Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica
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,