44 Hercules and Cacus (primer)
cum posset reperire nullum alium introitum,
since he was able to find not any other entrance,
Hercules conatus est amovere hoc saxum,
Hercules tried to move away this rock,
sed propter magnitudinem eius res fuit difficillima .
but on account of the great size of it the thing was very difficult .
diu laborabat frustra
For a long time he struggled in vain,
neque quicquam poterat facere;
and not anything was he able to do;
tandem tamen magno conatu
Finally however with a great try-ing
amovit saxum et patefecit speluncam.
he moved away the rock and laid open the cave.
ibi cum magno gaudio conspexit amissos boves.
There with great rejoicing he saw the lost oxen.
sed vix potuit cernere Cacum ipsum,
But scarcely was he able to see Cacus himself,
quod spelunca erat plena fumo
because the cave was filled with smoke
quem ille suo more evomebat .
which he by his custom was belching out .
Hercules turbatus insolita specie
Hercules confused by the unusual sight
haesitabat breve tempus ;
hesitated for a short time;
mox tamen inrupit in speluncam
Soon however he broke in into the cave
et complexus est bracchiis collum monstri .
and grasped with his hands the neck of the monster.
ille quamquam repugnavit multum,
He, although he fought back much,
nullo modo potuit liberare se,
in no way was able to free himself,
et cum nulla facultas respirandi daretur,
and since not any means of breathing was being given,
mox exanimatus est.
soon was made lifeless.