# Prīmus et Secundus Annus, Hercules

Fabulae Faciles

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.

Source: https://1732studios.com/courses/la/38. Data: https://1732studios.com/courses/la/38.json.

## The Hatred of Juno (Fabulae Faciles 12)

**1** Herculēs, Alcmēnae fīlius, ōlim in Graeciā habitābat.  
Hercules, the son of Alcmena, once lived in Greece.

**2** Hīc omnium hominum validissimus fuisse dīcitur.  
He is said to have been the strongest of all men.

**3** At Iūnō, rēgīna deōrum, Alcmēnam ōderat et Herculem adhūc īnfantem necāre voluit.  
But Juno, the queen of the gods, hated Alcmena and wanted to kill Hercules while he was still an infant.

**4** Mīsit igitur duās serpentīs saevissimās; hae mediā nocte in cubiculum Alcmēnae vēnērunt, ubi Herculēs cum frātre suō dormiēbat.  
She therefore sent two most savage serpents; these came in the middle of the night into the bedroom of Alcmena, where Hercules was sleeping with his brother.

**5** Nec tamen in cūnīs, sed in scūtō māgnō cubābant.  
They were lying, however, not in a cradle, but on a great shield.

**6** Serpentēs iam appropinquāverant et scūtum movēbant; itaque puerī ē somnō excitātī sunt.  
The serpents had already drawn near and were moving the shield; and so the boys were roused from sleep.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| serpentīs | serpent, snake, from serpens |
| cūnīs | cradle, from cuna |

## Hercules and the Serpents (Fabulae Faciles 13)

**7** Īphiclēs, frāter Herculis, māgnā vōce exclāmāvit; sed Herculēs ipse, fortissimus puer, haudquāquam territus est.  
Iphicles, the brother of Hercules, cried out in a loud voice; but Hercules himself, a most brave boy, was not frightened at all.

**8** Parvīs manibus serpentīs statim prehendit, et colla eārum māgnā vī compressit.  
With his little hands he at once seized the serpents, and crushed their necks with great force.

**9** Tālī modō serpentēs ā puerō interfectae sunt.  
In such a way the serpents were killed by the boy.

**10** Alcmēna autem, māter puerōrum, clāmōrem audīverat, et marītum suum ē somnō excitāverat.  
Alcmena, however, the mother of the boys, had heard the shouting, and had roused her husband from sleep.

**11** 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.  
He lit a lamp and snatched up his sword; then he was hurrying to the boys, but when he came to the place he saw an astonishing thing, for Hercules was laughing and showing him the dead serpents.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| prehendit | catch, from prehendo |

## The Music-lesson (Fabulae Faciles 14)

**12** Herculēs ā puerō corpus suum dīligenter exercēbat; māgnam partem diēī in palaestrā cōnsūmēbat; didicit etiam arcum intendere et tēla conicere.  
From boyhood Hercules used to train his body diligently; he spent a great part of the day in the wrestling-school; he learned too to draw the bow and to hurl the javelin.

**13** Hīs exercitātiōnibus vīrēs ēius cōnfīrmātae sunt.  
By these exercises his strength was made firm.

**14** In mūsicā etiam ā Linō centaurō ērudiēbātur (centaurī autem equī erant sed caput hominis habēbant); huic tamen artī minus dīligenter studēbat.  
In music too he was taught by Linus the centaur (the centaurs, however, were horses but had the head of a man); to this art, though, he applied himself less diligently.

**15** Hīc Linus Herculem ōlim obiūrgābat, quod nōn studiōsus erat; tum puer īrātus citharam subitō rapuit, et omnibus vīribus caput magistrī īnfēlīcis percussit.  
This Linus once scolded Hercules, because he was not studious; then the angry boy suddenly snatched up the lyre, and struck the head of his unlucky master with all his strength.

**16** Ille īctū prōstrātus est, et paulō post ē vītā excessit, neque quisquam posteā id officium suscipere voluit.  
He was laid low by the blow, and a little later departed from life, and no one afterwards was willing to take on that duty.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| palaestrā | palaestra, wrestling school |
| exercitātiōnibus | exercise, training, from exercitatio |
| centaurō | centaur, a mythical creature, from Centaurus |
| obiūrgābat | scold, chide, from objurgo |

## Hercules Escapes Sacrifice (Fabulae Faciles 15)

**17** Dē Hercule haec etiam inter alia nārrantur.  
About Hercules this too, among other things, is told.

**18** Ōlim dum iter facit, in fīnīs Aegyptiōrum vēnit.  
Once while he was making a journey, he came into the territory of the Egyptians.

**19** Ibi rēx quīdam, nōmine Būsīris, illō tempore rēgnābat; hīc autem vir crūdēlissimus hominēs immolāre cōnsuēverat.  
There a certain king, Busiris by name, was reigning at that time; and this most cruel man had made a practice of sacrificing men.

**20** Herculem igitur corripuit et in vincula coniēcit.  
He therefore seized Hercules and threw him into chains.

**21** Tum nūntiōs dīmīsit et diem sacrificiō ēdīxit.  
Then he sent out messengers and appointed a day for the sacrifice.

**22** Mox ea diēs appetēbat, et omnia rīte parāta sunt.  
Soon that day was drawing near, and everything was prepared according to the rite.

**23** Manūs Herculis catēnīs ferreīs vinctae sunt, et mola salsa in caput ēius īnspersa est.  
The hands of Hercules were bound with iron chains, and salted meal was sprinkled on his head.

**24** Mōs enim erat apud antīquōs salem et fār capitibus victimārum impōnere.  
For it was the custom among the ancients to put salt and grain on the heads of the victims.

**25** Iam victima ad āram stābat; iam sacerdōs cultrum sūmpserat.  
Already the victim was standing at the altar; already the priest had taken up the knife.

**26** Subitō tamen Herculēs māgnō cōnātū vincula perrūpit; tum īctū sacerdōtem prōstrāvit; alterō rēgem ipsum occīdit.  
Suddenly, however, Hercules broke his chains with a great effort; then with one blow he laid the priest low; with another he killed the king himself.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| appetēbat | seek, desire, from appeto |
| mola | millstone |
| salsa | salted things |
| īnspersa | sprinkle upon |
| cōnātū | effort, from conatus |
| perrūpit | break through, from perrumpo |

## A Cruel Deed (Fabulae Faciles 16)

**27** Herculēs iam adulēscēns Thēbīs habitābat.  
Hercules, now a young man, was living at Thebes.

**28** Rēx Thēbārum, vir īgnāvus, Creōn appellābātur.  
The king of Thebes, a cowardly man, was called Creon.

**29** Minyae, gēns bellicōsissima, Thēbānīs fīnitimī erant.  
The Minyae, a most warlike people, were neighbors to the Thebans.

**30** Lēgātī autem ā Minyīs ad Thēbānōs quotannīs mittēbantur; hī Thēbās veniēbant et centum bovēs postulābant.  
Envoys were sent every year from the Minyae to the Thebans; these came to Thebes and demanded a hundred oxen.

**31** Thēbānī enim ōlim ā Minyīs superātī erant; tribūta igitur rēgī Minyārum quotannīs pendēbant.  
For the Thebans had once been overcome by the Minyae; so they paid tribute every year to the king of the Minyae.

**32** At Herculēs cīvīs suōs hōc stīpendiō līberāre cōnstituit; lēgātōs igitur comprehendit, atque aurīs eōrum abscīdit.  
But Hercules decided to free his fellow citizens from this payment; he therefore seized the envoys, and cut off their ears.

**33** Lēgātī autem apud omnīs gentīs sānctī habentur.  
Envoys, however, are held sacred among all peoples.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Thēbīs | Thebes, from Thebae |
| Minyae | the Minyae |
| bellicōsissima | warlike, fierce, from bellicosus |
| tribūta | tax, tribute, from tributum |
| sānctī | saint, from sanctum |

## The Defeat of the Minyae (Fabulae Faciles 17)

**34** Ergīnus, rēx Minyārum, ob haec vehementer īrātus statim cum omnibus cōpiīs in fīnīs Thēbānōrum contendit.  
Erginus, king of the Minyae, violently angry at this, at once hurried with all his forces into the territory of the Thebans.

**35** Creōn adventum ēius per explōrātōrēs cōgnōvit.  
Creon learned of his coming through scouts.

**36** Ipse tamen pūgnāre nōluit, nam māgnō timōre adfectus erat; Thēbānī igitur Herculem imperātōrem creāvērunt.  
He himself, however, was unwilling to fight, for he had been seized with great fear; the Thebans therefore made Hercules their commander.

**37** Ille nūntiōs in omnīs partīs dīmīsit, et cōpiās coēgit; tum proximō diē cum māgnō exercitū profectus est.  
He sent messengers out in all directions and gathered forces; then on the next day he set out with a great army.

**38** Locum idōneum dēlēgit et aciem īnstrūxit.  
He chose a suitable place and drew up his line of battle.

**39** Tum Thēbānī ē superiōre locō impetum in hostīs fēcērunt.  
Then the Thebans made an attack on the enemy from the higher ground.

**40** Illī autem impetum sustinēre nōn potuērunt; itaque aciēs hostium pulsa est atque in fugam conversa.  
But those men could not withstand the attack; and so the enemy's line was driven back and turned to flight.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| pulsa | beat, from pello |

## Madness and Murder (Fabulae Faciles 18)

**41** Post hōc proelium Herculēs cōpiās suās ad urbem redūxit.  
After this battle Hercules led his forces back to the city.

**42** Omnēs Thēbānī propter victōriam māximē gaudēbant; Creōn autem māgnīs honōribus Herculem decorāvit, atque fīliam suam eī in mātrimōnium dedit.  
All the Thebans were rejoicing greatly over the victory; and Creon honored Hercules with great honors, and gave him his own daughter in marriage.

**43** Herculēs cum uxōre suā beātam vītam agēbat; sed post paucōs annōs subitō in furōrem incidit, atque līberōs suōs ipse suā manū occīdit.  
Hercules was leading a happy life with his wife; but after a few years he suddenly fell into madness, and with his own hand killed his own children.

**44** Post breve tempus ad sānitātem reductus est, et propter hōc facinus māgnō dolōre adfectus est; mox ex urbe effūgit et in silvās sē recēpit.  
After a short time he was brought back to his senses, and was filled with great grief because of this deed; soon he fled from the city and withdrew into the woods.

**45** Nōlēbant enim cīvēs sermōnem cum eō habēre.  
For the citizens were unwilling to hold conversation with him.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| furōrem | madness, from furor |
| sānitātem | health, sanity, from sanitas |

## Hercules Consults the Oracle (Fabulae Faciles 19)

**46** Herculēs tantum scelus expiāre māgnopere cupiēbat.  
Hercules greatly desired to make atonement for so great a crime.

**47** Cōnstituit igitur ad ōrāculum Delphicum īre; hōc enim ōrāculum erat omnium celeberrimum.  
He decided therefore to go to the oracle at Delphi; for this oracle was the most famous of all.

**48** Ibi templum erat Apollinis plūrimīs dōnīs ōrnātum.  
There stood a temple of Apollo adorned with very many gifts.

**49** Hōc in templō sedēbat fēmina quaedam, nōmine Pȳthia et cōnsilium dabat iīs quī ad ōrāculum veniēbant.  
In this temple sat a certain woman, Pythia by name, and she gave counsel to those who came to the oracle.

**50** Haec autem fēmina ab ipsō Apolline docēbātur, et voluntātem deī hominibus ēnūntiābat.  
This woman, moreover, was taught by Apollo himself, and declared the will of the god to men.

**51** Herculēs igitur, quī Apollinem praecipuē colēbat, hūc vēnit.  
Hercules therefore, who worshipped Apollo especially, came here.

**52** Tum rem tōtam exposuit, neque scelus cēlāvit.  
Then he set out the whole matter, and did not conceal his crime.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Delphicum | Delphic, from Delphicus |

## The Oracle's Reply (Fabulae Faciles 20)

**53** Ubi Herculēs fīnem fēcit, Pȳthia prīmō tacēbat; tandem tamen iussit eum ad urbem Tīryntha īre, et Eurystheī rēgis omnia imperāta facere.  
When Hercules had finished, Pythia at first was silent; at last, however, she ordered him to go to the city of Tiryns, and to do everything king Eurystheus commanded.

**54** Herculēs ubi haec audīvit, ad urbem illam contendit, et Eurystheō rēgī sē in servitūtem trādidit.  
When Hercules heard this, he hurried to that city, and gave himself into slavery to king Eurystheus.

**55** Duodecim annōs crūdēlissimō Eurystheō serviēbat, et duodecim labōrēs, quōs ille imperāverat, cōnfēcit; hōc enim ūnō modō tantum scelus expiārī potuit.  
For twelve years he served the most cruel Eurystheus, and completed twelve labors, which that man had commanded; for in this one way alone could so great a crime be atoned for.

**56** Dē hīs labōribus plūrima ā poētīs scrīpta sunt.  
About these labors very many things have been written by the poets.

**57** Multa tamen quae poētae nārrant vix crēdibilia sunt.  
Many things, however, which the poets tell are scarcely believable.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Tīryntha | Tiryns, a city of Argolis |
| crēdibilia | credible, from credibilis |

## First Labor: The Nemean Lion (Fabulae Faciles 21)

**58** Prīmum ab Eurystheō iūssus est Herculēs leōnem occīdere quī illō tempore vallem Nemeaeam reddēbat īnfēstam.  
First Hercules was ordered by Eurystheus to kill the lion which at that time was making the valley of Nemea unsafe.

**59** In silvās igitur in quibus leō habitābat statim sē contulit.  
He therefore betook himself at once into the woods in which the lion lived.

**60** Mox feram vīdit, et arcum, quem sēcum attulerat, intendit; ēius tamen pellem, quae dēnsissima erat, trāicere nōn potuit.  
Soon he saw the beast, and drew the bow which he had brought with him; he could not, however, pierce its hide, which was very thick.

**61** Tum clāvā māgnā quam semper gerēbat leōnem percussit, frūstrā tamen; neque enim hōc modō eum occīdere potuit.  
Then he struck the lion with the great club which he always carried, but in vain; for not in this way either could he kill it.

**62** Tum dēmum collum mōnstrī bracchiīs suīs complexus est et faucīs ēius omnibus vīribus compressit.  
Then at last he threw his arms around the monster's neck and crushed its throat with all his strength.

**63** Hōc modō leō brevī tempore exanimātus est; nūlla enim respīrandī facultās eī dabātur.  
In this way the lion was in a short time killed; for no chance of breathing was given it.

**64** Tum Herculēs cadāver ad oppidum in umerīs rettulit; et pellem, quam dētrāxerat, posteā prō veste gerēbat.  
Then Hercules carried the carcass back to the town on his shoulders; and the hide, which he had stripped off, he wore afterwards instead of a garment.

**65** Omnēs autem quī eam regiōnem incolēbant, ubi fāmam dē morte leōnis accēpērunt, vehementer gaudēbant et Herculem māgnō honōre habēbant.  
And all who lived in that region, when they received the report of the lion's death, rejoiced greatly and held Hercules in great honor.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Nemeaeam | of Nemea |
| clāvā | club, cudgel |
| respīrandī | breathe out, from respiro |
| dētrāxerat | drag, from detraho |

## Second Labor: The Lernean Hydra (Fabulae Faciles 22)

**66** Paulō post iūssus est ab Eurystheō Hydram necāre.  
A little later he was ordered by Eurystheus to kill the Hydra.

**67** Hōc autem mōnstrum erat cui novem erant capita.  
This monster had nine heads.

**68** Herculēs igitur cum amīcō Iolāō profectus est ad palūdem Lernaeam, in quā Hydra habitābat.  
Hercules therefore set out with his friend Iolaus for the Lernean marsh, in which the Hydra lived.

**69** Mox mōnstrum invēnit, et quamquam rēs erat māgnī perīculī, collum ēius sinistrā prehendit.  
Soon he found the monster, and although the thing was of great danger, he seized its neck with his left hand.

**70** Tum dextrā capita novem abscīdere coepit; quotiēns tamen hōc fēcerat, nova capita exoriēbantur.  
Then with his right he began to cut off the nine heads; but as often as he had done this, new heads kept springing up.

**71** Diū frūstrā labōrābat; tandem hōc cōnātū dēstitit.  
For a long time he labored in vain; at last he gave up this attempt.

**72** Deinde arborēs succīdere et īgnem accendere cōnstituit.  
Then he decided to cut down trees and to light a fire.

**73** Hōc celeriter fēcit, et postquam līgna īgnem comprehendērunt, face ārdente colla adūssit, unde capita exoriēbantur.  
This he did quickly, and after the wood had caught fire, he burned the necks with a blazing brand, where the heads kept springing up.

**74** Nec tamen sine māgnō labōre haec fēcit; vēnit enim auxiliō Hydrae cancer ingēns, quī, dum Herculēs capita abscīdit, crūra ēius mordēbat.  
Nor did he do this without great labor; for a huge crab came to the Hydra's help, which, while Hercules was cutting off the heads, kept biting his legs.

**75** Postquam mōnstrum tālī modō interfēcit, sagittās suās sanguine ēius imbuit, itaque mortiferās reddidit.  
After he had killed the monster in such a way, he steeped his arrows in its blood, and so made them deadly.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Hydram | the Hydra, from Hydra |
| Lernaeam | Lernæean, from Lernaeus |
| succīdere | cut down, from succido |
| līgna | wood, from lignum |
| adūssit | scorch, singe, from aduro |
| cancer | crab |
| mortiferās | deadly, fatal, from mortifer |

## Third Labor: The Cerynean Stag (Fabulae Faciles 23)

**76** Postquam Eurystheō caedēs Hydrae nūntiāta est, māgnus timor animum ēius occupāvit.  
After the slaying of the Hydra had been reported to Eurystheus, great fear took hold of his mind.

**77** Iussit igitur Herculem cervum quendam ad sē referre; nōluit enim virum tantae audāciae in urbe retinēre.  
He therefore ordered Hercules to bring a certain stag back to him; for he was unwilling to keep a man of such daring in the city.

**78** Hīc autem cervus, cūius cornua aurea fuisse trāduntur, incrēdibilī fuit celeritāte.  
This stag, whose horns are said to have been of gold, was of incredible swiftness.

**79** Herculēs igitur prīmō vestīgiīs eum in silvā persequēbātur; deinde ubi cervum ipsum vīdit, omnibus vīribus currere coepit.  
Hercules therefore at first followed it by its tracks in the wood; then, when he saw the stag itself, he began to run with all his strength.

**80** Ūsque ad vesperum currēbat, neque nocturnum tempus sibi ad quiētem relinquēbat, frūstrā tamen; nūllō enim modō cervum cōnsequī poterat.  
He kept running right up to evening, and left himself no time at night for rest, but in vain; for in no way could he overtake the stag.

**81** Tandem postquam tōtum annum cucurrerat (ita trāditur), cervum cursū exanimātum cēpit, et vīvum ad Eurystheum rettulit.  
At last, after he had run for a whole year (so it is handed down), he caught the stag, worn out by the chase, and brought it back alive to Eurystheus.

## Fourth Labor: The Erymanthian Boar (Fabulae Faciles 24)

**82** Tum vērō iūssus est Herculēs aprum quendam capere quī illō tempore agrōs Erymanthiōs vāstābat et incolās hūius regiōnis māgnopere terrēbat.  
Then indeed Hercules was ordered to catch a certain boar which at that time was laying waste the fields of Erymanthus and greatly terrifying the inhabitants of this region.

**83** Herculēs rem suscēpit et in Arcadiam profectus est.  
Hercules undertook the task and set out for Arcadia.

**84** Postquam in silvam paulum prōgressus est, aprō occurrit.  
After he had gone forward a little into the wood, he met the boar.

**85** Ille autem simul atque Herculem vīdit, statim refūgit; et timōre perterritus in altam fossam sē prōiēcit.  
But as soon as it saw Hercules, it at once fled; and, terrified with fear, threw itself into a deep pit.

**86** Herculēs igitur laqueum quem attulerat iniēcit, et summā cum difficultāte aprum ē fossā extrāxit.  
Hercules therefore threw in the noose which he had brought, and with the greatest difficulty dragged the boar out of the pit.

**87** Ille etsī fortiter repūgnābat, nūllō modō sē līberāre potuit; et ab Hercule ad Eurystheum vīvus relātus est.  
Although it fought back bravely, it could in no way free itself; and it was carried back alive by Hercules to Eurystheus.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Erymanthiōs | of Erymanthus |
| etsī | although, though |

## Hercules at the Centaur's Cave (Fabulae Faciles 25)

**88** Dē quartō labōre, quem suprā nārrāvimus, haec etiam trāduntur.  
About the fourth labor, which we have told of above, this too is handed down.

**89** Herculēs dum iter in Arcadiam facit, ad eam regiōnem vēnit quam centaurī incolēbant.  
While Hercules was making his journey into Arcadia, he came to that region which the centaurs inhabited.

**90** Cum nox iam appeteret, ad spēluncam dēvertit in quā centaurus quīdam, nōmine Pholus, habitābat.  
Since night was now drawing on, he turned aside to a cave in which a certain centaur, Pholus by name, was living.

**91** Ille Herculem benīgnē excēpit et cēnam parāvit.  
He received Hercules kindly and prepared a dinner.

**92** At Herculēs postquam cēnāvit, vīnum ā Pholō postulāvit.  
But Hercules, after he had dined, asked Pholus for wine.

**93** Erat autem in spēluncā māgna amphora vīnō optimō replēta, quam centaurī ibi dēposuerant.  
Now there was in the cave a great jar filled with the best wine, which the centaurs had stored there.

**94** Pholus igitur hōc vīnum dare nōlēbat, quod reliquōs centaurōs timēbat; nūllum tamen vīnum praeter hōc in spēluncā habēbat.  
Pholus therefore was unwilling to give this wine, because he feared the other centaurs; yet he had no wine in the cave except this.

**95** "Hōc vīnum," inquit, "mihi commissum est.  
"This wine," he said, "has been entrusted to me.

**96** Sī igitur hōc dabō, centaurī mē interficient." Herculēs tamen eum inrīsit, et ipse pōculum vīnī dē amphorā hausit.  
If therefore I give it, the centaurs will kill me." Hercules, however, laughed at him, and himself drew a cup of wine from the jar.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| inrīsit | laugh at, ridicule, from inrideo |

## The Fight with the Centaurs (Fabulae Faciles 26)

**97** Simul atque amphora aperta est, odor iūcundissimus undique diffūsus est; vīnum enim suāvissimum erat.  
As soon as the jar was opened, a most delightful smell spread out in every direction; for the wine was very sweet.

**98** Centaurī nōtum odōrem sēnsērunt et omnēs ad locum convēnērunt.  
The centaurs caught the familiar smell and all gathered at the place.

**99** Ubi ad spēluncam pervēnērunt, māgnopere īrātī erant quod Herculem bibentem vīdērunt.  
When they reached the cave, they were greatly angered because they saw Hercules drinking.

**100** Tum arma rapuērunt et Pholum interficere volēbant.  
Then they snatched up arms and wanted to kill Pholus.

**101** Herculēs tamen in aditū spēluncae cōnstitit et impetum eōrum fortissimē sustinēbat.  
Hercules, however, took his stand in the entrance of the cave and withstood their attack most bravely.

**102** Facēs ārdentīs in eōs coniēcit; multōs etiam sagittīs suīs vulnerāvit.  
He hurled blazing brands at them; many too he wounded with his arrows.

**103** Hae autem sagittae eaedem erant quae sanguine Hydrae ōlim imbūtae erant.  
These arrows, moreover, were the same ones which had once been steeped in the Hydra's blood.

**104** Omnēs igitur quōs ille sagittīs vulnerāverat venēnō statim absūmptī sunt; reliquī autem ubi hōc vīdērunt, terga vertērunt et fugā salūtem petiērunt.  
All therefore whom he had wounded with his arrows were at once destroyed by the poison; and the rest, when they saw this, turned their backs and sought safety in flight.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| iūcundissimus | pleasant, from jucundus |
| suāvissimum | agreeable, pleasant, from suavis |
| nōtum | well known, familiar, from notus |

## The Fate of Pholus (Fabulae Faciles 27)

**105** Postquam reliquī fūgērunt, Pholus ex spēluncā ēgressus est, et corpora spectābat eōrum quī sagittīs interfectī erant.  
After the rest had fled, Pholus came out of the cave, and was looking at the bodies of those who had been killed by the arrows.

**106** Māgnopere autem mīrātus est quod tam levī vulnere exanimātī erant, et causam ēius reī quaerēbat.  
He wondered greatly that they had been killed by so slight a wound, and was looking for the cause of the thing.

**107** Adiit igitur locum ubi cadāver cūiusdam centaurī iacēbat, et sagittam ē vulnere trāxit.  
He went therefore to the place where the body of a certain centaur was lying, and drew an arrow out of the wound.

**108** Haec tamen sīve cāsū sīve cōnsiliō deōrum ē manibus ēius lapsa est, et pedem leviter vulnerāvit.  
This, however, whether by chance or by the plan of the gods, slipped from his hands and lightly wounded his foot.

**109** Ille extemplō dolōrem gravem per omnia membra sēnsit, et post breve tempus vī venēnī exanimātus est.  
He at once felt a heavy pain through all his limbs, and after a short time died from the force of the poison.

**110** Mox Herculēs, quī reliquōs centaurōs secūtus erat, ad spēluncam rediit, et māgnō cum dolōre Pholum mortuum vīdit.  
Soon Hercules, who had pursued the remaining centaurs, returned to the cave, and with great grief saw Pholus dead.

**111** Multīs cum lacrimīs corpus amīcī ad sepultūram dedit; tum, postquam alterum pōculum vīnī exhausit, somnō sē dedit.  
With many tears he gave his friend's body to burial; then, after he had drained a second cup of wine, he gave himself to sleep.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| mīrātus | wonderful, strange |
| leviter | lightly |
| venēnī | poison, from venenum |
| exhausit | draw out, from exhaurio |

## Fifth Labor: The Augean Stables (Fabulae Faciles 28)

**112** Deinde Eurystheus Herculī hunc labōrem graviōrem imposuit.  
Next Eurystheus laid this heavier labor on Hercules.

**113** Augēās quīdam, quī illō tempore rēgnum in Ēlide obtinēbat, tria mīlia boum habēbat.  
A certain Augeas, who at that time held the kingship in Elis, had three thousand oxen.

**114** Hī in stabulō ingentis māgnitūdinis inclūdēbantur.  
These were shut up in a stable of huge size.

**115** Stabulum autem inluviē ac squālōre erat obsitum, neque enim ad hōc tempus umquam pūrgātum erat.  
The stable, moreover, was covered with dirt and filth, for it had never been cleaned out up to this time.

**116** Hōc Herculēs intrā spatium ūnīus diēī pūrgāre iūssus est.  
Hercules was ordered to clean this out within the space of one day.

**117** Ille, etsī rēs erat multae operae, negōtium suscēpit.  
He, although the thing was one of much toil, took on the task.

**118** Prīmum māgnō labōre fossam duodēvīgintī pedum dūxit, per quam flūminis aquam dē montibus ad mūrum stabulī perdūxit.  
First with great labor he dug a trench eighteen feet wide, through which he brought the water of a river down from the mountains to the wall of the stable.

**119** Tum postquam mūrum perrūpit, aquam in stabulum immīsit et tālī modō contrā opīniōnem omnium opus cōnfēcit.  
Then, after he had broken through the wall, he let the water into the stable, and in such a way, against everyone's expectation, finished the work.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| inclūdēbantur | shut up, imprison |
| inluviē | dirt, filth, from illuvies |
| squālōre | squalor, filth, from squalor |
| duodēvīgintī | eighteen |

## Sixth Labor: The Stymphalian Birds (Fabulae Faciles 29)

**120** Post paucōs diēs Herculēs ad oppidum Stymphālum iter fēcit; imperāverat enim eī Eurystheus ut avīs Stymphālidēs necāret.  
After a few days Hercules made a journey to the town of Stymphalus; for Eurystheus had ordered him to kill the Stymphalian birds.

**121** Hae avēs rōstra aēnea habēbant et carne hominum vēscēbantur.  
These birds had beaks of bronze and fed on the flesh of men.

**122** Ille postquam ad locum pervēnit, lacum vīdit; in hōc autem lacū, quī nōn procul erat ab oppidō, avēs habitābant.  
After he reached the place, he saw a lake; and in this lake, which was not far from the town, the birds lived.

**123** Nūlla tamen dabātur appropinquandī facultās; lacus enim nōn ex aquā sed ē līmō cōnstitit.  
No chance of coming near, however, was given; for the lake was made not of water but of mud.

**124** Herculēs igitur neque pedibus neque lintre prōgredī potuit.  
Hercules therefore could go forward neither on foot nor in a boat.

**125** Ille cum māgnam partem diēī frūstrā cōnsūmpsisset, hōc cōnātū dēstitit et ad Volcānum sē contulit, ut auxilium ab eō peteret.  
When he had spent a great part of the day in vain, he gave up this attempt and betook himself to Vulcan, to seek help from him.

**126** Volcānus (quī ab fabrīs māximē colēbātur) crepundia quae ipse ex aere fabricātus erat Herculī dedit.  
Vulcan (who was worshipped above all by smiths) gave Hercules a rattle which he had made himself out of bronze.

**127** Hīs Herculēs tam ācrem crepitum fēcit ut avēs perterritae āvolārent.  
With this Hercules made so sharp a clatter that the birds in their terror flew away.

**128** Ille autem, dum āvolant, māgnum numerum eārum sagittīs trānsfīxit.  
And he, while they were flying away, pierced a great number of them with his arrows.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Stymphālidēs | the birds of Stymphalus |
| aēnea | copper, of copper, from aeneus |
| vēscēbantur | feed on, eat, from vesco |
| appropinquandī | approach |
| Volcānum | Vulcan, god of fire, from Vulcanus |
| fabrīs | workman, artisan, from faber |
| crepundia | child's rattle |
| fabricātus | craft, art |
| āvolārent | fly |
| āvolant | fly, from avolo |

## Seventh Labor: The Cretan Bull (Fabulae Faciles 30)

**129** Tum Eurystheus Herculī imperāvit ut taurum quendam ferōcissimum ex īnsulā Crētā vīvum referret.  
Then Eurystheus ordered Hercules to bring back alive a certain most fierce bull from the island of Crete.

**130** Ille igitur nāvem cōnscendit, et cum ventus idōneus esset, statim solvit.  
He therefore boarded a ship, and since the wind was favorable, set sail at once.

**131** Cum tamen īnsulae iam appropinquāret, tanta tempestās subitō coorta est ut nāvis cursum tenēre nōn posset.  
When, however, he was already drawing near the island, so great a storm suddenly arose that the ship could not hold its course.

**132** Tantus autem timor animōs nautārum occupāvit ut paene omnem spem salūtis dēpōnerent.  
And so great a fear took hold of the sailors' minds that they almost gave up all hope of safety.

**133** Herculēs tamen, etsī nāvigandī imperītus erat, haudquāquam territus est.  
Hercules, however, although he was unskilled in sailing, was not frightened at all.

**134** Post breve tempus summa tranquillitās cōnsecūta est, et nautae, quī sē ex timōre iam recēperant, nāvem incolumem ad terram appulērunt.  
After a short time the greatest calm followed, and the sailors, who had now recovered from their fear, brought the ship safe to land.

**135** Herculēs ē nāvī ēgressus est, et cum ad rēgem Crētae vēnisset, causam veniendī docuit.  
Hercules went out of the ship, and when he had come to the king of Crete, explained the reason for his coming.

**136** Deinde, postquam omnia parāta sunt, ad eam regiōnem contendit quam taurus vāstābat.  
Then, after everything was prepared, he hurried to that region which the bull was laying waste.

**137** Mox taurum vīdit, et quamquam rēs erat māgnī perīculī, cornua ēius prehendit.  
Soon he saw the bull, and although the thing was of great danger, he seized its horns.

**138** Tum, cum ingentī labōre mōnstrum ad nāvem trāxisset, cum praedā in Graeciam rediit.  
Then, when he had dragged the monster to the ship with enormous labor, he returned with his booty to Greece.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| tranquillitās | stillness |

## Eighth Labor: The Man-eating Horses of Diomede (Fabulae Faciles 31)

**139** Postquam ex īnsulā Crētā rediit, Herculēs ab Eurystheō in Thrāciam missus est, ut equōs Diomēdis redūceret.  
After he returned from the island of Crete, Hercules was sent by Eurystheus into Thrace, to bring back the horses of Diomede.

**140** Hī equī carne hominum vēscēbantur; Diomēdēs autem, vir crūdēlissimus, illīs obiciēbat peregrīnōs omnīs quī in eam regiōnem vēnerant.  
These horses fed on the flesh of men; and Diomede, a most cruel man, used to throw to them all the strangers who had come into that region.

**141** Herculēs igitur māgnā celeritāte in Thrāciam contendit et ab Diomēde postulāvit ut equī sibi trāderentur.  
Hercules therefore hurried into Thrace with great speed and demanded of Diomede that the horses be handed over to him.

**142** Cum tamen ille hōc facere nōllet, Herculēs īrā commōtus rēgem interfēcit et cadāver ēius equīs obicī iussit.  
Since, however, he was unwilling to do this, Hercules, moved by anger, killed the king and ordered his body to be thrown to the horses.

**143** Ita mīra rērum commūtātiō facta est; is enim quī anteā multōs cum cruciātū necāverat ipse eōdem suppliciō necātus est.  
So a strange reversal of things came about; for the man who before had killed many with torture was himself killed by the same punishment.

**144** Cum haec nūntiāta essent, omnēs quī eam regiōnem incolēbant māximā laetitiā adfectī sunt et Herculī meritam grātiam referēbant.  
When this had been reported, all who lived in that region were filled with the greatest joy and gave Hercules the thanks he deserved.

**145** Nōn modo māximīs honōribus et praemiīs eum decorāvērunt sed ōrābant etiam ut rēgnum ipse susciperet.  
Not only did they honor him with the greatest honors and rewards, but they even begged him to take the kingship himself.

**146** Ille tamen hōc facere nōlēbat, et cum ad mare rediisset, nāvem occupāvit.  
He, however, was unwilling to do this, and when he had returned to the sea, he took possession of a ship.

**147** 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.  
When everything was ready for sailing, he stowed the horses in the ship; then, when he had got favorable weather, he set sail from the harbor without delay, and a little later landed the horses on the shore of Argolis.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Thrāciam | Thrace, from Thracia |
| Diomēdis | Diomede, king of Thrace, from Diomedes |
| obiciēbat | throw before, cast, from obicio |
| commūtātiō | change, reversal |
| cruciātū | crusade, from cruciatus |
| Argolicum | Argolic, of Argolis, from Argolicus |

## Ninth Labor: The Girdle of Hippolyte (Fabulae Faciles 32)

**148** Gēns Amāzonum dīcitur omnīnō ex mulieribus cōnstitisse.  
The race of the Amazons is said to have consisted entirely of women.

**149** Hae summam scientiam reī mīlitāris habēbant, et tantam virtūtem adhibēbant ut cum virīs proelium committere audērent.  
These had the greatest knowledge of military matters, and showed such courage that they dared to join battle with men.

**150** Hippolytē, Amāzonum rēgīna, balteum habuit celeberrimum quem Mārs eī dederat.  
Hippolyte, the queen of the Amazons, had a most famous girdle which Mars had given her.

**151** Admēta autem, Eurystheī fīlia, fāmam dē hōc balteō accēperat et eum possidēre vehementer cupiēbat.  
Admeta, moreover, the daughter of Eurystheus, had heard the report of this girdle and desired violently to possess it.

**152** Eurystheus igitur Herculī mandāvit ut cōpiās cōgeret et bellum Amāzonibus īnferret.  
Eurystheus therefore charged Hercules to gather forces and to make war on the Amazons.

**153** Ille nūntiōs in omnīs partīs dīmīsit, et cum māgna multitūdō convēnisset, eōs dēlēgit quī māximum ūsum in rē mīlitārī habēbant.  
He sent messengers out in all directions, and when a great crowd had assembled, he chose out those who had the greatest experience in military matters.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Amāzonum | an Amazon, from Amazon |

## The Girdle is Refused (Fabulae Faciles 33)

**154** Hīs virīs Herculēs persuāsit, postquam causam itineris exposuit, ut sēcum iter facerent.  
Hercules persuaded these men, after he had explained the reason for the journey, to make the journey with him.

**155** Tum cum iīs quibus persuāserat nāvem cōnscendit, et cum ventus idōneus esset, post paucōs diēs ad ōstium flūminis Thermōdontis appulit.  
Then with those whom he had persuaded he boarded a ship, and since the wind was favorable, after a few days he put in at the mouth of the river Thermodon.

**156** Postquam in fīnīs Amāzonum vēnit, nūntium ad Hippolytam mīsit, quī causam veniendī docēret et balteum pōsceret.  
After he came into the territory of the Amazons, he sent a messenger to Hippolyte, to explain the reason for his coming and to ask for the girdle.

**157** Ipsa Hippolytē balteum trādere volēbat, quod dē Herculis virtūte fāmam accēperat; reliquae tamen Amāzonēs eī persuāsērunt ut negāret.  
Hippolyte herself wanted to hand over the girdle, because she had heard the report of Hercules' courage; the other Amazons, however, persuaded her to refuse.

**158** At Herculēs, cum haec nūntiāta essent, bellī fortūnam temptāre cōnstituit.  
But Hercules, when this had been reported, decided to try the fortune of war.

**159** Proximō igitur diē cum cōpiās ēdūxisset, locum idōneum dēlēgit et hostīs ad pūgnam ēvocāvit.  
On the next day therefore, when he had led out his forces, he chose a suitable place and called out the enemy to battle.

**160** Amāzonēs quoque cōpiās suās ex castrīs ēdūxērunt et nōn māgnō intervāllō ab Hercule aciem īnstrūxērunt.  
The Amazons too led their forces out of camp and drew up their line no great distance from Hercules.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Thermōdontis | the Thermodon, a river of, from Thermodon |
| Hippolytam | Hippolyte, queen of the Amazons, from Hippolyta |

## The Battle (Fabulae Faciles 34)

**161** Palūs erat nōn māgna inter duo exercitūs; neutrī tamen initium trānseundī facere volēbant.  
There was a marsh, not a large one, between the two armies; neither side, however, wanted to make a beginning of crossing.

**162** Tandem Herculēs sīgnum dedit, et ubi palūdem trānsiit, proelium commīsit.  
At last Hercules gave the signal, and when he had crossed the marsh, joined battle.

**163** Amāzonēs impetum virōrum fortissimē sustinuērunt, et contrā opīniōnem omnium tantam virtūtem praestitērunt ut multōs eōrum occīderint, multōs etiam in fugam coniēcerint.  
The Amazons withstood the attack of the men most bravely, and against everyone's expectation showed such courage that they killed many of them and even put many to flight.

**164** Virī enim novō genere pūgnae perturbābantur nec māgnam virtūtem praestābant.  
For the men were thrown into confusion by the new kind of fighting and showed no great courage.

**165** Herculēs autem cum haec vidēret, dē suīs fortūnīs dēspērāre coepit.  
Hercules, when he saw this, began to despair of his own fortunes.

**166** 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.  
He therefore urged his soldiers strongly to keep the memory of their former courage, and not to allow so great a disgrace, and to withstand the enemy's attack bravely; and with these words he so raised the spirits of all that many even who were worn out with wounds renewed the battle without delay.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| cohortātus | encourage, exhort, from cohorto |
| retinērent | retina |
| dēdecus | disgrace |
| admitterent | urge on, put to a, from admitto |
| hostiumque | requite, recompense |
| redintegrārent | renew, from redintegro |

## The Defeat of the Amazons (Fabulae Faciles 35)

**167** Diū et ācriter pūgnātum est; tandem tamen ad sōlis occāsum tanta commūtātiō rērum facta est ut mulierēs terga verterent et fugā salūtem peterent.  
The fighting went on long and fiercely; at last, however, towards sunset so great a reversal of things took place that the women turned their backs and sought safety in flight.

**168** Multae autem vulneribus dēfessae dum fugiunt captae sunt, in quō numerō ipsa erat Hippolytē.  
Many, moreover, worn out by their wounds, were taken while they fled, and in that number was Hippolyte herself.

**169** Herculēs summam clēmentiam praestitit, et postquam balteum accēpit, lībertātem omnibus captīvīs dedit.  
Hercules showed the greatest mercy, and after he had received the girdle, gave freedom to all the captives.

**170** Tum vērō sociōs ad mare redūxit, et quod nōn multum aestātis supererat, in Graeciam proficīscī mātūrāvit.  
Then indeed he led his companions back to the sea, and because not much of the summer was left, he made haste to set out for Greece.

**171** 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.  
He therefore boarded the ship, and having got favorable weather set sail at once; before he reached Greece, however, he decided to put in at the city of Troy, for the grain which he had with him had already begun to run short.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| clēmentiam | mercy, from clementia |

## Laomedon and the Sea-monster (Fabulae Faciles 36)

**172** Lāomedōn quīdam illō tempore rēgnum Trōiae obtinēbat.  
A certain Laomedon at that time held the kingship of Troy.

**173** Ad hunc Neptūnus et Apollō annō superiōre vēnerant, et cum Trōia nōndum moenia habēret, ad hōc opus auxilium obtulerant.  
Neptune and Apollo had come to him in the previous year, and since Troy did not yet have walls, they had offered their help for this work.

**174** Postquam tamen hōrum auxiliō moenia cōnfecta sunt, nōlēbat Lāomedōn praemium quod prōposuerat persolvere.  
After the walls had been finished with their help, however, Laomedon was unwilling to pay the reward which he had promised.

**175** Neptūnus igitur et Apollō ob hanc causam īrātī mōnstrum quoddam mīsērunt speciē horribilī, quod cottīdiē ē marī veniēbat et homines pecudēsque vorābat.  
Neptune therefore and Apollo, angry for this reason, sent a certain monster of horrible appearance, which came out of the sea every day and devoured men and cattle.

**176** Trōiānī autem timōre perterritī in urbe continēbantur, et pecora omnia ex agrīs intrā mūrōs compulerant.  
The Trojans, terrified with fear, kept themselves in the city, and had driven all their flocks from the fields within the walls.

**177** Lāomedōn hīs rēbus commōtus ōrāculum cōnsuluit, ac deus eī praecēpit ut filiam Hēsionem mōnstrō obiceret.  
Laomedon, moved by this, consulted the oracle, and the god instructed him to throw his daughter Hesione to the monster.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| persolvere | pay, from persolvo |
| Trōiānī | Trojan, from Troianus |
| praecēpit | take or receive in advance, from praecipio |
| Hēsionem | Hesione, daughter of Laomedon |

## The Rescue of Hesione (Fabulae Faciles 37)

**178** Lāomedōn, cum hōc respōnsum renūntiātum esset, māgnum dolōrem percēpit; sed tamen, ut cīvīs suōs tantō perīculō līberāret, ōrāculō pārēre cōnstituit et diem sacrificiō dīxit.  
When this answer had been brought back to him, Laomedon felt great grief; but nevertheless, in order to free his citizens from so great a danger, he decided to obey the oracle and named a day for the sacrifice.

**179** 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.  
But whether by chance or by the plan of the gods, Hercules reached Troy at the most favorable moment; for at the very point of time at which the girl, bound in chains, was being led down to the shore, he brought his ship to land.

**180** Herculēs ē nāvī ēgressus dē rēbus quae gerēbantur certior factus est; tum īrā commōtus ad rēgem sē contulit et auxilium suum obtulit.  
Hercules, on going out of the ship, was informed of what was happening; then, moved by anger, he betook himself to the king and offered his help.

**181** 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.  
When the king had gladly granted him leave to free the girl if he could, Hercules killed the monster; and brought the girl, who had now given up all hope of safety, back unharmed to her father.

**182** Lāomedōn māgnō cum gaudiō fīliam suam accēpit, et Herculī prō tantō beneficiō meritam grātiam rettulit.  
Laomedon received his daughter with great joy, and gave Hercules the thanks he deserved for so great a kindness.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| attigit | touch, touch, from attingo |
| punctō | point, from punctum |

## Tenth Labor: The Oxen of Geryon (Fabulae Faciles 38)

**183** Tum vērō missus est Herculēs ad īnsulam Erythīam, ut bovēs Gēryonis arcesseret.  
Then indeed Hercules was sent to the island of Erythia, to fetch the oxen of Geryon.

**184** Rēs erat summae difficultātis, quod bovēs ā quōdam Eurytiōne et ā cane bicipite custōdiēbantur.  
The task was one of the greatest difficulty, because the oxen were guarded by a certain Eurytion and by a two-headed dog.

**185** Ipse autem Gēryōn speciem horribilem praebēbat; tria enim corpora inter sē coniūncta habēbat.  
Geryon himself, moreover, presented a horrible appearance; for he had three bodies joined together.

**186** 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.  
Hercules, however, although he understood how great the danger was, took on the task; and after he had made his journey through many lands, he reached that part of Libya which is nearest to Europe.

**187** Ibi in utrōque lītore fretī quod Eurōpam ā Libyā dīvidit columnās cōnstituit, quae posteā Herculis Columnae appellābantur.  
There on each shore of the strait which divides Europe from Libya he set up pillars, which afterwards were called the Pillars of Hercules.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Erythīam | Erythia, the island of Geryon |
| Gēryonis | Geryon, the three-bodied king, from Geryones |
| Eurytiōne | Eurytion, herdsman of Geryon |
| bicipite | two-headed |
| fretī | sea, from fretum |

## The Golden Ship (Fabulae Faciles 39)

**188** Dum hīc morātur, Herculēs māgnum incommodum ex calōre sōlis accipiēbat; tandem igitur īrā commōtus arcum suum intendit et sōlem sagittīs petiit.  
While he was lingering here, Hercules was suffering great discomfort from the heat of the sun; at last therefore, moved by anger, he drew his bow and shot at the sun with his arrows.

**189** Sōl tamen audāciam virī tantum admīrātus est ut lintrem auream eī dederit.  
The Sun, however, so admired the man's daring that he gave him a golden boat.

**190** Herculēs hōc dōnum libentissimē accēpit, nūllam enim nāvem in hīs regiōnibus invenīre potuerat.  
Hercules accepted this gift most gladly, for he had been unable to find any ship in these regions.

**191** Tum lintrem dēdūxit, et ventum nactus idōneum post breve tempus ad īnsulam pervēnit.  
Then he launched the boat, and having got a favorable wind, after a short time he reached the island.

**192** Ubi ex incolīs cōgnōvit quō in locō bovēs essent, in eam partem statim profectus est et ā rēge Gēryone postulāvit ut bovēs sibi trāderentur.  
When he had learned from the inhabitants in what place the oxen were, he set out at once for that quarter and demanded of king Geryon that the oxen be handed over to him.

**193** Cum tamen ille hōc facere nōllet, Herculēs et rēgem ipsum et Eurytiōnem, quī erat ingentī māgnitūdine corporis, interfēcit.  
Since, however, he was unwilling to do this, Hercules killed both the king himself and Eurytion, who was of huge size of body.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| libentissimē | willingly |

## A Miraculous Hail-storm (Fabulae Faciles 40)

**194** Tum Herculēs bovēs per Hispāniam et Liguriam compellere cōnstituit; postquam igitur omnia parāta sunt, bovēs ex īnsulā ad continentem trānsportāvit.  
Then Hercules decided to drive the oxen through Spain and Liguria; after everything was prepared, therefore, he carried the oxen across from the island to the mainland.

**195** Ligurēs autem, gēns bellicōsissima, dum ille per fīnīs eōrum iter facit, māgnās cōpiās coēgērunt atque eum longius prōgredī prohibēbant.  
The Ligurians, however, a most warlike people, while he was making his journey through their territory, gathered great forces and tried to keep him from going further.

**196** Herculēs māgnam difficultātem habēbat, barbarī enim in locīs superiōribus cōnstiterant et saxa tēlaque in eum coniciēbant.  
Hercules was in great difficulty, for the barbarians had taken their stand on higher ground and were hurling rocks and weapons at him.

**197** Ille quidem paene omnem spem salūtis dēposuerat, sed tempore opportūnissimō Iuppiter imbrem lapidum ingentium ē caelō dēmīsit.  
He indeed had almost given up all hope of safety, but at the most favorable moment Jupiter sent down from the sky a shower of huge stones.

**198** Hī tantā vī cecidērunt ut māgnum numerum Ligurum occīderint; ipse tamen Herculēs (ut in tālibus rēbus accidere cōnsuēvit) nihil incommodī cēpit.  
These fell with such force that they killed a great number of the Ligurians; Hercules himself, however (as tends to happen in such matters), took no hurt.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Liguriam | lick, lick up, from ligurio |
| trānsportāvit | carry across, transport, from transporto |
| Ligurēs | a Ligurian, from Ligur |
| tēlaque | web, from tela |

## The Passage of the Alps (Fabulae Faciles 41)

**199** Postquam Ligurēs hōc modō superātī sunt, Herculēs quam celerrimē prōgressus est et post paucōs diēs ad Alpīs pervēnit.  
After the Ligurians had been overcome in this way, Hercules went forward as quickly as possible and after a few days reached the Alps.

**200** Necesse erat hās trānsīre, ut in Ītaliam bovēs ageret; rēs tamen summae erat difficultātis.  
It was necessary to cross these, in order to drive the oxen into Italy; the thing, however, was one of the greatest difficulty.

**201** 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.  
For these mountains, which divide further Gaul from nearer Gaul, are covered with everlasting snow; for which reason neither grain nor fodder can be found in these regions.

**202** Herculēs igitur antequam ascendere coepit, māgnam cōpiam frūmentī et pābulī comparāvit et hōc commeātū bovēs onerāvit.  
Hercules therefore, before he began to climb, got together a great supply of grain and fodder and loaded the oxen with this provision.

**203** Postquam in hīs rēbus trīs diēs cōnsūmpserat, quartō diē profectus est, et contrā omnium opīniōnem bovēs incolumīs in Ītaliam trādūxit.  
After he had spent three days on this, on the fourth day he set out, and against everyone's expectation brought the oxen across unharmed into Italy.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| ūlteriōrem | far, from ulterior |
| perennī | continual, from perennis |
| pābulum | fodder, forage |

## Cacus Steals the Oxen (Fabulae Faciles 42)

**204** Brevī tempore ad flūmen Tiberim vēnit.  
In a short time he came to the river Tiber.

**205** Tum tamen nūlla erat urbs in eō locō, Rōma enim nōndum condita erat.  
At that time, however, there was no city in that place, for Rome had not yet been founded.

**206** Herculēs itinere fessus cōnstituit ibi paucōs diēs morārī, ut sē ex labōribus recreāret.  
Hercules, tired by the journey, decided to wait there a few days, in order to recover himself from his labors.

**207** Haud procul ā valle ubi bovēs pāscēbantur spēlunca erat, in quā Cācus, horribile mōnstrum, tum habitābat.  
Not far from the valley where the oxen were grazing there was a cave, in which Cacus, a horrible monster, was living at that time.

**208** Hīc speciem terribilem praebēbat, nōn modo quod ingentī māgnitūdine corporis erat, sed quod īgnem ex ōre exspīrābat.  
He presented a terrible appearance, not only because he was of huge size of body, but because he breathed out fire from his mouth.

**209** Cācus autem dē adventū Herculis fāmam accēperat; noctū igitur vēnit, et dum Herculēs dormit, quattuor pulcherrimōrum boum abripuit.  
Cacus, moreover, had heard the report of Hercules' arrival; he came therefore by night, and while Hercules was sleeping, carried off four of the most beautiful oxen.

**210** Hōs caudīs in spēluncam trāxit, nē Herculēs ē vestīgiīs cōgnōscere posset quō in locō cēlātī essent.  
These he dragged by their tails into the cave, so that Hercules could not learn from their tracks in what place they had been hidden.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| exspīrābat | breathe out, exhale |
| abripuit | drag, from abripio |
| cēlātī | secret, from celatum |

## Hercules Discovers the Theft (Fabulae Faciles 43)

**211** Posterō diē simul atque ē somnō excitātus est, Herculēs fūrtum animadvertit et bovēs āmissōs omnibus locīs quaerēbat.  
On the next day, as soon as he was roused from sleep, Hercules noticed the theft and looked for the lost oxen in every place.

**212** Hōs tamen nūsquam reperīre poterat, nōn modo quod locī nātūram īgnōrābat, sed quod vestīgiīs falsīs dēceptus est.  
These, however, he could nowhere find, not only because he did not know the nature of the place, but because he was deceived by the false tracks.

**213** Tandem cum māgnam partem diēī frūstrā cōnsūmpsisset, cum reliquīs bōbus prōgredī cōnstituit.  
At last, when he had spent a great part of the day in vain, he decided to go on with the remaining oxen.

**214** At dum proficīscī parat, ūnus ē bōbus quōs sēcum habuit mūgīre coepit.  
But while he was preparing to set out, one of the oxen which he had with him began to low.

**215** Subitō iī quī in spēluncā inclūsī erant mūgītum reddidērunt, et hōc modō Herculem certiōrem fēcērunt quō in locō cēlātī essent.  
Suddenly those which had been shut up in the cave gave back a lowing, and in this way informed Hercules in what place they had been hidden.

**216** Ille vehementer īrātus ad spēluncam quam celerrimē sē contulit, ut praedam reciperet.  
He, violently angry, betook himself as quickly as possible to the cave, in order to recover his booty.

**217** At Cācus saxum ingēns ita dēiēcerat ut aditus spēluncae omnīnō obstruerētur.  
But Cacus had thrown down a huge rock in such a way that the entrance of the cave was entirely blocked.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| fūrtum | theft |
| dēceptus | deception |
| mūgītum | lowing, bellowing, from mugitus |
| obstruerētur | block up, barricade |

## Hercules and Cacus (Fabulae Faciles 44)

**218** Herculēs cum nūllum alium introitum reperīre posset, hōc saxum āmovēre cōnātus est, sed propter ēius māgnitūdinem rēs erat difficillima.  
Since Hercules could find no other way in, he tried to move this rock away, but because of its size the thing was very difficult.

**219** Diū frūstrā labōrābat neque quicquam efficere poterat; tandem tamen māgnō cōnātū saxum āmōvit et spēluncam patefēcit.  
For a long time he labored in vain and could accomplish nothing; at last, however, with a great effort he moved the rock away and opened up the cave.

**220** Ibi āmissōs bovēs māgnō cum gaudiō cōnspēxit; sed Cācum ipsum vix cernere potuit, quod spēlunca replēta erat fūmō quem ille mōre suō ēvomēbat.  
There with great joy he caught sight of the lost oxen; but Cacus himself he could scarcely make out, because the cave was filled with the smoke which he was belching out after his manner.

**221** Herculēs inūsitātā speciē turbātus breve tempus haesitābat; mox tamen in spēluncam inrūpit et collum mōnstrī bracchiīs complexus est.  
Hercules, disturbed by the unfamiliar sight, hesitated a short time; soon, however, he burst into the cave and threw his arms around the monster's neck.

**222** Ille etsī multum repūgnāvit, nūllō modō sē līberāre potuit, et cum nūlla facultās respīrandī darētur, mox exanimātus est.  
Although he struggled hard, he could in no way free himself, and since no chance of breathing was given him, he was soon killed.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| introitum | entrance, from introitus |
| ēvomēbat | vomit out, from evomo |
| inūsitātā | unusual, uncommon, from inusitatus |
| haesitābat | stick hesitate, be undecided, from haesito |

## Eleventh Labor: The Golden Apples of the Hesperides (Fabulae Faciles 45)

**223** Eurystheus postquam bovēs Gēryonis accēpit, labōrem ūndecimum Herculī imposuit, graviōrem quam quōs suprā nārrāvimus.  
After Eurystheus received the oxen of Geryon, he laid on Hercules an eleventh labor, heavier than those we have told of above.

**224** Mandāvit enim eī ut aurea pōma ex hortō Hesperidum auferret.  
For he charged him to carry off the golden apples from the garden of the Hesperides.

**225** Hesperidēs autem nymphae erant quaedam fōrmā praestantissimā, quae in terrā longinquā habitābant, et quibus aurea quaedam pōma ā Iūnōne commissa erant.  
The Hesperides, moreover, were certain nymphs of most outstanding beauty, who lived in a far-off land, and to whom certain golden apples had been entrusted by Juno.

**226** Multī hominēs aurī cupiditāte inductī haec pōma auferre iam anteā cōnātī erant.  
Many men, led on by greed for gold, had already tried before this to carry off these apples.

**227** Rēs tamen difficillima erat, namque hortus in quō pōma erant mūrō ingentī undique circumdatus erat; praetereā dracō quīdam cui centum erant capita portam hortī dīligenter custōdiēbat.  
The thing, however, was very difficult, for the garden in which the apples were was surrounded on every side by a huge wall; besides, a certain dragon which had a hundred heads guarded the gate of the garden carefully.

**228** Opus igitur quod Eurystheus Herculī imperāverat erat summae difficultātis, nōn modo ob causās quās memorāvimus, sed etiam quod Herculēs omnīnō īgnōrābat quō in locō hortus ille situs esset.  
The work therefore which Eurystheus had commanded Hercules was of the greatest difficulty, not only for the reasons we have mentioned, but also because Hercules did not know at all in what place that garden was situated.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| dracō | dragon |

## Hercules Asks Aid of Atlas (Fabulae Faciles 46)

**229** Herculēs quamquam quiētem vehementer cupiēbat, tamen Eurystheō pārēre cōnstituit, et simul ac iūssa ēius accēpit, proficīscī mātūrāvit.  
Hercules, although he desired rest violently, nevertheless decided to obey Eurystheus, and as soon as he received his orders, made haste to set out.

**230** Ā multīs mercātōribus quaesīverat quō in locō Hesperidēs habitārent, nihil tamen certum reperīre potuerat.  
He had asked many traders in what place the Hesperides lived, but had been able to find out nothing certain.

**231** Frūstrā per multās terrās iter fēcit et multa perīcula subiit; tandem, cum in hīs itineribus tōtum annum cōnsūmpsisset, ad extrēmam partem orbis terrārum, quae proxima est Ōceanō, pervēnit.  
In vain he journeyed through many lands and underwent many dangers; at last, when he had spent a whole year on these journeys, he reached the furthest part of the world, which is nearest to the Ocean.

**232** Hīc stābat vir quīdam, nomine Atlās, ingentī māgnitūdine corporis, quī caelum (ita trāditum est) umerīs suīs sustinēbat, nē in terram dēcideret.  
Here stood a certain man, Atlas by name, of huge size of body, who (so it is handed down) held up the sky on his shoulders, so that it should not fall down onto the earth.

**233** Herculēs tantās vīrīs māgnopere mīrātus statim in conloquium cum Atlante vēnit, et cum causam itineris docuisset, auxilium ab eō petiit.  
Hercules, greatly wondering at such strength, at once came into conversation with Atlas, and when he had explained the reason for his journey, asked help from him.

## Hercules Bears up the Heavens (Fabulae Faciles 47)

**234** Atlās autem Herculī māximē prōdesse potuit; ille enim cum ipse esset pater Hesperidum, certō scīvit quō in locō esset hortus.  
Atlas, moreover, was able to help Hercules very greatly; for since he was himself the father of the Hesperides, he knew for certain in what place the garden was.

**235** Postquam igitur audīvit quam ob causam Herculēs vēnisset, "Ipse," inquit, "ad hortum ībō et fīliābus meīs persuādēbō ut pōma suā sponte trādant." Herculēs cum haec audīret, māgnopere gāvīsus est; vim enim adhibēre nōluit, sī rēs aliter fierī posset.  
After he had heard, therefore, for what reason Hercules had come, he said, "I will go to the garden myself and persuade my daughters to hand over the apples of their own accord." When Hercules heard this, he rejoiced greatly; for he did not want to use force, if the thing could be done otherwise.

**236** Cōnstituit igitur oblātum auxilium accipere.  
He decided therefore to accept the help that was offered.

**237** Atlās tamen postulāvit ut, dum ipse abesset, Herculēs caelum umerīs sustinēret.  
Atlas, however, demanded that, while he himself was away, Hercules should hold up the sky on his shoulders.

**238** Hōc autem negōtium Herculēs libenter suscēpit, et quamquam rēs erat summī labōris, tōtum pondus caelī continuōs complūrīs diēs sōlus sustinēbat.  
Hercules took on this task gladly, and although the thing was of the greatest toil, he held up the whole weight of the sky alone for several days together.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| scīvit | investigate, inquire, from scisco |
| continuōs | incessant, constantly repeated, from continuus |

## The Return of Atlas (Fabulae Faciles 48)

**239** Atlās intereā abierat et ad hortum Hesperidum, quī pauca mīlia passuum aberat, sē quam celerrimē contulerat.  
Atlas meanwhile had gone off and had betaken himself as quickly as possible to the garden of the Hesperides, which was a few miles away.

**240** Eō cum vēnisset, causam veniendī exposuit et fīliās suās vehementer hortātus est ut pōma trāderent.  
When he had come there, he set out the reason for his coming and urged his daughters strongly to hand over the apples.

**241** Illae diū haerēbant; nōlēbant enim hōc facere, quod ab ipsā Iūnōne (ita ut ante dictum est) hōc mūnus accēpissent.  
For a long time they hesitated; for they were unwilling to do this, because they had received this gift from Juno herself (as has been said before).

**242** Atlās tamen aliquandō iīs persuāsit ut sibi pārērent, et pōma ad Herculem rettulit.  
Atlas, however, at length persuaded them to obey him, and brought the apples back to Hercules.

**243** Herculēs intereā cum plūrīs diēs exspectāvisset neque ūllam fāmam dē reditū Atlantis accēpisset, hāc morā graviter commōtus est.  
Hercules meanwhile, when he had waited several days and had heard no news of the return of Atlas, was seriously troubled by this delay.

**244** Tandem quīntō diē Atlantem vīdit redeuntem, et mox māgnō cum gaudiō pōma accēpit; tum, postquam grātiās prō tantō beneficiō ēgit, ad Graeciam proficīscī mātūrāvit.  
At last on the fifth day he saw Atlas returning, and soon received the apples with great joy; then, after he had given thanks for so great a kindness, he made haste to set out for Greece.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Atlantis | Atlas, who holds up the |
| redeuntem | return, go back |

## Twelfth Labor: Cerberus the Three-headed Dog (Fabulae Faciles 49)

**245** Postquam aurea pōma ad Eurystheum relāta sunt, ūnus modo relinquēbātur ē duodecim labōribus quōs Pȳthia Herculī praecēperat.  
After the golden apples had been brought back to Eurystheus, only one was left of the twelve labors which Pythia had laid down for Hercules.

**246** Eurystheus autem cum Herculem māgnopere timēret, eum in aliquem locum mittere volēbat unde numquam redīre posset.  
Eurystheus, since he feared Hercules greatly, wanted to send him to some place from which he could never return.

**247** Negōtium igitur eī dedit ut canem Cerberum ex Orcō in lūcem traheret.  
He therefore gave him the task of dragging the dog Cerberus out of the lower world into the light.

**248** Hōc opus omnium difficillimum erat, nēmō enim umquam ex Orcō redierat.  
This work was the most difficult of all, for no one had ever returned from the lower world.

**249** Praetereā Cerberus iste mōnstrum erat horribilī speciē, cui tria erant capita serpentibus saevīs cincta.  
Besides, that Cerberus was a monster of horrible appearance, which had three heads circled with savage serpents.

**250** Antequam tamen dē hōc labōre nārrāmus, nōn aliēnum vidētur, quoniam dē Orcō mentiōnem fēcimus, pauca dē eā regiōne prōpōnere.  
Before we tell of this labor, however, it does not seem out of place, since we have made mention of the lower world, to set out a few things about that region.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| mentiōnem | mention, making mention, from mentio |

## Charon's Ferry (Fabulae Faciles 50)

**251** Dē Orcō, quī īdem Hādēs appellābātur, haec trāduntur.  
About the lower world, which was also called Hades, this is handed down.

**252** Ut quisque dē vītā dēcesserat, mānēs ēius ad Orcum, sēdem mortuōrum, ā deō Mercuriō dēdūcēbantur.  
As each man departed from life, his shade was led down by the god Mercury to the lower world, the home of the dead.

**253** Hūius regiōnis, quae sub terrā fuisse dīcitur, rēx erat Plūtō, cui uxor erat Prōserpina, Iovis et Cereris fīlia.  
The king of this region, which is said to have been under the earth, was Pluto, whose wife was Proserpina, the daughter of Jupiter and Ceres.

**254** Mānēs igitur ā Mercuriō dēductī prīmum ad rīpam veniēbant Stygis flūminis, quō rēgnum Plūtōnis continētur.  
The shades, therefore, led down by Mercury, came first to the bank of the river Styx, by which the kingdom of Pluto is enclosed.

**255** Hōc trānsīre necesse erat antequam in Orcum venīre possent.  
It was necessary to cross this before they could come into the lower world.

**256** Cum tamen in hōc flūmine nūllus pōns factus esset, mānēs trānsvehēbantur ā Charonte quōdam, quī cum parvā scaphā ad rīpam exspectābat.  
Since, however, no bridge had been built over this river, the shades were ferried across by a certain Charon, who waited at the bank with a small boat.

**257** Charōn prō hōc officiō mercēdem postulābat, neque quemquam, nisi hōc praemium prius dedisset, trānsvehere volēbat.  
Charon demanded a fee for this service, and was unwilling to ferry anyone across unless he had first given this payment.

**258** Quam ob causam mōs erat apud antīquōs nummum in ōre mortuī pōnere eō cōnsiliō, ut cum ad Stygem vēnisset, pretium trāiectūs solvere posset.  
For which reason it was the custom among the ancients to place a coin in the mouth of a dead man, with this purpose, that when he came to the Styx he might be able to pay the price of the crossing.

**259** Iī autem quī post mortem in terrā nōn sepultī erant Stygem trānsīre nōn potuērunt, sed in rīpā per centum annōs errāre coāctī sunt; tum dēmum Orcum intrāre licuit.  
Those, moreover, who after death had not been buried in the earth could not cross the Styx, but were forced to wander on the bank for a hundred years; then at last they were allowed to enter the lower world.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Mercuriō | Mercury, Roman god of commerce, from Mercurius |
| Stygis | of the Styx |
| trānsvehēbantur | transport, lead across |
| scaphā | skiff |
| mercēdem | pay, recompense, from merces |
| nummum | coin, from nummus |
| Stygem | the Styx |
| trāiectūs | Utrecht, city in Holland, from trajectus |

## The Realm of Pluto (Fabulae Faciles 51)

**260** Ut autem mānēs Stygem hōc modō trānsierant, ad alterum veniēbant flūmen, quod Lēthē appellābātur.  
When the shades had crossed the Styx in this way, they came to a second river, which was called Lethe.

**261** Ex hōc flūmine aquam bibere cōgēbantur; quod cum fēcissent, rēs omnīs in vītā gestās ē memoriā dēpōnēbant.  
They were forced to drink water from this river; and when they had done so, they put out of their memory everything they had done in life.

**262** Dēnique ad sēdem ipsīus Plūtōnis veniēbant, cūius introitus ā cane Cerberō custōdiēbātur.  
At last they came to the seat of Pluto himself, whose entrance was guarded by the dog Cerberus.

**263** Ibi Plūtō nigrō vestītū indūtus cum uxōre Prōserpinā in soliō sedēbat.  
There Pluto, clothed in black dress, sat on a throne with his wife Proserpina.

**264** Stābant etiam nōn procul ab eō locō tria alia solia, in quibus sedēbant Mīnōs, Rhadamanthus, Aeacusque, iūdicēs apud īnferōs.  
There stood also, not far from that place, three other thrones, on which sat Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus, the judges among the dead.

**265** Hī mortuīs iūs dīcēbant et praemia poenāsque cōnstituēbant.  
These declared the law to the dead and fixed their rewards and punishments.

**266** Bonī enim in Campōs Ēlysiōs, sēdem beātōrum, veniēbant; improbī autem in Tartarum mittēbantur ac multīs et variīs suppliciīs ibi excruciābantur.  
For the good came into the Elysian Fields, the home of the blessed; but the wicked were sent into Tartarus and were tortured there with many and various punishments.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| soliō | throne, seat, from solium |
| Aeacusque | and Aeacus, a judge of |
| Ēlysiōs | Elysian, of the fields of, from Elysii |
| excruciābantur | torture |

## Hercules Crosses the Styx (Fabulae Faciles 52)

**267** Herculēs postquam imperia Eurystheī accēpit, in Lacōniam ad Taenarum statim sē contulit; ibi enim spēlunca erat ingentī māgnitūdine, per quam, ut trādēbātur, hominēs ad Orcum dēscendēbant.  
After Hercules received the orders of Eurystheus, he betook himself at once into Laconia, to Taenarum; for there was a cave there of huge size, through which, as was handed down, men went down to the lower world.

**268** Eō cum vēnisset, ex incolīs quaesīvit quō in locō spēlunca illa sita esset; quod cum cōgnōvisset, sine morā dēscendere cōnstituit.  
When he had come there, he asked the inhabitants in what place that cave was situated; and when he had learned this, he decided to go down without delay.

**269** Nec tamen sōlus hōc iter faciēbat, Mercurius enim et Minerva sē eī sociōs adiūnxerant.  
He did not, however, make this journey alone, for Mercury and Minerva had joined themselves to him as companions.

**270** Ubi ad rīpam Stygis vēnit, Herculēs scapham Charontis cōnscendit, ut ad ūlteriōrem rīpam trānsīret.  
When he came to the bank of the Styx, Hercules boarded Charon's boat, in order to cross to the further bank.

**271** Cum tamen Herculēs vir esset ingentī māgnitūdine corporis, Charōn solvere nōlēbat; māgnopere enim verēbātur nē scapha sua tantō pondere onerāta in mediō flūmine mergerētur.  
Since, however, Hercules was a man of huge size of body, Charon was unwilling to cast off; for he greatly feared that his boat, loaded with so great a weight, would sink in mid river.

**272** Tandem tamen minīs Herculis territus Charōn scapham solvit, et eum incolumem ad ūlteriōrem rīpam perdūxit.  
At last, however, terrified by Hercules' threats, Charon cast off, and brought him safe to the further bank.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| minīs | Greek weight unit, from mina |

## The Last Labor is Accomplished (Fabulae Faciles 53)

**273** Postquam flūmen Stygem hōc modō trānsiit, Herculēs in sēdem ipsīus Plūtōnis vēnit; et postquam causam veniendī docuit, ab eō petīvit ut Cerberum auferre sibi licēret.  
After he had crossed the river Styx in this way, Hercules came to the seat of Pluto himself; and after he had explained the reason for his coming, he asked him that he be allowed to carry Cerberus off.

**274** Plūtō, quī dē Hercule fāmam accēperat, eum benīgnē excēpit, et facultātem quam ille petēbat libenter dedit.  
Pluto, who had heard the report of Hercules, received him kindly, and gladly gave the leave which he was asking.

**275** Postulāvit tamen ut Herculēs ipse, cum imperāta Eurystheī fēcisset, Cerberum in Orcum rūrsus redūceret.  
He demanded, however, that Hercules himself, when he had carried out the commands of Eurystheus, should bring Cerberus back again to the lower world.

**276** Herculēs hōc pollicitus est, et Cerberum, quem nōn sine māgnō perīculō manibus prehenderat, summō cum labōre ex Orcō in lūcem et ad urbem Eurystheī trāxit.  
Hercules promised this, and dragged Cerberus, whom he had seized with his hands not without great danger, with the greatest labor out of the lower world into the light and to the city of Eurystheus.

**277** Eō cum vēnisset, tantus timor animum Eurystheī occupāvit ut ex ātriō statim refūgerit; cum autem paulum sē ex timōre recēpisset, multīs cum lacrimīs obsecrāvit Herculem ut mōnstrum sine morā in Orcum redūceret.  
When he had come there, so great a fear took hold of Eurystheus' mind that he at once fled from the hall; and when he had recovered a little from his fear, with many tears he begged Hercules to bring the monster back to the lower world without delay.

**278** Sīc contrā omnium opīniōnem duodecim illī labōrēs quōs Pȳthia praecēperat intrā duodecim annōs cōnfectī sunt; quae cum ita essent, Herculēs servitūte tandem līberātus māgnō cum gaudiō Thēbās rediit.  
So, against everyone's expectation, those twelve labors which Pythia had laid down were finished within twelve years; and since this was so, Hercules, freed at last from his slavery, returned to Thebes with great joy.

## The Centaur Nessus (Fabulae Faciles 54)

**279** Posteā Herculēs multa alia praeclāra perfēcit, quae nunc perscrībere longum est.  
Afterwards Hercules accomplished many other famous deeds, which it would take long to write out now.

**280** Tandem iam aetāte prōvectus Dēianīram, Oeneī fīliam, in mātrimōnium dūxit; post tamen trīs annōs accidit ut puerum quendam, cui nōmen erat Eunomus, cāsū occīderit.  
At last, now advanced in age, he took Deianira, the daughter of Oeneus, in marriage; but after three years it happened that he killed by accident a certain boy whose name was Eunomus.

**281** Cum autem mōs esset ut sī quis hominem cāsū occīdisset, in exsilium īret, Herculēs cum uxōre suā ē fīnibus ēius cīvitātis exīre mātūrāvit.  
And since it was the custom that if anyone had killed a man by accident he should go into exile, Hercules made haste to go out of the territory of that state with his wife.

**282** Dum tamen iter faciunt, ad flūmen quoddam pervēnērunt in quō nūllus pōns erat; et dum quaerunt quōnam modō flūmen trānseant, accurrit centaurus Nessus, quī viātōribus auxilium obtulit.  
While they were making their journey, however, they reached a certain river over which there was no bridge; and while they were asking in what way they were to cross the river, the centaur Nessus ran up, and offered the travelers his help.

**283** Herculēs igitur uxōrem suam in tergum Nessī imposuit; tum ipse flūmen trānāvit.  
Hercules therefore set his wife on the back of Nessus; then he himself swam across the river.

**284** Nessus autem paulum in aquam prōgressus ad rīpam subitō revertēbātur et Dēianīram auferre cōnābātur.  
But Nessus, having gone forward a little into the water, was suddenly turning back to the bank and trying to carry Deianira off.

**285** Quod cum animadvertisset Herculēs, īrā graviter commōtus arcum intendit et pectus Nessī sagittā trānsfīxit.  
When Hercules had noticed this, seriously moved by anger he drew his bow and pierced the breast of Nessus with an arrow.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| perscrībere | report, from perscribo |
| prōvectus | praetor |
| Oeneī | of Oeneus, father of Deianira, from Oeneius |

## The Poisoned Robe (Fabulae Faciles 55)

**286** Nessus igitur sagittā Herculis trānsfīxus moriēns humī iacēbat; at nē occāsiōnem suī ulcīscendī dīmitteret, ita locūtus est: "Tū, Dēianīra, verba morientis audī.  
Nessus, then, pierced by the arrow of Hercules, lay dying on the ground; but so as not to let slip the chance of avenging himself, he spoke thus: "You, Deianira, hear the words of a dying man.

**287** Sī amōrem marītī tuī cōnservāre vīs, hunc sanguinem quī nunc ē pectore meō effunditur sūme ac repōne; tum, sī umquam in suspīciōnem tibi vēnerit, vestem marītī hōc sanguine īnficiēs." Haec locūtus Nessus animam efflāvit; Dēianīra autem nihil malī suspicāta imperāta fēcit.  
If you wish to keep your husband's love, take this blood which is now pouring out of my breast and store it away; then, if he ever comes under suspicion with you, you will steep your husband's garment in this blood." Having spoken thus, Nessus breathed out his life; and Deianira, suspecting no harm, did as she was told.

**288** Paulō post Herculēs bellum contrā Eurytum, rēgem Oechaliae, suscēpit; et cum rēgem ipsum cum fīliīs interfēcisset, Iolēn ēius fīliam captīvam sēcum redūxit.  
A little later Hercules undertook a war against Eurytus, king of Oechalia; and when he had killed the king himself together with his sons, he brought back with him his daughter Iole as a captive.

**289** Antequam tamen domum vēnit, nāvem ad Cēnaeum prōmunturium appulit, et in terram ēgressus āram cōnstituit, ut Iovī sacrificāret.  
Before he came home, however, he put in with his ship at the promontory of Cenaeum, and having gone out onto the land he set up an altar, in order to sacrifice to Jupiter.

**290** Dum tamen sacrificium parat, Licham comitem suum domum mīsit, quī vestem albam referret; mōs enim erat apud antīquōs, dum sacrificia facerent, albam vestem gerere.  
While he was preparing the sacrifice, however, he sent his companion Lichas home, to bring back a white garment; for it was the custom among the ancients to wear a white garment while they made sacrifices.

**291** At Dēianīra verita nē Herculēs amōrem ergā Iolēn habēret, vestem priusquam Lichae dedit, sanguine Nessī īnfēcit.  
But Deianira, fearing that Hercules felt love for Iole, steeped the garment in the blood of Nessus before she gave it to Lichas.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| suspīciōnem | suspicion, from suspicio |
| efflāvit | blow or breathe out, from efflo |
| prōmunturium | promontory, headland |

## The Death of Hercules (Fabulae Faciles 56)

**292** Herculēs nihil malī suspicāns vestem quam Lichās attulerat statim induit; paulō post tamen dolōrem per omnia membra sēnsit, et quae causa esset ēius reī māgnopere mirābātur.  
Hercules, suspecting no harm, at once put on the garment which Lichas had brought; a little later, however, he felt a pain through all his limbs, and wondered greatly what the cause of this was.

**293** Dolōre paene exanimātus vestem dētrahere cōnātus est; illa tamen in corpore haesit, neque ūllō modō abscindī potuit.  
Almost dead with the pain, he tried to pull off the garment; it stuck, however, to his body, and could in no way be torn away.

**294** Tum dēmum Herculēs quasi furōre impulsus in montem Octam sē contulit, et in rogum, quem summā celeritāte exstrūxit, sē imposuit.  
Then at last Hercules, driven as if by madness, betook himself to Mount Oeta, and placed himself on a pyre, which he built with the greatest speed.

**295** Hōc cum fēcisset, eōs quī circumstābant ōrāvit ut rogum quam celerrimē succenderent.  
When he had done this, he begged those who were standing around to set fire to the pyre as quickly as possible.

**296** Omnēs diū recūsābant; tandem tamen pāstor quīdam ad misericordiam inductus īgnem subdidit.  
For a long time they all refused; at last, however, a certain shepherd, moved to pity, put fire under it.

**297** Tum, dum omnia fūmō obscūrantur, Herculēs dēnsā nūbe vēlātus ā Iove in Olympum abreptus est.  
Then, while everything was being darkened by the smoke, Hercules, veiled in a thick cloud, was carried off by Jupiter into Olympus.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| abscindī | tear, from abscindo |
| Octam | Oeta, the mountain |
| rogum | funeral pyre |
| circumstābant | stand, surround, from circumsto |
| succenderent | set on fire, from succendo |
| subdidit | place under, apply, from subdo |
| obscūrantur | darken, obscure, from obscuro |
| vēlātus | veil, cover, from velo |