Leaving the plains of Phlegraea, he came to the sea, where he performed some remarkable works about the lake Avernus, (as it is called), which is consecrated to Proserpine. It is situated between Micenus and Diciarchcos, near the hot baths, five furlongs in circuit, and of an incredible depth. The water of this lake is exceeding clear, and the mighty depth of it casts a blue colour upon the surface.

It is reported that there was antiently here an oracle, where they conjured the infernal spirits, which the latter ages abolished. Whereas this lake extended as far as to the sea, it is said Hercules, by casting up of earth, so stopped up its current, that he made the way near the sea, now called the Herculean way. And these are the things he did there.

Marching thence, he came to a certain rock in the country of the Posidonians, where, they report, a kind of a miracle happened. A certain huntsman (famous all over the country for his brave exploits) was used formerly to fix the heads and feet of all the game he took to trees, as an offering to Diana: but having then taken a great wild boar, (in contempt of the goddess), he boasted, and declared he would only consecrate the head to her; and forthwith, according to what he said, hung it upon a tree. It being then summer-time, about noon, he laid him down to sleep, during which time, the band that fastened the head broke, and so it fell down upon him as he slept, and killed him. And there is no reason to wonder at this, when many of the like kind are reported to have happened, by which the goddess has revenged herself on the impious. But the contrary happened to Hercules, for the sake of his piety; for, when he came to the borders of Rhegium and Locris, being wearied with his march, and laid down to rest, they say he was disturbed with the noise and creaking of the grasshoppers, whereupon he entreated the gods to free him from that disturbance, who heard his prayers: for the grasshoppers flew away, not only for that time, but none were ever seen there at any time after.