ding
multitude, was placed somewhat negligently on the right side of her
head; but no jewels broke the entrancing swell of her swan-like neck, or
were dimmed by the lustre of her ravishing arms. How fair was the Queen
of Hell! How thrilling the solemn lustre of her violet eye! A robe,
purple as the last hour of twilight, encompassed her transcendent form,
studded with golden stars!

Through the dim hot streets of Tartarus moved the royal procession,
until it reached the first winding of the river Styx. Here an immense
assemblage of yachts and barges, dressed out with the infernal
colours, denoted the appointed spot of the royal embarkation. Tiresias,
dismounting from his chariot, and leaning on Manto, now approached her
Majesty, and requesting her royal commands, recommended her to lose no
time in getting on board.

'When your Majesty is once on the Styx,' observed the wily seer, 'it may
be somewhat difficult to recall you to Hades; but I know very little of
Clotho, may it please your Majesty, if she have not already commenced
her intrigues in Tartarus.'

'You alarm me!' said Proserpine.

'It was not my intention. Caution is not fear.'

'But do you think that Pluto------'

'May it please your Majesty, I make it a rule never to think. I know too
much.'

'Let us embark immediately!'

'Certainly; I would recommend your Majesty to get off at once. Myself
and Manto will accompany you, and the cooks. If an order arrive to stay
our departure, we can then send back the priests.'

'You counsel well, Tiresias. I wish you had not been absent on my
arrival. Affairs might have gone better.'

'Not at all. Had I been in Hell, your enemies would have been more wary.
Your Majesty's excellent spirit carried you through triumphantly; but it
will not do so twice. You turned them out, and I must keep them out.'

'So be it, my dear friend.' Thus saying, the Queen descended her
throne, and leaving the rest of her retinue to follow with all possible
despatch, embarked on board the infernal yacht, with Tiresias, Manto,
the chief cook, and some chosen attendants, and bid adieu for the first
time, not without agitation, to the gloomy banks of Tartarus.

The breeze was favourable, and, animated by the exhortations of
Tiresias, the crew exerted themselves to the utmost. The barque swiftly
scudded over the dark waters. The river was of great breadth, and in
this dim region the crew were soon out of sight of land.

'You have been in