"But Cacus, caught unwares by day whereof he had no doubt, Imprisoned in the hollow rock, in strange voice bellowing out, Alcides fell on from above, calling all arms to aid, And plenteous cast of boughs and stones upon the monster laid; 250 While he, since now no flight availed to 'scape that peril's hold, Pours from his mouth a mighty smoke, O wondrous to be told! Enwrapping all the house about with blinding misty shroud, Snatching the sight from eyes of men, and rolling on the cloud, A reeking night with heart of fire and utter blackness blent. Alcides' spirit bore it nought; his body swift he sent With headlong leap amid the fire where thickest rolled the wave Of smoke, and with its pitchy mist was flooding all the cave; Cacus he catcheth in the dark spueing out fire in vain, And knitteth him in knot about, and, strangling him, doth strain 260 The starting eyes from out of him, and throat that blood doth lack: Then the mirk house is opened wide; the doors are torn aback; The stolen kine, that prey his oath foreswore to heaven are shown, And by the feet is dragged today the body hideous grown; Nor may men satiate their hearts by gazing on the thing; His fearful eyes, the face of him, the man-beast's fashioning Of bristled breast; those jaws of his, whence faded is the flame. "Hence is this honour celebrate, and they that after came Still kept the day all joyfully; Potitius wrought it first, This feast of mighty Hercules; the house Pinarian nursed, 270 The altar of the grove he reared, which Mightiest yet we call, And ever more, in very sooth, shall mightiest be of all. So come, O youths, these glorious deeds I bid you glorify: Wreathe round your hair, put forth your hands and raise the cup on high! Call on the God whom all we love, and give the wine full fain!" He spake: the leaf of Hercules, the poplar coloured twain, Shaded his hair; the leaves entwined hung down aback his head; The holy beaker filled his hand: then merry all men sped, And on the table poured their gift, and called the Gods to hear.