Aeneid

foiling the monster's will. Then hadst thou seen

the wrath of Hercules in frenzy blaze

from his exasperate heart. His arms he seized,

his club of knotted oak, and climbed full-speed

the wind-swept hill. Now first our people saw

Cacus in fear, with panic in his eyes.

Swift to the black cave like a gale he flew,

his feet by terror winged. Scarce had he passed

the cavern door, and broken the big chains,

and dropped the huge rock which was pendent there

by Vulcan's well-wrought steel; scarce blocked and barred

the guarded gate: when there Tirynthius stood,

with heart aflame, surveying each approach,

rolling this way and that his wrathful eyes,

gnashing his teeth. Three times his ire surveyed

the slope of Aventine; three times he stormed

the rock-built gate in vain; and thrice withdrew

to rest him in the vale. But high above

a pointed peak arose, sheer face of rock

on every side, which towered into view

from the long ridge above the vaulted cave,

fit haunt for birds of evil-boding wing.

This peak, which leftward toward the river leaned,

he smote upon its right—his utmost blow —

breaking its bases Ioose; then suddenly

thrust at it: as he thrust, the thunder-sound

filled all the arching sky, the river's banks

asunder leaped, and Tiber in alarm

reversed his flowing wave. So Cacus' lair

lay shelterless, and naked to the day

the gloomy caverns of his vast abode

stood open, deeply yawning, just as if

the riven earth should crack, and open wide

th' infernal world and fearful kingdoms pale,

which gods abhor; and to the realms on high

the measureless abyss should be laid bare,

and pale ghosts shrink before the entering sun.

Now upon Cacus, startled by the glare,

caged in the rocks and howling horribly,

Alcides hurled his weapons, raining down

all sorts of deadly missiles—trunks of trees,

and monstrous boulders from the mountain torn.

But when the giant from his mortal strait

no refuge knew, he blew from his foul jaws

a storm of smoke—incredible to tell —

and with thick darkness blinding every eye,

concealed his cave, uprolling from below

one pitch-black night of mingled gloom and fire.

This would Alcides not endure, but leaped

headlong across the flames, where densest hung

the rolling smoke, and through the cavern surged

a drifting and impenetrable cloud.

With Cacus, who breathed unavailing flame,

he grappled in the dark, locked limb with limb,

and strangled him, till o'er the bloodless throat

the starting eyeballs stared.Then Hercules

burst wide the doorway of the sooty den,

and unto Heaven and all the people showed

the stolen cattle and the robber's crimes,

and dragged forth by the feet the shapeless corpse

of the foul monster slain. The people gazed

insatiate on the grewsome eyes, the breast

of bristling shag, the face both beast and man,

and that fire-blasted throat whence breathed no more

the extinguished flame. 'T is since that famous day

we celebrate this feast, and glad of heart

each generation keeps the holy time.

Potitius began the worship due,

and our Pinarian house is vowed to guard

the rites of Hercules. An altar fair

within this wood they raised; 't is called ‘the Great,’

and Ara Maxima its name shall be.

Come now, my warriors, and bind your brows

with garlands worthy of the gift of Heaven.

Lift high the cup in every thankful hand,

and praise our people's god with plenteous wine.”

He spoke; and of the poplar's changeful sheen,

sacred to Hercules, wove him a wreath

to shade his silvered brow. The sacred cup

he raised in his right hand, while all the rest

called on the gods and pure libation poured.

Soon from the travelling heavens the western star

glowed nearer, and Potitius led forth

the priest-procession, girt in ancient guise

with skins of beasts and carrying burning brands.

new feasts are spread, and altars heaped anew

with gifts and laden chargers. Then with song

the Salian choir surrounds the blazing shrine,

their foreheads wreathed with poplar. Here the youth,

the elders yonder, in proud anthem sing

the glory and the deeds of Hercules:

how first he strangled with strong infant hand

two serpents, Juno's plague; what cities proud,

Troy and Oechalia, his famous war

in pieces broke; what labors numberless

as King Eurystheus' bondman he endured,

by cruel Juno's will. “Thou, unsubdued,

didst strike the twy-formed, cloud-bred centaurs down,

Pholus and tall Hylaeus. Thou hast slain

the Cretan horror, and the lion huge