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him of the last labor that he would have to set out to accomplishthis time
he would have to go down into the Underworld； and bring up from King
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Aidoneus's realm Cerberus； the three…headed hound。 Heracles put upon
him the impenetrable lion's skin and set forth once more。 This might
indeed be the last of his life's labors： Cerberus was not an earthly monster；
and he who would struggle with Cerberus in the Underworld would have
the gods of the dead against him。
But Heracles went on。 He journeyed to the cave Tainaron； which was
an entrance to the Underworld。 Far into that dismal cave he went； and then
down； down； until he came to Acheron； that dim river that has beyond it
only the people of the dead。 Cerberus bayed at him from the place where
the dead cross the river。 Knowing that he was no shade； the hound sprang
at Heracles； but be could neither bite nor tear through that impenetrable
lion's skin。 Heracles held him by the neck of his middle head so that
Cerberus was neither able to bite nor tear nor bellow。
Then to the brink of Acheron came Persephone； queen of the
Underworld。 She declared to Heracles that the gods of the dead would not
strive against him if he promised to bring Cerberus back to the
Underworld； carrying the hound downward again as he carried him
upward。
This Heracles promised。 He turned around and he carried Cerberus； his
hands around the monster's neck while foam dripped from his jaws。 He
carried him on and upward toward the world of men。 Out through a cave
that was in the land of Trcezen Heracles came； still carrying Cerberus by
the neck of his middle head。
From Troezen to Mycenae the hero went and men fled before him at
the sight of the monster that he carried。 On he went toward the king's
palace。 Eurystheus was seated outside his palace that day； looking at the
great jar that he had often hidden in； and thinking to himself that Heracles
would never appear to affright him again。 Then Heracles appeared。 He
called to Eurystheus； and when the king looked up he held the hound
toward him。 The three heads grinned at Eurystheus； he gave a cry and
scrambled into the jar。 But before his feet touched the bottom of it
Eurystheus was dead of fear。 The jar rolled over； and Heracles looked
upon the body that was all twisted with fright。 Then he turned around and
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
made his way back to the Underworld。 On the brink of Acheron he loosed
Cerberus； and the bellow of the three…headed hound was heard again。
II
It was then that Heracles was given arms by the gods the sword of
Hermes； the bow of Apollo； the shield made by Hephaestus； it was then
that Heracles joined the Argonauts and journeyed with them to the edge of
the Caucasus； where； slaying the vulture that preyed upon Prometheus's
liver； he； at the will of Zeus； liberated the Titan。 Thereafter Zeus and
Prometheus were reconciled； and Zeus； that neither might forget how
much the enmity between them had cost gods and men； had a ring made
for Prometheus to wear； that ring was made out of the fetter that had been
upon him； and in it was set a fragment of the rock that the Titan had been
bound to。
The Argonauts had now won back to Greece。 But before he saw any of
them he had been in Oichalia； and had seen the maiden Iole。
The king of Oichalia had offered his daughter Iole in marriage to the
hero who could excel himself and his sons in shooting with arrows。
Heracles saw Iole； the blue…eyed and childlike maiden； and he longed to
take her with him to some place near the Garden of the Hesperides。 And
Iole looked on him； and he knew that she wondered to see him so tall and
so strongly knit even as he wondered to see her so childlike and delicate。
Then the contest began。 The king and his sons shot wonderfully well；
and none of the heroes who stood before Heracles had a chance of
winning。 Then Heracles shot his arrows。 No matter how far away they
moved the mark； Heracles struck it and struck the very center of it。 The
people wondered who this great archer might be。 And then a name was
guessed at and went around Heracles！
When the king heard the name of Heracles he would not let him strive
in the contest any more。 For the maiden Iole would not be given as a prize
to one who had been mad and whose madness might afflict him again。 So
the king said； speaking in judgment in the market place。
Rage came on Heracles when he heard this judgment given。 He would
not let his rage master him lest the madness that was spoken of should
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come with his rage。 So he left the city of Oichalia declaring to the king
and the people that he would return。
It was then that； wandering down to Crete； he heard of the Argonauts
being near。 And afterward he heard of them being in Calydon； hunting the
boar that ravaged Oeneus's country。 To Calydon Heracles went。 The heroes
had departed when he came into the country； and all the city was in grief
for the deaths of Prince Meleagrus and his two uncles。
On the steps of the temple where Meleagrus and his uncles had been
brought Heracles saw Deianira； Meleagrus's sister。 She was pale with her
grief； this tall woman of the mountains； she looked like a priestess； but
also like a woman who could cheer camps of men with her counsel； her
bravery； and her good companionship； her hair was very dark and she had
dark eyes。
Straightway she became friends with Heracles； and when they saw
each other for a while they loved each other。 And Heracles forgot Iole； the
childlike maiden whom he had seen in Oichalia。
He made himself a suitor for Deianira； and those who protected her
were glad of Heracles's suit； and they told him they would give him the
maiden to marry as soon as the mourning for Prince Meleagrus and his
uncles was over。 Heracles stayed in Calydon； happy with