Lines 1–114

Or such as she who left home and fatherland to follow warlike Amphitryon unto Thebes, even the daughter of Elektryon the lord of hosts, Alkmene, who outdid the race of womenkind in beauty and in stature; yea, and in understanding none vied with her of all that were born of mortal women in the bed of mortal men. From her face and from her dark eyes breathed such influence as from the face and eyes of golden Aphrodite; and even so she honoured her husband in her heart as never yet did any among womenkind. He, indeed, had overcome by violence and slain her noble sire in anger about oxen, and left his fatherland, and came unto Thebes a suppliant to the shield-bearing Kadmeans. There he dwelt with his reverend spouse, without the sweets of love, and might not enter the bed of the fair-ankled daughter of Elektryon till he should avenge the slaughter of his wife’s great-hearted brothers, and burn with raging fire the villages of the hero Taphians and Teleboans. For so it was covenanted with him, and the gods were witnesses to the covenant. He reverenced the regard of Heaven, and hasted with all speed to fulfil the awful deed, which was the duty laid on him of Zeus. With him followed, eager for war and battle, the knightly Boiotians, men breathing over their shields’ rim: the dose-fighting Lokroi and great-hearted Phokeans. And the good son of Alkaios led them, exulting in his hosts. But the Father of gods and men wove other counsel in his mind, even that he should beget one to be a warder-off of destruction for gods and men who live by bread. He sped from Olympos, brooding in his mind a cunning scheme, fain for the love of a fair-girdled woman, in the night. Swiftly he came unto Typhaonion, and thence again on topmost Phikion Zeus the Counsellor set his feet. There he sat down and in his breast devised wondrous deeds. For on the same night he knew the bed and love of the fine-ankled daughter of Elektryon, and achieved his desire; and on the same night Amphitryon, the lord of hosts, the glorious hero, having achieved his mighty task, came to his own home. And he hasted not to go to his thralls and shepherds in the fields ere he entered the bed of his wife. Such desire took hold of the heart of the shepherd of hosts. And even as when a man hath gladly escaped evil, whether from grievous disease or strong bondage, even so on that night Amphitryon, having wound up the clue of hard toil, glad and welcome came unto his own house. All night he lay with his reverend spouse, rejoicing in the gifts of golden Aphrodite. And she, having lain with a god and with one that was far the best of men in seven-gated Thebes, bare twin children, but not of like mind, albeit they were brothers: one weaker, the other a far better man, terrible and strong, even the mighty Herakles: him bare she to the Son of Kronos, lord of the dark clouds, but Iphikles she bare to Amphitryon, the lord of hosts, a separate seed: one in the bed of a man, the other to Zeus the Son of Kronos, ruler of all gods, which also slew Kyknos, the great-hearted son of Ares. For he found him in the temple of archer Apollo, both himself and his father Ares, insatiate of war, shining in their armoury the shine of blazing fire, standing in their car: and the swift horses smote the earth, and tore it with their hooves, and round them blazed the dust smitten by pleated car and feet of horse. The well-wrought car and chariot rims rang around as the horses raged. And blameless Kyknos rejoiced, thinking to slay with the bronze the warlike son of Zeus and his charioteer, and strip them of their glorious arms. But Phoibos Apollo heard not his prayers; for himself he urged against him mighty Herakles. And all the grove and altar of Pagasaean Apollo shone with the dread god’s armour and himself, and the flashing of his eyes was as fire. What mortal man would have endured to meet him face to face save Herakles and glorious Iolaos? For great was their might and invincible the arms that grew from their shoulders on stout limbs. He then spake unto his charioteer, strong Iolaos:

‘O hero Iolaos, far dearest of all mortal men, surely Amphitryon sinned greatly against the Blest Immortals, who keep Olympos, when he went to fair-crowned Thebes, leaving Tirynthos, that well-builded city, when he had slain Elektryon on account of his wide-browed oxen. And he came unto Kreon and long-robed Henioche, who welcomed him and gave him all things as were meet, which is the due of suppliants, and honoured him in their hearts yet more. He lived in glory with the fair-ankled daughter of Electryon, his wife. And soon with the rolling seasons we in turn were born, alike neither in body nor in mind, even thy father and I. From him Zeus took away his wits, who left his home and his parents, and went to do honour to sinful Eurystheus, fool that he was: surely in after days he groaned much in lamentation of his infatuate deed: but that cannot be taken back. Howbeit on me God imposed hard labours. O my friend, but do thou quickly take the crimson reins of the swift-footed steeds, and, nursing high courage in thy heart, hold straight on the swift car and strength of swift-footed steeds, and fear not at all the din of murderous Ares, who now with shouting rageth round the holy grove of Phoibos Apollo, the archer prince. Verily, strong though he be, he is like to have his fill of war.’

Then spake to him in turn blameless Iolaos: ‘Friend, verily the Father of men and gods honoureth thy head, even as also the lord of bulls, the Earth Shaker, who keepeth the coronal of Troy and guardeth the city, so strong and mighty a man is this whom they lead into thy hands, that thou mayst win fair renown. But come, do on thine armour of war, that with all speed we may bring close the car of Ares and our own and do battle, since verily he shall not put to flight the dauntless son of Zeus, nor the son of Iphikles: rather methinketh will he flee from the two children of the son of Alkaius, who are nigh unto him, and yearn to array the strife of war, which things are dearer far to them than is the banquet.’