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.
Gēns the race Amāzonum of the Amazons dīcitur is said cōnstitisse to have consisted omnīnō entirely ex of mulieribus women. Hae these habēbant had summam the highest scientiam knowledge mīlitāris of military reī affairs, et and adhibēbant they showed tantam such virtūtem courage ut that audērent they dared committere to join proelium battle cum with virīs men. Hippolytē Hippolyte, rēgīna queen Amāzonum of the Amazons, habuit had celeberrimum a very famous balteum girdle quem which Mārs Mars dederat had given eī her. Admēta Admeta, fīlia the daughter Eurystheī of Eurystheus, autem now accēperat had heard fāmam the report dē about hōc this balteō girdle, et and cupiēbat desired vehementer eagerly possidēre to possess eum it. Eurystheus Eurystheus igitur therefore mandāvit ordered Herculī Hercules ut that cōgeret he should collect cōpiās forces et and īnferret make bellum war Amāzonibus on the Amazons. Ille he dīmīsit sent out nūntiōs messengers in into omnīs all partīs parts, et and cum when māgna a great multitūdō multitude convēnisset had assembled, dēlēgit he chose eōs those quī who habēbant had māximum the greatest ūsum experience in in mīlitārī military rē affairs.
Postquam after exposuit he had explained causam the reason itineris for the journey, Herculēs Hercules persuāsit persuaded hīs these virīs men ut to facerent make iter the journey sēcum with him. Tum then cōnscendit he boarded nāvem a ship cum with iīs those quibus whom persuāserat he had persuaded, et and cum since ventus the wind esset was idōneus favourable, post after paucōs a few diēs days appulit he put in ad at ōstium the mouth flūminis of the river Thermōdontis Thermodon. Postquam after vēnit he came in into fīnīs the territory Amāzonum of the Amazons, mīsit he sent nūntium a messenger ad to Hippolytam Hippolyte, quī to docēret explain causam the reason veniendī for his coming et and pōsceret demand balteum the girdle. Hippolytē Hippolyte ipsa herself volēbat was willing trādere to hand over balteum the girdle, quod because accēperat she had heard fāmam the report dē of virtūte the valour Herculis of Hercules; reliquae the other Amāzonēs Amazons tamen however persuāsērunt persuaded eī her ut to negāret refuse. At but Herculēs Hercules, cum when haec these things essent had been nūntiāta reported, cōnstituit decided temptāre to try fortūnam the fortune bellī of war. Igitur therefore proximō on the next diē day, cum when ēdūxisset he had led out cōpiās his forces, dēlēgit he chose idōneum a suitable locum place et and ēvocāvit called out hostīs the enemy ad to pūgnam battle. Amāzonēs the Amazons quoque also ēdūxērunt led out suās their cōpiās forces ex from castrīs the camp et and īnstrūxērunt drew up aciem their line nōn not māgnō at a great intervāllō distance ab from Hercule Hercules.
Erat there was nōn a not māgna large palūs marsh inter between duo the two exercitūs armies; neutrī neither side tamen however volēbant was willing facere to make initium a beginning trānseundī of crossing. Tandem at last Herculēs Hercules dedit gave sīgnum the signal, et and ubi when trānsiit he had crossed palūdem the marsh, commīsit he joined proelium battle. Amāzonēs the Amazons sustinuērunt withstood impetum the attack virōrum of the men fortissimē most bravely, et and contrā contrary to opīniōnem the expectation omnium of all praestitērunt showed tantam such virtūtem courage ut that occīderint they killed multōs many eōrum of them, etiam and also coniēcerint put multōs many in to fugam flight. Enim for virī the men perturbābantur were thrown into confusion novō by the new genere kind pūgnae of fighting nec and did not praestābant show māgnam great virtūtem courage. Herculēs Hercules autem however, cum when vidēret he saw haec these things, coepit began dēspērāre to despair dē of suīs his fortūnīs fortunes. Igitur therefore est he cohortātus urged mīlitēs the soldiers vehementer earnestly ut to retinērent keep memoriam the memory prīstinae of their former virtūtis valour neu and not admitterent to allow tantum so great dēdecus a disgrace, hostiumque and the enemy's impetum attack sustinērent to bear fortiter bravely; quibus by these verbīs words ērēxit he roused animōs the spirits omnium of all ita so ut that etiam even multī many quī who essent had been cōnfectī exhausted vulneribus by wounds redintegrārent renewed proelium the battle sine without morā delay.
Est it was pūgnātum fought diū long et and ācriter fiercely; tamen but tandem at last ad towards occāsum the setting sōlis of the sun tanta so great commūtātiō a change rērum of fortune est was facta made ut that mulierēs the women verterent turned terga their backs et and peterent sought salūtem safety fugā in flight. Multae many, autem moreover, dēfessae exhausted vulneribus by wounds, sunt were captae captured dum while fugiunt they were fleeing, in in quō which numerō number erat was Hippolytē Hippolyte ipsa herself. Herculēs Hercules praestitit showed summam the greatest clēmentiam mercy, et and postquam after accēpit he had received balteum the girdle, dedit he gave lībertātem freedom omnibus to all captīvīs the captives. Tum then vērō indeed redūxit he led back sociōs his comrades ad to mare the sea, et and quod because nōn not multum much aestātis of the summer supererat was left, mātūrāvit he hastened proficīscī to set out in for Graeciam Greece. Igitur therefore cōnscendit he boarded nāvem his ship, et and nactus having found idōneam suitable tempestātem weather statim at once solvit set sail; tamen but antequam before pervēnit he arrived in in Graeciam Greece, cōnstituit he decided appellere to bring nāvem his ship ad to urbem the city Trōiam Troy, enim for frūmentum the grain quod which habēbat he had sēcum with him iam already coeperat had begun dēficere to run short.
Illō at that tempore time quīdam a certain Lāomedōn Laomedon obtinēbat held rēgnum the kingdom Trōiae of Troy. Neptūnus Neptune et and Apollō Apollo vēnerant had come ad to hunc him superiōre in the previous annō year, et and cum since Trōia Troy nōndum did not yet habēret have moenia walls, obtulerant they had offered auxilium help ad for hōc this opus work. Tamen however, postquam after moenia the walls sunt were cōnfecta finished auxiliō with the help hōrum of these, Lāomedōn Laomedon nōlēbat was unwilling persolvere to pay praemium the reward quod which prōposuerat he had promised. Neptūnus Neptune igitur therefore et and Apollō Apollo, īrātī angry ob for hanc this causam reason, mīsērunt sent quoddam a certain mōnstrum monster horribilī of horrible speciē appearance, quod which veniēbat came cottīdiē every day ē out of marī the sea et and vorābat devoured homines men pecudēsque and beasts. Trōiānī the Trojans autem now, perterritī thoroughly frightened timōre by fear, continēbantur kept themselves in in urbe the city, et and compulerant had driven omnia all pecora the cattle ex from agrīs the fields intrā within mūrōs the walls. Lāomedōn Laomedon, commōtus alarmed hīs by these rēbus things, cōnsuluit consulted ōrāculum the oracle, ac and deus the god praecēpit instructed eī him ut to obiceret expose filiam his daughter Hēsionem Hesione mōnstrō to the monster.
Lāomedōn Laomedon, cum when hōc this respōnsum answer esset had been renūntiātum reported, percēpit felt māgnum great dolōrem grief; sed but tamen yet, ut in order that līberāret he might free suōs his cīvīs citizens tantō from so great perīculō a danger, cōnstituit he decided pārēre to obey ōrāculō the oracle et and dīxit named diem a day sacrificiō for the sacrifice. Sed but, sīve whether cāsū by chance sīve or cōnsiliō by the design deōrum of the gods, Herculēs Hercules attigit reached Trōiam Troy opportūnissimō at the most opportune tempore time; enim for ille he appulit brought in nāvem his ship ipsō at the very punctō point temporis of time quō at which puella the girl, vincta bound catēnīs with chains, dēdūcēbātur was being led down ad to lītus the shore. Herculēs Hercules, ēgressus having landed ē from nāvī the ship, est was factus made certior aware dē of rēbus the things quae which gerēbantur were going on; tum then, commōtus moved īrā with anger, contulit he betook sē himself ad to rēgem the king et and obtulit offered suum his auxilium help. Cum when rēx the king libenter gladly concessisset had granted eī him ut that līberāret he should free puellam the girl, sī if posset he could, Herculēs Hercules interfēcit killed mōnstrum the monster; et and redūxit he brought back puellam the girl, quae who iam already dēposuerat had given up omnem all spem hope salūtis of safety, incolumem unharmed ad to patrem her father. Lāomedōn Laomedon accēpit received suam his fīliam daughter cum with māgnō great gaudiō joy, et and rettulit rendered meritam due grātiam thanks Herculī to Hercules prō for tantō so great beneficiō a kindness.
Tum then vērō indeed Herculēs Hercules est was missus sent ad to īnsulam the island Erythīam Erythia, ut to arcesseret fetch bovēs the oxen Gēryonis of Geryon. Rēs the task erat was summae of the greatest difficultātis difficulty, quod because bovēs the oxen custōdiēbantur were guarded ā by quōdam a certain Eurytiōne Eurytion et and ā by bicipite a two-headed cane dog. Gēryōn Geryon ipse himself autem moreover praebēbat presented horribilem a horrible speciem appearance; enim for habēbat he had tria three corpora bodies coniūncta joined inter with sē one another. Herculēs Hercules tamen however, etsī although intellegēbat he understood quantum how great perīculum the danger esset was, suscēpit undertook negōtium the task; ac and postquam after fēcit he had made iter his way per through multās many terrās lands, pervēnit he arrived ad at eam that partem part Libyae of Libya quae which est is proxima nearest Eurōpae to Europe. Ibi there cōnstituit he set up columnās pillars in on utrōque each lītore shore fretī of the strait quod which dīvidit divides Eurōpam Europe ā from Libyā Libya, quae which posteā afterwards appellābantur were called Columnae the Pillars Herculis of Hercules.
Dum while morātur he was staying hīc here, Herculēs Hercules accipiēbat suffered māgnum great incommodum discomfort ex from calōre the heat sōlis of the sun; igitur so tandem at last, commōtus moved īrā with anger, intendit he bent suum his arcum bow et and petiit aimed at sōlem the sun sagittīs with arrows. Sōl the Sun tamen however est did tantum so much admīrātus admire audāciam the boldness virī of the man ut that dederit he gave eī him auream a golden lintrem boat. Herculēs Hercules accēpit accepted hōc this dōnum gift libentissimē most gladly, enim for potuerat he had been able invenīre to find nūllam no nāvem ship in in hīs these regiōnibus regions. Tum then dēdūxit he launched lintrem the boat, et and, nactus having found idōneum a favourable ventum wind, post after breve a short tempus time pervēnit he arrived ad at īnsulam the island. Ubi when cōgnōvit he learned ex from incolīs the inhabitants in in quō what locō place bovēs the oxen essent were, statim at once est he profectus set out in for eam that partem part et and postulāvit demanded ā of rēge king Gēryone Geryon ut that bovēs the oxen trāderentur should be handed over sibi to him. Cum since, tamen however, ille he nōllet was unwilling facere to do hōc this, Herculēs Hercules interfēcit killed et both rēgem the king ipsum himself et and Eurytiōnem Eurytion, quī who erat was ingentī of huge māgnitūdine size corporis of body.
Tum then Herculēs Hercules cōnstituit decided compellere to drive bovēs the oxen per through Hispāniam Spain et and Liguriam Liguria; igitur so postquam after omnia everything sunt was parāta ready, trānsportāvit he carried across bovēs the oxen ex from īnsulā the island ad to continentem the mainland. Ligurēs the Ligurians, autem however, bellicōsissima a most warlike gēns race, dum while ille he facit was making iter his way per through fīnīs the territory eōrum of them, coēgērunt collected māgnās large cōpiās forces atque and prohibēbant tried to prevent eum him prōgredī from advancing longius further. Herculēs Hercules habēbat had māgnam great difficultātem difficulty, enim for barbarī the barbarians cōnstiterant had taken their stand in on superiōribus higher locīs ground et and coniciēbant were hurling saxa stones tēlaque and weapons in at eum him. Ille he quidem indeed paene almost dēposuerat had given up omnem all spem hope salūtis of safety, sed but opportūnissimō at the most opportune tempore time Iuppiter Jupiter dēmīsit sent down imbrem a shower ingentium of huge lapidum stones ē from caelō the sky. Hī these cecidērunt fell tantā with such vī force ut that occīderint they killed māgnum a great numerum number Ligurum of the Ligurians; Herculēs Hercules ipse himself tamen however (ut as cōnsuēvit is wont accidere to happen in in tālibus such rēbus cases) cēpit received nihil nothing incommodī of harm.
Postquam after Ligurēs the Ligurians sunt had been superātī overcome hōc in this modō way, Herculēs Hercules est did prōgressus advance quam as celerrimē quickly as possible, et and post after paucōs a few diēs days pervēnit arrived ad at Alpīs the Alps. Erat it was necesse necessary trānsīre to cross hās these, ut in order that ageret he might drive bovēs the oxen in into Ītaliam Italy; rēs the task tamen however erat was summae of the greatest difficultātis difficulty. Enim for hī these montēs mountains, quī which dīvidunt divide ūlteriōrem Farther ā from citeriōre Hither Galliā Gaul, sunt are tēctī covered perennī with everlasting nive snow; ob for quam which causam reason neque neither frūmentum grain neque nor pābulum fodder potest can invenīrī be found in in hīs these regiōnibus regions. Herculēs Hercules igitur therefore, antequam before coepit he began ascendere to climb, comparāvit got together māgnam a large cōpiam supply frūmentī of grain et and pābulī of fodder et and onerāvit loaded bovēs the oxen hōc with these commeātū provisions. Postquam after cōnsūmpserat he had spent trīs three diēs days in on hīs these rēbus preparations, quartō on the fourth diē day est he profectus set out, et and contrā contrary to opīniōnem the expectation omnium of all trādūxit brought bovēs the oxen incolumīs safe in into Ītaliam Italy.
Brevī in a short tempore time vēnit he came ad to flūmen the river Tiberim Tiber. Tum at that time tamen however erat there was nūlla no urbs city in in eō that locō place, enim for Rōma Rome erat had nōndum not yet condita been founded. Herculēs Hercules, fessus weary itinere with the journey, cōnstituit decided morārī to stay ibi there paucōs a few diēs days, ut in order that recreāret he might refresh sē himself ex after labōribus his labours. Haud not procul far ā from valle the valley ubi where bovēs the oxen pāscēbantur were grazing erat there was spēlunca a cave, in in quā which Cācus Cacus, horribile a horrible mōnstrum monster, tum then habitābat lived. Hīc he praebēbat presented terribilem a terrible speciem appearance, nōn not modo only quod because erat he was ingentī of huge māgnitūdine size corporis of body, sed but quod because exspīrābat he breathed out īgnem fire ex from ōre his mouth. Cācus Cacus autem now accēperat had heard fāmam the report dē of adventū the arrival Herculis of Hercules; igitur so vēnit he came noctū by night, et and dum while Herculēs Hercules dormit was sleeping, abripuit he carried off quattuor four pulcherrimōrum of the finest boum oxen. Trāxit he dragged hōs these caudīs by their tails in into spēluncam the cave, nē lest Herculēs Hercules posset should be able cōgnōscere to learn ē from vestīgiīs the tracks in in quō what locō place essent they had been cēlātī hidden.
Posterō on the next diē day, simul as soon atque as est he was excitātus awakened ē from somnō sleep, Herculēs Hercules animadvertit noticed fūrtum the theft et and quaerēbat searched for āmissōs the lost bovēs oxen omnibus in all locīs places. Tamen but poterat he could reperīre find hōs them nūsquam nowhere, nōn not modo only quod because īgnōrābat he did not know nātūram the nature locī of the place, sed but quod because est he was dēceptus deceived falsīs by the false vestīgiīs tracks. Tandem at last, cum when cōnsūmpsisset he had spent māgnam a great partem part diēī of the day frūstrā in vain, cōnstituit he decided prōgredī to go on cum with reliquīs the remaining bōbus oxen. At but dum while parat he was preparing proficīscī to set out, ūnus one ē of bōbus the oxen quōs which habuit he had sēcum with him coepit began mūgīre to low. Subitō suddenly iī those quī which erant had been inclūsī shut up in in spēluncā the cave reddidērunt returned mūgītum the lowing, et and hōc in this modō way fēcērunt made Herculem Hercules certiōrem aware in in quō what locō place essent they had been cēlātī hidden. Ille he, vehementer violently īrātus angry, contulit betook sē himself quam as celerrimē quickly as possible ad to spēluncam the cave, ut in order that reciperet he might recover praedam the booty. At but Cācus Cacus dēiēcerat had thrown down ingēns a huge saxum rock ita in such a way ut that aditus the entrance spēluncae of the cave obstruerētur was blocked omnīnō completely.
Herculēs Hercules, cum since posset he could reperīre find nūllum no alium other introitum entrance, est did cōnātus try āmovēre to move away hōc this saxum rock, sed but propter because of ēius its māgnitūdinem size rēs the task erat was difficillima very difficult. Labōrābat he toiled diū for a long time frūstrā in vain, neque and not poterat could he efficere accomplish quicquam anything; tamen but tandem at last māgnō with a great cōnātū effort āmōvit he moved away saxum the rock et and patefēcit opened up spēluncam the cave. Ibi there cōnspēxit he caught sight of āmissōs the lost bovēs oxen cum with māgnō great gaudiō joy; sed but potuit he could vix scarcely cernere make out Cācum Cacus ipsum himself, quod because spēlunca the cave erat was replēta filled fūmō with smoke quem which ille he ēvomēbat was belching forth suō after his mōre custom. Herculēs Hercules, turbātus disturbed inūsitātā by the unusual speciē sight, haesitābat hesitated breve a short tempus time; mox soon tamen however inrūpit he burst in into spēluncam the cave et and est he complexus clasped collum the neck mōnstrī of the monster bracchiīs in his arms. Ille he, etsī although repūgnāvit he struggled multum hard, potuit could nūllō in no modō way līberāre free sē himself, et and cum since nūlla no facultās opportunity respīrandī of breathing darētur was given [eī] him, mox soon est he was exanimātus suffocated.
Gēns Amāzonum dīcitur omnīnō ex mulieribus cōnstitisse. Hae summam scientiam reī mīlitāris habēbant, et tantam virtūtem adhibēbant ut cum virīs proelium committere audērent. Hippolytē, Amāzonum rēgīna, balteum habuit celeberrimum quem Mārs eī dederat. Admēta autem, Eurystheī fīlia, fāmam dē hōc balteō accēperat et eum possidēre vehementer cupiēbat. Eurystheus igitur Herculī mandāvit ut cōpiās cōgeret et bellum Amāzonibus īnferret. Ille nūntiōs in omnīs partīs dīmīsit, et cum māgna multitūdō convēnisset, eōs dēlēgit quī māximum ūsum in rē mīlitārī habēbant.
Hīs virīs Herculēs persuāsit, postquam causam itineris exposuit, ut sēcum iter facerent. Tum cum iīs quibus persuāserat nāvem cōnscendit, et cum ventus idōneus esset, post paucōs diēs ad ōstium flūminis Thermōdontis appulit. Postquam in fīnīs Amāzonum vēnit, nūntium ad Hippolytam mīsit, quī causam veniendī docēret et balteum pōsceret. Ipsa Hippolytē balteum trādere volēbat, quod dē Herculis virtūte fāmam accēperat; reliquae tamen Amāzonēs eī persuāsērunt ut negāret. At Herculēs, cum haec nūntiāta essent, bellī fortūnam temptāre cōnstituit. Proximō igitur diē cum cōpiās ēdūxisset, locum idōneum dēlēgit et hostīs ad pūgnam ēvocāvit. Amāzonēs quoque cōpiās suās ex castrīs ēdūxērunt et nōn māgnō intervāllō ab Hercule aciem īnstrūxērunt.
Palūs erat nōn māgna inter duo exercitūs; neutrī tamen initium trānseundī facere volēbant. Tandem Herculēs sīgnum dedit, et ubi palūdem trānsiit, proelium commīsit. Amāzonēs impetum virōrum fortissimē sustinuērunt, et contrā opīniōnem omnium tantam virtūtem praestitērunt ut multōs eōrum occīderint, multōs etiam in fugam coniēcerint. Virī enim novō genere pūgnae perturbābantur nec māgnam virtūtem praestābant. Herculēs autem cum haec vidēret, dē suīs fortūnīs dēspērāre coepit. Mīlitēs igitur vehementer cohortātus est ut prīstinae virtūtis memoriam retinērent neu tantum dēdecus admitterent, hostiumque impetum fortiter sustinērent; quibus verbīs animōs omnium ita ērēxit ut multī etiam quī vulneribus cōnfectī essent proelium sine morā redintegrārent.
Diū et ācriter pūgnātum est; tandem tamen ad sōlis occāsum tanta commūtātiō rērum facta est ut mulierēs terga verterent et fugā salūtem peterent. Multae autem vulneribus dēfessae dum fugiunt captae sunt, in quō numerō ipsa erat Hippolytē. Herculēs summam clēmentiam praestitit, et postquam balteum accēpit, lībertātem omnibus captīvīs dedit. Tum vērō sociōs ad mare redūxit, et quod nōn multum aestātis supererat, in Graeciam proficīscī mātūrāvit. Nāvem igitur cōnscendit, et tempestātem idōneam nactus statim solvit; antequam tamen in Graeciam pervēnit, ad urbem Trōiam nāvem appellere cōnstituit, frūmentum enim quod sēcum habēbat iam dēficere coeperat.
Lāomedōn quīdam illō tempore rēgnum Trōiae obtinēbat. Ad hunc Neptūnus et Apollō annō superiōre vēnerant, et cum Trōia nōndum moenia habēret, ad hōc opus auxilium obtulerant. Postquam tamen hōrum auxiliō moenia cōnfecta sunt, nōlēbat Lāomedōn praemium quod prōposuerat persolvere. Neptūnus igitur et Apollō ob hanc causam īrātī mōnstrum quoddam mīsērunt speciē horribilī, quod cottīdiē ē marī veniēbat et homines pecudēsque vorābat. Trōiānī autem timōre perterritī in urbe continēbantur, et pecora omnia ex agrīs intrā mūrōs compulerant. Lāomedōn hīs rēbus commōtus ōrāculum cōnsuluit, ac deus eī praecēpit ut filiam Hēsionem mōnstrō obiceret.
Lāomedōn, cum hōc respōnsum renūntiātum esset, māgnum dolōrem percēpit; sed tamen, ut cīvīs suōs tantō perīculō līberāret, ōrāculō pārēre cōnstituit et diem sacrificiō dīxit. Sed sīve cāsū sīve cōnsiliō deōrum Herculēs tempore opportūnissimō Trōiam attigit; ipsō enim temporis punctō quō puella catēnīs vincta ad lītus dēdūcēbātur ille nāvem appulit. Herculēs ē nāvī ēgressus dē rēbus quae gerēbantur certior factus est; tum īrā commōtus ad rēgem sē contulit et auxilium suum obtulit. Cum rēx libenter eī concessisset ut, sī posset, puellam līberāret, Herculēs mōnstrum interfēcit; et puellam, quae iam omnem spem salūtis dēposuerat, incolumem ad patrem redūxit. Lāomedōn māgnō cum gaudiō fīliam suam accēpit, et Herculī prō tantō beneficiō meritam grātiam rettulit.
Tum vērō missus est Herculēs ad īnsulam Erythīam, ut bovēs Gēryonis arcesseret. Rēs erat summae difficultātis, quod bovēs ā quōdam Eurytiōne et ā cane bicipite custōdiēbantur. Ipse autem Gēryōn speciem horribilem praebēbat; tria enim corpora inter sē coniūncta habēbat. Herculēs tamen etsī intellegēbat quantum perīculum esset, negōtium suscēpit; ac postquam per multās terrās iter fēcit, ad eam partem Libyae pervēnit quae Eurōpae proxima est. Ibi in utrōque lītore fretī quod Eurōpam ā Libyā dīvidit columnās cōnstituit, quae posteā Herculis Columnae appellābantur.
Dum hīc morātur, Herculēs māgnum incommodum ex calōre sōlis accipiēbat; tandem igitur īrā commōtus arcum suum intendit et sōlem sagittīs petiit. Sōl tamen audāciam virī tantum admīrātus est ut lintrem auream eī dederit. Herculēs hōc dōnum libentissimē accēpit, nūllam enim nāvem in hīs regiōnibus invenīre potuerat. Tum lintrem dēdūxit, et ventum nactus idōneum post breve tempus ad īnsulam pervēnit. Ubi ex incolīs cōgnōvit quō in locō bovēs essent, in eam partem statim profectus est et ā rēge Gēryone postulāvit ut bovēs sibi trāderentur. Cum tamen ille hōc facere nōllet, Herculēs et rēgem ipsum et Eurytiōnem, quī erat ingentī māgnitūdine corporis, interfēcit.
Tum Herculēs bovēs per Hispāniam et Liguriam compellere cōnstituit; postquam igitur omnia parāta sunt, bovēs ex īnsulā ad continentem trānsportāvit. Ligurēs autem, gēns bellicōsissima, dum ille per fīnīs eōrum iter facit, māgnās cōpiās coēgērunt atque eum longius prōgredī prohibēbant. Herculēs māgnam difficultātem habēbat, barbarī enim in locīs superiōribus cōnstiterant et saxa tēlaque in eum coniciēbant. Ille quidem paene omnem spem salūtis dēposuerat, sed tempore opportūnissimō Iuppiter imbrem lapidum ingentium ē caelō dēmīsit. Hī tantā vī cecidērunt ut māgnum numerum Ligurum occīderint; ipse tamen Herculēs (ut in tālibus rēbus accidere cōnsuēvit) nihil incommodī cēpit.
Postquam Ligurēs hōc modō superātī sunt, Herculēs quam celerrimē prōgressus est et post paucōs diēs ad Alpīs pervēnit. Necesse erat hās trānsīre, ut in Ītaliam bovēs ageret; rēs tamen summae erat difficultātis. Hī enim montēs, quī ūlteriōrem ā citeriōre Galliā dīvidunt, nive perennī sunt tēctī; quam ob causam neque frūmentum neque pābulum in hīs regiōnibus invenīrī potest. Herculēs igitur antequam ascendere coepit, māgnam cōpiam frūmentī et pābulī comparāvit et hōc commeātū bovēs onerāvit. Postquam in hīs rēbus trīs diēs cōnsūmpserat, quartō diē profectus est, et contrā omnium opīniōnem bovēs incolumīs in Ītaliam trādūxit.
Brevī tempore ad flūmen Tiberim vēnit. Tum tamen nūlla erat urbs in eō locō, Rōma enim nōndum condita erat. Herculēs itinere fessus cōnstituit ibi paucōs diēs morārī, ut sē ex labōribus recreāret. Haud procul ā valle ubi bovēs pāscēbantur spēlunca erat, in quā Cācus, horribile mōnstrum, tum habitābat. Hīc speciem terribilem praebēbat, nōn modo quod ingentī māgnitūdine corporis erat, sed quod īgnem ex ōre exspīrābat. Cācus autem dē adventū Herculis fāmam accēperat; noctū igitur vēnit, et dum Herculēs dormit, quattuor pulcherrimōrum boum abripuit. Hōs caudīs in spēluncam trāxit, nē Herculēs ē vestīgiīs cōgnōscere posset quō in locō cēlātī essent.
Posterō diē simul atque ē somnō excitātus est, Herculēs fūrtum animadvertit et bovēs āmissōs omnibus locīs quaerēbat. Hōs tamen nūsquam reperīre poterat, nōn modo quod locī nātūram īgnōrābat, sed quod vestīgiīs falsīs dēceptus est. Tandem cum māgnam partem diēī frūstrā cōnsūmpsisset, cum reliquīs bōbus prōgredī cōnstituit. At dum proficīscī parat, ūnus ē bōbus quōs sēcum habuit mūgīre coepit. Subitō iī quī in spēluncā inclūsī erant mūgītum reddidērunt, et hōc modō Herculem certiōrem fēcērunt quō in locō cēlātī essent. Ille vehementer īrātus ad spēluncam quam celerrimē sē contulit, ut praedam reciperet. At Cācus saxum ingēns ita dēiēcerat ut aditus spēluncae omnīnō obstruerētur.
Herculēs cum nūllum alium introitum reperīre posset, hōc saxum āmovēre cōnātus est, sed propter ēius māgnitūdinem rēs erat difficillima. Diū frūstrā labōrābat neque quicquam efficere poterat; tandem tamen māgnō cōnātū saxum āmōvit et spēluncam patefēcit. Ibi āmissōs bovēs māgnō cum gaudiō cōnspēxit; sed Cācum ipsum vix cernere potuit, quod spēlunca replēta erat fūmō quem ille mōre suō ēvomēbat. Herculēs inūsitātā speciē turbātus breve tempus haesitābat; mox tamen in spēluncam inrūpit et collum mōnstrī bracchiīs complexus est. Ille etsī multum repūgnāvit, nūllō modō sē līberāre potuit, et cum nūlla facultās respīrandī darētur, mox exanimātus est.