Take in each hand a morsel of barley-bread, soaked in hydromel; and in thy mouth two pieces of money.

And when thou shalt be now well onward in the way of death, then wilt thou overtake a lame ass laden with wood, and a lame driver, who will pray thee reach him certain cords to fasten the burden which is falling from the ass: but be thou cautious to pass on in silence.

And soon as thou comest to the river of the dead, Charon, in that crazy bark he hath, will put thee over upon the further side.

There is greed even among the dead: and thou shalt deliver to him, for the ferrying, one of those two pieces of money, in such wise that he take [88] it with his hand from between thy lips.

And as thou passest over the stream, a dead old man, rising on the water, will put up to thee his mouldering hands, and pray thee draw him into the ferry-boat.