16 A Cruel Deed (primer)

Hercules iam adulescens habitabat Thebis. Let me tell you now the young man was living at Thebes.

Hercules now a young man was living in Thebes. Hercules now a young man was living in Thebes.

Rex Thebarum appellabatur Creon, ignavus vir King scars called Creon a coward

The king of Thebes was called Creon, a worthless man.

Minyae, bellicosissima gens , erant finitimi Thebanis. Of Minya, the most warlike nation, were neighbors of the Thebans.

The Minyae, a most warlike people. The Minyae, a most warlike people.

were neighbours to the Thebans. were neighbors to the Thebans. autem legati mittebantur a Minyis quotannis ad Thebanos ; every year, however, the ambassadors were being sent to the Thebans, and by the Minyans;

Now ambassadors were sent by the Minyae every year to the Thebans. Now ambassadors were sent by the stark every year to the Theban.

hi veniebant Thebas et postulabant centum boves. they were Thebes and asked for a hundred cows.

These came to Thebes and demanded a hundred oxen. These came to Thebes and demanded a hundred oxen.

Enim olim Thebani superati erant a Minyis ; For they were of old, the Thebans were defeated by the Minyans;

For once the Thebans had been defeated by the Minyae;

igitur quotannis pendebant tributa regi Minyarum. Every year the taxes were king of Minya.

Therefore every year they paid tributes to the king of the Minyae.

At Hercules constituit liberare suos cives hoc stipendio ; But Hercules, and made him to liberate them citizens of this stipend;

But Hercules decided to liberate his fellow-citizens from this payment; But Hercules decided to free his fellow-citizens from this payment;

igitur comprehendit legatos , atque abscidit aures eorum. , then, took hold of the staff-officers, and to cut off the ears of the people.

therefore he seized the ambassadors, and cut off the ears of them. therefore he seized the ambassadors, and cut off the ears of them.

autem apud omnes gentes legati habentur sancti . however, there are the ambassadors of all the nations of the saints have them.

Now among all peoples ambassadors are held as sacrosanct . Now among all peoples ambassadors are held as sacrosanct.