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