With pain accomplish’d, wishful, eager, traced The prince his homeward way. The live-long night He with the modest partner of his bed Embracing lay, and revell’d in delight The bounteous bliss of love’s all-charming queen. Thus by a god and by the first of men Alike subdued to love, Alcmena gave Twin-brethren birth, within the seven-fold gates Of Thebes: yet brethren though they were, unlike Their natures: this of weaker strain; but that Far more of man; valorous and stern and strong. Him, Hercules, conceived she from th’ embrace Of the cloud-darkener: to th’ Alcæan chief, Shaker of spears, gave Iphiclus: a race Distinct: nor wonder: this of mortal man, That of imperial Jove. The same who slew The lofty-minded Cygnus, child of Mars. For in the grove of the far-darting god He found him: and insatiable of war His father Mars beside. Both bright in arms, Bright as the sheen of burning flame, they stood On their high chariot; and the horses fleet Trampled the ground with rending hoofs: around In parted circle smoked the cloudy dust, Up-dash’d beneath the trampling hoofs, and cars Of complicated frame. The well-framed cars Rattled aloud: loud clash’d the wheels: while rapt In their full speed the horses flew. Rejoiced The noble Cygnus; for the hope was his, Jove’s warlike offspring and his charioteer To slay, and strip them of their gorgeous mail. But to his vows the Prophet-god of day Turn’d a deaf ear: for he himself set on Th’ assault of Hercules. Now all the grove, And Phœbus’ altar, flash’d with glimmering arms Of that tremendous god: himself blazed light, And darted radiance from his eye-balls glared As it were flame. But who of mortal mould Had e’er endured in daring opposite To rush before him, save but Hercules, And Ioläus, an illustrious name? For mighty strength was theirs: and arms that stretch’d From their broad shoulders unapproachable In valorous force, above their nervous frames: He therefore thus bespoke his charioteer: “Oh hero Ioläus! dearest far To me of all the race of mortal men; I deem it sure that ’gainst the blest of Heaven Amphitryon sinn’d, when to the fair-wall’d Thebes He came, forsaking Tirynth’s well-built walls, Electryon midst the strife of wide-brow’d herds Slain by his hand: to Creon suppliant came, And her of flowing robe, Henioche: Who straight embraced, and all of needful aid Lent hospitable, as to suppliant due: And more for this, e’en from the heart they gave All honour and observance. So he lived, Exulting in his graceful-ankled spouse Alcmena. When the rapid year roll’d round, We, far unlike in stature and in soul, Were born, thy sire and I: him Jove bereaved Of wisdom; who from his parental home Went forth, and to the fell Eurystheus bore His homage.