Kitap 28
1
O master and king, and Zeus of our world, and you, daughter of Demeter, scorn not a lover’s prayer.
1
What do you ask of us? Who are you?
1
I am Protesilaus, son of Iphiclus, from Phylace, one who served with the Achaean army, and first man to die at Troy. I beg to be released and restored to life for a little.
1
That’s a love that’s common to all the dead, but will come to pass for none of them.
1
My love, Aidoneus, is not for life, but for my wife, whom, while still but newly wed, I left in her bower and sailed away; and then, by evil fortune, I was slain by Hector, while I was landing; and so my love for my wife is eating my heart out, my lord; could I be restored to her sight even for a short while, I would gladly return here again.
2
Have you not drunk, Protesilaus, from the waters of Lethe?
2
Deeply have I drunk, my lord, but my affliction was too strong.
2
Then be patient; in time, she will join you here; you won’t have to go up there.
2
I can’t bear to wait, Pluto. You’ve been in love yourself, before now, Pluto, and know what it’s like.
2
What good will it do you to return to life for a single day, if shortly afterwards you must bewail the same misfortune?
2
I think I’ll be able to persuade her to follow me here, so that soon you’ll have two of us dead instead of one.
2
All this would be wrong, and has never happened before.
3
Let me refresh your memory, Pluto. You gave up Eurydice to Orpheus for this very reason, and sent back my kinswoman, Alcestis, Both Alcestis and Protesilaus were descended from Aeolus. 1 as a favour to Heracles.
3
Do you want that fair bride of yours to see you as you are now—a bare unsightly skull? What sort of a welcome will she give you, if she can’t even recognise you? She’ll be frightened, I’m sure, and run away from you, and you’ll find your long journey up to earth to have been a waste of time.
