Translation of: Hercules Becomes Subject to Eurystheus; He Strangles the Nemean Lion

Propertius · July 18, 2020, 3:54am

LV. HERCULES BECOMES SUBJECT TO EURYSTHEUS; HE STRANGLES THE NEMEAN LION
Therefore, Hercules demonstrated the whole matter to Pythia, nor did he hide his crime. When Hercules now made an end, Pythia ordered him to depart to the city of Tiryns and to commit himself there to king Eurystheus. When he heard these things, Hercules immediately hurried to that city and handed himself over into servitude to Eurystheus and said, “What do you command me to do first, O king?” Eurystheus, who was thoroughly terrified by the strength and huge body of Hercules and was inclined for him to be killed, responded in the following way: “Listen, Hercules! Many amazing things are said of the very fierce lion which at this time lays everything to waste in the valley of Nemea. I command you, the strongest of all men, to free the people of that monster.” These words pleased Hercules very much. “I will hurry,” he said, “and obey your command.” Then he immediately journeyed into the forests in which the lion lived. Soon, he saw the wild beast and he made several attacks; in vain, however, because neither with arrows nor with any other weapon could he wound the monster. At last, Hercules grabbed the fierce lion with his huge arms and squeezed its throat with all his strength. In this way, he killed it in a short period of time. Then, he carried the lion’s body on his shoulders back to town and afterwards wore its hide as a robe. Moreover, all (the people) that inhabited that region were very cheerful when they received the news of the death of the huge lion and they praised Hercules with the most glorious words.

bedwere · July 19, 2020, 7:59am

Page 199-200. LV. HERCULES BECOMES SUBJECT TO EURYSTHEUS; HE STRANGLES THE NEMEAN LION
Therefore, Hercules described the whole matter to Pythia, nor did he hide his crime. When Hercules already made an end, Pythia ordered him to depart to the city of Tiryns and to entrust himself there to king Eurystheus. When he heard these things, Hercules immediately hurried to that city and handed himself over into servitude to Eurystheus and said, “What do you command me to do first, O king?” Eurystheus, who was thoroughly terrified by the strength and huge body of Hercules and was inclined for him to be killed, responded in the following way: “Listen, Hercules! Many amazing things are said of the very fierce lion which at this time lays everything to waste in the valley of Nemea. I command you, the strongest of all men, to free the people of that monster.” These words pleased Hercules very much. “I will hurry,” he said, “and obey your command.” Then he immediately journeyed into the forests in which the lion lived. Soon, he saw the wild beast and he made several attacks; in vain, however, because neither with arrows nor with any other weapon could he wound the monster. At last, Hercules grabbed the fierce lion with his huge arms and squeezed its throat with all his strength. In this way, he killed it in a short time. Then, he carried the lion’s body on his shoulders back to town and afterwards wore its hide as a robe. Moreover, all (the people) that inhabited that region were very cheerful when they received the news of the death of the huge lion and they praised Hercules with the most glorious words.