EPISODE 52

IN WHICH HERMES MAKES HIS ENTRANCE INTO THE KINGDOM OF THE DEAD

Previously: When he reached the Underworld, Hermes managed to escape Cerberus, the monstrous three-headed dog.

Along, dark corridor, then another, then another still… Hermes was following his uncle Hades in silence. The more they advanced, the more they plunged deep down below the earth. Hermes kept wondering how he would ever be able to come out of these depths. In any case, he felt quite unable to find his way back on his own. Their steps resonated against the stone walls. It got warmer and warmer. The passageway became so narrow that Hermes felt he would suffocate. At that instant, an underground river appeared. Hermes, who was dying of thirst, hastened to drink. Yet Hades pushed him back sharply. “Never drink of this water, you fool, this is the river Lethe, the river which makes you forget everything! If you swallow the merest drop of this liquid, you will lose all memory of your life for ever!” Hermes drew back immediately. He did not want to have his memories erased.

They resumed their way. Soon, the passage widened and they reached the junction of three roads. “This is where my kingdom begins. And here are my faithful servants, the judges,” said Hades. He was pointing with his finger at three figures sitting there and blocking the way. Before them waited a long line of shades. Each shade passed in turn before each of the three judges. And the judges questioned it about its past life. Then they discussed in low voices among themselves and afterwards they indicated to the shade one of the three roads behind them.

Hermes was trying to understand what was taking place there, yet Hades did not give him the chance. “Come on!” he ordered. They took the first road, on which most of the shades were sent, and they reached a great flat and monotonous site. There was nothing at all to catch one’s eye. The place was plunged in half-darkness. Shades crossed paths gloomily. They did not speak to one another, nor did they look at each other. They glided from one point of the meadow to another incessantly. Some greeted Hades and Hermes with a slight wave of their hand. Hermes raised his winged hat politely to them. Yet Hades did not respond to the greeting.

“All these dead are far too numerous, I cannot spend my day saying good morning to them,” he grumbled.

They had hardly been there a few minutes and Hermes was already feeling mortally bored.

“Where are we?” he asked.

“We are in the Asphodel meadows, this is the first of my regions,” replied Hades. “All those who have never done anything truly good or truly bad ever in their lives are sent here; and that means most men.”

Hermes was in a hurry to move away from this sad place where nothing ever happened. They returned to the junction of the three roads. They took the second path, on which very few of the shades were sent, and they reached an immense space full of greenery. It was a vast meadow, as pale green as the grass can be in the spring. Countless flowers were strewn everywhere on this carpet. Their perfumes embraced Hermes instantly. He went enchanted from a rose bush to a grove of budding cherry trees, slipped under the protective foliage of a weeping willow, listened to the warbling of the birds in the branches. He would never have guessed that he would find below the earth such eternal springtime! The most astonishing thing of all was the light which flooded this part of the Underworld, a light as bright as daylight. “And yet we are still under the earth!” Hermes said in astonishment. He noticed then shades lying on the grass. Yet these shades were no longer suffering or sad, not at all, these were laughing gaily. Some were whispering secrets to one another, others were listening to a poet’s shade reciting verses, and others still let themselves be transported by a sweet and melodious music. Their faces were serene. Everything here was in perfect harmony.

“Where are we?” asked the young god, mesmerized.

“We are in the fields of Elysium,” replied Hades, his voice full of pride. “Only the dead who have accomplished great exploits during their lifetime have the right to stay here. Entry is forbidden to those who have lacked either courage or kindness.”

Hermes could not get enough of watching these shadows which seemed so happy. Yet Hades was already calling him:

“Come, we still need to visit the third of my regions.”

Along this road the shades were few in number. Yet those who had been sent this way by the three judges were shedding heavy tears.

“Prepare yourself for what you are about to see,” Hades told him. Hermes was trembling, yet he could no longer turn back.

 

To be continued…