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before a king who sat there weak and trembling。 And Heracles said； 〃I
have come to take up the labors that you will lay upon me； speak now；
Eurystheus； and tell me what you would have me do。〃
Eurystheus； that weak king； looking on the young man who stood as
tall and as firm as one of the immortals； had a heart that was filled with
hatred。 He lifted up his head and he said with a frown：
〃There is a lion in Nemea that is stronger and more fierce than any lion
known before。 Kill that lion； and bring the lion's skin to me that I may
know that you have truly performed your task。〃 So Eurystheus said； and
Heracles； with neither shield nor arms； went forth from the king's palace to
seek and to combat the dread lion of Nemea。
He went on until he came into a country where the fences were
overthrown and the fields wasted and the houses empty and fallen。 He
went on until he came to the waste around that land： there he came on the
trail of the lion； it led up the side of a mountain； and Heracles； without
shield or arms； followed the trail。
He heard the roar of the lion。 Looking up he saw the beast standing at
the mouth of a cavern； huge and dark against the sunset。 The lion roared
three times； and then it went within the cavern。
Around the mouth were strewn the bones of creatures it had killed and
carried there。 Heracles looked upon them when he came to the cavern。 He
went within。 Far into the cavern he went； and then he came to where he
saw the lion。 It was sleeping。
Heracles viewed the terrible bulk of the lion； and then he looked upon
his own knotted hands and arms。 He remembered that it was told of him
that； while still a child of eight months； he had strangled a great serpent
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
that had come to his cradle to devour him。 He had grown and his strength
had grown too。
So he stood； measuring his strength and the size of the lion。 The breath
from its mouth and nostrils came heavily to him as the beast slept； gorged
with its prey。 Then the lion yawned。 Heracles sprang on it and put his great
hands upon its throat。 No growl came out of its mouth； but the great eyes
blazed while the terrible paws tore at Heracles。 Against the rock Heracles
held the beast； strongly he held it； choking it through the skin that was
almost impenetrable。 Terribly the lion struggled； but the strong hands of
the hero held around its throat until it struggled no more。
Then Heracles stripped off that impenetrable skin from the lion's body；
he put it upon himself for a cloak。 Then； as he went through the forest； he
pulled up a young oak tree and trimmed it and made a club for himself。
With the lion's skin over himthat skin that no spear or arrow could
pierceand carrying the club in his hand he journeyed on until he came to
the palace of King Eurystheus。
The king； seeing coming toward him a towering man all covered with
the hide of a monstrous lion； ran and hid himself in a great jar。 He lifted
the lid up to ask the servants what was the meaning of this terrible
appearance。 And the servants told him that it was Heracles come back with
the skin of the lion of Nemea。 On hearing this Eurystheus hid himself
again。
He would not speak with Heracles nor have him come near him； so
fearful was he。 But Heracles was content to be left alone。 He sat down in
the palace and feasted himself。
The servants came to the king； Eurystheus lifted the lid of the jar and
they told him how Heracles was feasting and devouring all the goods in
the palace。 The king flew into a rage； but still he was fearful of having the
hero before him。 He issued commands through his heralds ordering
Heracles to go forth at once and perform the second of his tasks。
It was to slay the great water snake that made its lair in the swamps of
Lerna。 Heracles stayed to feast another day； and then； with the lion's skin
across his shoulders and the great club in his hands； he started off。 But this
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
time he did not go alone； the boy Iolaus went with him。
Heracles and Iolaus went on until they came to the vast swamp of
Lerna。 Right in the middle of the swamp was the water snake that was
called the Hydra。 Nine heads it had； and it raised them up out of the water
as the hero and his companion came near。 They could not cross the swamp
to come to the monster； for man or beast would sink and be lost in it。
The Hydra remained in the middle of the swamp belching mud at the
hero and his companion。 Then Heracles took up his bow and he shot
flaming arrows at its heads。 It grew into such a rage that it came through
the swamp to attack him。 Heracles swung his club。 As the Hydra came
near he knocked head after head off its body。
But for every head knocked off two grew upon the Hydra。 And as he
struggled with the monster a huge crab came out of the swamp； and
gripping Heracles by the foot tried to draw him in。 Then Heracles cried out。
The boy Iolaus came； he killed the crab that had come to the Hydra's aid。
Then Heracles laid hands upon the Hydra and drew it out of the
swamp。 With his club he knocked off a head and he had Iolaus put fire to
where it had been； so that two heads might not grow in that place。 The life
of the Hydra was in its middle head； that head he had not been able to
knock off with his club。 Now； with his hands he tore it off； and he placed
this head under a great stone so that it could not rise into life again。 The
Hydra's life was now destroyed。 Heracles dipped his arrows into the gall
of the monster； making his arrows deadly； no thing that was struck by
these arrows afterward could keep its life。
Again he came to Eurystheus's palace； and Eurystheus； seeing him； ran
again and hid himself in the jar。 Heracles ordered the servants to tell the
king that he had returned and that the second labor was accomplished。
Eurystheus； hearing from the servants that Heracles was mild in his
ways； came out of the jar。 Insolently he spoke。 〃Twelve labors you have to
accomplish for me；〃 said he to Heracles； 〃and eleven yet remain to be
accomplished。〃
〃How？〃 said He