Hercules and his Twelve Labors

The Tenth Labor: The Cattle of Geryon Part III

So cows are scattered quick from hand
And roam so wide across the land.
In every dale and glade their found
There lowing soft and grazing ground.

So hero scours the island wide
And gathers cows wherever lied.
For many months the hero strives
To find the cows where beast abide.

Until but one is left to claim
For beast in hands of king is lain.
Who gives no thought to yielding cow
For all the realm to Tyrant bows.

So Eryx son of Mars does tell
His serfs that deep in keep do dwell.
To speak to son of Zeus these words
About the giant Geryons herds.

"To hero, king refuses boon
If godling ask I'll grant him tomb.
For Mars my father hero hates
And hopes he'll have a dying fate.

So king won't give the cow to hand
Of demi-god at gate who stands
Requesting beast from island king
On head my fathers wrath may bring.

If Tyrant eases hero's path
Or lends his help to Hera's Wrath."
So demi-god does challenge king
To wrestling match the cow to bring.

And stands at gate to contest shout
In hopes to limit other routes
The king would take to keep the cow
Thus pride did make the sovereign bow.

Descending quick from throne to gate
To face the demi-god his fate.
"To end this battle great now goes
In land of death you'll sure abode

I'll keep the cow and also life
Not die in battle full of strife."
Then both did clash with fullest might
And battled hard for all the night.

The godlings battle shook the earth
Along its length and all its girth.
A mighty Pankrate saw that site
That witness godlings wreathed in might.

As both did strive to take the day
Imposing will on others ways.
Then Eryx fell upon the ground
And Hera's Wrath did win the round.

But still the godling needed more
For Mars own hindrance made him sore.
So tyrants throat the hero grips
And threatens fast his life to rip

From mortal plane where godling stands
If Mars does fail repenting plans.
And seeing peril wrought on son
From mount of gods now diving lunged

To mortal plan in flash of light
The god of war and hateful spite.
"This quest you've made so hard and long
By chanting spells with magic strong.

And turning land against your foe
Wherever godlings forced to go.
So yield your anger save your child
From Heras Wrath the godling wild.

And swear on river Styx this vow
You'll never offend this godling now
Nor deep in future time that's far
For using spells on demi-god is barred."

And god assents to save his child
From Heras Wrath the man whose wild.
Now being freed from curse divine
He gathers cows with strength sublime.

And takes the beast to Tyrnian land
Where hero's master current stands.