Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners/Part I/X
X.THE LABOURS OF HERCULES.
The Nemean lion.
55.Li the Valley of Nemea there lived a huge lion, and it used to kill cattle and human beings daily. Eurystheus, king of Tiryus, called Hercules to him and said to him, ‘Let it be thy care to kill this lion as quickly as possible.’ Hercules at once sets out. After using his club and arrows in vain, having made a rush, he killed the lion with his hands. Then he returned to Eurystheus, carrying the dead lion placed on his shoulders.
The Lernean Hydra.
56.Once there lived in a swamp a water snake. It had nine heads. Hercules, indeed, cut off eight heads, but he was unable to wound the ninth, for it was immortal. Each head having been cut off, two (others) at once grew up (in its stead). These at length having been destroyed by fire, Hercules buried the immortal head under a huge stone. The beast having been thus utterly conquered, he dipped his arrows in its poisonous blood.
The Erymanthian boar.
57.There appeared on Mount Erymanthus a boar of wondrous size. Having been ordered to catch it, Hercules at once set out. Having for a long time followed the boar through the snows, he was at length able to catch it (when) entangled in a snare, and brought it to Eurystheus.
The Arcadian stag.
58.There was in Arcadia a stag with golden antlers, but with brazen feet. Hercules had been ordered by Eurystheus to follow it. He followed the stag in vain throughout a whole year; at length he wounded (it) with an arrow (and) took it.
The stables of Augeas.
59.Augeas, king of Elis, had three thousand oxen. Their stalls had not been washed for thirty years. Hercules approached Augeas and said to him: ‘Within one day I will wash these stalls. Are you willing to give me the tenth part of the oxen when this is done?’ Augeas replied, ‘I will give them willingly.’ Then Hercules, having turned a river through the stalls, accomplished the work very easily in one day.
The Stymphalian birds.
60.Formerly there lived in a lake near Stymphalus, in Arcadia, birds with feet, beak, and feathers of brass: now, they used their feathers for arrows, and lived on the flesh of human beings. Hercules, having attacked the birds, frightened them thoroughly with a brazen rattle, (and) then slew them with arrows (while) trying to escape.
The Cretan bull.
61.Poseidon sent forth from the sea a bull of wonderful size and remarkable beauty. Minos, king of Crete, had been ordered to sacrifice it; but, being charmed by the beauty of the bull, he sacrificed another in its stead. But Poseidon, being angry, drove the bull to madness. Then the bull began to cause a great slaughter of men throughout the whole island, and to destroy agricultural works. Hercules at length caught (it and) brought it to Eurystheus.
The mares of Diomedes.
62.Diomedes, king of the Bistones, used to feed his mares with human flesh. But Hercules carried off the mares by stealth, and led them to the sea. But here the Bistones attacked him. They fought for a long time. The Bistones having been at length completely defeated, Hercules slew their king, and gave his body to the mares. Then he returned in safety, bringing the mares with him. Now they became tame (after being) fed on the flesh of their owner.
The girdle of Hippolyte.
63.Hippolyte, queen of the Amazons, had a very beautiful girdle. Now Admete, the daughter of Euiystheuft, wished to get possession of this; so Hercules was ordered to fetch it. At length he reached the country of the Amazons. There at first Hippolyte received him kindly, and promised (him) the girdle, but a quarrel having arisen, the Amazons fought against Hercules. These having been conquered and Hippolyte slain, Hercules got possession of the girdle.
The oxen of Geryones.
64.Geryones, a giant with a threefold body, used to live in the island of Erythia; the same had many oxen, guarded by the giant Eurytion and a dog with two heads. Hercules wished to get possession of these, so he set out for Libya and Spain. There he set up columns on each side of the sea; to these, therefore, was given the name of the Columns of Hercules. Being annoyed by the heat of the sun he hurled darts at Helios; but the latter, wondering at his boldness, presented him with a golden boat; so he was able to get to Erythia. After killing Geryones, with Eurytion and the dog, he returned with the oxen.
The apples of the Hesperides.
65.Soon a more difficult work was appointed for Hercules; that is to say, he was ordered to fetch the apples of the Hesperides, for he did not know their abode. Now the Hesperides used to live on Mount Atlas. There, with a huge serpent, they used to guard the golden apples. Having at last found the place, Hercules said to Atlas, ‘Are you willing to carry off the golden apples for me? While you are doing this, I will support the sky placed on my shoulders in your stead.’ Atlas, having returned with the apples, said to Hercules: ‘Now you may always support the sky on your shoulders, but I myself will go away.’ Then Hercules, having again placed the burden on Atlas’ shoulders by a trick, retired with the apples.
Cerberus.
66.Having finished these labours, a very difficult work is appointed for Hercules. There was in the infernal regions a dog with three heads, Cerberus by name. He used to guard the approach to the infernal regions. He was ordered to bring him to earth. He set out for the infernal regions with Hermes and Athene. Then, having caught Cerberus in his hands with the greatest difficulty, he brought him with him to earth. Having performed these labours, Hercules was freed from slavery by Eurystheus.