21. First Labour: the Nemean Lion

Primum ab Eurystheo iussus est Hercules leonem occidere qui illo tempore vallem Nemeaeam reddebat infestam. Hercules was first ordered by Eurystheus to kill a lion, which at that time rendered the Nemea Valley unsafe.

In silvas igitur in quibus leo habitabat statim se contulit. Therefore he betook himself immediately into the woods in which the lion dwelt.

Mox feram vidit, et arcum, quem secum attulerat, intendit; eius tamen pellem, quae densissima erat, traicere non potuit. Immediately he saw the wild beast, and directed the bow which he had brought with him; but he could not remove his skin, which was very thick.

Tum clava magna quam semper gerebat leonem percussit, frustra tamen; neque enim hoc modo eum occidere potuit. Then, the club defeated the great army which I always wore the lion, it was in vain; I have not been able to put him to death in this way.

Tum demum collum monstri bracchiis suis complexus est et fauces eius omnibus viribus compressit. Then at last the monster's neck, his hands, and by all the powers of his own, and the palate is the complex of closed tight.

Hoc modo leo brevi tempore exanimatus est; nulla enim respirandi facultas ei dabatur. This means a short time passed away; for there is no ability to breathe freely and to him it was given to. Tum Hercules cadaver ad oppidum in umeris rettulit; et pellem, quam detraxerat, postea pro veste gerebat. Then Hercules brought back the corpse to the town on his shoulders; and afterwards he wore the skin which he had removed as a garment.

Omnes autem qui eam regionem incolebant, ubi famam de morte leonis acceperunt, vehementer gaudebant et Herculem magno honore habebant. But all who dwelt in that country, where they received the report of the death of the lion, rejoiced exceedingly, and held Hercules with great honor.