Herodotus - The Histories.pdf

10 V Herodotus
deringly; but nevertheless inquired, whether she
had chanced to see his strayed mares anywhere.
She answered him, “Yes, and they were now in
her keeping; but never would she consent to give
them back, unless he took her for his mistress.”
So Hercules, to get his mares back, agreed; but
afterwards she put him off and delayed restoring
the mares, since she wished to keep him with her
as long as possible. He, on the other hand, was
only anxious to secure them and to get away. At
last, when she gave them up, she said to him,
“When thy mares strayed hither, it was I who
saved them for thee: now thou hast paid their salvage;
for lo! I bear in my womb three sons of
thine. Tell me therefore when thy sons grow up,
what must I do with them? Wouldst thou wish
that I should settle them here in this land, whereof
I am mistress, or shall I send them to thee?”
Thus questioned, they say, Hercules answered,
“When the lads have grown to manhood, do thus,
and assuredly thou wilt not err. Watch them, and
when thou seest one of them bend this bow as I
now bend it, and gird himself with this girdle
thus, choose him to remain in the land. Those