Hercules, a Greek hero celebrated for his great strength, was pursued throughout his life by the hatred of Juno. While yet an infant, he strangled some serpents sent by the goddess to destroy him. During his boyhood and youth he performed various marvelous feats of strength, and on reaching manhood succeeded in delivering the Thebans from the oppression of the Minÿae. In a fit of madness sent upon him by Juno, he slew his own children; and on consulting the Delphic oracle as to how he should cleanse himself from this crime, he was ordered to submit himself for twelve years to Eurystheus, king of Tiryns, and to perform whatever tasks were appointed him. Hercules obeyed the oracle, and during the twelve years of his servitude accomplished twelve extraordinary feats known as the Labors of Hercules. His death was caused unintentionally by his wife Dejanira. Hercules had shot with his poisoned arrows a centaur named Nessus, who had insulted Dejanira. Nessus, before he died, gave some of his blood to Dejanira, and told her it would act as a charm to secure her husband's love. Some time after, Dejanira wishing to try the charm soaked one of her husband's garments in the blood, not knowing that it was poisoned. Hercules put on the robe, and after suffering terrible torments died, or was carried off by his father Jupiter.
The Latin in the construed section is set in English word order; every Latin word in bold is followed by its English gloss in italic. A Latin word in [square brackets] in the construed section is supplied, and not present in the original text.
Herculēs Hercules, fīlius the son Alcmēnae of Alcmena, ōlim once habitābat lived in in Graeciā Greece. Hīc he dīcitur is said fuisse to have been validissimus the strongest omnium of all hominum men. At but Iūnō Juno, rēgīna the queen deōrum of the gods, ōderat hated Alcmēnam Alcmena et and voluit wanted necāre to kill Herculem Hercules adhūc still īnfantem an infant. Igitur therefore mīsit she sent duās two saevissimās most savage serpentīs serpents; hae these vēnērunt came mediā in the middle of the nocte night in into cubiculum the bedroom Alcmēnae of Alcmena, ubi where Herculēs Hercules dormiēbat was sleeping cum with suō his frātre brother. Tamen however cubābant they were lying nec not in in cūnīs a cradle, sed but in on māgnō a great scūtō shield. Serpentēs the serpents iam now appropinquāverant had approached et and movēbant were moving scūtum the shield; itaque and so puerī the boys sunt were excitātī awakened ē from somnō sleep.
Īphiclēs Iphicles, frāter the brother Herculis of Hercules, exclāmāvit cried out māgnā with a loud vōce voice; sed but Herculēs Hercules ipse himself, fortissimus a very brave puer boy, est was haudquāquam not at all territus frightened. Statim at once prehendit he seized serpentīs the serpents parvīs with his little manibus hands, et and compressit squeezed colla the necks eārum of them māgnā with great vī force. Tālī in such a modō way serpentēs the serpents sunt were interfectae killed ā by puerō the boy. Alcmēna Alcmena autem however, māter the mother puerōrum of the boys, audīverat had heard clāmōrem the shout, et and excitāverat had awakened suum her marītum husband ē from somnō sleep. Ille he accendit lit lūmen a light et and rapuit snatched up suum his gladium sword; tum then properābat he hurried ad to puerōs the boys, sed but ubi when vēnit he came ad to locum the place, vīdit he saw mīram a wonderful rem thing, enim for Herculēs Hercules rīdēbat was laughing et and mōnstrābat was showing mortuās the dead serpentīs serpents.
Herculēs Hercules ā from puerō boyhood exercēbat trained suum his corpus body dīligenter diligently; cōnsūmēbat he spent māgnam a great partem part diēī of the day in in palaestrā the wrestling-ground; etiam also didicit he learned intendere to bend arcum the bow et and conicere to throw tēla darts. Hīs by these exercitātiōnibus exercises ēius his vīrēs strength sunt was cōnfīrmātae made firm. Etiam also ērudiēbātur he was taught in in mūsicā music ā by Linō Linus centaurō the centaur (centaurī the centaurs autem now erant were equī horses sed but habēbant had caput the head hominis of a man); tamen however studēbat he applied himself minus less dīligenter diligently huic to this artī art. Hīc this Linus Linus ōlim once obiūrgābat was scolding Herculem Hercules, quod because erat he was nōn not studiōsus studious; tum then īrātus the angry puer boy subitō suddenly rapuit snatched up citharam a lyre, et and percussit struck caput the head īnfēlīcis of the unlucky magistrī master omnibus with all his vīribus strength. Ille he est was prōstrātus laid low īctū by the blow, et and paulō a little post after excessit departed ē from vītā life, neque nor quisquam did anyone posteā afterwards voluit wish suscipere to undertake id that officium duty.
Haec these things etiam also nārrantur are told dē about Hercule Hercules, inter among alia other things. Ōlim once, dum while facit he was making iter a journey, vēnit he came in into fīnīs the territory Aegyptiōrum of the Egyptians. Ibi there quīdam a certain rēx king, Būsīris Busiris nōmine by name, rēgnābat was reigning illō at that tempore time; hīc this autem now crūdēlissimus most cruel vir man cōnsuēverat had been accustomed immolāre to sacrifice hominēs men. Igitur therefore corripuit he seized Herculem Hercules et and coniēcit threw [eum] him in into vincula chains. Tum then dīmīsit he sent out nūntiōs messengers et and ēdīxit proclaimed diem a day sacrificiō for the sacrifice. Mox soon ea that diēs day appetēbat was drawing near, et and omnia everything sunt was parāta made ready rīte with due rites. Manūs the hands Herculis of Hercules sunt were vinctae bound ferreīs with iron catēnīs chains, et and salsa salted mola meal est was īnspersa sprinkled in on ēius his caput head. Enim for erat it was mōs the custom apud among antīquōs the ancients impōnere to put salem salt et and fār spelt capitibus on the heads victimārum of the victims. Iam now victima the victim stābat was standing ad at āram the altar; iam now sacerdōs the priest sūmpserat had taken up cultrum the knife. Tamen but subitō suddenly Herculēs Hercules perrūpit burst vincula his bonds māgnō with a great cōnātū effort; tum then prōstrāvit he laid low sacerdōtem the priest īctū with a blow; alterō with a second occīdit he killed rēgem the king ipsum himself.
Herculēs Hercules, iam now adulēscēns a young man, habitābat was living Thēbīs at Thebes. Rēx the king Thēbārum of Thebes, īgnāvus a cowardly vir man, appellābātur was called Creōn Creon. Minyae the Minyae, bellicōsissima a most warlike gēns race, erant were fīnitimī neighbours Thēbānīs to the Thebans. Lēgātī envoys autem now mittēbantur were sent quotannīs every year ā by Minyīs the Minyae ad to Thēbānōs the Thebans; hī these veniēbant came Thēbās to Thebes et and postulābant demanded centum a hundred bovēs oxen. Enim for Thēbānī the Thebans ōlim once erant had been superātī conquered ā by Minyīs the Minyae; igitur therefore pendēbant they paid tribūta tribute quotannīs every year rēgī to the king Minyārum of the Minyae. At but Herculēs Hercules cōnstituit decided līberāre to free suōs his cīvīs fellow citizens hōc from this stīpendiō tribute; igitur therefore comprehendit he seized lēgātōs the envoys, atque and abscīdit cut off aurīs the ears eōrum of them. Lēgātī envoys autem however habentur are held sānctī sacred apud among omnīs all gentīs nations.
Ergīnus Erginus, rēx the king Minyārum of the Minyae, vehementer violently īrātus angry ob because of haec these things, statim at once contendit hastened cum with omnibus all his cōpiīs forces in into fīnīs the territory Thēbānōrum of the Thebans. Creōn Creon cōgnōvit learned of ēius his adventum approach per through explōrātōrēs scouts. Tamen however ipse he himself nōluit was unwilling pūgnāre to fight, nam for erat he was adfectus filled māgnō with great timōre fear; igitur therefore Thēbānī the Thebans creāvērunt made Herculem Hercules imperātōrem commander. Ille he dīmīsit sent out nūntiōs messengers in into omnīs all partīs parts, et and coēgit gathered cōpiās forces; tum then proximō on the next diē day est he profectus set out cum with māgnō a great exercitū army. Dēlēgit he chose idōneum a suitable locum place et and īnstrūxit drew up aciem his battle line. Tum then Thēbānī the Thebans fēcērunt made impetum an attack ē from superiōre higher locō ground in on hostīs the enemy. Illī they autem however nōn were not potuērunt able sustinēre to withstand impetum the attack; itaque and so aciēs the line hostium of the enemy est was pulsa driven back atque and conversa turned in to fugam flight.
Post after hōc this proelium battle Herculēs Hercules redūxit led back suās his cōpiās forces ad to urbem the city. Omnēs all Thēbānī the Thebans gaudēbant rejoiced māximē very greatly propter because of victōriam the victory; Creōn Creon autem moreover decorāvit honoured Herculem Hercules māgnīs with great honōribus distinctions, atque and dedit gave suam his fīliam daughter eī to him in in mātrimōnium marriage. Herculēs Hercules agēbat led beātam a happy vītam life cum with suā his uxōre wife; sed but post after paucōs a few annōs years subitō suddenly incidit he fell in into furōrem madness, atque and ipse he himself occīdit killed suōs his līberōs children suā with his own manū hand. Post after breve a short tempus time est he was reductus brought back ad to sānitātem his senses, et and est was adfectus filled māgnō with great dolōre grief propter because of hōc this facinus deed; mox soon effūgit he fled ex from urbe the city et and recēpit betook sē himself in into silvās the woods. Enim for cīvēs the citizens nōlēbant were unwilling habēre to have sermōnem speech cum with eō him.
Herculēs Hercules cupiēbat desired māgnopere greatly expiāre to atone for tantum so great scelus a crime. Igitur therefore cōnstituit he decided īre to go ad to Delphicum the Delphic ōrāculum oracle; enim for hōc this ōrāculum oracle erat was celeberrimum the most famous omnium of all. Ibi there erat was templum a temple Apollinis of Apollo ōrnātum adorned plūrimīs with very many dōnīs gifts. In in hōc this templō temple sedēbat sat quaedam a certain fēmina woman, Pȳthia Pythia nōmine by name, et and dabat gave cōnsilium advice iīs to those quī who veniēbant came ad to ōrāculum the oracle. Haec this autem now fēmina woman docēbātur was taught ab by Apolline Apollo ipsō himself, et and ēnūntiābat declared voluntātem the will deī of the god hominibus to men. Herculēs Hercules igitur therefore, quī who colēbat worshipped Apollinem Apollo praecipuē especially, vēnit came hūc here. Tum then exposuit he set forth tōtam the whole rem matter, neque nor cēlāvit did he hide scelus his crime.
Ubi when Herculēs Hercules fēcit made fīnem an end, Pȳthia the Pythia prīmō at first tacēbat was silent; tamen but tandem at last iussit she ordered eum him īre to go ad to urbem the city Tīryntha Tiryns, et and facere to do omnia all imperāta the commands rēgis of king Eurystheī Eurystheus. Herculēs Hercules, ubi when audīvit he heard haec these things, contendit hastened ad to illam that urbem city, et and trādidit gave up sē himself in into servitūtem slavery rēgī to king Eurystheō Eurystheus. Duodecim for twelve annōs years serviēbat he served crūdēlissimō the most cruel Eurystheō Eurystheus, et and cōnfēcit accomplished duodecim twelve labōrēs labours, quōs which ille he imperāverat had commanded; enim for hōc in this ūnō one modō way tantum so great scelus a crime potuit could expiārī be atoned for. Plūrima very many things sunt have been scrīpta written ā by poētīs the poets dē about hīs these labōribus labours. Tamen yet multa many things quae which poētae the poets nārrant tell sunt are vix scarcely crēdibilia credible.
Prīmum first Herculēs Hercules est was iūssus ordered ab by Eurystheō Eurystheus occīdere to kill leōnem a lion quī which illō at that tempore time reddēbat was making vallem the valley Nemeaeam of Nemea īnfēstam unsafe. Igitur therefore statim at once contulit he betook sē himself in into silvās the woods in in quibus which leō the lion habitābat lived. Mox soon vīdit he saw feram the beast, et and intendit bent arcum the bow, quem which attulerat he had brought sēcum with him; tamen however nōn he was not potuit able trāicere to pierce ēius its pellem hide, quae which erat was dēnsissima very thick. Tum then percussit he struck leōnem the lion māgnā with the great clāvā club quam which semper always gerēbat he carried, tamen but frūstrā in vain; enim for neque he was not potuit able occīdere to kill eum it hōc in this modō way. Tum then dēmum at last est he complexus clasped collum the neck mōnstrī of the monster suīs in his bracchiīs arms et and compressit squeezed ēius its faucīs throat omnibus with all his vīribus strength. Hōc in this modō way leō the lion est was exanimātus killed brevī in a short tempore time; enim for nūlla no facultās opportunity respīrandī of breathing dabātur was given eī to it. Tum then Herculēs Hercules rettulit carried back cadāver the carcass in on umerīs his shoulders ad to oppidum the town; et and posteā afterwards gerēbat he wore pellem the skin, quam which dētrāxerat he had stripped off, prō for veste a garment. Omnēs all autem moreover quī who incolēbant inhabited eam that regiōnem region, ubi when accēpērunt they received fāmam the report dē of morte the death leōnis of the lion, vehementer greatly gaudēbant rejoiced et and habēbant held Herculem Hercules māgnō in great honōre honour.
Paulō a little post after est he was iūssus ordered ab by Eurystheō Eurystheus necāre to kill Hydram the Hydra. Hōc this autem now mōnstrum monster erat was one cui which erant had novem nine capita heads. Herculēs Hercules igitur therefore est did profectus set out cum with amīcō his friend Iolāō Iolaus ad to Lernaeam the Lernean palūdem marsh, in in quā which Hydra the Hydra habitābat lived. Mox soon invēnit he found mōnstrum the monster, et and quamquam although rēs the thing erat was māgnī of great perīculī danger, prehendit he seized ēius its collum neck sinistrā with his left hand. Tum then dextrā with his right hand coepit he began abscīdere to cut off novem the nine capita heads; tamen however quotiēns as often as fēcerat he had done hōc this, nova new capita heads exoriēbantur sprang up. Diū for a long time labōrābat he toiled frūstrā in vain; tandem at last dēstitit he gave up hōc this cōnātū attempt. Deinde then cōnstituit he decided succīdere to cut down arborēs trees et and accendere to light īgnem a fire. Fēcit he did hōc this celeriter quickly, et and postquam after līgna the wood comprehendērunt caught īgnem fire, adūssit he seared colla the necks ārdente with a burning face torch, unde from which capita the heads exoriēbantur sprang up. Tamen yet fēcit he did haec these things nec not sine without māgnō great labōre toil; enim for ingēns a huge cancer crab vēnit came auxiliō to the help Hydrae of the Hydra, quī which, dum while Herculēs Hercules abscīdit was cutting off capita the heads, mordēbat kept biting ēius his crūra legs. Postquam after interfēcit he killed mōnstrum the monster tālī in such a modō way, imbuit he dipped suās his sagittās arrows sanguine in the blood ēius of it, itaque and so reddidit made them mortiferās deadly.
Postquam after caedēs the slaughter Hydrae of the Hydra est was nūntiāta reported Eurystheō to Eurystheus, māgnus great timor fear occupāvit seized ēius his animum mind. Igitur therefore iussit he ordered Herculem Hercules referre to bring quendam a certain cervum stag ad to sē him; enim for nōluit he did not wish retinēre to keep virum a man tantae of such great audāciae boldness in in urbe the city. Hīc this autem now cervus stag, cūius whose cornua horns trāduntur are related fuisse to have been aurea golden, fuit was incrēdibilī of incredible celeritāte speed. Herculēs Hercules igitur therefore prīmō at first persequēbātur followed eum it vestīgiīs by its tracks in in silvā the wood; deinde then ubi when vīdit he saw cervum the stag ipsum itself, coepit he began currere to run omnibus with all his vīribus strength. Currēbat he ran ūsque right up ad to vesperum evening, neque nor relinquēbat did he leave nocturnum the night tempus time sibi to himself ad for quiētem rest, tamen but frūstrā in vain; enim for nūllō in no modō way poterat could he cōnsequī overtake cervum the stag. Tandem at last, postquam after cucurrerat he had run tōtum a whole annum year (ita so trāditur it is related), cēpit he caught cervum the stag exanimātum exhausted cursū by the running, et and rettulit brought vīvum it alive ad to Eurystheum Eurystheus.
Tum then vērō indeed Herculēs Hercules est was iūssus ordered capere to capture quendam a certain aprum boar quī which illō at that tempore time vāstābat was laying waste Erymanthiōs the Erymanthian agrōs fields et and māgnopere greatly terrēbat was terrifying incolās the inhabitants hūius of this regiōnis region. Herculēs Hercules suscēpit undertook rem the task et and est did profectus set out in into Arcadiam Arcadia. Postquam after est he had prōgressus advanced paulum a little in into silvam the wood, occurrit he met aprō the boar. Ille it autem however, simul as soon atque as vīdit it saw Herculem Hercules, statim at once refūgit fled back; et and perterritus thoroughly frightened timōre with fear prōiēcit it threw sē itself in into altam a deep fossam ditch. Herculēs Hercules igitur therefore iniēcit threw on laqueum the noose quem which attulerat he had brought, et and cum with summā the greatest difficultāte difficulty extrāxit dragged aprum the boar ē out of fossā the ditch. Ille it, etsī although repūgnābat it resisted fortiter bravely, potuit was able nūllō in no modō way līberāre to free sē itself; et and est was relātus brought back vīvus alive ab by Hercule Hercules ad to Eurystheum Eurystheus.
Haec these things etiam also trāduntur are related dē about quartō the fourth labōre labour, quem which nārrāvimus we have told suprā above. Dum while Herculēs Hercules facit was making iter his journey in into Arcadiam Arcadia, vēnit he came ad to eam that regiōnem region quam which centaurī the centaurs incolēbant inhabited. Cum since nox night iam now appeteret was drawing near, dēvertit he turned aside ad to spēluncam a cave in in quā which quīdam a certain centaurus centaur, Pholus Pholus nōmine by name, habitābat lived. Ille he excēpit received Herculem Hercules benīgnē kindly et and parāvit prepared cēnam dinner. At but postquam after Herculēs Hercules cēnāvit had dined, postulāvit he asked for vīnum wine ā from Pholō Pholus. Autem now erat there was in in spēluncā the cave māgna a great amphora jar replēta filled optimō with the best vīnō wine, quam which centaurī the centaurs dēposuerant had stored ibi there. Pholus Pholus igitur therefore nōlēbat was unwilling dare to give hōc this vīnum wine, quod because timēbat he feared reliquōs the other centaurōs centaurs; tamen however habēbat he had nūllum no vīnum wine in in spēluncā the cave praeter except hōc this. "Hōc this vīnum wine," inquit he said, "est has been commissum entrusted mihi to me. Igitur so, sī if dabō I give hōc this, centaurī the centaurs interficient will kill mē me." Herculēs Hercules tamen however inrīsit laughed at eum him, et and ipse himself hausit drew pōculum a cup vīnī of wine dē from amphorā the jar.
Simul as soon atque as amphora the jar est was aperta opened, iūcundissimus a most pleasant odor smell est was diffūsus spread undique on every side; enim for vīnum the wine erat was suāvissimum very sweet. Centaurī the centaurs sēnsērunt perceived nōtum the well-known odōrem smell et and omnēs all convēnērunt came together ad to locum the place. Ubi when pervēnērunt they arrived ad at spēluncam the cave, erant they were māgnopere greatly īrātī angry quod because vīdērunt they saw Herculem Hercules bibentem drinking. Tum then rapuērunt they seized arma their weapons et and volēbant wanted interficere to kill Pholum Pholus. Herculēs Hercules tamen however cōnstitit took his stand in in aditū the entrance spēluncae of the cave et and sustinēbat withstood eōrum their impetum attack fortissimē most bravely. Coniēcit he hurled ārdentīs burning facēs torches in at eōs them; etiam also vulnerāvit he wounded multōs many suīs with his sagittīs arrows. Hae these autem now sagittae arrows erant were eaedem the same quae which ōlim formerly erant had been imbūtae dipped sanguine in the blood Hydrae of the Hydra. Igitur therefore omnēs all quōs whom ille he vulnerāverat had wounded sagittīs with the arrows sunt were statim at once absūmptī destroyed venēnō by the poison; reliquī the rest autem however, ubi when vīdērunt they saw hōc this, vertērunt turned terga their backs et and petiērunt sought salūtem safety fugā in flight.
Postquam after reliquī the rest fūgērunt had fled, Pholus Pholus est did ēgressus come out ex of spēluncā the cave, et and spectābat was looking at corpora the bodies eōrum of those quī who erant had been interfectī killed sagittīs by the arrows. Autem and est he mīrātus wondered māgnopere greatly quod that erant they had been exanimātī killed tam by so levī slight vulnere a wound, et and quaerēbat sought causam the cause ēius of this reī thing. Igitur therefore adiit he approached locum the place ubi where cadāver the corpse cūiusdam of a certain centaurī centaur iacēbat lay, et and trāxit drew sagittam the arrow ē out of vulnere the wound. Haec it tamen however, sīve whether cāsū by chance sīve or cōnsiliō by the design deōrum of the gods, est did lapsa slip ē from ēius his manibus hands, et and vulnerāvit wounded pedem his foot leviter slightly. Ille he extemplō immediately sēnsit felt gravem severe dolōrem pain per through omnia all his membra limbs, et and post after breve a short tempus time est was exanimātus killed vī by the force venēnī of the poison. Mox soon Herculēs Hercules, quī who erat had secūtus pursued reliquōs the other centaurōs centaurs, rediit returned ad to spēluncam the cave, et and cum with māgnō great dolōre grief vīdit saw Pholum Pholus mortuum dead. Cum with multīs many lacrimīs tears dedit he gave corpus the body amīcī of his friend ad to sepultūram burial; tum then, postquam after exhausit he had drained alterum a second pōculum cup vīnī of wine, dedit he gave sē himself somnō to sleep.
Deinde then Eurystheus Eurystheus imposuit imposed hunc this graviōrem heavier labōrem labour Herculī on Hercules. Quīdam a certain Augēās Augeas, quī who illō at that tempore time obtinēbat held rēgnum the kingdom in in Ēlide Elis, habēbat had tria three mīlia thousand boum oxen. Hī these inclūdēbantur were shut up in in stabulō a stable ingentis of huge māgnitūdinis size. Stabulum the stable autem moreover erat was obsitum covered inluviē with filth ac and squālōre dirt, enim for neque not umquam ever erat had it been pūrgātum cleaned ad up to hōc this tempus time. Herculēs Hercules est was iūssus ordered pūrgāre to clean hōc this intrā within spatium the space ūnīus of one diēī day. Ille he, etsī although rēs the thing erat was multae of much operae labour, suscēpit undertook negōtium the task. Prīmum first māgnō with great labōre toil dūxit he dug fossam a trench duodēvīgintī of eighteen pedum feet, per through quam which perdūxit he brought aquam the water flūminis of a river dē down from montibus the mountains ad to mūrum the wall stabulī of the stable. Tum then, postquam after perrūpit he had broken through mūrum the wall, immīsit he let aquam the water in into stabulum the stable et and tālī in such a modō way cōnfēcit finished opus the work contrā contrary to opīniōnem the expectation omnium of all.
Post after paucōs a few diēs days Herculēs Hercules fēcit made iter a journey ad to oppidum the town Stymphālum Stymphalus; enim for Eurystheus Eurystheus imperāverat had commanded eī him ut that necāret he should kill Stymphālidēs the Stymphalian avīs birds. Hae these avēs birds habēbant had aēnea bronze rōstra beaks et and vēscēbantur fed carne on the flesh hominum of men. Postquam after ille he pervēnit arrived ad at locum the place, vīdit he saw lacum a lake; autem now avēs the birds habitābant lived in in hōc this lacū lake, quī which erat was nōn not procul far ab from oppidō the town. Tamen however nūlla no facultās opportunity appropinquandī of approaching dabātur was given; enim for lacus the lake cōnstitit consisted nōn not ex of aquā water sed but ē of līmō mud. Igitur therefore Herculēs Hercules potuit was able prōgredī to advance neque neither pedibus on foot neque nor lintre by boat. Cum when ille he cōnsūmpsisset had spent māgnam a great partem part diēī of the day frūstrā in vain, dēstitit he gave up hōc this cōnātū attempt et and contulit betook sē himself ad to Volcānum Vulcan, ut that peteret he might seek auxilium help ab from eō him. Volcānus Vulcan (quī who colēbātur was worshipped māximē especially ab by fabrīs smiths) dedit gave Herculī to Hercules crepundia rattles quae which ipse he himself erat had fabricātus made ex of aere bronze. Hīs with these Herculēs Hercules fēcit made tam so ācrem sharp crepitum a rattling ut that avēs the birds perterritae terrified āvolārent flew away. Ille he autem moreover, dum while āvolant they were flying away, trānsfīxit pierced māgnum a great numerum number eārum of them sagittīs with arrows.
Tum then Eurystheus Eurystheus imperāvit commanded Herculī Hercules ut that referret he should bring back quendam a certain ferōcissimum most fierce taurum bull vīvum alive ex from īnsulā the island Crētā Crete. Ille he igitur therefore cōnscendit boarded nāvem a ship, et and cum since ventus the wind esset was idōneus suitable, statim at once solvit set sail. Tamen however, cum when iam now appropinquāret he was approaching īnsulae the island, tanta so great tempestās a storm subitō suddenly est did coorta arise ut that nāvis the ship nōn was not posset able tenēre to hold cursum its course. Tantus so great autem moreover timor a fear occupāvit seized animōs the minds nautārum of the sailors ut that paene almost dēpōnerent they gave up omnem all spem hope salūtis of safety. Herculēs Hercules tamen however, etsī although erat he was imperītus unskilled nāvigandī in sailing, est was haudquāquam not at all territus frightened. Post after breve a short tempus time summa a very great tranquillitās calm est did cōnsecūta follow, et and nautae the sailors, quī who iam now recēperant had recovered sē themselves ex from timōre their fear, appulērunt brought nāvem the ship incolumem safe ad to terram land. Herculēs Hercules est did ēgressus step out ē of nāvī the ship, et and cum when vēnisset he had come ad to rēgem the king Crētae of Crete, docuit he explained causam the reason veniendī of his coming. Deinde then, postquam after omnia everything sunt was parāta made ready, contendit he hastened ad to eam that regiōnem region quam which taurus the bull vāstābat was laying waste. Mox soon vīdit he saw taurum the bull, et and quamquam although rēs the thing erat was māgnī of great perīculī danger, prehendit he seized ēius its cornua horns. Tum then, cum when trāxisset he had dragged mōnstrum the monster ad to nāvem the ship ingentī with huge labōre toil, rediit he returned in to Graeciam Greece cum with praedā his prize.
Postquam after rediit he returned ex from īnsulā the island Crētā Crete, Herculēs Hercules est was missus sent ab by Eurystheō Eurystheus in into Thrāciam Thrace, ut that redūceret he might bring back equōs the horses Diomēdis of Diomede. Hī these equī horses vēscēbantur fed carne on the flesh hominum of men; Diomēdēs Diomede autem moreover, crūdēlissimus a most cruel vir man, obiciēbat threw illīs to them omnīs all peregrīnōs strangers quī who vēnerant had come in into eam that regiōnem region. Herculēs Hercules igitur therefore contendit hastened in into Thrāciam Thrace māgnā with great celeritāte speed et and postulāvit demanded ab from Diomēde Diomede ut that equī the horses trāderentur should be handed over sibi to him. Tamen however, cum since ille he nōllet was unwilling facere to do hōc this, Herculēs Hercules, commōtus moved īrā with anger, interfēcit killed rēgem the king et and iussit ordered ēius his cadāver body obicī to be thrown equīs to the horses. Ita thus mīra a wonderful commūtātiō change rērum of fortune est was facta brought about; enim for is he quī who anteā before necāverat had killed multōs many cum with cruciātū torture ipse himself est was necātus killed eōdem by the same suppliciō punishment. Cum when haec these things essent had been nūntiāta reported, omnēs all quī who incolēbant inhabited eam that regiōnem region sunt were adfectī filled māximā with the greatest laetitiā joy et and referēbant rendered meritam due grātiam thanks Herculī to Hercules. Nōn not modo only decorāvērunt did they honour eum him māximīs with the greatest honōribus honours et and praemiīs rewards, sed but etiam also ōrābant they begged ut that ipse he himself susciperet would take rēgnum the kingdom. Ille he tamen however nōlēbat was unwilling facere to do hōc this, et and cum when rediisset he had returned ad to mare the sea, occupāvit he seized nāvem a ship. Ubi when omnia everything sunt was parāta made ready ad for nāvigandum sailing, conlocāvit he placed equōs the horses in in nāvī the ship; deinde then, cum when esset he had nactus found idōneam suitable tempestātem weather, sine without morā delay solvit he set sail ē from portū the harbour, et and paulō a little post after exposuit landed equōs the horses in on Argolicum the Argive lītus shore.
Herculēs, Alcmēnae fīlius, ōlim in Graeciā habitābat. Hīc omnium hominum validissimus fuisse dīcitur. At Iūnō, rēgīna deōrum, Alcmēnam ōderat et Herculem adhūc īnfantem necāre voluit. Mīsit igitur duās serpentīs saevissimās; hae mediā nocte in cubiculum Alcmēnae vēnērunt, ubi Herculēs cum frātre suō dormiēbat. Nec tamen in cūnīs, sed in scūtō māgnō cubābant. Serpentēs iam appropinquāverant et scūtum movēbant; itaque puerī ē somnō excitātī sunt.
Īphiclēs, frāter Herculis, māgnā vōce exclāmāvit; sed Herculēs ipse, fortissimus puer, haudquāquam territus est. Parvīs manibus serpentīs statim prehendit, et colla eārum māgnā vī compressit. Tālī modō serpentēs ā puerō interfectae sunt. Alcmēna autem, māter puerōrum, clāmōrem audīverat, et marītum suum ē somnō excitāverat. Ille lūmen accendit et gladium suum rapuit; tum ad puerōs properābat, sed ubi ad locum vēnit, rem mīram vīdit, Herculēs enim rīdēbat et serpentīs mortuās mōnstrābat.
Herculēs ā puerō corpus suum dīligenter exercēbat; māgnam partem diēī in palaestrā cōnsūmēbat; didicit etiam arcum intendere et tēla conicere. Hīs exercitātiōnibus vīrēs ēius cōnfīrmātae sunt. In mūsicā etiam ā Linō centaurō ērudiēbātur (centaurī autem equī erant sed caput hominis habēbant); huic tamen artī minus dīligenter studēbat. Hīc Linus Herculem ōlim obiūrgābat, quod nōn studiōsus erat; tum puer īrātus citharam subitō rapuit, et omnibus vīribus caput magistrī īnfēlīcis percussit. Ille īctū prōstrātus est, et paulō post ē vītā excessit, neque quisquam posteā id officium suscipere voluit.
Dē Hercule haec etiam inter alia nārrantur. Ōlim dum iter facit, in fīnīs Aegyptiōrum vēnit. Ibi rēx quīdam, nōmine Būsīris, illō tempore rēgnābat; hīc autem vir crūdēlissimus hominēs immolāre cōnsuēverat. Herculem igitur corripuit et in vincula coniēcit. Tum nūntiōs dīmīsit et diem sacrificiō ēdīxit. Mox ea diēs appetēbat, et omnia rīte parāta sunt. Manūs Herculis catēnīs ferreīs vinctae sunt, et mola salsa in caput ēius īnspersa est. Mōs enim erat apud antīquōs salem et fār capitibus victimārum impōnere. Iam victima ad āram stābat; iam sacerdōs cultrum sūmpserat. Subitō tamen Herculēs māgnō cōnātū vincula perrūpit; tum īctū sacerdōtem prōstrāvit; alterō rēgem ipsum occīdit.
Herculēs iam adulēscēns Thēbīs habitābat. Rēx Thēbārum, vir īgnāvus, Creōn appellābātur. Minyae, gēns bellicōsissima, Thēbānīs fīnitimī erant. Lēgātī autem ā Minyīs ad Thēbānōs quotannīs mittēbantur; hī Thēbās veniēbant et centum bovēs postulābant. Thēbānī enim ōlim ā Minyīs superātī erant; tribūta igitur rēgī Minyārum quotannīs pendēbant. At Herculēs cīvīs suōs hōc stīpendiō līberāre cōnstituit; lēgātōs igitur comprehendit, atque aurīs eōrum abscīdit. Lēgātī autem apud omnīs gentīs sānctī habentur.
Ergīnus, rēx Minyārum, ob haec vehementer īrātus statim cum omnibus cōpiīs in fīnīs Thēbānōrum contendit. Creōn adventum ēius per explōrātōrēs cōgnōvit. Ipse tamen pūgnāre nōluit, nam māgnō timōre adfectus erat; Thēbānī igitur Herculem imperātōrem creāvērunt. Ille nūntiōs in omnīs partīs dīmīsit, et cōpiās coēgit; tum proximō diē cum māgnō exercitū profectus est. Locum idōneum dēlēgit et aciem īnstrūxit. Tum Thēbānī ē superiōre locō impetum in hostīs fēcērunt. Illī autem impetum sustinēre nōn potuērunt; itaque aciēs hostium pulsa est atque in fugam conversa.
Post hōc proelium Herculēs cōpiās suās ad urbem redūxit. Omnēs Thēbānī propter victōriam māximē gaudēbant; Creōn autem māgnīs honōribus Herculem decorāvit, atque fīliam suam eī in mātrimōnium dedit. Herculēs cum uxōre suā beātam vītam agēbat; sed post paucōs annōs subitō in furōrem incidit, atque līberōs suōs ipse suā manū occīdit. Post breve tempus ad sānitātem reductus est, et propter hōc facinus māgnō dolōre adfectus est; mox ex urbe effūgit et in silvās sē recēpit. Nōlēbant enim cīvēs sermōnem cum eō habēre.
Herculēs tantum scelus expiāre māgnopere cupiēbat. Cōnstituit igitur ad ōrāculum Delphicum īre; hōc enim ōrāculum erat omnium celeberrimum. Ibi templum erat Apollinis plūrimīs dōnīs ōrnātum. Hōc in templō sedēbat fēmina quaedam, nōmine Pȳthia et cōnsilium dabat iīs quī ad ōrāculum veniēbant. Haec autem fēmina ab ipsō Apolline docēbātur, et voluntātem deī hominibus ēnūntiābat. Herculēs igitur, quī Apollinem praecipuē colēbat, hūc vēnit. Tum rem tōtam exposuit, neque scelus cēlāvit.
Ubi Herculēs fīnem fēcit, Pȳthia prīmō tacēbat; tandem tamen iussit eum ad urbem Tīryntha īre, et Eurystheī rēgis omnia imperāta facere. Herculēs ubi haec audīvit, ad urbem illam contendit, et Eurystheō rēgī sē in servitūtem trādidit. Duodecim annōs crūdēlissimō Eurystheō serviēbat, et duodecim labōrēs, quōs ille imperāverat, cōnfēcit; hōc enim ūnō modō tantum scelus expiārī potuit. Dē hīs labōribus plūrima ā poētīs scrīpta sunt. Multa tamen quae poētae nārrant vix crēdibilia sunt.
Prīmum ab Eurystheō iūssus est Herculēs leōnem occīdere quī illō tempore vallem Nemeaeam reddēbat īnfēstam. In silvās igitur in quibus leō habitābat statim sē contulit. Mox feram vīdit, et arcum, quem sēcum attulerat, intendit; ēius tamen pellem, quae dēnsissima erat, trāicere nōn potuit. Tum clāvā māgnā quam semper gerēbat leōnem percussit, frūstrā tamen; neque enim hōc modō eum occīdere potuit. Tum dēmum collum mōnstrī bracchiīs suīs complexus est et faucīs ēius omnibus vīribus compressit. Hōc modō leō brevī tempore exanimātus est; nūlla enim respīrandī facultās eī dabātur. Tum Herculēs cadāver ad oppidum in umerīs rettulit; et pellem, quam dētrāxerat, posteā prō veste gerēbat. Omnēs autem quī eam regiōnem incolēbant, ubi fāmam dē morte leōnis accēpērunt, vehementer gaudēbant et Herculem māgnō honōre habēbant.
Paulō post iūssus est ab Eurystheō Hydram necāre. Hōc autem mōnstrum erat cui novem erant capita. Herculēs igitur cum amīcō Iolāō profectus est ad palūdem Lernaeam, in quā Hydra habitābat. Mox mōnstrum invēnit, et quamquam rēs erat māgnī perīculī, collum ēius sinistrā prehendit. Tum dextrā capita novem abscīdere coepit; quotiēns tamen hōc fēcerat, nova capita exoriēbantur. Diū frūstrā labōrābat; tandem hōc cōnātū dēstitit. Deinde arborēs succīdere et īgnem accendere cōnstituit. Hōc celeriter fēcit, et postquam līgna īgnem comprehendērunt, face ārdente colla adūssit, unde capita exoriēbantur. Nec tamen sine māgnō labōre haec fēcit; vēnit enim auxiliō Hydrae cancer ingēns, quī, dum Herculēs capita abscīdit, crūra ēius mordēbat. Postquam mōnstrum tālī modō interfēcit, sagittās suās sanguine ēius imbuit, itaque mortiferās reddidit.
Postquam Eurystheō caedēs Hydrae nūntiāta est, māgnus timor animum ēius occupāvit. Iussit igitur Herculem cervum quendam ad sē referre; nōluit enim virum tantae audāciae in urbe retinēre. Hīc autem cervus, cūius cornua aurea fuisse trāduntur, incrēdibilī fuit celeritāte. Herculēs igitur prīmō vestīgiīs eum in silvā persequēbātur; deinde ubi cervum ipsum vīdit, omnibus vīribus currere coepit. Ūsque ad vesperum currēbat, neque nocturnum tempus sibi ad quiētem relinquēbat, frūstrā tamen; nūllō enim modō cervum cōnsequī poterat. Tandem postquam tōtum annum cucurrerat (ita trāditur), cervum cursū exanimātum cēpit, et vīvum ad Eurystheum rettulit.
Tum vērō iūssus est Herculēs aprum quendam capere quī illō tempore agrōs Erymanthiōs vāstābat et incolās hūius regiōnis māgnopere terrēbat. Herculēs rem suscēpit et in Arcadiam profectus est. Postquam in silvam paulum prōgressus est, aprō occurrit. Ille autem simul atque Herculem vīdit, statim refūgit; et timōre perterritus in altam fossam sē prōiēcit. Herculēs igitur laqueum quem attulerat iniēcit, et summā cum difficultāte aprum ē fossā extrāxit. Ille etsī fortiter repūgnābat, nūllō modō sē līberāre potuit; et ab Hercule ad Eurystheum vīvus relātus est.
Dē quartō labōre, quem suprā nārrāvimus, haec etiam trāduntur. Herculēs dum iter in Arcadiam facit, ad eam regiōnem vēnit quam centaurī incolēbant. Cum nox iam appeteret, ad spēluncam dēvertit in quā centaurus quīdam, nōmine Pholus, habitābat. Ille Herculem benīgnē excēpit et cēnam parāvit. At Herculēs postquam cēnāvit, vīnum ā Pholō postulāvit. Erat autem in spēluncā māgna amphora vīnō optimō replēta, quam centaurī ibi dēposuerant. Pholus igitur hōc vīnum dare nōlēbat, quod reliquōs centaurōs timēbat; nūllum tamen vīnum praeter hōc in spēluncā habēbat. "Hōc vīnum," inquit, "mihi commissum est. Sī igitur hōc dabō, centaurī mē interficient." Herculēs tamen eum inrīsit, et ipse pōculum vīnī dē amphorā hausit.
Simul atque amphora aperta est, odor iūcundissimus undique diffūsus est; vīnum enim suāvissimum erat. Centaurī nōtum odōrem sēnsērunt et omnēs ad locum convēnērunt. Ubi ad spēluncam pervēnērunt, māgnopere īrātī erant quod Herculem bibentem vīdērunt. Tum arma rapuērunt et Pholum interficere volēbant. Herculēs tamen in aditū spēluncae cōnstitit et impetum eōrum fortissimē sustinēbat. Facēs ārdentīs in eōs coniēcit; multōs etiam sagittīs suīs vulnerāvit. Hae autem sagittae eaedem erant quae sanguine Hydrae ōlim imbūtae erant. Omnēs igitur quōs ille sagittīs vulnerāverat venēnō statim absūmptī sunt; reliquī autem ubi hōc vīdērunt, terga vertērunt et fugā salūtem petiērunt.
Postquam reliquī fūgērunt, Pholus ex spēluncā ēgressus est, et corpora spectābat eōrum quī sagittīs interfectī erant. Māgnopere autem mīrātus est quod tam levī vulnere exanimātī erant, et causam ēius reī quaerēbat. Adiit igitur locum ubi cadāver cūiusdam centaurī iacēbat, et sagittam ē vulnere trāxit. Haec tamen sīve cāsū sīve cōnsiliō deōrum ē manibus ēius lapsa est, et pedem leviter vulnerāvit. Ille extemplō dolōrem gravem per omnia membra sēnsit, et post breve tempus vī venēnī exanimātus est. Mox Herculēs, quī reliquōs centaurōs secūtus erat, ad spēluncam rediit, et māgnō cum dolōre Pholum mortuum vīdit. Multīs cum lacrimīs corpus amīcī ad sepultūram dedit; tum, postquam alterum pōculum vīnī exhausit, somnō sē dedit.
Deinde Eurystheus Herculī hunc labōrem graviōrem imposuit. Augēās quīdam, quī illō tempore rēgnum in Ēlide obtinēbat, tria mīlia boum habēbat. Hī in stabulō ingentis māgnitūdinis inclūdēbantur. Stabulum autem inluviē ac squālōre erat obsitum, neque enim ad hōc tempus umquam pūrgātum erat. Hōc Herculēs intrā spatium ūnīus diēī pūrgāre iūssus est. Ille, etsī rēs erat multae operae, negōtium suscēpit. Prīmum māgnō labōre fossam duodēvīgintī pedum dūxit, per quam flūminis aquam dē montibus ad mūrum stabulī perdūxit. Tum postquam mūrum perrūpit, aquam in stabulum immīsit et tālī modō contrā opīniōnem omnium opus cōnfēcit.
Post paucōs diēs Herculēs ad oppidum Stymphālum iter fēcit; imperāverat enim eī Eurystheus ut avīs Stymphālidēs necāret. Hae avēs rōstra aēnea habēbant et carne hominum vēscēbantur. Ille postquam ad locum pervēnit, lacum vīdit; in hōc autem lacū, quī nōn procul erat ab oppidō, avēs habitābant. Nūlla tamen dabātur appropinquandī facultās; lacus enim nōn ex aquā sed ē līmō cōnstitit. Herculēs igitur neque pedibus neque lintre prōgredī potuit. Ille cum māgnam partem diēī frūstrā cōnsūmpsisset, hōc cōnātū dēstitit et ad Volcānum sē contulit, ut auxilium ab eō peteret. Volcānus (quī ab fabrīs māximē colēbātur) crepundia quae ipse ex aere fabricātus erat Herculī dedit. Hīs Herculēs tam ācrem crepitum fēcit ut avēs perterritae āvolārent. Ille autem, dum āvolant, māgnum numerum eārum sagittīs trānsfīxit.
Tum Eurystheus Herculī imperāvit ut taurum quendam ferōcissimum ex īnsulā Crētā vīvum referret. Ille igitur nāvem cōnscendit, et cum ventus idōneus esset, statim solvit. Cum tamen īnsulae iam appropinquāret, tanta tempestās subitō coorta est ut nāvis cursum tenēre nōn posset. Tantus autem timor animōs nautārum occupāvit ut paene omnem spem salūtis dēpōnerent. Herculēs tamen, etsī nāvigandī imperītus erat, haudquāquam territus est. Post breve tempus summa tranquillitās cōnsecūta est, et nautae, quī sē ex timōre iam recēperant, nāvem incolumem ad terram appulērunt. Herculēs ē nāvī ēgressus est, et cum ad rēgem Crētae vēnisset, causam veniendī docuit. Deinde, postquam omnia parāta sunt, ad eam regiōnem contendit quam taurus vāstābat. Mox taurum vīdit, et quamquam rēs erat māgnī perīculī, cornua ēius prehendit. Tum, cum ingentī labōre mōnstrum ad nāvem trāxisset, cum praedā in Graeciam rediit.
Postquam ex īnsulā Crētā rediit, Herculēs ab Eurystheō in Thrāciam missus est, ut equōs Diomēdis redūceret. Hī equī carne hominum vēscēbantur; Diomēdēs autem, vir crūdēlissimus, illīs obiciēbat peregrīnōs omnīs quī in eam regiōnem vēnerant. Herculēs igitur māgnā celeritāte in Thrāciam contendit et ab Diomēde postulāvit ut equī sibi trāderentur. Cum tamen ille hōc facere nōllet, Herculēs īrā commōtus rēgem interfēcit et cadāver ēius equīs obicī iussit. Ita mīra rērum commūtātiō facta est; is enim quī anteā multōs cum cruciātū necāverat ipse eōdem suppliciō necātus est. Cum haec nūntiāta essent, omnēs quī eam regiōnem incolēbant māximā laetitiā adfectī sunt et Herculī meritam grātiam referēbant. Nōn modo māximīs honōribus et praemiīs eum decorāvērunt sed ōrābant etiam ut rēgnum ipse susciperet. Ille tamen hōc facere nōlēbat, et cum ad mare rediisset, nāvem occupāvit. Ubi omnia ad nāvigandum parāta sunt, equōs in nāvī conlocāvit; deinde, cum idōneam tempestātem nactus esset, sine morā ē portū solvit, et paulō post equōs in lītus Argolicum exposuit.