just on reaching the summit, the stones would slip from their grasp
and roll to the foot of the hill, and the unhappy beings had to roll
them up again, and so on forever. Others were tortured like
Pi-rith'o-us, who stood under a great hanging rock, which threatened
every moment to tumble down upon him, keeping him in constant terror.

The Sibyl told AEneas of these and many other punishments appointed by
the gods for bad men. Then they hastened to Pluto's palace, and the
hero fixed the golden bough on the door, after which, proceeding on
their way, they soon came to the Elysian Fields--the abode of those
who while on earth had led good and useful lives. Here were delightful
green fields and shady groves; the sky was bright, the air pure and
balmy. The happy spirits were engaged in sports, such as had been
their pleasure when in the world above. Some were wrestling on the
grassy plain, others exercising with spear and bow, others singing and
dancing.

Their airy limbs in sports they exercise,
And, on the green, contend the wrestler's prize.
Some, in heroic verse, divinely sing;
Others in artful measures lead the ring.
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK VI.

On the bank of a beautiful river--the E-rid'a-nus--flowing over sands
of gold, was a band of spirits whose heads were crowned with white
garlands. These were the spirits of patriots who had fought for
their country, poets who had sung the praises of the gods, and men who
had improved life by the invention of useful arts. In this band was
Mu-sae'us, the most ancient of poets. Approaching him the Sibyl
inquired where Anchises might be found. "None of us here," answered