20. 20\. The Oracle's Reply The Oracle's Reply

Ubi Hercules finem fecit, Pythia primo tacebat; tandem tamen iussit eum ad urbem Tiryntha ire, et Eurysthei regis omnia imperata facere. When Hercules made an end, Pythia was at first silent; at length, however, he ordered him to go to the city of Tiryns, and to execute all the orders of king Eurystheus.

Hercules ubi haec audivit, ad urbem illam contendit, et Eurystheo regi se in servitutem tradidit. When Hercules heard these things, he hastens to that city, and delivered himself into slavery to king Eurystheus.

Duodecim annos crudelissimo Eurystheo serviebat, et duodecim labores, quos ille imperaverat, confecit; hoc enim uno modo tantum scelus expiari potuit. He served twelve years with the most cruel Eurystheus, and finished the twelve labors which he commanded; for this crime could only be expiated in one way.

De his laboribus plurima a poetis scripta sunt. Much has been written about these works by poets.

Multa tamen quae poetae narrant vix credibilia sunt. Many, however, that the poet was left barely credible.