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110 the woods in quest of the golden bough. The search seems in vain, until two white doves, the birds of his goddess-mother Venus, make their appearance, and, leading the way by short successive flights, draw the seekers on to the wondrous tree, on which they at last alight. The hero makes prize of the golden branch, with which he returns to the Sibyl. Under her directions he offers the due sacrifices to the infernal powers—four black bulls, a barren heifer, and a black ewe-lamb—and then, still under the leading of the prophetess, with drawn sword in his hand, he enters the mouth of Hades.

Along the illimitable shade

Darkling and lone their way they made,

Through the vast kingdom of the dead,

An empty void, though tenanted.

So travellers in a forest move

With but the uncertain moon above,

Beneath her niggard light,

When Jupiter has hid from view

The heaven, and Nature's every hue

Is lost in blinding night.

At Orcus' portals hold their lair

Wild Sorrow and avenging Care;

And pale Diseases cluster there,

And pleasureless Decay,

Foul Penury, and Fears that kill,

And Hunger, counsellor of ill,

A ghastly presence they:

Suffering and Death the threshold keep,

And with them Death's blood-brother Sleep:

Ill Joys with their seducing spells

And deadly War are at the door;