The two lovers were in too great a hurry to spare a moment to watch the rumbling progress of Sisyphus’s boulder, commencing once again on its relentless course. They approached the river Styx breathlessly, and waited there as the lopsided ferry surged toward them, the three-headed beast on the riverbank growling and snapping, restrained by its chain. Charon was silent, but gave the poet a meaningful look and patted his heavy purse as though to say, You’ve paid enough already. Perhaps eager to rid the dark realm of two living mortals, the ferryman plunged his pole at once into the water. They crossed the foul-smelling river quickly, and soon Orpheus felt the opposite quay beneath his feet. “Don’t!” gasped Eurydice as Orpheus nearly turned back to help her disembark from the lopsided ferry. The young poet shook himself, and gave an embarrassed – and startled – laugh. He was aching for another sight of her – and shocked to find how hard it might be to fulfill the simple, stark condition.
