(ll. 1-27) Or like her who left home and country and came to Thebes,
following warlike Amphitryon,—even Alcmena, the daughter of Electyron,
gatherer of the people. She surpassed the tribe of womankind in beauty
and in height; and in wisdom none vied with her of those whom mortal
women bare of union with mortal men. Her face and her dark eyes wafted
such charm as comes from golden Aphrodite. And she so honoured her
husband in her heart as none of womankind did before her. Verily he had
slain her noble father violently when he was angry about oxen; so he
left his own country and came to Thebes and was suppliant to the
shield-carrying men of Cadmus. There he dwelt with his modest wife
without the joys of love, nor might he go in unto the neat-ankled
daughter of Electyron until he had avenged the death of his wife’s
great-hearted brothers and utterly burned with blazing fire the
villages of the heroes, the Taphians and Teleboans; for this thing was
laid upon him, and the gods were witnesses to it. And he feared their
anger, and hastened to perform the great task to which Zeus had bound
him. With him went the horse-driving Boeotians, breathing above their
shields, and the Locrians who fight hand to hand, and the gallant
Phocians eager for war and battle. And the noble son of Alcaeus led
them, rejoicing in his host.
(ll. 27-55) But the father of men and gods was forming another scheme
in his heart, to beget one to defend against destruction gods and men
who eat bread. So he arose from Olympus by night pondering guile in the
deep of his heart, and yearned for the love of the well-girded woman.
Quickly he came to Typhaonium, and from there again wise Zeus went on
and trod the highest peak of Phicium 1801: there he sat and planned
marvellous things in his heart. So in one night Zeus shared the bed and
love of the neat-ankled daughter of Electyron and fulfilled his desire;
and in the same night Amphitryon, gatherer of the people, the glorious
hero, came to his house when he had ended his great task. He hastened
not to go to his bondmen and shepherds afield, but first went in unto
his wife: such desire took hold on the shepherd of the people. And as a
man who has escaped joyfully from misery, whether of sore disease or
cruel bondage, so then did Amphitryon, when he had wound up all his
heavy task, come glad and welcome to his home. And all night long he
lay with his modest wife, delighting in the gifts of golden Aphrodite.
And she, being subject in love to a god and to a man exceeding goodly,
brought forth twin sons in seven-gated Thebe. Though they were
brothers, these were not of one spirit; for one was weaker but the
other a far better man, one terrible and strong, the mighty Heracles.
Him she bare through the embrace of the son of Cronos lord of dark
clouds and the other, Iphiclus, of Amphitryon the
spear-wielder—offspring distinct, this one of union with a mortal man,
but that other of union with Zeus, leader of all the gods.
(ll. 57-77) And he slew Cycnus, the gallant son of Ares. For he found
him in the close of far-shooting Apollo, him and his father Ares, never
sated with war. Their armour shone like a flame of blazing fire as they
two stood in their car: their swift horses struck the earth and pawed
it with their hoofs, and the dust rose like smoke about them, pounded
by the chariot wheels and the horses’ hoofs, while the well-made
chariot and its rails rattled around them as the horses plunged. And
blameless Cycnus was glad, for he looked to slay the warlike son of
Zeus and his charioteer with the sword, and to strip off their splendid
armour. But Phoebus Apollo would not listen to his vaunts, for he
himself had stirred up mighty Heracles against him. And all the grove
and altar of Pagasaean Apollo flamed because of the dread god and
because of his arms; for his eyes flashed as with fire. What mortal men
would have dared to meet him face to face save Heracles and glorious
Iolaus? For great was their strength and unconquerable were the arms
which grew from their shoulders on their strong limbs. Then Heracles
spake to his charioteer strong Iolaus:
(ll. 78-94) ‘O hero Iolaus, best beloved of all men, truly Amphitryon
sinned deeply against the blessed gods who dwell on Olympus when he
came to sweet-crowned Thebe and left Tiryns, the well-built citadel,
because he slew Electryon for the sake of his wide-browned oxen. Then
he came to Creon and long-robed Eniocha, who received him kindly and
gave him all fitting things, as is due to suppliants, and honoured him
in their hearts even more. And he lived joyfully with his wife the
neat-ankled daughter of Electyron: and presently, while the years
rolled on, we were born, unlike in body as in mind, even your father
and I. From him Zeus took away sense, so that he left his home and his
parents and went to do honour to the wicked Eurystheus—unhappy man!
Deeply indeed did he grieve afterwards in bearing the burden of his own
mad folly; but that cannot be taken back. But on me fate laid heavy
tasks.
(ll. 95-101) ‘Yet, come, friend, quickly take the red-dyed reins of the
swift horses and raise high courage in your heart and guide the swift
chariot and strong fleet-footed horses straight on. Have no secret fear
at the noise of man-slaying Ares who now rages shouting about the holy
grove of Phoebus Apollo, the lord who shoots form afar. Surely, strong
though he be, he shall have enough of war.’
(ll. 102-114) And blameless Iolaus answered him again: ‘Good friend,
truly the father of men and gods greatly honours your head and the
bull-like Earth-Shaker also, who keeps Thebe’s veil of walls and guards
the city,—so great and strong is this fellow they bring into your hands
that you may win great glory. But come, put on your arms of war that
with all speed we may bring the car of Ares and our own together and
fight; for he shall not frighten the dauntless son of Zeus, nor yet the
son of Iphiclus: rather, I think he will flee before the two sons of
blameless Alcides who are near him and eager to raise the war cry for
battle; for this they love better than a feast.’
(ll. 115-117) So he said. And mighty Heracles was glad in heart and
smiled, for the other’s words pleased him well, and he answered him
with winged words:
(ll. 118-121) ‘O hero Iolaus, heaven-sprung, now is rough battle hard
at hand. But, as you have shown your skill at other-times, so now also
wheel the great black-maned horse Arion about every way, and help me as
you may be able.’
(ll. 122-138) So he said, and put upon his legs greaves of shining
bronze, the splendid gift of Hephaestus. Next he fastened about his
breast a fine golden breast-plate, curiously wrought, which Pallas
Athene the daughter of Zeus had given him when first he was about to
set out upon his grievous labours. Over his shoulders the fierce
warrior put the steel that saves men from doom, and across his breast
he slung behind him a hollow quiver. Within it were many chilling
arrows, dealers of death which makes speech forgotten: in front they
had death, and trickled with tears; their shafts were smooth and very
long; and their butts were covered with feathers of a brown eagle. And
he took his strong spear, pointed with shining bronze, and on his
valiant head set a well-made helm of adamant, cunningly wrought, which
fitted closely on the temples; and that guarded the head of god-like
Heracles.
(ll. 139-153) In his hands he took his shield, all glittering: no one
ever broke it with a blow or crushed it. And a wonder it was to see;
for its whole orb was a-shimmer with enamel and white ivory and
electrum, and it glowed with shining gold; and there were zones of
cyanus 1802 drawn upon it. In the centre was Fear worked in adamant,
unspeakable, staring backwards with eyes that glowed with fire. His
mouth was full of teeth in a white row, fearful and daunting, and upon
his grim brow hovered frightful Strife who arrays the throng of men:
pitiless she, for she took away the mind and senses of poor wretches
who made war against the son of Zeus. Their souls passed beneath the
earth and went down into the house of Hades; but their bones, when the
skin is rotted about them, crumble away on the dark earth under
parching Sirius.
(ll. 154-160) Upon the shield Pursuit and Flight were wrought, and
Tumult, and Panic, and Slaughter. Strife also, and Uproar were hurrying
about, and deadly Fate was there holding one man newly wounded, and
another unwounded; and one, who was dead, she was dragging by the feet
through the tumult. She had on her shoulders a garment red with the
blood of men, and terribly she glared and gnashed her teeth.
(ll. 160-167) And there were heads of snakes unspeakably frightful,
twelve of them; and they used to frighten the tribes of men on earth
whosoever made war against the son of Zeus; for they would clash their
teeth when Amphitryon’s son was fighting: and brightly shone these
wonderful works. And it was as though there were spots upon the
frightful snakes: and their backs were dark blue and their jaws were
black.
(ll. 168-177) Also there were upon the shield droves of boars and lions
who glared at each other, being furious and eager: the rows of them
moved on together, and neither side trembled but both bristled up their
manes. For already a great lion lay between them and two boars, one on
either side, bereft of life, and their dark blood was dripping down
upon the ground; they lay dead with necks outstretched beneath the grim
lions. And both sides were roused still more to fight because they were
angry, the fierce boars and the bright-eyed lions.
(ll. 178-190) And there was the strife of the Lapith spearmen gathered
round the prince Caeneus and Dryas and Peirithous, with Hopleus,
Exadius, Phalereus, and Prolochus, Mopsus the son of Ampyce of
Titaresia, a scion of Ares, and Theseus, the son of Aegeus, like unto
the deathless gods. These were of silver, and had armour of gold upon
their bodies. And the Centaurs were gathered against them on the other
side with Petraeus and Asbolus the diviner, Arctus, and Ureus, and
black-haired Mimas, and the two sons of silver, and they had pinetrees
of gold in their hands, and they were rushing together as though they
were alive and striking at one another hand to hand with spears and
with pines.
(ll. 191-196) And on the shield stood the fleet-footed horses of grim
Ares made gold, and deadly Ares the spoil-winner himself. He held a
spear in his hands and was urging on the footmen: he was red with blood
as if he were slaying living men, and he stood in his chariot. Beside
him stood Fear and Flight, eager to plunge amidst the fighting men.
(ll. 197-200) There, too, was the daughter of Zeus, Tritogeneia who
drives the spoil 1803. She was like as if she would array a battle,
with a spear in her hand, and a golden helmet, and the aegis about her
shoulders. And she was going towards the awful strife.
(ll. 201-206) And there was the holy company of the deathless gods: and
in the midst the son of Zeus and Leto played sweetly on a golden lyre.
There also was the abode of the gods, pure Olympus, and their assembly,
and infinite riches were spread around in the gathering, the Muses of
Pieria were beginning a song like clear-voiced singers.
(ll. 207-215) And on the shield was a harbour with a safe haven from
the irresistible sea, made of refined tin wrought in a circle, and it
seemed to heave with waves. In the middle of it were many dolphins
rushing this way and that, fishing: and they seemed to be swimming. Two
dolphins of silver were spouting and devouring the mute fishes. And
beneath them fishes of bronze were trembling. And on the shore sat a
fisherman watching: in his hands he held a casting net for fish, and
seemed as if about to cast it forth.
(ll. 216-237) There, too, was the son of rich-haired Danae, the
horseman Perseus: his feet did not touch the shield and yet were not
far from it—very marvellous to remark, since he was not supported
anywhere; for so did the famous Lame One fashion him of gold with his
hands. On his feet he had winged sandals, and his black-sheathed sword
was slung across his shoulders by a cross-belt of bronze. He was flying
swift as thought. The head of a dreadful monster, the Gorgon, covered
the broad of his back, and a bag of silver—a marvel to see—contained
it: and from the bag bright tassels of gold hung down. Upon the head of
the hero lay the dread cap 1804 of Hades which had the awful gloom of
night. Perseus himself, the son of Danae, was at full stretch, like one
who hurries and shudders with horror. And after him rushed the Gorgons,
unapproachable and unspeakable, longing to seize him: as they trod upon
the pale adamant, the shield rang sharp and clear with a loud clanging.
Two serpents hung down at their girdles with heads curved forward:
their tongues were flickering, and their teeth gnashing with fury, and
their eyes glaring fiercely. And upon the awful heads of the Gorgons
great Fear was quaking.
(ll. 237-270) And beyond these there were men fighting in warlike
harness, some defending their own town and parents from destruction,
and others eager to sack it; many lay dead, but the greater number
still strove and fought. The women on well-built towers of bronze were
crying shrilly and tearing their cheeks like living beings—the work of
famous Hephaestus. And the men who were elders and on whom age had laid
hold were all together outside the gates, and were holding up their
hands to the blessed gods, fearing for their own sons. But these again
were engaged in battle: and behind them the dusky Fates, gnashing their
white fangs, lowering, grim, bloody, and unapproachable, struggled for
those who were falling, for they all were longing to drink dark blood.
So soon as they caught a man overthrown or falling newly wounded, one
of them would clasp her great claws about him, and his soul would go
down to Hades to chilly Tartarus. And when they had satisfied their
souls with human blood, they would cast that one behind them, and rush
back again into the tumult and the fray. Clotho and Lachesis were over
them and Atropos less tall than they, a goddess of no great frame, yet
superior to the others and the eldest of them. And they all made a
fierce fight over one poor wretch, glaring evilly at one another with
furious eyes and fighting equally with claws and hands. By them stood
Darkness of Death, mournful and fearful, pale, shrivelled, shrunk with
hunger, swollen-kneed. Long nails tipped her hands, and she dribbled at
the nose, and from her cheeks blood dripped down to the ground. She
stood leering hideously, and much dust sodden with tears lay upon her
shoulders.
(ll. 270-285) Next, there was a city of men with goodly towers; and
seven gates of gold, fitted to the lintels, guarded it. The men were
making merry with festivities and dances; some were bringing home a
bride to her husband on a well-wheeled car, while the bridal-song
swelled high, and the glow of blazing torches held by handmaidens
rolled in waves afar. And these maidens went before, delighting in the
festival; and after them came frolicsome choirs, the youths singing
soft-mouthed to the sound of shrill pipes, while the echo was shivered
around them, and the girls led on the lovely dance to the sound of
lyres. Then again on the other side was a rout of young men revelling,
with flutes playing; some frolicking with dance and song, and others
were going forward in time with a flute player and laughing. The whole
town was filled with mirth and dance and festivity.
(ll. 285-304) Others again were mounted on horseback and galloping
before the town. And there were ploughmen breaking up the good soil,
clothed in tunics girt up. Also there was a wide cornland and some men
were reaping with sharp hooks the stalks which bended with the weight
of the cars—as if they were reaping Demeter’s grain: others were
binding the sheaves with bands and were spreading the threshing floor.
And some held reaping hooks and were gathering the vintage, while
others were taking from the reapers into baskets white and black
clusters from the long rows of vines which were heavy with leaves and
tendrils of silver. Others again were gathering them into baskets.
Beside them was a row of vines in gold, the splendid work of cunning
Hephaestus: it had shivering leaves and stakes of silver and was laden
with grapes which turned black 1805. And there were men treading out
the grapes and others drawing off liquor. Also there were men boxing
and wrestling, and huntsmen chasing swift hares with a leash of
sharp-toothed dogs before them, they eager to catch the hares, and the
hares eager to escape.
(ll 305-313) Next to them were horsemen hard set, and they contended
and laboured for a prize. The charioteers standing on their well-woven
cars, urged on their swift horses with loose rein; the jointed cars
flew along clattering and the naves of the wheels shrieked loudly. So
they were engaged in an unending toil, and the end with victory came
never to them, and the contest was ever unwon. And there was set out
for them within the course a great tripod of gold, the splendid work of
cunning Hephaestus.
(ll. 314-317) And round the rim Ocean was flowing, with a full stream
as it seemed, and enclosed all the cunning work of the shield. Over it
swans were soaring and calling loudly, and many others were swimming
upon the surface of the water; and near them were shoals of fish.
(ll. 318-326) A wonderful thing the great strong shield was to see—even
for Zeus the loud-thunderer, by whose will Hephaestus made it and
fitted it with his hands. This shield the valiant son of Zeus wielded
masterly, and leaped upon his horse-chariot like the lightning of his
father Zeus who holds the aegis, moving lithely. And his charioteer,
strong Iolaus, standing upon the car, guided the curved chariot.
(ll. 327-337) Then the goddess grey-eyed Athene came near them and
spoke winged words, encouraging them: ‘Hail, offspring of far-famed
Lynceus! Even now Zeus who reigns over the blessed gods gives you power
to slay Cycnus and to strip off his splendid armour. Yet I will tell
you something besides, mightiest of the people. When you have robbed
Cycnus of sweet life, then leave him there and his armour also, and you
yourself watch man-slaying Ares narrowly as he attacks, and wherever
you shall see him uncovered below his cunningly-wrought shield, there
wound him with your sharp spear. Then draw back; for it is not ordained
that you should take his horses or his splendid armour.’
(ll. 338-349) So said the bright-eyed goddess and swiftly got up into
the car with victory and renown in her hands. Then heaven-nurtured
Iolaus called terribly to the horses, and at his cry they swiftly
whirled the fleet chariot along, raising dust from the plain; for the
goddess bright-eyed Athene put mettle into them by shaking her aegis.
And the earth groaned all round them.
And they, horse-taming Cycnus and Ares, insatiable in war, came on
together like fire or whirlwind. Then their horses neighed shrilly,
face to face; and the echo was shivered all round them. And mighty
Heracles spoke first and said to that other:
(ll. 350-367) ‘Cycnus, good sir! Why, pray, do you set your swift
horses at us, men who are tried in labour and pain? Nay, guide your
fleet car aside and yield and go out of the path. It is to Trachis I am
driving on, to Ceyx the king, who is the first in Trachis for power and
for honour, and that you yourself know well, for you have his daughter
dark-eyed Themistinoe to wife. Fool! For Ares shall not deliver you
from the end of death, if we two meet together in battle. Another time
ere this I declare he has made trial of my spear, when he defended
sandy Pylos and stood against me, fiercely longing for fight. Thrice
was he stricken by my spear and dashed to earth, and his shield was
pierced; but the fourth time I struck his thigh, laying on with all my
strength, and tare deep into his flesh. And he fell headlong in the
dust upon the ground through the force of my spear-thrust; then truly
he would have been disgraced among the deathless gods, if by my hands
he had left behind his bloody spoils.’
(ll. 368-385) So said he. But Cycnus the stout spearman cared not to
obey him and to pull up the horses that drew his chariot. Then it was
that from their well-woven cars they both leaped straight to the
ground, the son of Zeus and the son of the Lord of War. The charioteers
drove near by their horses with beautiful manes, and the wide earth
rang with the beat of their hoofs as they rushed along. As when rocks
leap forth from the high peak of a great mountain, and fall on one
another, and many towering oaks and pines and long-rooted poplars are
broken by them as they whirl swiftly down until they reach the plain;
so did they fall on one another with a great shout: and all the town of
the Myrmidons, and famous Iolcus, and Arne, and Helice, and grassy
Anthea echoed loudly at the voice of the two. With an awful cry they
closed: and wise Zeus thundered loudly and rained down drops of blood,
giving the signal for battle to his dauntless son.
(ll. 386-401) As a tusked boar, that is fearful for a man to see before
him in the glens of a mountain, resolves to fight with the huntsmen and
white tusks, turning sideways, while foam flows all round his mouth as
he gnashes, and his eyes are like glowing fire, and he bristles the
hair on his mane and around his neck—like him the son of Zeus leaped
from his horse-chariot. And when the dark-winged whirring grasshopper,
perched on a green shoot, begins to sing of summer to men—his food and
drink is the dainty dew—and all day long from dawn pours forth his
voice in the deadliest heat, when Sirius scorches the flesh (then the
beard grows upon the millet which men sow in summer), when the crude
grapes which Dionysus gave to men—a joy and a sorrow both—begin to
colour, in that season they fought and loud rose the clamour.
(ll. 402-412) As two lions 1806 on either side of a slain deer spring
at one another in fury, and there is a fearful snarling and a clashing
also of teeth—like vultures with crooked talons and hooked beak that
fight and scream aloud on a high rock over a mountain goat or fat
wild-deer which some active man has shot with an arrow from the string,
and himself has wandered away elsewhere, not knowing the place; but
they quickly mark it and vehemently do keen battle about it—like these
they two rushed upon one another with a shout.
(ll. 413-423) Then Cycnus, eager to kill the son of almighty Zeus,
struck upon his shield with a brazen spear, but did not break the
bronze; and the gift of the god saved his foe. But the son of
Amphitryon, mighty Heracles, with his long spear struck Cycnus
violently in the neck beneath the chin, where it was unguarded between
helm and shield. And the deadly spear cut through the two sinews; for
the hero’s full strength lighted on his foe. And Cycnus fell as an oak
falls or a lofty pine that is stricken by the lurid thunderbolt of
Zeus; even so he fell, and his armour adorned with bronze clashed about
him.
(ll. 424-442) Then the stout hearted son of Zeus let him be, and
himself watched for the onset of manslaying Ares: fiercely he stared,
like a lion who has come upon a body and full eagerly rips the hide
with his strong claws and takes away the sweet life with all speed: his
dark heart is filled with rage and his eyes glare fiercely, while he
tears up the earth with his paws and lashes his flanks and shoulders
with his tail so that no one dares to face him and go near to give
battle. Even so, the son of Amphitryon, unsated of battle, stood
eagerly face to face with Ares, nursing courage in his heart. And Ares
drew near him with grief in his heart; and they both sprang at one
another with a cry. As it is when a rock shoots out from a great cliff
and whirls down with long bounds, careering eagerly with a roar, and a
high crag clashes with it and keeps it there where they strike
together; with no less clamour did deadly Ares, the chariot-borne, rush
shouting at Heracles. And he quickly received the attack.
(ll. 443-449) But Athene the daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus came to
meet Ares, wearing the dark aegis, and she looked at him with an angry
frown and spoke winged words to him. ‘Ares, check your fierce anger and
matchless hands; for it is not ordained that you should kill Heracles,
the bold-hearted son of Zeus, and strip off his rich armour. Come,
then, cease fighting and do not withstand me.’
(ll. 450-466) So said she, but did not move the courageous spirit of
Ares. But he uttered a great shout and waving his spears like fire, he
rushed headlong at strong Heracles, longing to kill him, and hurled a
brazen spear upon the great shield, for he was furiously angry because
of his dead son; but bright-eyed Athene reached out from the car and
turned aside the force of the spear.
Then bitter grief seized Ares and he drew his keen sword and leaped
upon bold-hearted Heracles. But as he came on, the son of Amphitryon,
unsated of fierce battle, shrewdly wounded his thigh where it was
exposed under his richly-wrought shield, and tare deep into his flesh
with the spear-thrust and cast him flat upon the ground. And Panic and
Dread quickly drove his smooth-wheeled chariot and horses near him and
lifted him from the wide-pathed earth into his richly-wrought car, and
then straight lashed the horses and came to high Olympus.
(ll. 467-471) But the son of Alcmena and glorious Iolaus stripped the
fine armour off Cycnus’ shoulders and went, and their swift horses
carried them straight to the city of Trachis. And bright-eyed Athene
went thence to great Olympus and her father’s house.
(ll. 472-480) As for Cycnus, Ceyx buried him and the countless people
who lived near the city of the glorious king, in Anthe and the city of
the Myrmidons, and famous Iolcus, and Arne, and Helice: and much people
were gathered doing honour to Ceyx, the friend of the blessed gods. But
Anaurus, swelled by a rain-storm, blotted out the grave and memorial of
Cycnus; for so Apollo, Leto’s son, commanded him, because he used to
watch for and violently despoil the rich hecatombs that any might bring
to Pytho.