CPD23:10,11: The Tiresiad

Tell me, O Evelin, of the man of many devices, who wandered full many ways after sparing the snakes in the sacred citadel of Eboracum. Many were the men whose cities he saw and whose mind he learned, aye, and many the woes he suffered in his heart across the land, seeking to win his old life and the return of his comrades. Yet even so he saved not his comrades, though he desired it sore, for through their own blind folly they perished—fools, who devoured the geese of Dame Judy; but she took from them the day of their returning. 

Of these things, Saint, beginning where thou wilt, tell thou even unto us. Now all those students of Ebor, as many as had escaped sheer destruction, were at home, safe from impoverishment and squalor, but not even there was Tiresias free from toils, and he alone, filled with longing for return to that passed life, did the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions keep back in his hollow caves, yearning that Tiresias should be his slave. But when, as the seasons revolved, the year came in which the gods had ordained that Tiresias should return fully to the world of men, the goddess, flashing-eyed Iris, pitied him, saying: “I will go to Sheffield, that I may the more arouse Tiresias, and set courage in his heart.”

So she spoke, and bound beneath her feet her beautiful slippers, immortal, silver, which were wont to bear her both over the waters of the sea and over the boundless land swift as the blasts of the wind. Then she went darting down from the planes of York, and took her stand in the land of Sheffield at the outer gate of Walkley, and she bore the likeness of a stranger, Mentor, the leader of the Librarians. There, within a tavern, she found many proud and drunken fools. They were taking their pleasure at draughts in front of the doors; some were mixing wine and ale, others were portioning out meats in abundance.

Her the godlike Tiresias was far the first to see, for he was sitting among the drinkers. Beholding Iris, he clasped her right hand and addressed her with winged words:

“Hail, stranger; in this house thou shalt find entertainment and then, when thou hast tasted food, thou shalt tell of what thou hast need.”

So saying, he led the way, and Iris followed. And when they were within the decorous lounge, Iris herself he led and seated on a chair, spreading a linen cloth beneath—a beautiful chair, richly-wrought, and below was a footstool for the feet. Beside it he placed for himself an inlaid seat, apart from the others, and brought bread and therewith dainties in abundance, giving freely of the store platters of all manner of meats, and set by them glass goblets brimmed with wine.

Tiresias spoke to flashing-eyed Iris, holding his head close, that the others might not hear: “Dear stranger, wilt thou be wroth with me for the word that I shall say? Come, tell me this, and declare it truly. Who art thou among men, and from whence? Where is thy city and where thy parents? On what manner of train didst thou come, and by what means didst thou reach Sheffield? For nowise, methinks, didst thou come hither on foot. And tell me this also truly, that I may know full well, whether this is thy first coming hither.”

Then the goddess, flashing-eyed Iris, answered him: “Therefore of a truth will I frankly tell thee. I declare that I am Mentor, lord over the book-loving Librarians. And now have I put in here, as thou seest, and I will now prophesy to thee, as the immortals put it in my heart, and as I think it shall be brought to pass, though I am in no wise a soothsayer, nor one versed in the signs of birds. Not much longer shall thou toil at the job club; another destiny lies to thee: for thou shall become a trader of records, and thereafter a juggler of books. And full eight years hence thou shall return unto thy student ways and take up apprenticeship as a Librarian here in this very citadel. For thou are to become a Great Precentor and Keeper of Books, and bear the halo of a Saint upon thy head.”  

“Tell me, if thou wouldst: who will be my guide through this labyrinth of libraries?”, trembled the abundantly alliterative Tiresias, timidly. 

 “I, Mentor, will be there to press thee on, having upon thee a full year's experience. And besides my own guidance and demonstration will be that of those far greater in wisdom even than I: colleagues from thy working life, figures from thy past, tutors at whose feet thou shall study the arts of book keeping. Why, even great spirits will take the form of birds and tweet to thee thy destiny!”

So spoke Iris, and Tiresias obeyed, and was glad at heart. Then for all time to come a solemn covenant betwixt the twain was made by Iris, in the likeness of Mentor both in form and in voice. She did make visit to Tiresias in many guises, and in such forms as she had listed unto him that day did guide the blind traveller through the trials and toils that awaited him. And it was under such guidance that he did first post here within of the full many adventures that had led him to securing his place within the stacks. This night taketh she the form of CPD23, and Tiresias is led once more to the trough of learning for to drink heartily of the Precentor's cup. It tastes of Merlot (and good Merlot at that).