Hercules and his Twelve Labors

The War in Hell

Around the hero crowds did pool
With faces harsh and intent cruel.
For many men had hero slain
Whose souls in deepest hades lain.

And all were seeking vengeance vile
On man who traveled all these miles.
To come to under world and steal
The hound with heads of three his deal.

He made with king of Tyrne to gain
His freedom back for family slain.
And foes of hero quickly crowd
In angry mob that's great and loud.

And cheer for blood of demi-god
The man that under world now trods
Did issue forth in greatest mass
So die of fate was seaming cast.

Then gallops heard that's coming fast
Through horde of ghost a centaur past
With heroes born in elder days
That charged with horseman down to fray.

And every one a warrior grand
Before the host of dead does stand.
That centaur teacher trained in life
To make them great at waging strife.

Then Chiron son of Chronos stood
Apart from mass of right and good
Whom demi-god unwitting slayed
When lending centaur hunting aid.

"Be gone you spectral mass of fiends
That down to hades war would bring.
For many mighty heroes stand
Against the ghostly tyrants plan."

Then Diomedes steps into the fray
To bid the horseman turn away
"A great and many men he's slain
By heroes hand in hades lain.

So leave the man to dire fate
That's brought by many specters hate."
Then womans voice did cry aloud
To answer tyrants words so proud.

"A tyrant Diomedes cruel and vile
Who fed his serfs to mares so wild
That king had bred as nightmare race
Thus credence's lent to hero case.

That tyrant king deserved to die
At hands of godling strong and wry."
Then all did turn to see who spoke
The ghost that tyrants rant had broke.

And saw the warrior woman queen
Who many Thracian victims brings.
That died as tax for King of Thrace
When thrown to mares with little grace.

But still the king does forward press
His legion holding claim abreast.
"But many ghost has hero brought
To hell where greatest pains are wrought.

A greater host by king does stand
In deep and dark of dying lands.
So leave me lone you wretched naives
And let us grant the hero grave.

For fate he brought on all our heads
When down he sent to land of dead.
These men and all their allies dear
By striking out in rage so feared."

Again the host of Diomedes press
To send him down to final rest.
Embolden great by tyrants speech
That all the ears of hell had reached.

But sudden greater host now stood
Among the midst of right and good.
There brought by Somnus down from keep
Who leads the souls of men who sleep.

And all had gathered against his foes
That roam in hades, land of woe.
Apart from mass a queen did step
In hopes the man she might abet.

"I Omphale, queen and Lydias heart
Do bid that all the ghost depart.
And leave this man to finish quest
For hero's ends are all our best."

And Diomedes fear began grow
For heroes aids were tyrants foes.
But still he bid his men to charge
In hell that day was battle large.