Book IX, 441: On a Statue of Heracles

I marvelled seeing at the cross-roads Jove’s brazen son, once constantly invoked, now cast aside, and in wrath I said: “Averter of woes, offspring of three nights, thou, who never didst suffer defeat, art to-day laid low.” But at night the god stood by my bed smiling, and said: “Even though I am a god I have learnt to serve the times.”