"The Achæan women, while they spin, I wis, Alcmena's name to latest eve shall sing; And famous shalt thou be in Argolis; For this thy son to star-paved heaven shall spring: To Jove's own house, but all of him can die "And he the son-in-law of her shall be, Who sent these dragons to destroy the child; Then in his lair the sharp-toothed wolf shall see The fawn, nor harm it, wonderfully mild. In the hearth-ashes let there now be piled All sorts of thorn, bramble, and prickly pear, And dry, wind-shaken twigs of buck-thorn wild ; And at the midnight burn these dragons here, Since they to slay the child at midnight did appear. "A maid must cast these ashes with the wind At morn from yon rock to the rushing tide, Pure water, mixed with salt, from side to side And sacrifice to Zeus supreme a boar, That o'er your foes you may be victors evermore." Then, rising from the ivory chair, withdrew But Hercules with his fond mother grew, As grows a young plant in a fruitful lea, Instructed him in letters carefully. And Eurytus, who from rich parents came, Taught him to bend the bow and take unerring aim To move his fingers on the harp with ease, And to the music minstrelsy to sing, Him taught Eumolpus Philammonides: And with what sleights the men of Argos fling And every sort of pugilistic sleight, Him taught the son of the Cyllenian king, Men from afar, that few would dare with him to fight. To drive the chariot, and impel, control The rapid-bounding steeds, and how to shun Who willingly did teach his hopeful son: In stationary fight to aim the lance, Of demigods was warrior most renowned, Alcmena thus had taught her Hercules. His sleeping-place was near his father's bed; T His morning meal, roast meat and Dorian bread No ploughman would a larger loaf desire ; He always wore, bare to his knees, a plain attire. IDYL XXV. HERCULES, THE LION-SLAYER. ARGUMENT. Hercules, in quest of Augeias, falls in with one of the dependants of that personage. He is amazed at the sight of his herds, having no notion that even ten kings together possessed such wealth. He accompanies Augeias and his son while they inspect the stalls and the business going on there. In the morning he accompanies Phyleus to the city, and communicates to him, on the road, the particulars of his adventure with the Nemean lion, whose hide is hanging from his shoulders. The beginning, and some think the conclusion also, of this Idyl is wanting in the original. |