about my return home to Ithaca； for I have never yet been able to
get near the Achaean land； nor to set foot in my own country； but have
been in trouble all the time。 As for you； Achilles； no one was ever
yet so fortunate as you have been； nor ever will be； for you were
adored by all us Argives as long as you were alive； and now that you
are here you are a great prince among the dead。 Do not； therefore；
take it so much to heart even if you are dead。'
〃'Say not a word；' he answered； 'in death's favour； I would rather
be a paid servant in a poor man's house and be above ground than
king of kings among the dead。 But give me news about son； is he gone
to the wars and will he be a great soldier； or is this not so？ Tell me
also if you have heard anything about my father Peleus… does he
still rule among the Myrmidons； or do they show him no respect
throughout Hellas and Phthia now that he is old and his limbs fail
him？ Could I but stand by his side； in the light of day； with the same
strength that I had when I killed the bravest of our foes upon the
plain of Troy… could I but be as I then was and go even for a short
time to my father's house； any one who tried to do him violence or
supersede him would soon me it。'
〃'I have heard nothing；' I answered； 'of Peleus； but I can tell
you all about your son Neoptolemus； for I took him in my own ship from
Scyros with the Achaeans。 In our councils of war before Troy he was
always first to speak； and his judgement was unerring。 Nestor and I
were the only two who could surpass him； and when it came to
fighting on the plain of Troy； he would never remain with the body
of his men； but would dash on far in front； foremost of them all in
valour。 Many a man did he kill in battle… I cannot name every single
one of those whom he slew while fighting on the side of the Argives；
but will only say how he killed that valiant hero Eurypylus son of
Telephus； who was the handsomest man I ever saw except Memnon； many
others also of the Ceteians fell around him by reason of a woman's
bribes。 Moreover； when all the bravest of the Argives went inside
the horse that Epeus had made； and it was left to me to settle when we
should either open the door of our ambuscade； or close it； though
all the other leaders and chief men among the Danaans were drying
their eyes and quaking in every limb； I never once saw him turn pale
nor wipe a tear from his cheek； he was all the time urging me to break
out from the horse… grasping the handle of his sword and his
bronze…shod spear； and breathing fury against the foe。 Yet when we had
sacked the city of Priam he got his handsome share of the prize
money and went on board （such is the fortune of war） without a wound
upon him； neither from a thrown spear nor in close combat； for the
rage of Mars is a matter of great chance。'
〃When I had told him this； the ghost of Achilles strode off across a
meadow full of asphodel； exulting over what I had said concerning
the prowess of his son。
〃The ghosts of other dead men stood near me and told me each his own
melancholy tale； but that of Ajax son of Telamon alone held aloof…
still angry with me for having won the cause in our dispute about
the armour of Achilles。 Thetis had offered it as a prize； but the
Trojan prisoners and Minerva were the judges。 Would that I had never
gained the day in such a contest； for it cost the life of Ajax； who
was foremost of all the Danaans after the son of Peleus； alike in
stature and prowess。
〃When I saw him I tried to pacify him and said； 'Ajax； will you
not forget and forgive even in death； but must the judgement about
that hateful armour still rankle with you？ It cost us Argives dear
enough to lose such a tower of strength as you were to us。 We
mourned you as much as we mourned Achilles son of Peleus himself；
nor can the blame be laid on anything but on the spite which Jove bore
against the Danaans； for it was this that made him counsel your
destruction… come hither； therefore； bring your proud spirit into
subjection； and hear what I can tell you。'
〃He would not answer； but turned away to Erebus and to the other
ghosts； nevertheless； I should have made him talk to me in spite of
his being so angry； or I should have gone talking to him； only that
there were still others among the dead whom I desired to see。
〃Then I saw Minos son of Jove with his golden sceptre in his hand
sitting in judgement on the dead； and the ghosts were gathered sitting
and standing round him in the spacious house of Hades； to learn his
sentences upon them。
〃After him I saw huge Orion in a meadow full of asphodel driving the
ghosts of the wild beasts that he had killed upon the mountains； and
he had a great bronze club in his hand； unbreakable for ever and ever。
〃And I saw Tityus son of Gaia stretched upon the plain and
covering some nine acres of ground。 Two vultures on either side of him
were digging their beaks into his liver； and he kept on trying to beat
them off with his hands； but could not； for he had violated Jove's
mistress Leto as she was going through Panopeus on her way to Pytho。
〃I saw also the dreadful fate of Tantalus； who stood in a lake
that reached his chin； he was dying to quench his thirst； but could
never reach the water； for whenever the poor creature stooped to
drink； it dried up and vanished； so that there was nothing but dry
ground… parched by the spite of heaven。 There were tall trees；
moreover； that shed their fruit over his head… pears； pomegranates；
apples； sweet figs and juicy olives； but whenever the poor creature
stretched out his hand to take some； the wind tossed the branches back
again to the clouds。
〃And I saw Sisyphus at his endless task raising his prodigious stone
with both his hands。 With hands and feet he' tried to roll it up to
the top of the hill； but always； just before he could roll it over
on to the other side； its weight would be too much for him； and the
pitiless stone would come thundering down again on to the plain。
Then he would begin trying to push it up hill again； and the sweat ran
off him and the steam rose after him。
〃After him I saw mighty Hercules； but it was his phantom only； for
he is feasting ever with the immortal gods； and has lovely Hebe to
wife； who is daughter of Jove and Juno。 The ghosts were screaming
round him like scared birds flying all whithers。 He looked black as
night with his bare bow in his hands and his arrow on the string；
glaring around as though ever on the point of taking aim。 About his
breast there was a wondrous golden belt adorned in the most marvellous
fashion with bears； wild boars； and lions with gleaming eyes； there
was also war； battle； and death。 The man who made that belt； do what
he might； would never be able to make another like it。 Hercules knew
me at once when he saw me； and spoke piteously； saying； my poor
Ulysses； noble son of Laertes； are you too leading the same sorry kind
of life that I did when I was above ground？ I was son of Jove； but I
went through an infinity of suffering； for I became bondsman to one
who was far beneath me… a low fellow who set me all manner of labours。
He once sent me here to fetch the hell…hound… for he did not think
he could find anything harder for me than this； but I got the hound
out of Hades and brought him to him； for Mercury and Minerva helped
me。'
〃On this Hercules went down again into the house of Hades； but I
stayed where I was in case some other of the mighty dead should come
to me。 And I should have seen still other of them that are gone
before； whom I would fain have seen… Theseus and Pirithous glorious
children of the gods； but so many thousands of ghosts came round me
and uttered such appalling cries； that I was panic stricken lest
Proserpine should send up from the house of Hades the head of that
awful monster Gorgon。 On this I hastened back to my ship and ordered
my men to go on board at once and loose the hawsers； so they
embarked and took their places； whereon the ship went down the
stream of the river Oceanus。 We had to row at first； but presently a
fair wind sprang up。
BOOK XII。
〃AFTER we were clear of the river Oceanus； and had got out into
the open sea； we went on till we reached the Aeaean island where there
is dawn and sunrise as in other places。 We then drew our ship on to
the sands and got out of her on to the shore； where we went to sleep
and waited till day should break。
〃Then； when the child of morning； rosy…fingered Dawn； appeared； I
sent some men to Circe's house to fetch the body of Elpenor。 We cut
firewood from a wood where the headland jutted out into the sea； and
after we had wept over him and lamented him we performed his funeral
rites。 When his body and armour had been burned to ashes； we raised
a cairn； set a stone over it； and at the top of the cairn we fixed the
oar that he had been used to row with。
〃While we were doing all this； Circe； who knew that we had got
back from the house of Hades； dressed herself and came to us as fast
as she could； and her maid servants came with her bringing us bread；
meat； and wine。 Then she stood in the midst of us and said； 'You
have done a bold thing in going