Versions of Vergil (part 2.)

...she made answer to him:
"Son of Anchises, born of godly lineage,
By night, by day, the portals of dark Dis
Stand open: it is easy, the descending
Down to Avernus. But to climb again,
To trace the footsteps back to the air above,
There lies the task, the toil. A few, beloved
By Jupiter, descended from the gods,
A few, in whom exalting virtue burned,
Have been permitted. Around the central wood
The black Cocytus glides, a sullen river;
But if such love is in your heart, such longing
For double crossing of the Stygian lake,
For double sight of Tartarus, learn first
What must be done."


--Humphries (1951)

...the prophetess began: "Born of the blood
of gods and sons of Troy's Anchises, easy--
the way that leads into Avernus: day
and night the door of darkest Dis is open.
But to recall your steps, to rise again
into the upper air: that is the labor;
that is the task. A few, whom Jupiter
has loved in kindness or whom blazing worth
has raised to heaven as gods' sons, returned.
Through all the central region runs a forest
encircled by the black curves of Cocytus.
But if your mind is moved by such a love,
so great a longing, twice to swim the lake
of Styx and twice to see black Tartarus,
and you are pleased to try this mad attempt,
then, Trojan, hear what you must first accomplish."


--Mandelbaum (1971)

...the Sibyl began to speak:--
         O child of a goddess' womb,
Trojan son of Anchises, the way to Avernus is easy;
Night and day lie open the gates of death's dark kingdom:
But to retrace your steps, to find the way back to daylight--
That is the task, the hard thing. A few, becase of Jove's
Just love, or exalted to heaven by their own flame of goodness,
Men born from gods, have done it. Between, there lies a forest,
And darkly winds the river Cocytus round the place.
But if so great your love is, so great your passion to cross
The Stygian waters twice and twice behold black Tartarus,
If your heart is set on this fantastic project,
Here's what you must do first."


--C Day Lewis (1952)

Perilous Times.