The weird of the wanderer Being the papyrus records of some incidents in one of the previous lives of Mr. Nicholas Crabbe
[40] But was “the left” really his proper place? A. H.
[41] These are well-known Egyptian inchantments, and Mr. C. perhaps had
them from the Rt. Rev. Amenemhat of Tanis. A. H.
[42] “Down, dog, down!” is the exact (though perhaps somewhat
colloquial) rendering of this particular _Spell_. _Cf._ Lucian. A. H.
THE EIGHTEENTH PAPYRUS
Now I was all alone. And, before me on both sides, there stretched a
sad-coloured meadow, apparently interminable, thickly sown with flowers
of pinkish pear-like asphodel. And no sky smiled above my head: but
only an impenetrable dark-grey mist, which hung down also, like the
curtains of a tent, at a very little distance on all sides of me. But
the mind in my noble breast warned me to pause, and to ponder, and to
contrive a few new wiles before going further. Wherefore, having abated
the madness of my horses, I betook myself to deep thought.
And it appeared to me very desirable that I should not manifest myself
to the denizens of that neighbourhood, wheresoever they might be
concealing themselves, without the full equipage and paraphernalia
proper to a personage of my quality. And I very greatly wished that I
had brought at least my two slaves, Neandros and Thalos, the one on
account of his stalwart virtue, the other on account of his luminous
innocence, and both full of grace, that they might serve me if need
should arise. And I began to consider whether there was any magic
whereby I might summon them to my side: for I already had done so many
wonderful things by myself, and the heavenly gods had shewn themselves
so entirely favourable to me, that I was not at any time daunted
when confronted by what the purely stupid man is wont to cringe to
as a sheer impossibility. For the minds of the prudent, indeed, are
flexible. And a master of magic (who is thoroughly in earnest) may
achieve unmentioned and unthought-of deeds, of course with the aid of
the immortal gods.
But, while I was pondering these high matters, I saw two young boys,
like twin-brothers, coming toward me across the meadow of asphodel and
emerging from the obscurity of the mist. They were well-grown and in
the prime of their age; and their gait betokened a very divine origin.
Both were most sweet and gentle of aspect: but this one was of dusky
hue, crowned with a garland of white poppies, and (in his tender hand)
he bore a dark horn, from which (from time to time) he scattered a fine
dust in the air, and an obsequious zephyr carried it away to fall on
the eyes of mortals: but that one was of a candid whiteness colder than
hoar-frost, such as I never have seen on the grain-giving earth either
in marble or milk or the delicate flesh of the young in the clear of
the moon, or the snow which falls in winter; and his pure candour was
crowned with a garland of pinkish pearl-like asphodel, and in his soft
hand he bore a torch extinguished. Wherefore, I recognized them for
dusky Sleep the All-tamer, and pale kind Death his brother, the twin
sons of Khronos.
And now, indeed, the mind in my lordly breast spoke loudly, telling me
what I ought to do. For which cause, I addressed a simple word to these
divine ones; shewing the _Sign of Life_, engaging their aid by spells
unutterable. But, when I had mentioned my desire of having with me
Neandros my squire and Thalos my foot-boy, whose lives were bound unto
mine, which itself was terminable only at the supernal will of the god,
then, white Death (coldly smiling) turned away, saying that the matter
concerned his brother. Wherefore, I made my petition to care-dispersing
Sleep, saying the _Spell_: “_O Sleep, king of all blessed gods and of
all men, if ever indeed thou didst lend an ear to mine intreaty, now,
too, be persuaded; and I will own gratitude to thee all my days._”[43]
And the dusky god also was favourable to me: for, having cast a pinch
of dust from his horn into the air, it fell on the eyelids of Neandros
and Thalos waiting for me in my hollow ship at Tainaron, so that their
limbs were relaxed, and they submitted themselves to divine Sleep, who
brought them straight to me in the meadow of asphodel.
But, when we three had ascended the silver-shining chariot, I gave the
reins to my squire standing on my right hand: but my foot-boy attended
me, eagerly clutching the rail behind. Thus, I, with Neandros and
Thalos, swiftly galloped onward through the grey gloom, approaching the
palace of shady King Hades.
And, having whizzed through its brazen portal, we drave horrifically
into an immeasurable hall. And the awfully whirring wheels of my
chariot, with the silver Love perched upon it, amazed the uncountable
multitudes collected therein, insomuch that whimpering Fear took
possession of all, and Rumour went squealing everywhere, whispering
that some hero from out of the sunlight alive was invading the house of
Hades. But I cared naught for the ineffectual gibberings of mere shades.
And I pursued my way to where I saw the great black throne set, with
the very shady god enthroned thereon, and Queen Persephone by his
side, and a court below him of the arbiters of the dead, Aiakos,
Minos, Rhadamanthos, just, inexorable, most venerable, uttering
immutable dooms for mortal men. And, near by, I saw also great-hearted
yellow-haired Akhilleys, the greatest hero and faithfullest friend
which the world has ever seen; and my heart in my dear breast leaped
when he hailed me passing by, recognizing on me his glittering armour
which I had won as a spoil: for, to have a trusty comrade in such a
shady place is very good.
But, when I checked my chariot before the throne, then, King Hades (the
most righteous of gods) sternly addressed me, saying: “Tell me thy
name, O Stranger greatly-daring, and thy father’s name; and say also
how thou comest hither.”
And thus I answered him: “O King of Tartarean realms and dreadful
brother of Zeys, my father’s name was James--may the gods grant rest to
his gentle soul,--and I am Nicholas the Crab, client of the Muses and
of far-darting Phoibos Apollon. But divine Hermes brought me hither,
acknowledging me to be his own grandson, called Odysseys son of Laertes
by all articulately-speaking men who walk in the sweet sunlight.”
But the brow of blameless Hades became blacker than starless night; and
he frowned so ferociously that even his shady eyes were shrouded. And
he cried: “So thou art that much-contriving Odysseys, who aforetime
camest hither and twice escaped alive. And now thou wouldst perplex
me with a wily tale, mixing Was with Will-be and Is in a medley, and
bearing a double name full of deceit. But doubtless that is part of thy
evil purpose: for thy purpose cannot but be evil. Perchance thou hast
it in mind to depose me, or even to steal away with my queen, divine
Persephone. But, since thine overweening audacity has driven thee,
foolish, to place thyself in my power a third time, thou shalt not now
escape me.” And he howled for titans to trammel me, as a trickster.
Thus he spoke. But, when I saw giants towering like mountains near me,
in the gloom, then, instantly, I broke my necklace of heliotrope stones
moistened with the juice of marigolds; and I thrust the two halves of
it into the hands of my two trusty slaves, making the _Act of Will_
for them, whereby they became unseen, even by Stygian gods, unknowing
it. But I gave them a short command. And the stalwart Neandros started
my horses, goading them again to madness in the twinkling of an eye,
turning them, so that my slaves and my chariot went ramping out of
the palace of blameless Hades like a flash of white thunder. By which
means, both my slaves evaded the Tyrant of Tartaros. But, being
visible and willing, I remained: for, as yet I had not done any of
the wily deeds which I had come to do, and, moreover, there was no
retreat for me till I had ravished a spoil from the king of the shades.
Furthermore, I was not unmindful of the very pious and secret monitions
which Hermes had whispered to me at parting, when he said: _Under-go to
Over-come_.[44]
And, so, I waited; and gigantic hands were thrust down out of
obscurity, which seized me, and shook me violently to and fro over
enormous areas: so that giddiness nauseated me, and the eyes in my face
refused to continue seeing, and my strength also rebelled and left
me, and the utter darkness of oblivion settled upon me, shrouding the
senses of my soul.
Thus, then, I began my ordeals in the Quest of the Treasure of Hades.
FOOTNOTES:
[43] This is perfectly Homeresque. A. H.
[44] I am almost inclined to say that this delicious epigram contains
the whole body of Christian doctrine. But of course I speak under
correction. A. H.
THE NINETEENTH PAPYRUS
But when, anon, I had recollected my forces, I was in a pit, dismal,
slimy, creeping with long cold worms. And great chains, also, were
hanged to my wrists and waist and ankles. But, far above my head, there
was a little window, very heavily barred; and, through it, there came a
dull-red glow from the distant River Pyriphthlegethon. And the shrieks
and moans of damned souls in mind-grieving torment elsewhere was the
music provided for my entertainment.
As for myself, it seemed that I had been stripped of my armour, and
(indeed) of all which I had brought with me from the sunlight; and,
now, I was mother-naked, gyved also, and with no gear which would
deliver me from my plight, excepting the knowledge of sacred spells
which was stored in my mind, and a large quantity of natural strength
which was stored in my body. But I rejoiced, seeing that I was unhurt,
and as able as ever: because I was aware that I should have the greater
fame when I should have passed through this ordeal. For there is not
any greater renown for a man, while he exists, than what he shall have
earned naked with his feet and his hands.
But, first, I gathered up the weight of my fetters, to try to break
them; and, when I felt them to be as massive as the cable of my galley,
then I let them drop again, not to waste time: for my noble mind began
to devise insidious wiles. But, when the chains clashed against the
slimy floor, I heard a sound of a drawing of bolts, and a brazen door
was opened in my pit near by. And, to me, there entered a very gravely
objectionable individual.
For she was a barren virgin of inconceivable antiquity, whose skinny
arms were joined to her withered body by membraneous wings such as are
the wings of bats and vampires and pterodactyls and all other flying
dragons; and her slit mouth grinned disgustingly, having loose yellow
fangs dangling from the dripping corners: vipers, also, writhed in the
dankness of her sparse hair; and her hands were filled with torches
and scourges. Moreover, what I took to be blood was oozing out of her
pustulous eyeballs. And thus she said: “How now, O wily Odysseys! And
art thou yet alive? For we deemed that the titans had shaken the life
from thy white bones. And that, indeed, would have made our task an
easy one: for we are not accustomed to torment live men here among the
shades.”
Thus she spoke: but the mind in my lordly breast bade me to treat this
blameless Erinnys with affability while keeping her at arm’s length,
that I might gain a benefit from her conversation without coming to
close quarters with her. For, when a female of this kind prevails,
her audacity is more than one can bear without blasphemy; and, when
she is affrighted or affronted, she is a still greater mischief to her
house and city. Wherefore I said: “Hail, O divine one of goddesses,
serpent-crowned, for I am ignorant of thy blessed name, or I would ask
thee where we are.”
But to me the most righteous of furies responded, saying: “I am