So well they sped, that they be come at length Unto the place, whereas the Paynim lay, Devoid of outward sense, and native strength, 255 Coverd with charmed cloud from vew of day And sight of men, since his late luckelesse fray. His cruell wounds with cruddy bloud congeald They binden up so wisely, as they may, And handle softly, till they can be healed: 260 So lay him in her charet close in night concealed.
And all the while she stood upon the ground, The wakefull dogs did never cease to bay,° As giving warning of th' unwonted sound, With which her yron wheeles did them affray, 265 And her darke griesly looke them much dismay: The messenger of death, the ghastly Owle° With drery shriekes did also her bewray; And hungry Wolves continually did howle, At her abhorred face, so filthy and so fowle. 270
Thence turning backe in silence soft they stole, And brought the heavie corse with easie pace To yawning gulfe of deepe Avernus hole.° By that same hole an entrance darke and bace With smoake and sulphure hiding all the place, 275 Descends to hell: there creature never past, That backe returned without heavenly grace; But dreadfull Furies which their chaines have brast, And damned sprights sent forth to make ill men aghast.
By that same way the direfull dames doe drive 280 Their mournefull charet, fild with rusty blood, And downe to Plutoes house are come bilive: Which passing through, on every side them stood The trembling ghosts with sad amazed mood, Chattring their yron teeth, and staring wide 285 With stonie eyes; and all the hellish brood Of feends infernall flockt on every side, To gaze on earthly wight that with the Night durst ride.
They pas the bitter waves of Acheron, Where many soules sit wailing woefully, 290 And come to fiery flood of Phlegeton, Whereas the damned ghosts in torments fry, And with sharpe shrilling shriekes doe bootlesse cry, Cursing high Jove, the which them thither sent. The house of endlesse paine is built thereby, 295 In which ten thousand sorts of punishment The cursed creatures doe eternally torment.
Before the threshold dreadfull Cerberus° His three deformed heads did lay along, Curled with thousand adders venemous, 300 And lilled forth his bloudie flaming tong: At them he gan to reare his bristles strong, And felly gnarre, until Dayes enemy Did him appease; then downe his taile he hong And suffred them to passen quietly: 305 For she in hell and heaven had power equally.