But suddenly my eyes
A side-note chanced to meet,
And fancy my surprise
At reading in the sheet:--

"For twenty weary springs"
(The post from Erebus,
Remark me, always brings
Unpleasant news to us)--

"Through want of water, we
Have well-nigh lost our breath;
In great perplexity
Hell came and asked for Death;

"'They can wade through the Styx,
Catch crabs in Lethe's flood;
Old Charon's in a fix,
His boat lies in the mud,

"'The dead leap over there,
The young and old as well;
The boatman gets no fare,
And loudly curses hell.'

"King Minos bade his spies
In all directions go;
The devils needs must rise,
And bring him news below.