XXVI. "There yawned the cavern, in the rock's dark womb, Wherein the monster Cacus dwelt of yore, Half-human. Never sunlight pierced the gloom; But day by day the rank earth reeked with gore, And human faces, nailed above the door, Hung, foul and ghastly. From the loins he came Of Vulcan, and his huge mouth evermore Spewed forth a torrent of Vulcanian flame; Proudly he stalked the earth, and shook the world's fair frame. XXVII. "But time, in answer to our prayers, one day Brought aid,--a God to help us in our need. Flushed with the death of Geryon, came this way Alcides, glorying in the victor's meed, And hither drove his mighty bulls to feed. These, pasturing in the valley, from his lair Fierce Cacus saw, and, scorning in his greed To leave undone what crime or craft could dare, Four beauteous heifers stole, four oxen sleek and fair. XXVIII. "Then, lest their footprints should the track declare, Back by their tails he dragged the captured kine, With hoofs reversed, and shut them in his lair, And whoso sought the cavern found no sign. But when at last Amphitryon's son divine, His feasted herds, preparing to remove, Called from their pastures, and in long-drawn line, With plaintive lowing, the departing drove Trooped from the echoing hills, and clamours filled the grove, XXIX. "One of the heifers from the cave again Lowed back, in answer to the sound, and broke The hopes of Cacus, and his theft was plain. Black choler in Alcides' breast awoke. Grasping his arms and club of knotted oak, Straight to the sky-capt Aventine he hies, And scales the steep. Then, not till then, our folk Saw Cacus tremble. To the cave he flies, Wing'd like the wind with fear, and terror in his eyes. XXX. "Scarce in, the rock he loosened with a blow, Slung high in iron by his father's care, And with the barrier blocked the door; when lo, With heart aflame, great Hercules was there, And searched each way for access to his lair, Grinding his teeth. Thrice round the mount he threw His vengeful eyes, thrice strove from earth to tear The stone, and storm the threshold, thrice withdrew, And in the vale sat down, and nursed his wrath anew. XXXI. "Sharp-pointed, sheer above the dungeon, stood A crag, fit home for evil birds to light. This, where it frowned to leftward o'er the flood, Alcides shook, and, heaving from the right, Tore from its roots, and headlong down the height Impelled it. With the impulse and the fall Heaven thunders; back the river in affright Shrinks to its source. Bank leaps from bank, and all The mountain, yawning, shows the monster's cave and hall.