AFTER HE took one admiring look at Hippolyte’s belt, A Eurystheus cursed me and tossed it aside. His darling daughter, Odetia, spotted the belt and in the way of little girls dressed herself in it. Eurystheus, on seeing the girl imitating an Amazon, smiled. For one moment he seemed to have the feelings that make a man decent. Then he turned away, put her out of his mind and let his usual severity take over.
“Hercules, I return you to your capture of animals, since such tasks seem to suit you. Go to the western ocean, the edge of the world, and bring me the monster Geryon’s cattle, those lovely grazers in the land of sunsets, and bring them safely back.”
I was not tired of traveling and enjoying adventures. And so if Eurystheus wanted me at the greatest distance he knew of on earth, I would make the best of it. Had I sailed from Tiryns to Erytheia, the southern point of Europe, this labor would not have taken more than a half-year. As it was I set out sailing westward, but on an impulse landed on the southern side of the Mediterranean, in Libya. It was there, on the northern tip of Africa, so close to Europe, that I borrowed a stone-cutter’s tools and spent a week or two shaping a boulder into a massive pillar. It was not an artful job. However, I was content with its size, a towering monument to myself and the farthest reach so far of my journeys. I hired a team of oxen to drag it with me to the cliffs that overlook the sea’s passage from the Mediterranean to the unknown western ocean beyond. With all the strength the oxen and I could muster, we upraised the massive pillar of stone.
For two or three moments I gazed in admiration at it, but when I glanced across the straits to Europe I understood that one pillar would hardly do. I dismissed the hardworking oxen and rushed down to the straits, where I plunged into the water and swam for the other side. The ocean beyond seemed to desire me, pulling on my arms and legs, but I would not relent and swam with hard strokes until I arrived at land.
As on the African side I borrowed a stone-cutter’s tools and carved myself a similar tower of stone. This time, however, the stone I elected to carve was lying on the very spot where I wished to post it. Raising it, however, was difficult, causing even me to strain and almost despair. Let me thank the god Apollo who, without my knowing at the time, put his shoulder into my effort. In a matter of moments, after hours of my pushing and grunting, the pillar rose, a companion to the one on the opposite side. The Pillars of Hercules, marking the edge of the western world, could be seen for many miles, from land and sea.
From the straits it was a short distance to the land of Geryon, the odd monster who resembled three men joined at one waist. So many arms, so many legs! With such a supply I could scarcely have kept myself from tripping, but Geryon made the most of his extra limbs. He owned thousands of cattle and was king of this western land. But king of what? There were few people and for them he scarcely cared. He loved only his cattle, tended by a servant named Eurytion and the monstrous two-headed dog Orthros.
I climbed the low mountains where I saw the cattle grazing and sat there awaiting Geryon, hoping he would allow me to take one of his many herds. Instead, Orthros found me. I stood up while Eurytion, that vicious man, ordered the dog to attack me. I had no intention of harming the dog, but its snapping jaws left me no choice. I swung my club at him, and the dog yelped but refused to give up the fight. When Eurytion sent a spear at me, I returned fire with my bow and arrow, killing him and the monstrous dog.
I now decided to take the cattle without asking leave of Geryon. After all, his own man and dog had attacked me without cause. But I had no sooner crossed a river with a herd of his finest bulls and cows when Geryon set out after me. He was not in the mood to make a deal or talk. He sent a half-dozen spears flying after me. I raised my shield just in time to deflect the death they intended.
I hardly knew where to let loose an arrow in return, there were so many of him! I aimed left, then right, then center, wondering which part of him to dispose of first. Then I saw the folly of attacking the edges of a one-man army. I aimed at his center, his vulnerable waist, and my shot hit its mark.
One arrow and Geryon sprawled dead in a heap of arms and legs!
After I had driven the cattle through the Iberian peninsula, Iolaos met me and we ventured on a long trek through the strange wild lands of Europe. I joined in many contests against arrogant men who thought they could outfight or outwrestle me and I outwitted countless robbers and bandits.