TANTALUS IN HADES

From The Odyssey, Book xi, Lines 582-592

"I even beheld one who had hard sorrows, Tantalus,

standing in a pool that dashed against his chin.

He thirsted and tried to drink, but had nothing to take,

for as often as the old man bent and meant to drink,

that often the water was swallowed up and vanished, and about his feet

dark earth appeared, and a divine one dried it up.

Trees, lofty and leafy, poured fruit down on his head,

splendid-fruited pear, pomegranate, and apple,

sweet fig, and luxuriant olive.

Whenever the old man straightened to touch them with his hands,

the wind cast them to the shadowy clouds.”

Translation from The Chicago Homer

Edited by Ahuvia Kahane and Martin Mueller