“Are you working, dear Master, do I disturb you?” asked M. Goubin,
entering M. Bergeret’s study.
“Not at all,” replied the professor. “I was amusing myself by
translating a Greek text of the Alexandrine period, discovered in a
tomb at Philæ.”
“I should be very glad if you would read me your translation, dear
Master,” said M. Goubin.
“With pleasure,” replied M. Bergeret, and he began:
CONCERNING HERCULES ATIMOS.
Deeds are commonly ascribed to the one and only Hercules which in
reality have been accomplished by other heroes bearing the same name.
That which Orpheus teaches us concerning the Thracian Hercules relates
to the god rather than to the hero. I will not dwell upon this. The
Tyrians tell of another Hercules to whom they attribute labours so
prodigious that they are difficult to accept. What is less known is
that Alcmena gave birth to twins who were exactly alike, and who each
received the name of Hercules. The one was the son of Jupiter and the
other of Amphitryon. On account of his great deeds, the former attained
the right to drink from the cup of Hebe at the table of the gods, and
we look upon him as a god. The second was unworthy, that is why he was
called Hercules Atimos.
What I know of him I have learned from an inhabitant of Eleusis, a wise
and prudent man who has collected together many ancient legends. This
is what he told me:
Hercules Atimos, the son of Amphitryon, when nearing manhood, received
from his father a bow and arrows, forged by Vulcan, which dealt certain
death to any creature whom they struck.
Now one day, when shooting wild cranes on the slopes of Cithæron, he
met a herdsman who addressed him thus:
“Son of Amphitryon, there is an evil man who daily steals some of our
cattle. Thou art full of youth and vigour. If thou canst find the thief
and strike him with one of thy magic arrows, thou wilt gain great
praise. But he is not easy of approach, for his feet are larger than
the feet of other men, and he is very fleet.”
Atimos promised the herdsman that he would punish the brigand, and went
upon his way. Hiding in the mountain gorges, he saw at a distance
the figure of a man who appeared to him evil. Thinking it was the
cattle-stealer, he killed him with his arrows. But while the man’s
blood was still fresh upon the wild anemones, Pallas Athene, the
bright-eyed goddess, descended from Olympus, and came to meet Atimos,
who did not recognize her, for she was disguised as an old servant of
King Amphitryon. And the goddess spoke to him thus:
“Divine son of Amphitryon, the man thou hast killed was not a stealer
of cattle, but a good man. The guilty man is easily recognized by the
print of his feet in the dust, for they are larger than those of other
men. The dead man’s conduct was irreproachable, and his life a life of
innocence. Therefore shalt thou pray with tears to the divine Apollo
to restore him to life. Apollo will not refuse thy request if thou
pleadest with outstretched supplicating hands.”
Full of anger, however, Atimos replied:
“I have punished this man for his wickedness. Dost thou think, old man,
that I know not what I do and strike at random? Peace! Get thee gone,
thou madman, or thou shalt repent thy audacity.”
Some young shepherds who were gambolling with their goats upon the
slopes of Cithæron hearing the words of Atimos, received them with such
shouts of praise that the mountain resounded and the ancient pine
trees stirred and quivered. And Pallas Athene, the bright-eyed goddess,
returned to snowy Olympus.
Atimos, however, had resumed his journey, and soon found himself upon
the tracks of the cattle-thief, whom he could see at a little distance
ahead. He recognized him quite easily by his footprints in the sand,
for they were much greater than those of other men.
Then thought the hero to himself, “It is necessary that men believe in
the innocence of this man, so that they may believe I have slain the
guilty one, and that my glory be made known among men.”
With this thought in his mind, he called the man and said to him:
“Friend, I honour thee because thou art good and thy thoughts just.”
Then, drawing from his quiver one of the arrows made by Vulcan, he gave
it to the man with these words, “Take this arrow made by Vulcan. All
those who see thee with it will honour thee, and thou wilt be judged
worthy of the friendship of a hero.”
Thus spoke he. The thief took the arrow and went away. And divine
Athene, the bright-eyed goddess, descended from snowy Olympus. She
disguised herself as a gentle shepherd, and, coming up to Atimos, said:
“Son of Amphitryon, in absolving the guilty man thou hast killed the
innocent a second time. And this action shall not bring thee glory
among men.”
But Atimos did not recognize the goddess, and believing her to be a
shepherd, he cried in fury: “Chicken-heart, vain babbler, dog, I will
tear out thy soul!” And he lifted against Pallas Athene his bow, the
wood of which was harder than the iron of the arrows forged by Vulcan.
* * * * *
“The rest is missing,” said M. Bergeret, replacing the papers upon his
table.
“What a pity!” said M. Goubin.
“It is a pity,” said M. Bergeret. “I have been much interested in
translating this Greek text; one must have a change sometimes from
everyday affairs.”