ht。 The head of a dreadful monster； the Gorgon； covered the broad of his back； and a bag of silver a marvel to see contained it： and from the bag bright tassels of gold hung down。 Upon the head of the hero lay the dread cap （4） of Hades which had the awful gloom of night。 Perseus himself； the son of Danae； was at full stretch； like one who hurries and shudders with horror。 And after him rushed the Gorgons； unapproachable and unspeakable； longing to seize him： as they trod upon the pale adamant； the shield rang sharp and clear with a loud clanging。 Two serpents hung down at their girdles with heads curved forward： their tongues were flickering； and their teeth gnashing with fury； and their eyes glaring fiercely。 And upon the awful heads of the Gorgons great Fear was quaking。
（ll。 237…270） And beyond these there were men fighting in warlike harness； some defending their own town and parents from destruction； and others eager to sack it； many lay dead； but the greater number still strove and fought。 The women on well…built towers of bronze were crying shrilly and tearing their cheeks like living beings the work of famous Hephaestus。 And the men who were elders and on whom age had laid hold were all together outside the gates； and were holding up their hands to the blessed gods； fearing for their own sons。 But these again were engaged ib battle： and behind them the dusky Fates； gnashing their white fangs； lowering； grim； bloody； and unapproachable； struggled for those who were falling； for they all were longing to drink dark blood。 So soon as they caught a man overthrown or falling newly wounded； one of them would clasp her great claws about him； and his soul would go down to Hades to chilly Tartarus。 And when they had satisfied their souls with human blood； they would cast that one behind them； and rush back again into the tumult and the fray。 Clotho and Lachesis were over them and Atropos less tall than they； a goddess of no great frame； yet superior to the others and the eldest of them。 And they all made a fierce fight over one poor wretch； glaring evilly at one another with furious eyes and fighting equally with claws and hands。 By them stood Darkness of Death； mournful and fearful； pale； shrivelled； shrunk with hunger； swollen…kneed。 Long nails tipped her hands； and she dribbled at the nose； and from her cheeks blood dripped down to the ground。 She stood leering hideously； and much dust sodden with tears lay upon her shoulders。
（ll。 270…285） Next； there was a city of men with goodly towers； and seven gates of gold； fitted to the lintels； guarded it。 The men were making merry with festivities and dances； some were bringing home a bride to her husband on a well…wheeled car； while the bridal…song swelled high； and the glow of blazing torches held by handmaidens rolled in waves afar。 And these maidens went before； delighting in the festival； and after them came frolicsome choirs； the youths singing soft…mouthed to the sound of shrill pipes； while the echo was shivered around them； and the girls led on the lovely dance to the sound of lyres。 Then again on the other side was a rout of young men revelling； with flutes playing； some frolicking with dance and song； and others were going forward in time with a flute player and laughing。 The whole town was filled with mirth and dance and festivity。
（ll。 285…304） Others again were mounted on horseback and galloping before the town。 And there were ploughmen breaking up the good soul； clothed in tunics girt up。 Also there was a wide cornland and some men were reaping with sharp hooks the stalks which bended with the weight of the cars as if they were reaping Demeter's grain： others were binding the sheaves with bands and were spreading the threshing floor。 And some held reaping hooks and were gathering the vintage； while others were taking from the reapers into baskets white and black clusters from the long rows of vines which were heavy with leaves and tendrils of silver。 Others again were gathering them into baskets。 Beside them was a row of vines in gold； the splendid work of cunning Hephaestus： it had shivering leaves and stakes of silver and was laden with grapes which turned black （5）。 And there were men treading out the grapes and others drawing off liquor。 Also there were men boxing and wrestling； and huntsmen chasing swift hares with a leash of sharp…toothed dogs before them； they eager to catch the hares； and the hares eager to escape。
（ll 305…313） Next to them were horsemen hard set； and they contended and laboured for a prize。 The charioteers standing on their well…woven cars； urged on their swift horses with loose rein； the jointed cars flew along clattering and the naves of the wheels shrieked loudly。 So they were engaged in an unending toil； and the end with victory came never to them； and the contest was ever unwon。 And there was set out for them within the course a great tripod of gold； the splendid work of cunning Hephaestus。
（ll。 314…317） And round the rim Ocean was flowing； with a full stream as it seemed； and enclosed all the cunning work of the shield。 Over it swans were soaring and calling loudly； and many others were swimming upon the surface of the water； and near them were shoals of fish。
（ll。 318…326） A wonderful thing the great strong shield was to see even for Zeus the loud…thunderer； by whose will Hephaestus made it and fitted it with his hands。 This shield the valiant son of Zeus wielded masterly； and leaped upon his horse…chariot like the lightning of his father Zeus who holds the aegis； moving lithely。 And his charioteer； strong Iolaus； standing upon the car； guided the curved chariot。
（ll。 327…337） Then the goddess grey…eyed Athene came near them and spoke winged words； encouraging them： ‘Hail； offspring of far…famed Lynceus！ Even now Zeus who reigns over the blessed gods gives you power to slay Cycnus and to strip off his splendid armour。 Yet I will tell you something besides； mightiest of the people。 When you have robbed Cycnus of sweet life； then leave him there and his armour also； and you yourself watch man…slaying Ares narrowly as he attacks； and wherever you shall see him uncovered below his cunningly…wrought shield； there wound him with your sharp spear。 Then draw back； for it is not ordained that you should take his horses or his splendid armour。'
（ll。 338…349） So said the bright…eyed goddess and swiftly got up into the car with victory and renown in her hands。 Then heaven… nurtured Iolaus called terribly to the horses； and at his cry they swiftly whirled the fleet chariot along； raising dust from the plain； for the goddess bright…eyed Athene put mettle into them by shaking her aegis。 And the earth groaned all round them。
And they； horse…taming Cycnus and Ares； insatiable in war； came on together like fire or whirlwind。 Then their horses neighed shrilly； face to face； and the echo was shivered all round them。 And mighty Heracles spoke first and said to that other：
（ll。 350…367） ‘Cycnus； good sir！ Why； pray； do you set your swift horses at us； men who are tried in labour and pain？ Nay； guide your fleet car aside and yield and go out of the path。 It is to Trachis I am driving on； to Ceyx the king； who is the first in Trachis for power and for honour； and that you yourself know well； for you have his daughter dark…eyed Themistinoe to wife。 Fool！ For Ares shall not deliver you from the end of death； if we two meet together in battle。 Another time ere this I declare he has made trial of my spear； when he defended sandy Pylos and stood against me； fiercely longing for fight。 Thrice was he stricken by my spear and dashed to earth； and his shield was pierced； but the fourth time I struck his thigh； laying on with all my strength； and tare deep into his flesh。 And he fell headlong in the dust upon the ground through the force of my spear…thrust； then truly he would have been disgraced among the deathless gods； if by my hands he had left behind his bloody spoils。'
（ll。 368…385） So said he。 But Cycnus the stout spearman cared not to obey him and to pull up the horses that drew his chariot。 Then it was that from their well…woven cars they both leaped straight to the ground； the son of Zeus and the son of the Lord of War。 The charioteers drove near by their horses with beautiful manes； and the wide earth rang with the beat of their hoofs as they rushed along。 As when rocks leap forth from the high peak of a great mountain； and fall on one another； and many towering oaks and pines and long…rooted poplars are broken by them as they whirl swiftly down until they reach the plain； so did they fall on one another with a great shout： and all the town of the Myrmidons； and famous Iolcus； and Arne； and Helice； and grassy Anthea echoed loudly at the voice of the two。 With an awful cry they closed： and wise Zeus thundered loudly and rained down drops of blood； giving the signal for battle to his dauntless son。
（ll。 386…401） As a tusked boar； that is fearful for a man to see before him in the glens of a mountain； resolves to fight with the huntsmen and white tusks； turning sideways； while foam flows all round his mouth as he gnashes； and his eyes are like glowing fire； and he bristles the hair on his mane and around his neck like him the son of Zeus leaped from his horse…chariot。 And when the dark…winged whirring grasshopper； perched on a green shoot； begins to sing of summer to men his food and drink is the dainty dew and all day long from dawn pours forth his voice in the deadliest heat； when Sirius scorches the flesh （then the beard grows upon the millet which men sow in summer）； when the crude grapes which Dionysus gave to men a joy and a sorrow both begin to colour； in that season they fought and loud rose the clamour。
（ll。 402…412） As two lions （6） on either side of a slain deer spring at one another in fury； and there is a fearful snarling and a clashing also of teeth like vultures with crooked talons and hooked beak that fight and scream aloud on a high rock over a mountain goat or fat wild…deer which some active man has shot with an arrow from the string； and himself has wandered away elsewhere； not knowing the place； but they quickly mark it and vehemently do keen battle abo