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〃'Mother；' said I； 'I was forced to come here to consult the ghost
of the Theban prophet Teiresias。 I have never yet been near the
Achaean land nor set foot on my native country； and I have had nothing
but one long series of misfortunes from the very first day that I
set out with Agamemnon for Ilius； the land of noble steeds； to fight
the Trojans。 But tell me； and tell me true； in what way did you die？
Did you have a long illness； or did heaven vouchsafe you a gentle easy
passage to eternity？ Tell me also about my father； and the son whom
I left behind me； is my property still in their hands； or has some one
else got hold of it； who thinks that I shall not return to claim it？
Tell me again what my wife intends doing； and in what mind she is；
does she live with my son and guard my estate securely； or has she
made the best match she could and married again？'
〃My mother answered； 'Your wife still remains in your house； but she
is in great distress of mind and spends her whole time in tears both
night and day。 No one as yet has got possession of your fine property；
and Telemachus still holds your lands undisturbed。 He has to entertain
largely； as of course he must； considering his position as a
magistrate； and how every one invites him； your father remains at
his old place in the country and never goes near the town。 He has no
comfortable bed nor bedding； in the winter he sleeps on the floor in
front of the fire with the men and goes about all in rags； but in
summer； when the warm weather comes on again； he lies out in the
vineyard on a bed of vine leaves thrown anyhow upon the ground。 He
grieves continually about your never having come home； and suffers
more and more as he grows older。 As for my own end it was in this
wise： heaven did not take me swiftly and painlessly in my own house；
nor was I attacked by any illness such as those that generally wear
people out and kill them； but my longing to know what you were doing
and the force of my affection for you… this it was that was the
death of me。'
〃Then I tried to find some way of embracing my mother's ghost。
Thrice I sprang towards her and tried to clasp her in my arms； but
each time she flitted from my embrace as it were a dream or phantom；
and being touched to the quick I said to her； 'Mother； why do you
not stay still when I would embrace you？ If we could throw our arms
around one another we might find sad comfort in the sharing of our
sorrows even in the house of Hades； does Proserpine want to lay a
still further load of grief upon me by mocking me with a phantom
only？'
〃'My son；' she answered； 'most ill…fated of all mankind； it is not
Proserpine that is beguiling you； but all people are like this when
they are dead。 The sinews no longer hold the flesh and bones together；
these perish in the fierceness of consuming fire as soon as life has
left the body； and the soul flits away as though it were a dream。 Now；
however； go back to the light of day as soon as you can； and note
all these things that you may tell them to your wife hereafter。'
〃Thus did we converse； and anon Proserpine sent up the ghosts of the
wives and daughters of all the most famous men。 They gathered in
crowds about the blood； and I considered how I might question them
severally。 In the end I deemed that it would be best to draw the
keen blade that hung by my sturdy thigh； and keep them from all
drinking the blood at once。 So they came up one after the other； and
each one as I questioned her told me her race and lineage。
〃The first I saw was Tyro。 She was daughter of Salmoneus and wife of
Cretheus the son of Aeolus。 She fell in love with the river Enipeus
who is much the most beautiful river in the whole world。 Once when she
was taking a walk by his side as usual； Neptune； disguised as her
lover； lay with her at the mouth of the river； and a huge blue wave
arched itself like a mountain over them to hide both woman and god；
whereon he loosed her virgin girdle and laid her in a deep slumber。
When the god had accomplished the deed of love； he took her hand in
his own and said； 'Tyro； rejoice in all good will； the embraces of the
gods are not fruitless； and you will have fine twins about this time
twelve months。 Take great care of them。 I am Neptune； so now go
home； but hold your tongue and do not tell any one。'
〃Then he dived under the sea； and she in due course bore Pelias
and Neleus； who both of them served Jove with all their might。
Pelias was a great breeder of sheep and lived in Iolcus； but the other
lived in Pylos。 The rest of her children were by Cretheus； namely；
Aeson； Pheres； and Amythaon； who was a mighty warrior and charioteer。
〃Next to her I saw Antiope； daughter to Asopus； who could boast of
having slept in the arms of even Jove himself； and who bore him two
sons Amphion and Zethus。 These founded Thebes with its seven gates；
and built a wall all round it； for strong though they were they
could not hold Thebes till they had walled it。
〃Then I saw Alcmena； the wife of Amphitryon； who also bore to Jove
indomitable Hercules； and Megara who was daughter to great King Creon；
and married the redoubtable son of Amphitryon。
〃I also saw fair Epicaste mother of king OEdipodes whose awful lot
it was to marry her own son without suspecting it。 He married her
after having killed his father； but the gods proclaimed the whole
story to the world； whereon he remained king of Thebes； in great grief
for the spite the gods had borne him； but Epicaste went to the house
of the mighty jailor Hades； having hanged herself for grief； and the
avenging spirits haunted him as for an outraged mother… to his ruing
bitterly thereafter。
〃Then I saw Chloris； whom Neleus married for her beauty； having
given priceless presents for her。 She was youngest daughter to Amphion
son of Iasus and king of Minyan Orchomenus； and was Queen in Pylos。
She bore Nestor； Chromius； and Periclymenus； and she also bore that
marvellously lovely woman Pero； who was wooed by all the country
round； but Neleus would only give her to him who should raid the
cattle of Iphicles from the grazing grounds of Phylace； and this was a
hard task。 The only man who would undertake to raid them was a certain
excellent seer； but the will of heaven was against him； for the
rangers of the cattle caught him and put him in prison； nevertheless
when a full year had passed and the same season came round again；
Iphicles set him at liberty； after he had expounded all the oracles of
heaven。 Thus； then； was the will of Jove accomplished。
〃And I saw Leda the wife of Tyndarus； who bore him two famous
sons； Castor breaker of horses； and Pollux the mighty boxer。 Both
these heroes are lying under the earth； though they are still alive；
for by a special dispensation of Jove； they die and come to life
again； each one of them every other day throughout all time； and
they have the rank of gods。
〃After her I saw Iphimedeia wife of Aloeus who boasted the embrace
of Neptune。 She bore two sons Otus and Ephialtes； but both were
short lived。 They were the finest children that were ever born in this
world； and the best looking； Orion only excepted； for at nine years
old they were nine fathoms high； and measured nine cubits round the
chest。 They threatened to make war with the gods in Olympus； and tried
to set Mount Ossa on the top of Mount Olympus； and Mount Pelion on the
top of Ossa； that they might scale heaven itself； and they would
have done it too if they had been grown up； but Apollo； son of Leto；
killed both of them； before they had got so much as a sign of hair
upon their cheeks or chin。
〃Then I saw Phaedra； and Procris； and fair Ariadne daughter of the
magician Minos； whom Theseus was carrying off from Crete to Athens；
but he did not enjoy her； for before he could do so Diana killed her
in the island of Dia on account of what Bacchus had said against her。
〃I also saw Maera and Clymene and hateful Eriphyle； who sold her own
husband for gold。 But it would take me all night if I were to name
every single one of the wives and daughters of heroes whom I saw；
and it is time for me to go to bed； either on board ship with my crew；
or here。 As for my esc