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Hesiod: Arma Herculis

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Hesiod: Arma Herculis
    Click to Expand/Collapse Option Complete text
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionIntroduction
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionZeus and Amphitryon lay with Alcmena, two sons are born
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionHeracles battles Cycnus, son of Ares
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionHeracles and his charioteer Iolaus
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionThe fearful Heracles prepares for war
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionHeracles shield is described
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionThe description of the shield continues
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionAthene supports Heracles
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionHercules and Cycnus speak
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionThe clash likened to nature
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionHeracles kills Cycnus and Ares comes to avenge him
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionAthene intervenes
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionList of Names
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ἥρως ὦ Ἰόλαε, βροτῶν πολὺ φίλτατε πάντων,
ἦ τε μέγ᾽ ἀθανάτους μάκαρας, τοὶ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν,
ἤλιτεν Ἀμφιτρύων, ὅτ᾽ ἐυστέφανον ποτὶ Θήβην
ἦλθε λιπὼν Τίρυνθα, ἐυκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,
κτείνας Ἠλεκτρύωνα βοῶν ἕνεκ᾽ εὐρυμετώπων:
ἵκετο δ᾽ ἐς Κρείοντα καὶ Ἠνιόχην τανύπεπλον,
οἵ ῥά μιν ἠσπάζοντο καὶ ἄρμενα πάντα παρεῖχον,
ἣ δίκη ἔσθ᾽ ἱκέτῃσι, τίον δέ ἑ κηρόθι μᾶλλον.
ζῶε δ᾽ ἀγαλλόμενος σὺν ἐυσφύρῳ Ἠλεκτρυώνῃ,
ᾗ ἀλόχῳ: τάχα δ᾽ ἄμμες ἐπιπλομένων ἐνιαυτῶν
γεινόμεθ᾽ οὔτε φυὴν ἐναλίγκιοι οὔτε νόημα,
σός τε πατὴρ καὶ ἐγώ: τοῦ μὲν φρένας ἐξέλετο Ζεύς,
ὃς προλιπὼν σφέτερον τε δόμον σφετέρους τε τοκῆας
ᾤχετο, τιμήσων ἀλιτήμενον Εὐρυσθῆα,
σχέτλιος: ἦ που πολλὰ μετεστεναχίζετ᾽ ὀπίσσω
ἣν ἄτην ὀχέων: ἣ δ᾽ οὐ παλινάγρετός ἐστιν.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ δαίμων χαλεποὺς ἐπετέλλετ᾽ ἀέθλους. 
78-94 Heracles and his charioteer Iolaus:
‘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. 
ὦ φίλος, ἀλλὰ σὺ θᾶσσον ἔχ᾽ ἡνία φοινικόεντα
ἵππων ὠκυπόδων: μέγα δὲ φρεσὶ θάρσος ἀέξων
ἰθὺς ἔχειν θοὸν ἅρμα καὶ ὠκυπόδων σθένος ἵππων,
μηδὲν ὑποδδείσας κτύπον Ἄρεος ἀνδροφόνοιο,
ὃς νῦν κεκληγὼς περιμαίνεται ἱερὸν ἄλσος
Φοίβου Ἀπόλλωνος, ἑκατηβελέταο ἄνακτος:
ἦ μὴν καὶ κρατερός περ ἐὼν ἄαται πολέμοιο. 
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.‘ 
τὸν δ᾽ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἀμώμητος Ἰόλαος:
ἠθεῖ᾽, ἦ μάλα δή τι πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε
τιμᾷ σὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ ταύρεος Ἐννοσίγαιος,
ὃς Θήβης κρήδεμνον ἔχει ῥύεταί τε πόληα:
οἶον δὴ καὶ τόνδε βροτὸν κρατερόν τε μέγαν τε
σὰς ἐς χεῖρας ἄγουσιν, ἵνα κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἄρηαι.
ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε δύσεο τεύχε᾽ ἀρήια, ὄφρα τάχιστα
δίφρους ἐμπελάσαντες Ἄρηός θ᾽ ἡμέτερόν τε
μαρνώμεσθ᾽, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι ἀτάρβητον Διὸς υἱὸν
οὐδ᾽ Ἰφικλεΐδην δειδίξεται, ἀλλά μιν οἴω
φεύξεσθαι δύο παῖδας ἀμύμονος Ἀλκεΐδαο,
οἳ δή σφι σχεδόν εἰσι, λιλαιόμενοι πολέμοιο
φυλόπιδα στῆσαι, τά σφιν πολὺ φίλτερα θοίνης. 
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.’ 
ὣς φάτο: μείδησεν δὲ βίη Ἡρακληείη
θυμῷ γηθήσας: μάλα γάρ νύ οἱ ἄρμενα εἶπεν:
καί μιν ἀμειβόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα: 
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: 
ἥρως ὦ Ἰόλαε, διοτρεφές, οὐκέτι τηλοῦ
ὑσμίνη τρηχεῖα: σὺ δ᾽ ὡς πάρος ἦσθα δαΐφρων,
ὣς καὶ νῦν μέγαν ἵππον Ἀρίονα κυανοχαίτην
πάντη ἀναστρωφᾶν καὶ ἀρηγέμεν, ὥς κε δύνηαι. 
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.’ 
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