LP0005x - The Labours of Heracles - The first 8 labours, from E. M. Berens' Handbook of Mythology

Legendary Passages #0005x - The Labours of Heracles - The first 8 labours, from E. M. Berens' Handbook of Mythology.     Last time we heard how Heracles killed and skinned the Nemean Lion. This time we hear a summary of that tale, plus the Hydra in the swamps of Lerna; the golden Hind, sacred to Artemis; the Eyrmantian Boar and the battle with the centaurs; the flooding of the stables of King Augeus; the deadly birds of Lake Styphalis; the white bull of Crete, sire of the Minotaur; and the man-eating mares of King Diomedes.     Next time we shall hear of these tales in greater detail, and how Heracles founded The First Olympics. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/22381/22381-h/22381-h.htm#page238 The Labours of Heracles, a Legendary Passage, from the Myths & Legends of Greece & Rome, written by E. M. Berens. 1. The Nemean Lion.     His first task was to bring to Eurystheus the skin of the much-dreaded Nemean lion, which ravaged the territory between Cleone and Nemea, and whose hide was invulnerable against any mortal weapon.     Heracles proceeded to the forest of Nemea, where, having discovered the lion's lair, he attempted to pierce him with his arrows; but finding these of no avail he felled him to the ground with his club, and before the animal had time to recover from the terrible blow, Heracles seized him by the neck and, with a mighty effort, succeeded in strangling him.     He then made himself a coat of mail of the skin, and a new helmet of the head of the animal. Thus attired, he so alarmed Eurystheus by appearing suddenly before him, that the king concealed himself in his palace, and henceforth forbade Heracles to enter his presence, but commanded him to receive his behests, for the future, through his messenger Copreus. 2. The Hydra.     His second task was to slay the Hydra, a monster serpent (the offspring of Typhon and Echidna), bristling with nine heads, one of which was immortal. This monster infested the neighbourhood of Lerna, where she committed great depredations among the herds.     Heracles, accompanied by his nephew Iolaus, set out in a chariot for the marsh of Lerna, in the slimy waters of which he found her. He commenced the attack by assailing her with his fierce arrows, in order to force her to leave her lair, from which she at length emerged, and sought refuge in a wood on a neighbouring hill. Heracles now rushed forward and endeavoured to crush her heads by means of well-directed blows from his tremendous club; but no sooner was one head destroyed than it was immediately replaced by two others.     He next seized the monster in his powerful grasp; but at this juncture a giant crab came to the assistance of the Hydra and commenced biting the feet of her assailant. Heracles destroyed this new adversary with his club, and now called upon his nephew to come to his aid.     At his command Iolaus set fire to the neighbouring trees, and, with a burning branch, seared the necks of the monster as Heracles cut them off, thus effectually preventing the growth of more. Heracles next struck off the immortal head, which he buried by the road-side, and placed over it a heavy stone. Into the poisonous blood of the monster he then dipped his arrows, which ever afterwards rendered wounds inflicted by them incurable. 3. The Horned Hind.     The third labour of Heracles was to bring the horned hind Cerunitis alive to Mycenæ. This animal, which was sacred to Artemis, had golden antlers and hoofs of brass.     Not wishing to wound the hind Heracles patiently pursued her through many countries for a whole year, and overtook her at last on the banks of the river Ladon; but even there he was compelled, in order to secure her, to wound her with one of his arrows, after which he lifted her on his shoulders and carried her through Arcadia.     On his way he met Artemis with her brother Phœbus-Apollo, wh