lame driver, who will pray thee reach him certain cords to fasten the
burden which is falling from the ass: but be thou cautious to pass on
in silence. And soon as thou comest to the river of the dead,
Charon, in that crazy bark he hath, will put thee over upon the
further side. There is greed even among the dead: and thou shalt
deliver to him, for the ferrying, one of those two pieces of money,
in such wise that he take [88] it with his hand from between thy
lips. And as thou passest over the stream, a dead old man, rising on
the water, will put up to thee his mouldering hands, and pray thee
draw him into the ferry-boat. But beware thou yield not to unlawful
pity.

"When thou shalt be come over, and art upon the causeway, certain
aged women, spinning, will cry to thee to lend thy hand to their
work; and beware again that thou take no part therein; for this also
is the snare of Venus, whereby she would cause thee to cast away one
at least of those cakes thou bearest in thy hands. And think not
that a slight matter; for the loss of either one of them will be to
thee the losing of the light of day. For a watch-dog exceeding
fierce lies ever before the threshold of that lonely house of
Proserpine. Close his mouth with one of thy cakes; so shalt thou
pass by him, and enter straightway into the presence of Proserpine
herself. Then do thou deliver thy message, and taking what she shall
give thee, return back again; offering to the watch-dog the other
cake, and to the ferryman that other piece of money thou hast in thy
mouth. After this manner mayst thou return again beneath the stars.
But withal, I charge thee, think not to look into, nor open, the
casket thou bearest, with that treasure of the beauty of the divine
countenance hidden therein."