“And after her I saw Amphitryon’s wife, Alcmena, her who brought forth Hercules, The dauntless hero of the lion-heart— For she had given herself into the arms Of mighty Jupiter. I also saw Megara there, a daughter of the house Of haughty Creion. Her Amphitryon’s son, Unamable in strength, had made his wife.
“The mother, too, of Oedipus I saw, Beautiful Epicastè, who in life Had done unwittingly a heinous deed— Had married her own son, who, having slain Her father first, espoused her; but the gods Published abroad the rumor of the crime. He in the pleasant town of Thebes bore sway O’er the Cadmeians; yet in misery He lived, for so the offended gods ordained. And she went down to Hades and the gates That stand forever barred; for, wild with grief, She slung a cord upon a lofty beam And perished by it, leaving him to bear Woes without measure, such as on a son The furies of a mother might inflict.
“And there I saw the dame supremely fair, Chloris, whom Neleus with large marriage-gifts Wooed, and brought home a bride; the youngest she Among the daughters of Iäsus’ son, Amphion, ruler o’er Orchomenus, The Minyeian town, and o’er the realm Of Pylos. Three illustrious sons she bore To Neleus—Nestor, Chromius, and a chief Of lofty bearing, Periclymenus. She brought forth Pero also, marvellous In beauty, wooed by all the region round; but Neleus would bestow the maid on none Save him who should drive off from Phylacè The beeves, broad-fronted and with crooked horns, Of valiant Iphicles—a difficult task. One man alone, a blameless prophet, dared Attempt it; but he found himself withstood By fate, and rigid fetters, and a force Of rustic herdsmen. Months and days went by, And the full year, led by the hours, came round. The valiant Iphicles, who from the seer Had heard the oracles explained, took off The shackles, and the will of Jove was done.