine screamed as the animal gambolled up to the side of thechariot and held out its paw to its master. Then, licking the royal palmwith its three tongues at once, it renewed its station with a wag of itstail which raised such a cloud of dust that for a few minutes nothingwas perceptible. 

'The monster!' exclaimed Proserpine. 

'My love!' exclaimed Pluto, with astonishment. 

'The hideous brute!'

'My dear!' exclaimed Pluto. 

'He shall never touch me. '

'Proserpine!'

'Don't touch me with that hand. You never shall touch me, if you allowthat disgusting animal to lick your hand. '

'I beg to inform you that there are few beings of any kind for whom Ihave a greater esteem than that faithful and affectionate beast. '

'Oh! if you like Cerberus better than me, I have no more to say, 'exclaimed the bride, bridling up with indignation. 

'My Proserpine is perverse, ' replied Pluto; 'her memory has scarcelydone me justice. '

'I am sure you said you liked Cerberus better than anything in theworld, ' continued the goddess, with a voice trembling with passion. 

'I said no such thing, ' replied Pluto, somewhat sternly. 

'I see how it is, ' replied Proserpine, with a sob; 'you are tired ofme. '

'My beloved!'

'I never expected this. '

'My child!'

'Was it for this I left my mother?'

'Powers of Hades! How you can say such things!'

'Broke her heart?'

'Proserpine! Proserpine!'

'Gave up daylight?'

'For the sake of Heaven, then, calm yourself!'

'Sacrificed everything?'

'My love! my life! my angel! what is all this?'

'And then to be abused for the sake of a dog!'

'By all the shades of Hell, but this is enough to provoke evenimmortals. What have I done, said, or thought, to justify suchtreatment?'

'Oh! me!'

'Proserpine!'

'Heigho!'

'Proserpine! Proserpine!'

'So soon is the veil withdrawn!'

'Dearest, you must be unwell. This journey has been too much for you, '

'On our very bridal day to be so treated!'

'Soul of my existence, don't make me mad. I love you, I adore you; Ihave no hope, no wish, no thought but you. I swear it; I swear it bymy sceptre and my throne. Speak, speak to your Pluto: tell him all yourwish, all your desire. What would you have me do?'

'Shoot that horrid beast. '

'Ah! me!'

'What, you will not? I thought how it would be. I am Proserpine, yourbeloved, adored Proserpine. You have no wish, no hope, no thought butfor me! I have only to speak, and what I desire will be instantly done!And I do speak, I tell you my wish, I express to you my desire, and Iam instantly refused! And what have I requested? Is it such a mightyfavour? Is it anything unreasonable? Is there, indeed, in my entreatyanything so vastly out of the way? The death of a dog, a disgustinganimal, which has already shaken my nerves to pieces; and if ever (hereshe hid her face in his breast), if ever that event should occur whichboth must desire, my Pluto, I am sure the very sight of that horriblebeast will--I dare not say what it will do. '

Pluto looked puzzled. 

'Indeed, my Proserpine, it is not in my power to grant your request; forCerberus is immortal, like ourselves. '

'Me! miserable!'

'Some arrangement, however, may be made to keep him out of your sightand hearing. I can banish him. '

'Can you, indeed? Oh! banish him, my Pluto! pray banish him! I nevershall be happy until Cerberus is banished. '

'I will do anything you desire; but I confess to you I have somemisgivings. He is an invaluable watch-dog; and I fear, without hissuperintendence, the guardians of the gate will scarcely do their duty. '

'Oh! yes: I am sure they will, my Pluto! I will ask them to, I will askthem myself, I will request them, as a particular and personal favour tomyself, to be very careful indeed. And if they do their duty, and I amsure they will, they shall be styled, as a reward, "Proserpine's OwnGuards. "'

'A reward, indeed!' said the enamoured monarch, as, with a sigh, hesigned the order for the banishment of Cerberus in the form of hispromotion to the office of Master of the royal and imperial bloodhounds. 

The burning waves of Phlegethon assumed a lighter hue. It was morning. It was the morning after the arrival of Pluto and his unexpected bride. In one of the principal rooms of the palace three beautiful females, clothed in cerulean robes spangled with stars, and their heads adornedwith golden crowns, were at work together. One held a distaff, fromwhich the second spun; and the third wielded an enormous pair ofadamantine shears, with which she perpetually severed the labours of hersisters. Tall were they in stature and beautiful in form. Very fair;an expression of haughty serenity pervaded their majestic countenances. Their three companions, however, though apparently of the same sex, wereof a different character. If women can ever be ugly, certainlythese three ladies might put in a valid claim to that epithet. Theircomplexions were dark and withered, and their eyes, though bright, werebloodshot. Scantily clothed in black garments, not unstained with gore, their wan and offensive forms were but slightly veiled. Their hands weretalons; their feet cloven; and serpents were wreathed round their browsinstead of hair. Their restless and agitated carriage afforded also notless striking contrast to the polished and aristocratic demeanour oftheir companions. They paced the chamber with hurried and unequal steps, and wild and uncouth gestures; waving, with a reckless ferocity, burningtorches and whips of scorpions. It is hardly necessary to add that thesewere the Furies, and that the conversation which I am about to reportwas carried on with the Fates. 

'A thousand serpents!' shrieked Tisiphone. 'I will never believe it. '

'Racks and flames!' squeaked Megæra. 'It is impossible. '

'Eternal torture!' moaned Alecto. ''Tis a lie. '

'Not Jupiter himself should convince us!' the Furies joined in infernalchorus. 

''Tis nevertheless true, 'calmly observed the beautiful Clotho. 

'You will soon have the honour of being presented to her, ' added theserene Lachesis. 

'And whatever we may feel, ' observed the considerate Atropos, 'I think, my dear girls, you had better restrain yourselves. '

'And what sort of thing is she?' inquired Tisiphone, with a shriek. 

'I have heard that she is lovely, ' answered Clotho. 'Indeed, it isimpossible to account for the affair in any other way. '

''Tis neither possible to account for nor to justify it, ' squeakedMegæra. 

'Is there, indeed, a Queen in Hell?' moaned Alecto. 

'We shall hold no more drawing-rooms, ' said Lachesis. 

'We will never attend hers, ' said the Furies. 

'You must, ' replied the Fates. 

'I have no doubt she will give herself airs, ' shrieked Tisiphone. 

'We must remember where she has been brought up, and be considerate, 'replied Lachesis. 

'I dare say you three will get on very well with her, ' squeaked Megasra. 'You always get on well with people. '

'We must remember how very strange things here must appear to her, 'observed Atropos. 

'No one can deny that there are some very disagreeable sights, ' saidClotho. 

'There is something in that, ' replied Tisiphone, looking in the glass, and arranging her serpents; 'and for my part, poor girl, I almost pityher, when I think she will have to visit the Harpies. '

At this moment four little pages entered the room, who, withoutexception, were the most hideous dwarfs that ever attended upon amonarch. They were clothed only in parti-coloured tunics, and theirbreasts and legs were quite bare. From the countenance of the first youwould have supposed he was in a convulsion; his hands were clenchedand his hair stood on end: this was Terror! The protruded veins of thesecond seemed ready to burst, and his rubicund visage decidedly provedthat he had blood in his head; this was Rage! The third was of an ashencolour throughout: this was Paleness! And the fourth, with a countenancenot without traces of beauty, was even more disgusting than hiscompanions from the quantity of horrible flies, centipedes, snails, andother noisome, slimy, and indescribable monstrosities that were crawlingall about his body and feeding on his decaying features. The name ofthis fourth page was Death!

'The King and Queen!' announced the pages. 

Pluto, during the night, had prepared Proserpine for the worst, and hadendeavoured to persuade her that his love would ever compensate forall annoyances. She was in excellent spirits and in very good humour;therefore, though she could with difficulty stifle a scream when sherecognised the Furies, she received the congratulations of the Parcæwith much cordiality. 

'I have the pleasure, Proserpine, of presenting you to my family, ' saidPluto. 

'Who, I am sure, hope to make Hades agreeable to your Majesty, ' rejoinedClotho. The Furies uttered a suppressed sound between a murmur and agrowl. 

'I have ordered the chariot, ' said Pluto. 'I propose to take the Queen aride, and show her some of our lions. '

'She will, I am sure, be delighted, ' said Lachesis. 

'I long to see Ixion, ' said Proserpine. 

'The wretch!' shrieked Tisiphone. 

'I cannot help thinking that he has been very unfairly treated, ' saidProserpine. 

'What!' squeaked Megæra. 'The ravisher!'

'Ay! it is all very well, ' replied Proserpine; 'but, for my part, if weknew the truth of that affair-----'

'Is it possible that your Majesty can speak in such a tone of levity ofsuch an offender?' shrieked Tisiphone. 

'Is it possible?' moaned Alecto. 

'Ah! you have heard only one side of the question; but for my part, knowing as much of Juno as I do-----'

'The Queen of Heaven!' observed Atropos, with an intimidating glance. 

'The Queen of Fiddlestick!' said Proserpine; 'as great a flirt as everexisted, with all her prudish looks. '

The Fates and the Furies exchanged glances of astonishment and horror. 

'For my part, ' continued Proserpine, 'I make it a rule to support theweaker side, and nothing will ever persuade me that Ixion is not avictim, and a pitiable one. '

'Well! men generally have the best of it in these affairs, ' saidLachesis, with a forced smile. 

'Juno ought to be ashamed of herself, ' said Proserpine. 'Had I been inher situation, they should have tied me to a wheel first. At any rate, they ought to have punished him in Heaven. I have no idea of thosepeople sending every _mauvais sujet_ to Hell. '

'But what shall we do?' inquired Pluto, who wished to turn theconversation. 

'Shall we turn out a sinner and hunt him for her Majesty's diversion?'suggested Tisiphone, flanking her serpents. 

'Nothing of the kind will ever divert me, ' said Proserpine; 'for I haveno hesitation in saying that I do not at all approve of these eternalpunishments, or, indeed, of any punishment whatever. '

'The heretic!' whispered Tisiphone to Megæra. Alecto moaned. 

'It might be more interesting to her Majesty, ' said Atropos, 'to witnesssome of those extraordinary instances of predestined misery with whichHades abounds. Shall we visit OEdipus?'

'Poor fellow!' exclaimed Proserpine. 'For myself, I willingly confessthat torture disgusts and Destiny puzzles me. '

The Fates and the Furies all alike started. 

'I do not understand this riddle of Destiny, ' continued the young Queen. 'If you, Parcæ, have predestined that a man should commit a crime, it appears to me very unjust that you should afterwards call upon theFuries to punish him for its commission. '

'But man is a free agent, ' observed Lachesis, in as mild a tone as shecould command. 

'Then what becomes of Destiny?' replied Proserpine. 

'Destiny is eternal and irresistible, ' replied Clotho. 'All is ordained;but man is, nevertheless, master of his own actions. '

'I do not understand that, ' said Proserpine. 

'It is not meant to be understood, ' said Atropos; 'but you mustnevertheless believe it. '

'I make it a rule only to believe what I understand, ' repliedProserpine. 

'It appears, ' said Lachesis, with a blended glance of contempt andvengeance, 'that your Majesty, though a goddess, is an atheist. '

'As for that, anybody may call me just what they please, provided theydo nothing else. So long as I am not tied to a wheel or whipped withscorpions for speaking my mind, I shall be as tolerant of the speech andacts of others as I expect them to be tolerant of mine. Come, Pluto, Iam sure that the chariot must be ready!'

So saying, her Majesty took the arm of her spouse, and with a haughtycurtsey left the apartment. 

'Did you ever!' shrieked Tisiphone, as the door closed. 

'No! never!' squeaked Megaera. 

'Never! never!' moaned Alecto. 

'She must understand what she believes, must she?' said Lachesis, scarcely less irritated. 

'I never heard such nonsense, ' said Clotho. 

'What next!' said Atropos. 

'Disgusted with torture!' exclaimed the Furies. 

'Puzzled with Destiny!' said the Fates. 

It was the third morning after the Infernal Marriage; the slumberingProserpine reposed in the arms of the snoring Pluto. There was a loudknocking at the chamber-door. Pluto jumped up in the middle of a dream. 

'My life, what is the matter?' exclaimed Proserpine. 

The knocking was repeated and increased. There was also a loud shout of'treason, murder, and fire!'

'What is the matter?' exclaimed the god, jumping out of bed and seizinghis trident. 'Who is there?'

'Your pages, your faithful pages! Treason! treason! For the sake ofHell, open the door. Murder, fire, treason!'

'Enter!' said Pluto, as the door was unlocked. 

And Terror and Rage entered. 

'You frightful things, get out of the room!' cried Proserpine. 

'A moment, my angel!' said Pluto, 'a single moment. Be not alarmed, mybest love; I pray you be not alarmed. Well, imps, why am I disturbed?'

'Oh!' said Terror. Rage could not speak, but gnashed his teeth andstamped his feet. 

'O-o-o-h!' repeated Terror. 

'Speak, cursed imps!' cried the enraged Pluto; and he raised his arm. 

'A man! a man!' cried Terror. 'Treason, treason! a man! a man!'

'What man?' said Pluto, in a rage. 

'A man, a live man, has entered Hell!'

'You don't say so?' said Proserpine; 'a man, a live man. Let me see himimmediately. '

'Where is he?' said Pluto; 'what is he doing?'

'He is here, there, and everywhere! asking for your wife, and singinglike anything. '

'Proserpine!' said Pluto, reproachfully; but, to do the god justice, hewas more astounded than jealous. 

'I am sure I shall be delighted to see him; it is so long since I haveseen a live man, ' said Proserpine. 'Who can he be? A man, and a liveman! How delightful! It must be a messenger from my mother. '

'But how came he here?'

'Ah! how came he here?' echoed Terror. 

'No time must be lost!' exclaimed Pluto, scrambling on his robe. 'Seizehim, and bring him into the council chamber. My charming Proserpine, excuse me for a moment. '

'Not at all; I will accompany you. '

'But, my love, my sweetest, my own, this is business; these are affairsof state. The council chamber is not a place for you. '

'And why not?' said Proserpine. 'I have no idea of ever leaving you fora moment. Why not for me as well as for the Fates and the Furies? Am Inot Queen? I have no idea of such nonsense!'

'My love!' said the deprecating husband. 

'You don't go without me, ' said the imperious wife, seizing his robe. 

'I must, ' said Pluto. 

'Then you shall never return, ' said Proserpine. 

'Enchantress! be reasonable. '

'I never was, and I never will be, ' replied the Goddess. 

'Treason! treason!' screamed Terror. 

'My love, I must go!'

'Pluto, ' said Proserpine, 'understand me once for all, I will not becontradicted. '

Rage stamped his foot. 

'Proserpine, understand me once for all, it is impossible, ' said theGod, frowning. 

'My Pluto!' said the Queen. 'Is it my Pluto who speaks thus sternly tome? Is it he who, but an hour ago, a short hour ago, died upon my bosomin transports and stifled me with kisses! Unhappy woman! wretched, miserable Proserpine! Oh! my mother! my kind, my affectionate mother!Have I disobeyed you for this! For this have I deserted you! For thishave I broken your beloved heart!' She buried her face in the crimsoncounterpane, and bedewed its gorgeous embroidery with her fast-flowingtears. 

'Treason!' shouted Terror. 

'Ha! ha! ha!' exclaimed the hysterical Proserpine. 

'What am I to do?' cried Pluto. 'Proserpine, my adored, my beloved, myenchanting Proserpine, compose yourself; for my sake, compose yourself. I love you! I adore you! You know it! oh! indeed you know it!'

The hysterics increased. 

'Treason! treason!' shouted Terror. 

'Hold your infernal tongue, ' said Pluto. 'What do I care for treasonwhen the Queen is in this state?' He knelt by the bedside, and tried tostop her mouth with kisses, and ever and anon whispered his passion. 'MyProserpine, I beseech you to be calm; I will do anything you like. Come, come, then, to the council!'

The hysterics ceased; the Queen clasped him in her arms and rewarded himwith a thousand embraces. Then, jumping up, she bathed her swollen eyeswith a beautiful cosmetic that she and her maidens had distilled fromthe flowers of Enna; and, wrapping herself up in her shawl, descendedwith his Majesty, who was quite as much puzzled about the cause of thisdisturbance as when he was first roused. 

Crossing an immense covered bridge, the origin of the Bridge of Sighs atVenice, over the royal gardens, which consisted entirely of cypress, the royal pair, preceded by the pages-in-waiting, entered the councilchamber. The council was already assembled. On either side of a throneof sulphur, from which issued the four infernal rivers of Lethe, Phlegethon, Cocytus, and Acheron, were ranged the Eumenides and Parcæ. Lachesis and her sisters turned up their noses when they observedProserpine; but the Eumenides could not stifle their fury, in spite ofthe hints of their more subdued but not less malignant companions. 

'What is all this?' inquired Pluto. 

'The constitution is in danger, ' said the Parcæ in chorus. 

'Both in church and state, ' added the Furies. ''Tis a case of treasonand blasphemy;' and they waved their torches and shook their whips withdelighted anticipation of their use. 

'Detail the circumstances, ' said Pluto, waving his hand majestically toLachesis, in whose good sense he had great confidence. 

'A man, a living man, has entered your kingdom, unknown and unnoticed, 'said Lachesis. 

'By my sceptre, is it true?' said the astonished King. 'Is he seized?'

'The extraordinary mortal baffles our efforts, ' said Lachesis. 'Hebears with him a lyre, the charmed gift of Apollo, and so seducing arehis strains that in vain our guards advance to arrest his course; theyimmediately begin dancing, and he easily eludes their efforts. Thegeneral confusion is indescribable. All business is at a standstill:Ixion rests upon his wheel; old Sisyphus sits down on his mountain, and his stone has fallen with a terrible plash into Acheron. In short, unless we are energetic, we are on the eve of a revolution. '

'His purpose?'

'He seeks yourself and--her Majesty, ' added Lachesis, with a sneer. 

'Immediately announce that we will receive him. '

The unexpected guest was not slow in acknowledging the royal summons. A hasty treaty was drawn up; he was to enter the palace unmolested, on condition that he ceased playing his lyre. The Fates and the Furiesexchanged significant glances as his approach was announced. 

The man, the live man, who had committed the unprecedented crime ofentering Hell without a licence, and the previous deposit of his soul assecurity for the good behaviour of his body, stood before the surprisedand indignant Court of Hades. Tall and graceful in stature, and crownedwith laurels, Proserpine was glad to observe that the man, who wasevidently famous, was also good-looking. 

'Thy purpose, mortal?' inquired Pluto, with awful majesty. 

'Mercy!' answered the stranger in a voice of exquisite melody, andsufficiently embarrassed to render him interesting. 

'What is mercy?' inquired the Fates and the Furies. 

'Speak, stranger, without fear, ' said Proserpine. 'Thy name?'

'Is Orpheus; but a few days back the too happy husband of the enchantingEurydice. Alas! dread King, and thou too, beautiful and benignantpartner of his throne, I won her by my lyre, and by my lyre I wouldredeem her. Know, then, that in the very glow of our gratified passiona serpent crept under the flowers on which we reposed, and by a fatalsting summoned my adored to the shades. Why did it not also summon me?I will not say why should I not have been the victim in her stead; forI feel too keenly that the doom of Eurydice would not have been lessforlorn, had she been the wretched being who had been spared to life. OKing! they whispered on earth that thou too hadst yielded thy heart tothe charms of love. Pluto, they whispered, is no longer stern: Plutoalso feels the all-subduing influence of beauty. Dread monarch, by theself-same passion that rages in our breasts alike, I implore thy mercy. Thou hast risen from the couch of love, the arm of thy adored haspressed upon thy heart, her honied lips have clung with raptureto thine, still echo in thy ears all the enchanting phrases of heridolatry. Then, by the memory of these, by all the higher and ineffablejoys to which these lead, King of Hades, spare me, oh! spare me, Eurydice!'

Proserpine threw her arms round the neck of her husband, and, hiding herface in his breast, wept. 

'Rash mortal, you demand that which is not in the power of Pluto toconcede, ' said Lachesis. 

'I have heard much of treason since my entrance into Hades, ' repliedOrpheus, 'and this sounds like it. '

'Mortal!' exclaimed Clotho, with contempt. 

'Nor is it in your power to return, sir, ' said Tisiphone, shaking herwhip. 

'We have accounts to settle with you, ' said Megæra. 

'Spare her, spare her, ' murmured Proserpine to her lover. 

'King of Hades!' said Lachesis, with much dignity, 'I hold aresponsible office in your realm, and I claim the constitutionalprivilege of your attention. I protest against the undue influenceof the Queen. She is a power unknown in our constitution, and anirresponsible agent that I will not recognise. Let her go back to thedrawing-room, where all will bow to her. '

'Hag!' exclaimed Proserpine. 'King of Hades, I, too, can appeal to you. Have I accepted your crown to be insulted by your subjects?'

'A subject, may it please your Majesty, who has duties as strictlydefined by our infernal constitution as those of your royal spouse;duties, too, which, let me tell you, madam, I and _my order_ areresolved to perform. '

'Gods of Olympus!' cried Proserpine. 'Is this to be a Queen?'

'Before we proceed further in this discussion, ' said Lachesis, 'I mustmove an inquiry into the conduct of his Excellency the Governor of theGates. I move, then, that Cerberus be summoned. 

Pluto started, and the blood rose to his dark cheek. 'I have not yet hadan opportunity of mentioning, ' said his Majesty, in a low tone, and withan air of considerable confusion, 'that I have thought fit, as a rewardfor his past services, to promote Cerberus to the office of the Masterof the Hounds. He therefore is no longer responsible. '

'O-h!' shrieked the Furies, as they elevated their hideous eyes. 

'The constitution has invested your Majesty with a power in theappointment of your Officers of State which your Majesty has undoubtedlya right to exercise, ' said Lachesis. 'What degree of discretion itanticipated in the exercise, it is now unnecessary, and would beextremely disagreeable, to discuss. I shall not venture to inquire bywhat new influence your Majesty has been guided in the present instance. The consequence of your Majesty's conduct is obvious, in the verydifficult situation in which your realm is now placed. For myself and mycolleagues, I have only to observe that we decline, under this crisis, any further responsibility; and the distaff and the shears are at yourMajesty's service the moment your Majesty may find convenient successorsto the present holders. As a last favour, in addition to the many we areproud to remember we have received from your Majesty, we entreat that wemay be relieved from their burthen as quickly as possible. ' (Loud cheersfrom the Eumenides. )

'We had better recall Cerberus, ' said Pluto, alarmed, 'and send thismortal about his business. '

'Not without Eurydice. Oh! not without Eurydice, ' said the Queen. 

'Silence, Proserpine!' said Pluto. 

'May it please your Majesty, ' said Lachesis, 'I am doubtful whether wehave the power of expelling anyone from Hades. It is not less the lawthat a mortal cannot remain here; and it is too notorious for me tomention the fact that none here have the power of inflicting death. '

'Of what use are all your laws, ' exclaimed Proserpine, 'if they are onlyto perplex us? As there are no statutes to guide us, it is obvious thatthe King's will is supreme. Let Orpheus depart, then, with his bride. '

'The latter suggestion is clearly illegal, ' said Lachesis. 

'Lachesis, and ye, her sisters, ' said Proserpine, 'forget, I beseechyou, any warm words that may have passed between us, and, as a personalfavour to one who would willingly be your friend, release Eurydice. What! you shake your heads! Nay; of what importance can be a singlemiserable shade, and one, too, summoned so cruelly before her time, inthese thickly-peopled regions?'

''Tis the principle, ' said Lachesis; ''tis the principle. Concession isever fatal, however slight. Grant this demand; others, and greater, willquickly follow. Mercy becomes a precedent, and the realm is ruined. '

'Ruined!' echoed the Furies. 

'And I say _preserved!_' exclaimed Proserpine with energy. 'The State isin confusion, and you yourselves confess that you know not how to remedyit. Unable to suggest a course, follow mine. I am the advocate ofmercy; I am the advocate of concession; and, as you despise all higherimpulses, I meet you on your own grounds. I am their advocate for thesake of policy, of expediency. '

'Never!' said the Fates. 

'Never!' shrieked the Furies. 

'What, then, will you do with Orpheus?'

The Parcæ shook their heads; even the Eumenides were silent. 

'Then you are unable to carry on the King's government; for Orpheus mustbe disposed of; all agree to that. Pluto, reject these counsellors, atonce insulting and incapable. Give me the distaff and the fatal shears. At once form a new Cabinet; and let the release of Orpheus and Eurydicebe the basis of their policy. ' She threw her arms round his neck andwhispered in his ear. 

Pluto was perplexed; his confidence in the Parcae was shaken. Adifficulty had occurred with which they could not cope. It was true thedifficulty had been occasioned by a departure from their own exclusiveand restrictive policy. It was clear that the gates of Hell ought neverto have been opened to the stranger; but opened they had been. Forced todecide, he decided on the side of _expediency_, and signed a decree forthe departure of Orpheus and Eurydice. The Parcas immediately resignedtheir posts, and the Furies walked off in a huff. Thus, on the third dayof the Infernal Marriage, Pluto found that he had quarrelled with allhis family, and that his ancient administration was broken up. The Kingwas without a friend, and Hell was without a Government!

PART II. 

 _A Visit to Elysium_

LET us change the scene from Hades to Olympus. 

A chariot drawn by dragons hovered over that superb palace whosesparkling steps of lapislazuli were once pressed by the daring foot ofIxion. It descended into the beautiful gardens, and Ceres, stepping out, sought the presence of Jove. 

'Father of gods and men, ' said the majestic mother of Proserpine, 'listen to a distracted parent! All my hopes were centred in mydaughter, the daughter of whom you have deprived me. Is it for this thatI endured the pangs of childbirth? Is it for this that I suckled heron this miserable bosom? Is it for this that I tended her girlishinnocence, watched with vigilant fondness the development of heryouthful mind, and cultured with a thousand graces and accomplishmentsher gifted and unrivalled promise? to lose her for ever!'

'Beloved Bona Dea, ' replied Jove, 'calm yourself!'

'Jupiter, you forget that I am a mother. '

'It is the recollection of that happy circumstance that alone shouldmake you satisfied. '

'Do you mock me? Where is my daughter?'

'In the very situation you should desire. In her destiny all isfulfilled which the most affectionate mother could hope. What was theobject of all your care and all her accomplishments? a good parti; andshe has found one. '

'To reign in Hell!'

'"Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven. " What! would you havehad her a cup-bearer, like Hebe, or a messenger, like Hermes? Wasthe daughter of Jove and Ceres to be destined to a mere place in ourhousehold! Lady! she is the object of envy to half the goddesses. Batingour own bed, which she could not share, what lot more distinguished thanhers? Recollect that goddesses, who desire a becoming match, have avery limited circle to elect from. Even Venus was obliged to put up withVulcan. It will not do to be too nice. Thank your stars that she is notan old maid like Minerva. '

'But Mars? he loved her. '

'A young officer only with his half-pay, however good his connections, is surely not a proper mate for our daughter. '

'Apollo?'

'I have no opinion of a literary son-in-law. These scribblers are atpresent the fashion, and are very well to ask to dinner; but I confess amore intimate connection with them is not at all to my taste. '

'I meet Apollo everywhere. '

'The truth is, he is courted because every one is afraid of him. He isthe editor of a daily journal, and under the pretence of throwing lightupon every subject, brings a great many disagreeable things into notice, which is excessively inconvenient. Nobody likes to be paragraphed; andfor my part I should only be too happy to extinguish the Sun and everyother newspaper were it only in my power. '

'But Pluto is so old, and so ugly, and, all agree, so ill-tempered. '

'He has a splendid income, a magnificent estate; his settlements areworthy of his means. This ought to satisfy a mother; and his politicalinfluence is necessary to me, and this satisfies a father. '

'But the heart-----'

'As for that, she fancies she loves him; and whether she do or not, these feelings, we know, never last. Rest assured, my dear Ceres, thatour girl has made a brilliant match, in spite of the gloomy atmospherein which she has to reside. '

'It must end in misery. I know Proserpine. I confess it with tears, sheis a spoiled child. '

'This may occasion Pluto many uneasy moments; but that is nothing to youor me. Between ourselves, I shall not be at all surprised if she plaguehis life out. '

'But how can she consort with the Fates? How is it possible for herto associate with the Furies? She, who is used to the gayest and mostamiable society in the world? Indeed, indeed, 'tis an ill-assortedunion!'

'They are united, however; and, take my word for it, my dear madam, thatyou had better leave Pluto alone. The interference of a mother-in-law isproverbially never very felicitous. '

In the meantime affairs went on swimmingly in Tartarus. The obstinateFates and the sulky Furies were unwittingly the cause of universalsatisfaction. Everyone enjoyed himself, and enjoyment when it isunexpected is doubly satisfactory. Tantalus, Sisyphus, and Ixion, forthe first time during their punishment, had an opportunity for a littleconversation. 

'Long live our reforming Queen, ' said the ex-king of Lydia. 'Youcannot conceive, my dear companions, anything more delightful than thislong-coveted draught of cold water; its flavour far surpasses the memoryof my choicest wines. And as for this delicious fruit, one must livein a hot climate, like our present one, sufficiently to appreciateits refreshing gust. I would, my dear friends, you could only share mybanquet. '

'Your Majesty is very kind, ' replied Sisyphus, 'but it seems to me thatnothing in the world will ever induce me again to move. One must havetoiled for ages to comprehend the rapturous sense of repose that nowpervades my exhausted frame. Is it possible that that damned stone canreally have disappeared?'

'You say truly, ' said Ixion, 'the couches of Olympus cannot compare withthis resting wheel. '

'Noble Sisyphus, ' rejoined Tantalus, 'we are both of us acquainted withthe cause of our companion's presence in those infernal regions, sincehis daring exploit has had the good fortune of being celebrated by oneof the fashionable authors of this part of the world. '

'I have never had time to read his work, ' interrupted Ixion. 'What sortof a fellow is he?'

'One of the most conceited dogs that I ever met with, ' replied the King. 'He thinks he is a great genius, and perhaps he has some little talentfor the extravagant. '

'Are there any critics in Hell?'

'Myriads. They abound about the marshes of Cocytus, where they croakfuriously. They are all to a man against our author. '

'That speaks more to his credit than his own self-opinion, ' rejoinedIxion. 

'_A nous moutons!_' exclaimed Tantalus; 'I was about to observe thatI am curious to learn for what reason our friend Sisyphus was doomed tohis late terrible exertions. '

'For the simplest in the world, ' replied the object of the inquiry;'because I was not a hypocrite. No one ever led a pleasanter life thanmyself, and no one was more popular in society. I was considered, asthey phrased it, the most long-headed prince of my time, and was intruth a finished man of the world. I had not an acquaintance whom I hadnot taken in, and gods and men alike favoured me. In an unlucky moment, however, I offended the infernal deities, and it was then suddenlydiscovered that I was the most abandoned character of my age. You knowthe rest. '

'You seem, ' exclaimed Tantalus, 'to be relating my own history; for Imyself led a reckless career with impunity, until some of the gods didme the honour of dining with me, and were dissatisfied with the repast. I am convinced myself that, provided a man frequent the temples, andobserve with strictness the sacred festivals, such is the force ofpublic opinion, that there is no crime which he may not commit withouthazard. '

'Long live hypocrisy!' exclaimed Ixion. 'It is not my forte. But if Ibegan life anew, I would be more observant in my sacrifices. '

'Who could have anticipated this wonderful revolution!' exclaimedSisyphus, stretching himself. 'I wonder what will occur next! Perhaps weshall be all released. '

'You say truly, ' said Ixion. 'I am grateful to our reforming Queen;but I have no idea of stopping here. This cursed wheel indeed no longerwhirls; but I confess my expectations will be much disappointed if Icannot free myself from these adamantine bonds that fix me to its orb. '

'And one cannot drink water for ever, ' said Tantalus. 

'D--n all half measures, ' said Ixion. 'We must proceed in this system ofamelioration. '

'Without doubt, ' responded his companion. 

'The Queen must have a party, ' continued the audacious lover of Juno. 'The Fates and the Furies never can be conciliated. It is evident to methat she must fall unless she unbinds these chains of mine. '

'And grants me full liberty of egress and regress, ' exclaimed Sisyphus. 

'And me a bottle of the finest golden wine of Lydia, ' said Tantalus. 

The infernal honeymoon was over. A cloud appeared in the hitherto sereneheaven of the royal lovers. Proserpine became unwell. A mysteriouslanguor pervaded her frame; her accustomed hilarity deserted her. Shegave up her daily rides; she never quitted the palace, scarcely herchamber. All day long she remained lying on a sofa, and whenever Plutoendeavoured to console her she went into hysterics. His Majesty wasquite miserable, and the Fates and the Furies began to hold up theirheads. The two court physicians could throw no light upon the complaint, which baffled all their remedies. These, indeed, were not numerous, for the two physicians possessed each only one idea. With one everycomplaint was nervous; the other traced everything to the liver. Thename of the first was Dr. Blue-Devil; and of the other Dr. Blue-Pill. They were most eminent men. 

Her Majesty, getting worse every day, Pluto, in despair, determined tosend for Æsculapius. It was a long way to send for a physician; but thenhe was the most fashionable one in the world. He cared not how far hetravelled to visit a patient, because he was paid by the mile; and itwas calculated that his fee for quitting earth, and attending the Queenof Hell, would allow him to leave off business. 

What a wise physician was Æsculapius! Physic was his abhorrence. Henever was known, in the whole course of his practice, ever to haveprescribed a single drug. He was a handsome man, with a flowing beardcuriously perfumed, and a robe of the choicest purple. He twirled a caneof agate, round which was twined a serpent of precious stones, the giftof Juno, and he rode in a chariot drawn by horses of the Sun. When hevisited Proserpine, he neither examined her tongue nor felt her pulse, but gave her an account of a fancy ball which he had attended the lastevening he passed on _terra firma_. His details were so interesting thatthe Queen soon felt better. The next day he renewed his visit, and gaveher an account of a new singer that had appeared at Ephesus. The effectof this recital was so satisfactory, that a bulletin in the eveningannounced that the Queen was convalescent. The third day Æsculapiustook his departure, having previously enjoined change of scene for herMajesty, and a visit to the Elysian Fields!

'Heh, heh!' shrieked Tisiphone. 

'Hah, hah!' squeaked Megæra. 

'Hoh, hoh!' moaned Alecto. 

'Now or never, 'said the infernal sisters. 'There is a decided reaction. The moment she embarks, unquestionably we will flare up. ' So they ranoff to the Fates. 

'We must be prudent, ' said Clotho. 

'Our time is not come, ' remarked Lachesis. 

'I wish the reaction was more decided, ' said Atropos; 'but it is agreat thing that they are going to be parted, for the King must remain. '

The opposition party, although aiming at the same result, was thereforeevidently divided as to the means by which it was to be obtained. Thesanguine Furies were for fighting it out at once, and talked bravelyof the strong conservative spirit only dormant in Tartarus. Even theRadicals themselves are dissatisfied: Tantalus is no longer contentedwith water, or Ixion with repose. But the circumspect Fates felt that afalse step at present could never be regained. They talked, therefore, of watching events. Both divisions, however, agreed that the royalembarkation was to be the signal for renewed intrigues and renovatedexertions. 

When Proserpine was assured that she must be parted for a time fromPluto, she was inconsolable. They passed the night in sorrowfulembraces. She vowed that she could not live a day without him, and thatshe certainly should die before she reached the first post. The mightyheart of the King of Hades was torn to pieces with contending emotions. In the agony of his overwhelming passion the security of his realmseemed of secondary importance compared with the happiness of his wife. Fear and hatred of the Parcæ and the Eumenides equalled, however, in the breast of Proserpine, her affection for her husband. Theconsciousness that his absence would be a signal for a revolution, andthat the crown of Tartarus might be lost to her expected offspring, animated her with a spirit of heroism. She reconciled herself to theterrible separation, on condition that Pluto wrote to her every day. 

'Adieu! my best, my only beloved!' ejaculated the unhappy Queen; 'do notforget me for a moment; and let nothing in the world induce you to speakto any of those horrid people. I know them; I know exactly what theywill be at: the moment I am gone they will commence their intrigues forthe restoration of the reign of doom and torture. Do not listen to them, my Pluto. Sooner than have recourse to them, seek assistance from theirformer victims. '

'Calm yourself, my Proserpine. Anticipate no evil. I shall be firm; donot doubt me. I will cling with tenacity to that _juste milieu_ underwhich we have hitherto so eminently prospered. Neither the Parcæ and theEumenides, nor Ixion and his friends, shall advance a point. I will keepeach faction in awe by the bugbear of the other's supremacy. Trust me, Iam a profound politician. '

It was determined that the progress of Proserpine to the Elysian Fieldsshould be celebrated with a pomp and magnificence becoming her exaltedstation. The day of her departure was proclaimed as a high festival inHell. Tiresias, absent on a secret mission, had been summoned back byPluto, and appointed to attend her Majesty during her journey and hervisit, for Pluto had the greatest confidence in his discretion. Besides, as her Majesty had not at present the advantage of any female society, it was necessary that she should be amused; and Tiresias, thoughold, ugly, and blind, was a wit as well as a philosopher, the mostdistinguished diplomatist of his age, and considered the best company inHades. 

An immense crowd was assembled round the gates of the palace on the mornof the royal departure. With what anxious curiosity did they watch thosehuge brazen portals! Every precaution was taken for the accommodation ofthe public. The streets were lined with troops of extraordinary stature, whose nodding plumes prevented the multitude from catching a glimpse ofanything that passed, and who cracked the skulls of the populace withtheir scimitars if they attempted in the slightest degree to break theline. Moreover, there were seats erected which any one might occupy ata reasonable rate; but the lord steward, who had the disposal of thetickets, purchased them all for himself, and then resold them to hisfellow-subjects at an enormous price. 

At length the hinges of the gigantic portals gave an ominous creak, and, amid the huzzas of men and the shrieks of women, the processioncommenced. 

First came the infernal band. It consisted of five hundred performers, mounted on different animals. Never was such a melodious blast. Fiftytrumpeters, mounted on zebras of all possible stripes and tints, andworking away at huge ramshorns with their cheeks like pumpkins. Thenthere were bassoons mounted on bears, clarionets on camelopards, oboeson unicorns, and troops of musicians on elephants, playing on realserpents, whose prismatic bodies indulged in the most extraordinaryconvolutions imaginable, and whose arrowy tongues glittered with superbagitation at the exquisite sounds which they unintentionally delivered. Animals there were, too, now unknown and forgotten; but I must notforget the fellow who beat the kettledrums, mounted on an enormousmammoth, and the din of whose reverberating blows would have deadenedthe thunder of Olympus. 

This enchanting harmony preceded the regiment of Proserpine's ownguards, glowing in adamantine armour and mounted on coal-black steeds. Their helmets were quite awful, and surmounted by plumes plucked fromthe wings of the Harpies, which were alone enough to terrify an earthlyhost. It was droll to observe this troop of gigantic heroes commandedby infants, who, however, were arrayed in a similar costume, though, ofcourse, on a smaller scale. But such was the admirable discipline of theinfernal forces, that, though lions to their enemies, they were Iambs totheir friends; and on the present occasion their colonel was carried ina cradle. 

After these came twelve most worshipful baboons, in most venerable wigs. They were clothed with scarlet robes lined with ermine, and ornamentedwith gold chains, and mounted on the most obstinate and inflexible mulesin Tartarus. These were the judges. Each was provided with a pannier ofchoice cobnuts, which he cracked with great gravity, throwing the shellsto the multitude, an infernal ceremony, there held emblematic of theirprofession. 

The Lord Chancellor came next in a grand car. Although his wig was evenlonger than those of his fellow functionaries, his manners and the restof his costume afforded a strange contrast to them. Apparently neverwas such a droll, lively fellow. His dress was something between that ofHarlequin and Scaramouch. He amused himself by keeping in the airfour brazen balls at the same time, swallowing daggers, spitting fire, turning sugar into salt, and eating yards of pink ribbon, which, afterbeing well digested, re-appeared through his nose. It is unnecessary toadd, after this, that he was the most popular Lord Chancellor that hadever held the seals, and was received with loud and enthusiastic cheers, which apparently repaid him for all his exertions. Notwithstanding hisnumerous and curious occupations, I should not omit to add that hisLordship, nevertheless, found time to lead by the nose a most meek andmilk-white jackass that immediately followed him, and which, in spiteof the remarkable length of its ears, seemed the object of greatveneration. There was evidently some mystery about this animal difficultto penetrate. Among other characteristics, it was said, at differentseasons, to be distinguished by different titles; for sometimes it wasstyled 'The Public, ' at others 'Opinion, ' and occasionally was salutedas the 'King's Conscience. '

Now came a numerous company of Priests, in flowing and funereal robes, bearing banners, inscribed with the various titles of their Queen; onsome was inscribed Hecate, on others Juno Inferna, on others Theogamia, Libera on some, on others Cotytto. Those that bore banners were crownedwith wreaths of narcissus, and mounted on bulls blacker than night, andof a severe and melancholy aspect. Others walked by their side, bearingbranches of cypress. 

And here I must stop to notice a droll characteristic of the priestlyeconomy of Hades. To be a good pedestrian was considered an essentialvirtue of an infernal clergyman; but to be mounted on a black bull wasthe highest distinction of the craft. It followed, therefore, that, originally, promotion to such a seat was the natural reward of anypriest who had distinguished himself in the humbler career of a goodwalker; but in process of time, as even infernal as well as humaninstitutions are alike liable to corruption, the black bulls becametoo often occupied by the halt and the crippled, the feeble and theparalytic, who used their influence at Court to become thus exemptedfrom the performance of the severer duties of which they were incapable. This violation of the priestly constitution excited at first greatmurmurs among the abler but less influential brethren. But the murmursof the weak prove only the tyranny of the strong; and so completely inthe course of time do institutions depart from their original character, that the imbecile riders of the black bulls now avowedly defended theirposition on the very grounds which originally should have unseatedthem, and openly maintained that it was very evident that the stout wereintended to walk, and the feeble to be carried. 

The priests were followed by fifty dark chariots, drawn by blue satyrs. Herein was the wardrobe of the Queen, and her Majesty's cooks. 

Tiresias came next, in a basalt chariot, yoked to royal steeds. He wasattended by Manto, who shared his confidence, and who, some said, washis daughter, and others his niece. Venerable seer! Who could beholdthat flowing beard, and the thin grey hairs of that lofty and wrinkledbrow, without being filled with sensations of awe and affection? A smileof bland benignity played upon his passionless and reverend countenance. Fortunate the monarch who is blessed with such a counsellor! Who couldhave supposed that all this time Tiresias was concocting an epigram onPluto!

The Queen! The Queen!

Upon a superb throne, placed upon an immense car, and drawn by twelvecoal-black steeds, four abreast, reposed the royal daughter of Ceres. Her rich dark hair was braided off her high pale forehead, and fell involuptuous clusters over her back. A tiara sculptured out of a singlebrilliant, and which darted a flash like lightning on the surroundingmultitude, was placed somewhat negligently on the right side of herhead; but no jewels broke the entrancing swell of her swan-like neck, orwere dimmed by the lustre of her ravishing arms. How fair was the Queenof Hell! How thrilling the solemn lustre of her violet eye! A robe, purple as the last hour of twilight, encompassed her transcendent form, studded with golden stars!

Through the dim hot streets of Tartarus moved the royal procession, until it reached the first winding of the river Styx. Here an immenseassemblage of yachts and barges, dressed out with the infernalcolours, denoted the appointed spot of the royal embarkation. Tiresias, dismounting from his chariot, and leaning on Manto, now approached herMajesty, and requesting her royal commands, recommended her to lose notime in getting on board. 

'When your Majesty is once on the Styx, ' observed the wily seer, 'it maybe somewhat difficult to recall you to Hades; but I know very little ofClotho, may it please your Majesty, if she have not already commencedher intrigues in Tartarus. '

'You alarm me!' said Proserpine. 

'It was not my intention. Caution is not fear. '

'But do you think that Pluto------'

'May it please your Majesty, I make it a rule never to think. I know toomuch. '

'Let us embark immediately!'

'Certainly; I would recommend your Majesty to get off at once. Myselfand Manto will accompany you, and the cooks. If an order arrive to stayour departure, we can then send back the priests. '

'You counsel well, Tiresias. I wish you had not been absent on myarrival. Affairs might have gone better. '

'Not at all. Had I been in Hell, your enemies would have been more wary. Your Majesty's excellent spirit carried you through triumphantly; but itwill not do so twice. You turned them out, and I must keep them out. '

'So be it, my dear friend. ' Thus saying, the Queen descended herthrone, and leaving the rest of her retinue to follow with all possibledespatch, embarked on board the infernal yacht, with Tiresias, Manto, the chief cook, and some chosen attendants, and bid adieu for the firsttime, not without agitation, to the gloomy banks of Tartarus. 

The breeze was favourable, and, animated by the exhortations ofTiresias, the crew exerted themselves to the utmost. The barque swiftlyscudded over the dark waters. The river was of great breadth, and inthis dim region the crew were soon out of sight of land. 

'You have been in Elysium?' inquired Proserpine of Tiresias. 

'I have been everywhere, ' replied the seer, 'and though I am blind havemanaged to see a great deal more than my fellows. '

'I have often heard of you, ' said the Queen, 'and I confess that yoursis a career which has much interested me. What vicissitudes in affairshave you not witnessed! And yet you have somehow or other contrived tomake your way through all the storms in which others have sunk, and arenow, as you always have been, in an exalted position. What can beyour magic? I would that you would initiate me. I know that you are aprophet, and that even the gods consult you. '

'Your Majesty is complimentary. I certainly have had a great deal ofexperience. My life has no doubt been a long one, but I have made itlonger by never losing a moment. I was born, too, at a great crisis inaffairs. Everything that took place before the Trojan war passes fornothing in the annals of wisdom. That was a great revolution in allaffairs human and divine, and from that event we must now date all ourknowledge. Before the Trojan war we used to talk of the rebellion ofthe Titans, but that business now is an old almanac. As for my powers ofprophecy, believe me, that those who understand the past are very wellqualified to predict the future. For my success in life, it may beprincipally ascribed to the observance of a simple rule--I nevertrust anyone, either god or man. I make an exception in favour of thegoddesses, and especially of your Majesty, ' added Tiresias, who piquedhimself on his gallantry. 

While they were thus conversing, the Queen directed the attentionof Manto to a mountainous elevation which now began to rise in thedistance, and which, from the rapidity of the tide and the freshness ofthe breeze, they approached at a swift rate. 

'Behold the Stygian mountains, ' replied Manto. 'Through their centreruns the passage of Night which leads to the regions of Twilight. '

'We have, then, far to travel?'

'Assuredly it is no easy task to escape from the gloom of Tartarusto the sunbeams of Elysium, ' remarked Tiresias; 'but the pleasant isgenerally difficult; let us be grateful that in our instance it is not, as usual, forbidden. '

'You say truly; I am sorry to confess how very often it appears tome that sin is enjoyment. But see! how awful are these perpendicularheights, piercing the descending vapours, with their peaks clothed withdark pines! We seem land-locked. '

But the experienced master of the infernal yacht knew well how to steerhis charge through the intricate windings of the river, which here, though deep and navigable, became as wild and narrow as a mountainstream; and, as the tide no longer served them, and the wind, from theirinvolved course, was as often against them as in their favour, the crewwere obliged to have recourse to their oars, and rowed along until theyarrived at the mouth of an enormous cavern, from which the rapid streamapparently issued. 

'I am frightened out of my wits, ' exclaimed Proserpine. 'Surely thiscannot be our course?'

'I hold, from your Majesty's exclamation, ' said Tiresias, 'that we havearrived at the passage of Night. When we have proceeded some hundredyards, we shall reach the adamantine portals. I pray your Majesty be notalarmed. I alone have the signet which can force these mystic gates toopen. I must be stirring myself. What, ho! Manto. '

'Here am I, father. Hast thou the seal?'

'In my breast. I would not trust it to my secretaries. They have myportfolios full of secret despatches, written on purpose to deceivethem; for I know that they are spies in the pay of Minerva; but yourMajesty perceives, with a little prudence, that even a traitor may beturned to account. '

Thus saying, Tiresias, leaning on Manto, hobbled to the poop of thevessel, and exclaiming aloud, 'Behold the mighty seal of Dis, whereonis inscribed the word the Titans fear, ' the gates immediately flew open, revealing the gigantic form of the Titan Porphyrin, whose head touchedthe vault of the mighty cavern, although he was up to his waist in thewaters of the river. 

'Come, my noble Porphyrion, ' said Tiresias, 'bestir thyself, I beseechthee. I have brought thee a Queen. Guide her Majesty, I entreat thee, with safety through this awful passage of Night. '

'What a horrible creature, ' whispered Proserpine. 'I wonder you addresshim with such courtesy. '

'I am always courteous, ' replied Tiresias. 'How know I that the Titansmay not yet regain their lost heritage? They are terrible fellows; andugly or not, I have no doubt that even your Majesty would not find themso ill-favoured were they seated in the halls of Olympus. '

'There is something in that, ' replied Proserpine. 'I almost wish I wereonce more in Tartarus. '

The Titan Porphyrion in the meantime had fastened a chain-cable to thevessel, which he placed over his shoulder, and turning his back to thecrew, then wading through the waters, he dragged on the vessel in itscourse. The cavern widened, the waters spread. To the joy of Proserpine, apparently, she once more beheld the moon and stars. 

'Bright crescent of Diana!' exclaimed the enraptured Queen, 'and yetoo, sweet stars, that I have so often watched on the Sicilian plains;do I, then, indeed again behold you? or is it only some exquisite visionthat entrances my being? for, indeed, I do not feel the freshness ofthat breeze that was wont to renovate my languid frame; nor does theodorous scent of flowers wafted from the shores delight my jaded senses. What is it? Is it life or death; earth, indeed, or Hell?'

''Tis nothing, ' said Tiresias, 'but a great toy. You must know thatSaturn--until at length, wearied by his ruinous experiments, the godsexpelled him his empire--was a great dabbler in systems. He was alwaysfor making moons brighter than Diana, and lighting the stars by gas; buthis systems never worked. The tides rebelled against their mistress, andthe stars went out with a horrible stench. This is one of his creations, the most ingenious, though a failure. Jove made it a present to Pluto, who is quite proud of having a sun and stars of his own, and reckons itamong the choice treasures of his kingdoms. '

'Poor Saturn! I pity him; he meant well. ' 'Very true. He is the paviourof the high-street of Hades. But we cannot afford kings, and especiallyGods, to be philosophers. The certainty of misrule is better than thechance of good government; uncertainty makes people restless. '

'I feel very restless myself; I wish we were in Elysium!'

'The river again narrows!' exclaimed Manto. 'There is no other portalto pass. The Saturnian moon and stars grow fainter, there is a grey tintexpanding in the distance; 'tis the realm of Twilight; your Majesty willsoon disembark. '

PART III. 

 _Containing an Account of Tiresias at His Rubber_

TRAVELLERS who have left their homes generally grow mournful as theevening draws on; nor is there, perhaps, any time at which the pensiveinfluence of twilight is more predominant than on the eve that follows aseparation from those we love. Imagine, then, the feelings of the Queenof Hell, as her barque entered the very region of that mystic light, and the shadowy shores of the realm of Twilight opened before her. Herthoughts reverted to Pluto; and she mused over all his fondness, all hisadoration, and all his indulgence, and the infinite solicitude of hisaffectionate heart, until the tears trickled down her beautiful cheeks, and she marvelled she ever could have quitted the arms of her lover. 

'Your Majesty, ' observed Manto, who had been whispering to Tiresias, 'feels, perhaps, a little wearied?'

'By no means, my kind Manto, ' replied Proserpine, starting from herreverie. 'But the truth is, my spirits are unequal; and though Ireally cannot well fix upon the cause of their present depression, I amapparently not free from the contagion of the surrounding gloom. '

'It is the evening air, ' said Tiresias. 'Your Majesty had perhaps betterre-enter the pavilion of the yacht. As for myself, I never venture aboutafter sunset. One grows romantic. Night was evidently made for in-doornature. I propose a rubber. '

To this popular suggestion Proserpine was pleased to accede, and herselfand Tiresias, Manto and the captain of the yacht, were soon engaged atthe proposed amusement. 

Tiresias loved a rubber. It was true he was blind, but then, being aprophet, that did not signify. Tiresias, I say, loved a rubber, andwas a first-rate player, though, perhaps, given a little too much to_finesse_. Indeed, he so much enjoyed taking in his fellow-creatures, that he sometimes could not resist deceiving his own partner. Whist isa game which requires no ordinary combination of qualities; at the sametime, memory and invention, a daring fancy, and a cool head. To a mindlike that of Tiresias, a pack of cards was full of human nature. Arubber was a microcosm; and he ruffed his adversary's king, or broughtin a long suit of his own with as much dexterity and as much enjoymentas, in the real business of existence, he dethroned a monarch, orintroduced a dynasty. 

'Will your Majesty be pleased to draw your card?' requested the sage. 'If I might venture to offer your Majesty a hint, I would dare torecommend your Majesty not to play before your turn. My friends arefond of ascribing my success in my various missions to the possession ofpeculiar qualities. No such thing: I owe everything to the simple habitof always waiting till it is my turn to speak. And believe me, that hewho plays before his turn at whist, commits as great a blunder as he whospeaks before his turn during a negotiation. '

'The trick, and two by honours, ' said Proserpine. 'Pray, my dearTiresias, you who are such a fine player, how came you to trump my bestcard?'

'Because I wanted the lead. And those who want to lead, please yourMajesty, must never hesitate about sacrificing their friends. '

'I believe you speak truly. I was right in playing that thirteenthcard?'

'Quite so. Above all things, I love a thirteenth card. I send it forth, like a mock project in a revolution, to try the strength of parties. '

'You should not have forced me, Lady Manto, ' said the Captain of theyacht, in a grumbling tone, to his partner. 'By weakening me, youprevented me bringing in my spades. We might have made the game. '

'You should not have been forced, ' said Tiresias. 'If she made amistake, who was unacquainted with your plans, what a terrible blunderyou committed to share her error without her ignorance!'

'What, then, was I to lose a trick?'

'Next to knowing when to seize an opportunity, ' replied Tiresias, 'themost important thing in life is to know when to forego an advantage. '

'I have cut you an honour, sir, ' said Manto. 

'Which reminds me, ' replied Tiresias, 'that, in the last hand, yourMajesty unfortunately forgot to lead through your adversary's ace. Ihave often observed that nothing ever perplexes an adversary so much asan appeal to his honour. '

'I will not forget to follow your advice, ' said the Captain of theyacht, playing accordingly. 

'By which you have lost the game, ' quietly remarked Tiresias. 'There areexceptions to all rules, but it seldom answers to follow the advice ofan opponent. '

'Confusion!' exclaimed the Captain of the yacht. 

'Four by honours, and the trick, I declare, ' said Proserpine. 'I was soglad to see you turn up the queen, Tiresias. '

'I also, madam. Without doubt there are few cards better than her royalconsort, or, still more, the imperial ace. Nevertheless, I must confess, I am perfectly satisfied whenever I remember that I have the Queen on myside. '

Proserpine bowed. 

'I have a good mind to do it, Tiresias, ' said Queen Proserpine, as thatworthy sage paid his compliments to her at her toilet, at an hour whichshould have been noon. 

'It would be a great compliment, ' said Tiresias. 

'And it is not much out of our way?'

'By no means, ' replied the seer. ''Tis an agreeable half-way house. Helives in good style. '

'And whence can a dethroned monarch gain a revenue?'. Inquired the Queen. 

'Your Majesty, I see, is not at all learned in politics. A sovereignnever knows what an easy income is till he has abdicated. He generallycommences squabbling with his subjects about the supplies; he is thenexpelled, and voted, as compensation, an amount about double the sumwhich was the cause of the original quarrel. '

'What do you think, Manto?' said Proserpine, as that lady entered thecabin; 'we propose paying a visit to Saturn. He has fixed his residence, you know, in these regions of twilight. '

'I love a junket, ' replied Manto, 'above all things. And, indeed, I washalf frightened out of my wits at the bare idea of toiling over thisdesert. All is prepared, please your Majesty, for our landing. YourMajesty's litter is quite ready. '

''Tis well, ' said Proserpine; and leaning on the arm of Manto, the Queencame upon deck, and surveyed the surrounding country, a vast grey flat, with a cloudless sky of the same tint: in the distance some loweringshadows, which seemed like clouds but were in fact mountains. 

'Some half-dozen hours, ' said Tiresias, 'will bring us to the palaceof Saturn. We shall arrive for dinner; the right hour. Let me recommendyour Majesty to order the curtains of your litter to be drawn, and, ifpossible, to resume your dreams. '

'They were not pleasant, ' said Proserpine, 'I dreamt of my mother andthe Parcæ. Manto, methinks I'll read. Hast thou some book?'

'Here is a poem, Madam, but I fear it may induce those very slumbers youdread. '

'How call you it?'

'"The Pleasures of Oblivion. " The poet apparently is fond of hissubject. '

'And is, I have no doubt, equal to it. Hast any prose?'

'An historical novel or so. '

'Oh! if you mean those things as full of costume as a fancy ball, andalmost as devoid of sense, I'll have none of them. Close the curtains;even visions of the Furies are preferable to these insipidities. '

The halt of the litter roused the Queen from her slumbers. 'We havearrived, ' said Manto, as she assisted in withdrawing the curtains. 

The train had halted before a vast propylon of rose-coloured granite. The gate was nearly two hundred feet in height, and the sides of thepropylon, which rose like huge moles, were sculptured with colossalfigures of a threatening aspect. Passing through the propylon, theQueen of Hell and her attendants entered an avenue in length aboutthree-quarters of a mile, formed of colossal figures of the samecharacter and substance, alternately raising in their arms javelins orbattle-axes, as if about to strike. At the end of this heroic avenueappeared the palace of Saturn. Ascending a hundred steps of blackmarble, you stood before a portico supported by twenty columns of thesame material and shading a single portal of bronze. Apparently thepalace formed an immense quadrangle; a vast tower rising from eachcorner, and springing from the centre a huge and hooded dome. A crowd ofattendants, in grey and sad-coloured raiment, issued from the portalof the palace at the approach of Proserpine, who remarked with strangesurprise their singular countenances and demeanour; for rare in thissilent assemblage was any visage resembling aught she had seen, humanor divine. Some bore the heads of bats; of owls and beetles others;some fluttered moth-like wings, while the shoulders of other bipeds weresurmounted, in spite of their human organisation, with the heads of ratsand weasels, of marten-cats and of foxes. But they were all remarkablycivil; and Proserpine, who was now used to wonders, did not shriek atall, and scarcely shuddered. 

The Queen of Hell was ushered through a superb hall, and down a splendidgallery, to a suite of apartments where a body of damsels of a mostdistinguished appearance awaited her. Their heads resembled those of themost eagerly-sought, highly-prized, and oftenest-stolen lap-dogs. Upon the shoulders of one was the visage of the smallest and mostthorough-bred little Blenheim in the world. Upon her front was a whitestar, her nose was nearly flat, and her ears were tied under her chin, with the most jaunty air imaginable. She was an evident flirt; and asolemn prude of a spaniel, with a black and tan countenance, who seemeda sort of duenna, evidently watched her with no little distrust. Theadmirers of blonde beauties would, however, have fallen in love witha poodle, with the finest head of hair imaginable, and most voluptuousshoulders. This brilliant band began barking in the most insinuatingtone on the appearance of the Queen; and Manto, who was almost asdexterous a linguist as Tiresias himself, informed her Majesty thatthese were the ladies of her bed-chamber; upon which Proserpine, who, itwill be remembered had no passion for dogs, ordered them immediately outof her room. 

'What a droll place!' exclaimed the Queen. 'Do you know, we are laterthan I imagined? A hasty toilet to-day; I long to see Saturn. It isdroll, I am hungry. My purple velvet, I think; it may be considered acompliment. No diamonds, only jet; a pearl or two, perhaps. Didst eversee the King?

They say he is gentlemanlike, though a bigot. No! no rouge to-day; thispaleness is quite _apropos_. Were I as radiant as usual, I should betaken for Aurora. '

So leaning on Manto, and preceded by the ladies of her bed-chamber, whom, notwithstanding their repulse, she found in due attendance in theantechamber, Proserpine again continued her progress down the gallery, until they stopped at a door, which opening, she was ushered into thegrand circular saloon, crowned by the dome, whose exterior the Queen hadalready observed. The interior of this apartment was entirely of blackand grey marble, with the exception of the dome itself, which was ofebony, richly carved and supported by more than a hundred columns. Theredepended from the centre of the arch a single chandelier of frostedsilver, which was itself as big as an ordinary chamber, but of themost elegant form, and delicate and fantastic workmanship. As the Queenentered the saloon, a personage of venerable appearance, dressed in asuit of black velvet, and leaning on an ivory cane, advanced to saluteher. There was no mistaking this personage; his manners were at once socourteous and so dignified. He was clearly their host; and Proserpine, who was quite charmed with his grey locks and his black velvet cap, histruly paternal air, and the beneficence of his unstudied smile, couldscarcely refrain from bending her knee, and pressing her lips to hisextended hand. 

'I am proud that your Majesty has remembered me in my retirement, ' saidSaturn, as he led Proserpine to a seat. 

Their mutual compliments were soon disturbed by the announcementof dinner, and Saturn offering his arm to the Queen with an air ofpoliteness which belonged to the old school, but which the ladies admirein old men, handed Proserpine to the banqueting-room. They were followedby some of the principal personages of her Majesty's suite, and a coupleof young Titans, who enjoyed the posts of aides-de-camp to the ex-King, and whose duties consisted of carving at dinner. 

It was a most agreeable dinner, and Proserpine was delighted withSaturn, who, of course, sat by her side, and paid her every possibleattention. Saturn, whose manners, as has been observed, were of the oldschool, loved a good story, and told several. His anecdotes, especiallyof society previous to the Trojan war, were highly interesting. Thereran through all his behaviour, too, a tone of high breeding and ofconsideration for others which was really charming; and Proserpine, whohad expected to find in her host a gloomy bigot, was quite surprisedat the truly liberal spirit with which he seemed to consider affairs ingeneral. Indeed this unexpected tone made so great an impression uponher, that finding a good opportunity after dinner, when they weresipping their coffee apart from the rest of the company, she could notrefrain from entering into some conversation with the ex-King upon thesubject, and the conversation ran thus:

'Do you know, ' said Proserpine, 'that much as I have been pleasedand surprised during my visit to the realms of twilight, nothing haspleased, and I am sure nothing has surprised me more, than to observethe remarkably liberal spirit in which your Majesty views the affairs ofthe day. '

'You give me a title, beautiful Proserpine, to which I have no claim, 'replied Saturn. 'You forget that I am now only Count Hesperus; I am nolonger a king, and believe me, I am very glad of it. '

'What a pity, my dear sir, that you would not condescend to conform tothe spirit of the age. For myself, I am quite a reformer. '

'So I have understood, beautiful Proserpine, which I confess has alittle surprised me; for to tell you the truth, I do not consider thatreform is exactly _our_ trade. '

'Affairs cannot go on as they used, ' observed Proserpine, oracularly;'we must bow to the spirit of the age. '

'And what is that?' inquired Saturn. 

'I do not exactly know, ' replied Proserpine, 'but one hears of iteverywhere. '

'I also heard of it a great deal, ' replied Saturn, 'and was alsorecommended to conform to it. Before doing so, however, I thought it aswell to ascertain its nature, and something also of its strength. '

'It is terribly strong, ' observed Proserpine. 

'But you think it will be stronger?' inquired the ex-King. 

'Certainly; every day it is more powerful. '

'Then if, on consideration, we were to deem resistance to it advisable, it is surely better to commence the contest at once than to postpone thestruggle. '

'It is useless to talk of resisting; one must conform. '

'I certainly should consider resistance useless, ' replied Saturn, 'for Itried it and failed; but at least one has a chance of success; and yet, having resisted this spirit and failed, I should not consider myselfin a worse plight than you would voluntarily place yourself in byconforming to it. '

'You speak riddles, ' said Proserpine. 

'To be plain, then, ' replied Saturn, 'I think you may as well at oncegive up your throne, as conform to this spirit. '

'And why so?' inquired Proserpine very ingenuously. '

'Because, ' replied Saturn, shrugging up his shoulders, 'I look upon thespirit of the age as a spirit hostile to Kings and gods. '

The next morning Saturn himself attended his beautiful guest over hisresidence, which Proserpine greatly admired. 

''Tis the work of the Titans, ' replied the ex-King. 'There never was aparty so fond of building palaces. '

'To speak the truth, ' said Proserpine, 'I am a little disappointed thatI have not had an opportunity, during my visit, of becoming acquaintedwith some of the chiefs of that celebrated party; for, although aLiberal, I am a female one, and I like to know every sort of person whois distinguished. '

'The fact is, ' replied her host, 'that the party has never recoveredfrom the thunderbolt of that scheming knave Jupiter, and do not beartheir defeat so philosophically as years, perhaps, permit me to do. Ifwe have been vanquished by the spirit of the age, ' continued Saturn, 'you must confess that, in our case, the conqueror did not assume amaterial form very remarkable for its dignity. Had Creation resolveditself into its original elements, had Chaos come again, or even oldCoelus, the indignity might have been endured; but to be baffled byan Olympian _juste milieu_, and to find, after all the clamour, thatnothing has been changed save the places, is, you will own, somewhatmortifying. '

'But how do you reconcile, ' inquired the ingenuous Proserpine, 'thesuccess of Jupiter with the character which you ascribed last night tothe spirit of the age?'

'Why, in truth, ' said Saturn, 'had I not entirely freed myself from allparty feeling, I might adduce the success of my perfidious and worthlessrelative as very good demonstration that the spirit of the ageis nothing better than an _ignis fatuus_. Nevertheless, we mustdiscriminate. Even the success of Jupiter, although he now conductshimself in direct opposition to the emancipating principles he atfirst professed, is no less good evidence of their force; for by hisprofessions he rose. And, for my part, I consider it a great homage topublic opinion to find every scoundrel now-a-days professing himself aLiberal. '

'You are candid;' said Proserpine. 'I should like very much to see theTitans. '

'My friends are at least consistent, ' observed Saturn; 'though certainlyat present I can say little more for them. Between the despair of onesection of the party, and the over-sanguine expectations of the other, they are at present quite inactive, or move only to ensure freshrebuffs. '

'You see little of them, then?'

'They keep to themselves: they generally frequent a lonely vale in theneighbourhood. '

'I should so like to see them!' exclaimed Proserpine. 

'Say nothing to Tiresias, ' said old Saturn, who was half in love withhis fair friend, 'and we will steal upon them unperceived. ' So saying, the god struck the earth with his cane, and there instantly sprang fortha convenient car, built of curiously carved cedar, and borne by fourenormous tawny-coloured owls. Seating himself by the side of thedelighted Proserpine, Saturn commanded the owls to bear them to theValley of Lamentations. 

'Twas an easy fly: the chariot soon descended upon the crest of a hill:and Saturn and Proserpine, leaving the car, commenced, by a windingpath, the slight ascent of a superior elevation. Having arrived there, they looked down upon a valley, apparently land-locked by black andbarren mountains of the most strange, although picturesque forms. In thecentre of the valley was a black pool or tarn, bordered with dark purpleflags of an immense size, twining and twisting among which might beobserved the glancing and gliding folds of several white serpents; whilecrocodiles and alligators, and other horrible forms, poked their foulsnouts with evident delight in a vast mass of black slime, which had, at various times, exuded from the lake. A single tree only was to beobserved in this desolate place, an enormous and blasted cedar, withscarcely a patch of verdure, but extending its black and barren branchesnearly across the valley. Seated on a loosened crag, but leaning againstthe trunk of the cedar, with his arms folded, his mighty eyes fixed onthe ground, and his legs crossed with that air of complete repose whichindicates that their owner is in no hurry again to move them, was

 'A form, some granite god we deemed, Or king of palmy Nile, colossal shapes Such as Syene's rosy quarries yield To Memphian art; Horus, Osiris called, Or Amenoph, who, on the Theban plain, With magic melody the sun salutes; Or he, far mightier, to whose conquering car Monarchs were yoked, Rameses: by the Greeks Sesostris styled. And yet no sculptor's art Moulded this shape, for form it seemed of flesh, Yet motionless; its dim unlustrous orbs Gazing in stilly vacancy, its cheek Grey as its hairs, which, thin as they might seem, No breath disturbed; a solemn countenance, Not sorrowful, though full of woe sublime, As if despair were now a distant dream Too dim for memory. '

''Tis their great leader, ' said Saturn, as he pointed out the Titan toProserpine, 'the giant Enceladus. He got us into all our scrapes, but Imust do him the justice to add, that he is the only one who can ever getus out of them. They say he has no heart; but I think his hook nose israther fine. '

'Superb!' said Proserpine. 'And who is that radiant and golden-hairedyouth who is seated at his feet?'

''Tis no less a personage than Hyperion himself, ' replied Saturn, 'thefavourite counsellor of Enceladus. He is a fine orator, and makes up byhis round sentences and choice phrases for the rhetorical deficienciesof his chief, who, to speak the truth, is somewhat curt and husky. Theyhave enough now to do to manage their comrades and keep a semblance ofdiscipline in their routed ranks. Mark that ferocious Briareus therescowling in a corner! Didst ever see such a moustache! He glances, methinks, with an evil eye on the mighty Enceladus; and, let me tellyou, Briareus has a great following among them; so they say of him youknow, that he hath fifty heads and a hundred arms. See! how they gatheraround him. '

'Who speaks now to Briareus?' 'The young and valiant Mimas. Be assuredhe is counselling war. We shall have a debate now. '

'Yon venerable personage, who is seated by the margin of the pool, andweeping with the crocodiles------'

'Is old Oceanus. '

'He is apparently much affected by his overthrow. ' 'It is his wont toweep. He used to cry when he fought, and yet he was a powerful warrior. ''Hark!' said Proserpine. 

The awful voice of Briareus broke the silence. What a terrible personagewas Briareus! His wild locks hung loose about his shoulders, and blendedwith his unshorn beard. 

'Titans!' shouted the voice which made many a heart tremble, and thebreathless Proserpine clasp the arm of Saturn. 'Titans! Is that spiritdead that once heaped Ossa upon Pelion? Is it forgotten, even byourselves, that a younger born revels in our heritage? Are these formsthat surround me, indeed, the shapes at whose dread sight the baseOlympians fled to their fitting earth? Warriors, whose weapons were therocks, whose firebrands were the burning woods, is the day forgottenwhen Jove himself turned craven, and skulked in Egypt? At least mymemory is keen enough to support my courage, and whatever the dreadEnceladus may counsel, my voice is still for war!'

There ensued, after this harangue of Briareus, a profound and thrillingsilence, which was, however, broken in due time by the great leader ofthe Titans himself. 

'You mouth it well, Briareus, ' replied Enceladus calmly. 'And if greatwords would re-seat us in Olympus, doubtless, with your potent aid, we might succeed. It never should be forgotten, however, that had wecombined at first, in the spirit now recommended, the Olympians wouldnever have triumphed; and least of all our party should Briareus and hisfriends forget the reasons of our disunion. '

'I take thy sneer, Enceladus, ' said the young and chivalric Mimas, 'andthrow it in thy teeth. This learn, then, from Briareus and his friends, that if we were lukewarm in the hour of peril, the fault lies not toour account, but with those who had previously so conducted themselves, that, when the danger arrived, it was impossible for us to distinguishbetween our friends and our foes. Enceladus apparently forgets that hadthe Olympians never been permitted to enter Heaven, it would have beenunnecessary ever to have combined against their machinations. '

'Recrimination is useless, ' said a Titan, interposing. 'I was one ofthose who supported Enceladus in the admission of the Olympians above, and I regret it. But at the time, like others, I believed it to be theonly mode of silencing the agitation of Jupiter. '

'I separated from Enceladus on that question, ' said a huge Titan, lyinghis length on the ground and leaning one arm on a granite crag; 'butI am willing to forget all our differences and support him with allmy heart and strength in another effort to restore our gloriousconstitution. '

'Titans, ' said Enceladus, 'who is there among you who has found me alaggard in the day of battle?'

When the Olympians, as Briareus thinks it necessary to remind you, fled, I was your leader. Remember, however, then, that there were nothunderbolts. As for myself, I candidly confess to you, that, since theinvention of these weapons by Jove, I do not see how war can be carriedon by us any longer with effect. '

'By the memory of old Coelus and these fast-flowing tears, ' murmured thevenerable Oceanus, patting at the same time a crocodile on the back, 'I call you all to witness that I have no interest to deceive you. Nevertheless, we should not forget that, in this affair of thethunderbolts, it is the universal opinion that there is a veryconsiderable reaction. I have myself, only within these few days, received authentic information that several have fallen of late withoutany visible ill effects; and I am credibly assured that, during the latestorm in Thessaly, a thunderbolt was precipitated into the centre of avineyard, without affecting the flavour of a single grape. '

Here several of the Titans, who had gathered round Enceladus, shooktheir heads and shrugged their shoulders, and a long and desultoryconversation ensued upon the copious and very controversial subject ofRe-action. In the meantime Rhoetus, a young Titan, whispered to one ofhis companions, that for his part he was convinced that the only wayto beat the Olympians was to turn them into ridicule; and that he wouldaccordingly commence at once with the pasquinade on the private life ofJupiter, and some peculiarly delicate criticisms on the characters ofthe goddesses. 

PART IV. 

 _Containing the First View of Elysium_

THE toilsome desert was at length passed, and the royal cavalcadeascended the last chasm of mountains that divided Elysium, or theRegions of Bliss, from the Realm of Twilight. As she quitted thosedim and dreary plains, the spirit of Proserpine grew lighter, and sheindulged in silent but agreeable anticipations of the scene which shewas now approaching. On reaching, however, the summit of the mountainouschain, and proceeding a short distance over the rugged table-land intowhich it now declined, her Majesty was rather alarmed at perceiving thather progress was impeded by a shower of flame that extended, on eitherside, as far as the eye could reach. Her alarm, however, was of shortcontinuance; for, on the production of his talisman by Tiresias, theshower of flame instantly changed into silvery drops of rose-water andother delicious perfumes. Amid joyous peals of laughter, and someslight playful screams on the part of the ladies, the cavalcade venturedthrough the ordeal. Now the effect of this magical bath was quitemarvellous. A burthen seemed suddenly to have been removed from thespirits of the whole party; their very existence seemed renewed; theblood danced about their veins in the liveliest manner imaginable; anda wild but pleasing titillation ran like lightning through their nerves, their countenances sparkled with excitement; and they all talked at thesame time. Proserpine was so occupied with her own sensations, that shedid not immediately remark the extraordinary change that had occurredin the appearance of the country immediately on passing this magicalbarrier. She perceived that their course now led over the most elasticand carefully-shaven turf; groups of beautiful shrubs occasionallyappeared, and she discovered with delight that their flowers constantlyopened, and sent forth from their bells diminutive birds of radiantplumage. Above them, too, the clouds vanished, and her head was canopiedby a sky, unlike, indeed, all things and tints of earth, but whichreminded her, in some degree, of the splendour of Olympus. 

Proserpine, restless with delight, quitted her litter, and followed byManto, ran forward to catch the first view of Elysium. 

'I am quite out of breath, ' said her Majesty, 'and really must sit downon this bank of violets. Was ever anything in the world so delightful?Why, Olympus is nothing to it! And after Tartarus, too, and that poorunhappy Saturn, and his Titans and his twilight, it really is too muchfor me. How I do long for the view! and yet, somehow or other, my heartbeats so I cannot walk. '

'Will your Majesty re-ascend your litter?' suggested Manto. 

'Oh, no! that is worse than anything. They are a mile behind; they areso slow. Why, Manto! what is this?'

A beautiful white dove hovered in the air over the head of Proserpineand her attendant, and then dropping an olive branch into the lap of theQueen, flapped its wings and whirled away. But what an olive branch!the stem was of agate; each leaf was an emerald; and on the largest, inletters of brilliants, was this inscription:

 _The Elysians to Their Beautiful Queen_

'Oh, is it not superb?' exclaimed Proserpine. 'What charming people, and what excellent subjects! What loyalty and what taste!'

So saying, the enraptured Proserpine rose from the bank of violets, andhad scarcely run forwards fifty yards when she suddenly stopped, andstarted with an exclamation of wonder. The table-land had ceased. Shestood upon a precipice of white marble, in many parts clothed withthick bowers of myrtle; before her extended the wide-spreading plains ofElysium. They were bounded upon all sides by gentle elevations entirelycovered with flowers, and occasionally shooting forward into thechampaign country; behind these appeared a range of mountains clothedwith bright green forests, and still loftier heights behind them, exhibiting, indeed, only bare and sharply-pointed peaks glittering withprismatic light. The undulating plain was studded in all directions withpavilions and pleasure-houses, and groves and gardens glowing with thechoicest and most charming fruit; and a broad blue river wound throughit, covered with brilliant boats, the waters flashing with phosphoriclight as they were cut by the swift and gliding keels. And in the centreof the plain rose a city, a mighty group of all that was beautiful inform and costly in materials, bridges and palaces and triumphal gates ofcedar and of marble, columns and minarets of gold, and cupolas and domesof ivory; and ever and anon appeared delicious gardens, raised on theterraces of the houses; and groups of palm trees with their tall, thinstems, and quivering and languid crests, rose amid the splendid masonry. A sweet soft breeze touched the cheek of the entranced Proserpine, and asingle star of silver light glittered in the rosy sky. 

''Tis my favourite hour, ' exclaimed Proserpine. . Thus have I gazed uponHesperus in the meads of Enna! What a scene! How fortunate that weshould have arrived at sunset!'

'Ah, Madam!' observed Manto, 'in Elysium the sky is ever thus. For theElysians, the sun seems always to have just set!'

'Fortunate people!' replied Proserpine. 'In them, immortality andenjoyment seem indeed blended together. A strange feeling, half oflanguor, half of voluptuousness, steals over my senses! It seems thatI at length behold the region of my girlish dreams. Such once I fanciedOlympus. Ah! why does not my Pluto live in Elysium?'

The Elysians consisted of a few thousand beatified mortals, the onlyoccupation of whose existence was enjoyment; the rest of the populationcomprised some millions of Gnomes and Sylphs, who did nothing but work, and ensured by their labour the felicity of the superior class. EveryElysian, male or female, possessed a magnificent palace in the city, and an elegant pavilion on the plain; these, with a due proportion ofchariots, horses, and slaves, constituted a proper establishment. TheSylphs and the Gnomes were either scattered about the country, whichthey cultivated, or lived in the city, where they kept shops, and wherethey emulated each other in displaying the most ingenious articlesof luxury and convenience for the enjoyment and accommodation of theElysians. The townspeople, indeed, rather affected to look down uponthe more simple-minded agriculturists; but if these occasionally felt alittle mortification in consequence, they might have been consoled, hadthey been aware that their brethren and sisters who were in the serviceof the Elysians avenged their insults, for these latter were the finestGnomes and Sylphs imaginable, and scarcely deigned to notice any one whowas in trade. Whether there were any coin or other circulating mediumcurrent in Elysium is a point respecting which I must confess I have notsufficient information to decide; but if so, it certainly would appearthat all money transactions were confined to the Gnomes and the Sylphs, for the Elysians certainly never paid for anything. Perhaps thisexemption might have been among their peculiar privileges, and was asubstitute for what we call credit, a convenience of which the ancientsappear to have had a limited conception. The invention, by Jupiter, ofan aristocratic immortality, as a reward for a well-spent life on earth, appears to have been an ingenious idea. It really is a reward, verystimulative of good conduct before we shuffle off the mortal coil, andremarkably contrasts with the democracy of the damned. The Elysians, with a splendid climate, a teeming soil, and a nation made on purposeto wait upon them, of course enjoyed themselves very much. The artsflourished, the theatres paid, and they had a much finer opera than atEphesus or at Halicarnassus. Their cookery was so refined, that one ofthe least sentimental ceremonies in the world was not only deprived ofall its grossness, but was actually converted into an elegant amusement, and so famous that their artists were even required at Olympus. If theirdinners were admirable, which is rare, their assemblies were amusing, which is still more uncommon. All the arts of society were carried toperfection in Elysium; a dull thing was never said, and an awkward thingnever done. The Elysians, indeed, being highly refined and gifted, forthey comprised in their order the very cream of terrestrial society, were naturally a liberal-minded race of nobles, and capable ofappreciating every kind of excellence. If a Gnome or a Sylph, therefore, in any way distinguished themselves; if they sang very well, or actedvery well, or if they were at all eminent for any of the other arts ofamusement, ay! indeed if the poor devils could do nothing better thanwrite a poem or a novel, they were sure to be noticed by the Elysians, who always bowed to them as they passed by, and sometimes indeed evenadmitted them into their circles. 

Scarcely had the train of Proserpine rejoined her on the brink of theprecipice, than they heard the flourish of trumpets near at hand, soonfollowed by a complete harmony of many instruments. A chorus of sweetvoices was next distinguished, growing each instant more loud and clear;and in a few minutes, issuing from a neighbouring grove, came fortha band of heroes and beautiful women, dressed in dazzling raiment, to greet the Queen. A troop of chariots of light and airy workmanshipfollowed, and a crowd of Gnomes and Sylphs singing and playing onvarious instruments, and dancing with gestures of grace and delicacy. Congratulating the Queen on her arrival in Elysium, and requesting thehonour of being permitted to attend her to her palace, they usheredProserpine and her companions to the chariots, and soon, winding down agradual declivity, they entered the plain. 

If a bird's-eye view of the capital had enchanted Proserpine, theagreeable impression was not diminished, as is generally the case, byher entrance into the city. Never were so much splendour and neatnessbefore combined. Passing through a magnificent arch, Proserpine entereda street of vast and beautiful proportions, lined on each side withpalaces of various architecture, painted admirably in fresco, and richlygilt. The road was formed of pounded marbles of various colours, laiddown in fanciful patterns, and forming an unrivalled mosaic; it wasbounded on each side by a broad causeway of jasper, of a remarkablybright green, clouded with milk-white streaks. This street led to asumptuous square, forming alone the palace destined for Proserpine. Its several fronts were supported and adorned by ten thousand columns, imitating the palm and the lotus; nor is it possible to conceiveanything more light and graceful than the general effect of thisstupendous building. Each front was crowned with an immense dome ofalabaster, so transparent, that when the palace was illuminated the rosyheaven grew pale, and an effect similar to moonlight was diffused overthe canopy of Elysium. And in the centre of the square a Leviathan, carved in white coral, and apparently flouncing in a huge basin of rockcrystal, spouted forth from his gills a fountain twelve hundred feet inheight; from one gill ascended a stream of delicious wine, which mightbe tempered, if necessary, by the iced water that issued from the other. 

At the approach of the Queen, the gigantic gates of the palace, framed of carved cedar, flew open with a thrilling burst of music, andProserpine found herself in a hall wherein several hundred persons, whoformed her household, knelt in stillness before her. Wearied with herlong journey, and all the excitement of the day, Proserpine signified toone of the Elysians in attendance her desire for refreshment andrepose. Immediately the household rose, and gracefully bowing retired insilence, while four ladies of the bed-chamber, very different from thedogfaced damsels of the realm of Twilight, advanced with a gracioussmile, and each pressing a white hand to her heart, invited her Majestyto accompany them. Twelve beautiful pages in fanciful costume, and eachbearing a torch of cinnamon, preceded them, and Proserpine ascendeda staircase of turquoise and silver. As she passed along, she caughtglimpses of costly galleries, and suites of gorgeous chambers, but shewas almost too fatigued to distinguish anything. A confused vision oflong lines of white columns, roofs of carved cedar, or ceilings glowingwith forms of exquisite beauty, walls covered with lifelike tapestry, or reflecting in their mighty mirrors her own hurrying figure, and herpicturesque attendants, alone remained. She rejoiced when she at lengtharrived in a small chamber, in which preparations evidently denotedthat it was intended she should rest. It was a pretty little saloon, brilliantly illuminated, and hung with tapestry depicting a party ofnymphs and shepherds feasting in an Arcadian scene. In the middle of thechamber a banquet was prepared, and as Proserpine seated herself, andpartook of some of the delicacies which a page immediately presented toher, there arose, from invisible musicians, a joyous and festive strain, which accompanied her throughout her repast. When her Majesty hadsufficiently refreshed herself, and as the banquet was removing, themusic assumed a softer and more subduing, occasionally even a solemntone; the tapestry, slowly shifting, at length represented the samecharacters sunk in repose; the attendants all this time graduallyextinguishing the lights, and stealing on tiptoe from the chamber. Sothat, at last, the music, each moment growing fainter, entirely ceased;the figures on the tapestry were scarcely perceptible by the dim lustreof a single remaining lamp; and the slumbering Proserpine fell back uponher couch. 

But the Queen of Hell was not destined to undisturbed repose. A dreamdescended on her brain, and the dream was terrible and strange. Shebeheld herself a child, playing, as was her wont, in the gardens ofEnna, twining garlands of roses, and chasing butterflies. Suddenly, froma bosky thicket of myrtle, slowly issued forth an immense serpent, darkas night, but with eyes of the most brilliant tint, and approached thedaughter of Ceres. The innocent child, ignorant of evil, beheld themonster without alarm. Not only did she neither fly nor shriek, but sheeven welcomed and caressed the frightful stranger, patted its voluminousback, and admired its sparkling vision. The serpent, fascinated insteadof fascinating, licked her feet with his arrowy tongue, and glided aboutfor her diversion in a thousand shapes. Emboldened by its gentleness, the little Proserpine at length even mounted on its back, and rode intriumph among her bowers. Every day the dark serpent issued from thethicket, and every day he found a welcome playmate. Now it come topass that one day the serpent, growing more bold, induced the youngProserpine to extend her ride beyond the limits of Enna. Night came on, and as it was too late to return, the serpent carried her to a largecave, where it made for her a couch of leaves, and while she slept theaffectionate monster kept guard for her protection at the mouth of thecavern. For some reason or other which was not apparent, for in dreamsthere are always some effects without causes, Proserpine never returnedto Enna, but remained and resided with cheerfulness in this cavern. Eachmorning the serpent went forth alone to seek food for its charge, and regularly returned with a bough in its mouth laden with deliciousfruits. One day, during the absence of her guardian, a desire seizedProserpine to quit the cavern, and accordingly she went forth. The freshair and fragrance of the earth were delightful to her, and she roamedabout, unconscious of time, and thoughtless of her return. And as shesauntered along, singing to herself, a beautiful white dove, eventhe same dove that had welcomed her in the morning on the heights ofElysium, flew before her with its wings glancing in the sunshine. Itseemed that the bird wished to attract the attention of the child, solong and so closely did it hover about her; now resting on a branch, asif inviting capture, and then skimming away only to return more swiftly;and occasionally, when for a moment unnoticed, even slightly flappingthe rambler with its plume. At length the child was taken with a fancyto catch the bird. But no sooner had she evinced this desire, than thebird, once apparently so anxious to be noticed, seemed resolved tolead her a weary chase; and hours flew away ere Proserpine, panting andexhausted, had captured the beautiful rover and pressed it to her bosom. 

It was, indeed, a most beautiful bird, and its possession repaid herfor all her exertions. But lo! as she stood, in a wild sylvan scenecaressing it, smoothing its soft plumage, and pressing its head to hercheek, she beheld in the distance approaching her the serpent, andshe beheld her old friend with alarm. Apparently her misgiving wasnot without cause. She observed in an instant that the appearance anddemeanour of the serpent were greatly changed. It approached her swiftas an arrow, its body rolling in the most agitated contortions, its jawswere distended as if to devour her, its eyes flashed fire, its tonguewas a forked flame, and its hiss was like a stormy wind. Proserpineshrieked, and the Queen of Hell awoke from her dream. 

The next morning the Elysian world called to pay their respects toProserpine. Her Majesty, indeed, held a drawing-room, which wasfully and brilliantly attended. Her beauty and her graciousness wereuniversally pronounced enchanting. From this moment the career ofProserpine was a series of magnificent entertainments. The principalElysians vied with each other in the splendour and variety of theamusements, which they offered to the notice of their Queen. Operas, plays, balls, and banquets followed in dazzling succession. Proserpine, who was almost inexperienced in society, was quite fascinated. Sheregretted the years she had wasted in her Sicilian solitude; shemarvelled that she ever could have looked forward with delight to a dullannual visit to Olympus; she almost regretted that, for the sake of anestablishment, she could have been induced to cast her lot in the regalgloom of Tartarus. Elysium exactly suited her. The beauty of the climateand the country, the total absence of care, the constant presence ofamusement, the luxury, gaiety, and refined enjoyment perfectly accordedwith her amiable disposition, her lively fancy and her joyous temper. She drank deep and eagerly of the cup of pleasure. She entered into allthe gay pursuits of her subjects; she even invented new combinationsof diversion. Under her inspiring rule every one confessed that Elysiumbecame every day more Elysian. The manners of her companions greatlypleased her. She loved those faces always wreathed with smiles, yetnever bursting into laughter. She was charmed at the amiable tone inwhich they addressed each other. Never apparently were people at thesame time so agreeable, so obliging, and so polished. For in all theysaid and did might be detected that peculiar air of high-breeding whichpervades the whole conduct of existence with a certain indefinablespirit of calmness, so that your nerves are never shaken by too intensean emotion, which eventually produces a painful reaction. Whatever theydid, the Elysians were careful never to be vehement; a grand passion, indeed, was unknown in these happy regions; love assumed the milder formof flirtation; and as for enmity, you were never abused except behindyour back, or it exuded itself in an epigram, or, at the worst, acaricature scribbled upon a fan. 

There is one characteristic of the Elysians which, in justice to them, Iought not to have omitted. They were eminently a moral people. If a ladycommitted herself, she was lost for ever, and packed off immediately tothe realm of Twilight. Indeed, they were so particular, that the momentone of the softer sex gave the slightest symptoms of preference toa fortunate admirer, the Elysian world immediately began to lookunutterable things, shrug its moral shoulders, and elevate itscharitable eyebrows. But if the preference, by any unlucky chance, assumed the nobler aspect of devotion, and the unhappy fair one gave anyindication of really possessing a heart, rest assured she was alreadyhalf way on the road to perdition. Then commenced one of the mostcurious processes imaginable, peculiar I apprehend to Elysium, but whichI record that the society of less fortunate lands may avail itself ofthe advantage, and adopt the regulation in its moral police. Immediatelythat it was clearly ascertained that two persons of different sexes tookan irrational interest in each other's society, all the world instantlywent about, actuated by a purely charitable sentiment, telling the mostextraordinary falsehoods concerning them that they could devise. Thus itwas the fashion to call at one house and announce that you had detectedthe unhappy pair in a private box at the theatre, and immediately to payyour respects at another mansion and declare that you had observed themon the very same day, and at the very same hour, in a boat on the river. At the next visit, the gentleman had been discovered driving her in hiscab; and in the course of the morning the scene of indiscretion was thePark, where they had been watched walking by moonlight, muffled up insables and cashmeres. 

This curious process of diffusing information was known in Elysiumunder the title of _'being talked about;_' and although the stories thusdisseminated were universally understood to be fictions, the Elysiansascribed great virtue to the proceeding, maintaining that many anindiscreet fair one had been providentially alarmed by thus becoming thesubject of universal conversation; that thus many a reputation hadbeen saved by this charitable slander. There were some malignantphilosophers, indeed, doubtless from that silly love of paradox in allages too prevalent, who pretended that all this Elysian morality was onegreat delusion, and that this scrupulous anxiety about the conduct ofothers arose from a principle, not of _Purity_, but of _Corruption_. The woman who is 'talked about, ' these sages would affirm, is generallyvirtuous, and she is only abused because she devotes to one the charmswhich all wish to enjoy. 

Thus Dido, who is really one of the finest creatures that ever existed, and who with a majestic beauty combines an heroic soul, has made herway with difficulty to the Elysian circle, to which her charms andrank entitle her; while Helen, who, from her very _début_, hasbeen surrounded by fifty lovers, and whose intrigues have ever beennotorious, is the very queen of fashion; and all this merely because shehas favoured fifty instead of one, and in the midst of all her scrapeshas contrived to retain the countenance of her husband. 

Apropos of Dido, the Queen of Carthage was the person in all Elysium forwhom Proserpine took the greatest liking. Exceedingly beautiful, withthe most generous temper and the softest heart in the world, and blessedby nature with a graceful simplicity of manner, which fashion hadnever sullied, it really was impossible to gaze upon the extraordinarybrilliancy of her radiant countenance, to watch the symmetry of hersuperb figure, and to listen to the artless yet lively observationsuttered by a voice musical as a bell, without being fairly bewitched. 

When we first enter society, we are everywhere; yet there are few, Iimagine, who, after a season, do not subside into a coterie. When theglare of saloons has ceased to dazzle, and we are wearied with theheartless notice of a crowd, we require refinement and sympathy. We findthem, and we sink into a clique. And after all, can the river of lifeflow on more agreeably than in a sweet course of pleasure with thosewe love? To wander in the green shade of secret woods and whisper ouraffection; to float on the sunny waters of some gentle stream, andlisten to a serenade; to canter with a light-hearted cavalcade overbreezy downs, or cool our panting chargers in the summer stillness ofwinding and woody lanes; to banquet with the beautiful and the witty; tosend care to the devil, and indulge the whim of the moment; the priest, the warrior and the statesman may frown and struggle as they like; butthis is existence, and this, this is Elysium!

So Proserpine deemed when, wearied with the monotony of the greatworld, she sought refuge in the society of Dido and Atalanta, Achilles, Amphion, and Patroclus or Memnon. When Æneas found that Dido had becomefashionable, he made overtures for a reconciliation, but Dido treatedhim with calm contempt. The pious Æneas, indeed, was the aversion ofProserpine. He was the head of the Elysian saints, was president of asociety to induce the Gnomes only to drink water, and was so horrifiedat the general conduct of the Elysians, that he questioned the decreesof Minos and Rhadamanthus, who had permitted them to enter the happyregion so easily. The pious Æneas was of opinion that everybody ought tohave been damned except himself. Proserpine gave him no encouragement. Achilles was the finest gentleman in Elysium. No one dressed or rodelike him. He was very handsome, very witty, very unaffected, and had anexcellent heart. Achilles was the leader of the Elysian youth, who wereindeed devoted to him: Proserpine took care, therefore, that he shoulddangle in her train. Amphion had a charming voice for a supper after theopera. He was a handsome little fellow, but not to be depended upon. He broke a heart, or a dinner engagement, with the same recklesssentimentality; for he was one of those who always weep when they betrayyou, and whom you are sure never to see again immediately that they havevowed eternal friendship. Patroclus was a copy of Achilles without histalents and vivacity, but elegant and quiet. Of all these, Memnon wasperhaps the favourite of Proserpine; nor must he be forgotten; amiable, gay, brilliant, the child of whim and impulse, in love with every womanhe met for four-and-twenty hours, and always marvelling at his owndelusion!