Part 7 (1/2)

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

'I have often heard of you,' said the Queen, 'and I confess that yours is a career which has much interested me. What vicissitudes in affairs have you not witnessed! And yet you have somehow or other contrived to make your way through all the storms in which others have sunk, and are now, as you always have been, in an exalted position. What can be your magic? I would that you would initiate me. I know that you are a prophet, and that even the G.o.ds consult you.'

'Your Majesty is complimentary. I certainly have had a great deal of experience. My life has no doubt been a long one, but I have made it longer by never losing a moment. I was born, too, at a great crisis in affairs. Everything that took place before the Trojan war pa.s.ses for nothing in the annals of wisdom. That was a great revolution in all affairs human and divine, and from that event we must now date all our knowledge. Before the Trojan war we used to talk of the rebellion of the t.i.tans, but that business now is an old almanac. As for my powers of prophecy, believe me, that those who understand the past are very well qualified to predict the future. For my success in life, it may be princ.i.p.ally ascribed to the observance of a simple rule--I never trust anyone, either G.o.d or man. I make an exception in favour of the G.o.ddesses, and especially of your Majesty,' added Tiresias, who piqued himself on his gallantry.

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

'Behold the Stygian mountains,' replied Manto. 'Through their centre runs the pa.s.sage of Night which leads to the regions of Twilight.'

'We have, then, far to travel?'

'a.s.suredly it is no easy task to escape from the gloom of Tartarus to the sunbeams of Elysium,' remarked Tiresias; 'but the pleasant is generally 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 to me that sin is enjoyment. But see! how awful are these perpendicular heights, piercing the descending vapours, with their peaks clothed with dark pines! We seem land-locked.'

But the experienced master of the infernal yacht knew well how to steer his charge through the intricate windings of the river, which here, though deep and navigable, became as wild and narrow as a mountain stream; and, as the tide no longer served them, and the wind, from their involved course, was as often against them as in their favour, the crew were obliged to have recourse to their oars, and rowed along until they arrived at the mouth of an enormous cavern, from which the rapid stream apparently issued.

'I am frightened out of my wits,' exclaimed Proserpine. 'Surely this cannot be our course?'

'I hold, from your Majesty's exclamation,' said Tiresias, 'that we have arrived at the pa.s.sage of Night. When we have proceeded some hundred yards, we shall reach the adamantine portals. I pray your Majesty be not alarmed. I alone have the signet which can force these mystic gates to open. 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 my portfolios full of secret despatches, written on purpose to deceive them; for I know that they are spies in the pay of Minerva; but your Majesty perceives, with a little prudence, that even a traitor may be turned to account.'

Thus saying, Tiresias, leaning on Manto, hobbled to the p.o.o.p of the vessel, and exclaiming aloud, 'Behold the mighty seal of Dis, whereon is inscribed the word the t.i.tans fear,' the gates immediately flew open, revealing the gigantic form of the t.i.tan Porphyrin, whose head touched the vault of the mighty cavern, although he was up to his waist in the waters of the river.

'Come, my n.o.ble Porphyrion,' said Tiresias, 'bestir thyself, I beseech thee. I have brought thee a Queen. Guide her Majesty, I entreat thee, with safety through this awful pa.s.sage of Night.'

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

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

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

The t.i.tan Porphyrion in the meantime had fastened a chain-cable to the vessel, which he placed over his shoulder, and turning his back to the crew, then wading through the waters, he dragged on the vessel in its course. 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 ye too, 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 vision that entrances my being? for, indeed, I do not feel the freshness of that breeze that was wont to renovate my languid frame; nor does the odorous scent of flowers wafted from the sh.o.r.es delight my jaded senses.

What is it? Is it life or death; earth, indeed, or h.e.l.l?'

''Tis nothing,' said Tiresias, 'but a great toy. You must know that Saturn--until at length, wearied by his ruinous experiments, the G.o.ds expelled him his empire--was a great dabbler in systems. He was always for making moons brighter than Diana, and lighting the stars by gas; but his systems never worked. The tides rebelled against their mistress, and the 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 it among the choice treasures of his kingdoms.'

'Poor Saturn! I pity him; he meant well.' 'Very true. He is the paviour of the high-street of Hades. But we cannot afford kings, and especially G.o.ds, to be philosophers. The certainty of misrule is better than the chance 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 portal to pa.s.s. The Saturnian moon and stars grow fainter, there is a grey tint expanding in the distance; 'tis the realm of Twilight; your Majesty will soon disembark.'