16 A Cruel Deed (primer)
Hercules iam adulescens habitabat Thebis.
Hercules now a young man was living in Thebes.
Rex Thebarum appellabatur Creon, ignavus vir
The king of Thebes was called Creon, a worthless man.
Minyae, bellicosissima gens , erant finitimi Thebanis.
The Minyae, a most warlike people.
were neighbours to the Thebans. autem legati mittebantur a Minyis quotannis ad Thebanos ;
Now ambassadors were sent by the Minyae every year to the Thebans.
hi veniebant Thebas et postulabant centum boves.
These came to Thebes and demanded a hundred oxen.
Enim olim Thebani superati erant a Minyis ;
For once the Thebans had been defeated by the Minyae;
igitur quotannis pendebant tributa regi Minyarum.
Therefore every year they paid tributes to the king of the Minyae.
At Hercules constituit liberare suos cives hoc stipendio ;
But Hercules decided to liberate his fellow-citizens from this payment;
igitur comprehendit legatos , atque abscidit aures eorum.
therefore he seized the ambassadors, and cut off the ears of them.
autem apud omnes gentes legati habentur sancti .
Now among all peoples ambassadors are held as sacrosanct .