Somewhat remarkable likewise happened to Pholus, Hercules’s friend: for, burying the centaurs that were killed, (upon the account of his kindred and relation to them) plucking a dart out of one of them, he chanced with the point mortally to wound himself, of which he died, whom Hercules with great pomp and state buried at the foot of the mount, which fell out to be far more glorious than the most stately monument; for the mountain being called Pholoe, preserves the memory of him buried there, not by characters and inscriptions, but by similitude of name. In the same manner he killed Chiron7 (eminent for his art in physic) by chance, with the throwing of a dart. But this that has been said of the centaurs shall suffice.

Afterwards Hercules received a further command, that he should take the swift hart that had golden horns, and bring him to the king. This he performed more by art and subtlety, than strength of body: for some say he took her in a net, others by tracing her to the place where she rested, and there laying hold of her when she was asleep; but others say that he ran her down, and so gained her by swiftness of foot. However it were, it is certain he performed this labour not by force or any hazard, but by art and skill.

Being next commanded to drive away the birds that were about the Stymphalian lake, by art and contrivance he easily performed this: for there were an innumerable number of birds in those places, which destroyed and ate up all the fruits in the neighbourhood, and they were so numerous, that no force could prevail to get rid of them. Being, therefore, there was need of art and contrivance in this matter, he invented a brazen pan, and, by the mighty sound it made, by striking upon it, frighted the birds, and by the continual noise drove them at length quite away, so that the lake was never infested with them afterwards.

This labour being now at an end, Eurystheus, in contempt of him, commanded him, without any assistant, to cleanse Augias’s stable, in which were vast heaps of muck and dirt, which had been gathering together for many years. Hercules, therefore, to avoid the ignominy of this contempt cast upon him, scorned to carry out the muck and dung upon his shoulders, but in one day’s time, without any disgrace to himself, cleansed the stable, by turning the course of the river Peneus through it; in which thing the ingenuity of Hercules is admirable, who so executed the proud command of his domineering master as to avoid every thing that was base and unbecoming the glory of his immortal honour.