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had departed when he came into the country； and all the city was in grief
for the deaths of Prince Meleagrus and his two uncles。
On the steps of the temple where Meleagrus and his uncles had been
brought Heracles saw Deianira； Meleagrus's sister。 She was pale with her
grief； this tall woman of the mountains； she looked like a priestess； but
also like a woman who could cheer camps of men with her counsel； her
bravery； and her good companionship； her hair was very dark and she had
dark eyes。
Straightway she became friends with Heracles； and when they saw
each other for a while they loved each other。 And Heracles forgot Iole； the
childlike maiden whom he had seen in Oichalia。
He made himself a suitor for Deianira； and those who protected her
were glad of Heracles's suit； and they told him they would give him the
maiden to marry as soon as the mourning for Prince Meleagrus and his
uncles was over。 Heracles stayed in Calydon； happy with Deianira； who
had so much beauty； wisdom； and bravery。
But then a dreadful thing happened in Calydon； by an accident； while
using his strength unthinkingly； Heracles killed a lad who was related to
Deianira。 He might not marry her now until he had taken punishment for
slaying one who was close to her in blood。
As a punishment for the slaying it was judged that Heracles should be
sold into slavery for three years。 At the end of his three years' slavery he
could come back to Calydon and wed Deianira。
And so Heracles and Deianira were parted。 He was sold as a slave in
Lydia； the one who bought him was a woman； a widow named Omphale。
To her house Heracles went； carrying his armor and wearing his lion's skin。
And Omphale laughed to see this tall man dressed in a lion's skin coming
to her house to do a servant's tasks for her。
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She and all in her house kept up fun with Heracles。 They would set
him to do housework； to carry water； and set vessels on the tables； and
clear the vessels away。 Omphale set him to spin with a spindle as the
women did。 And often she would put on Heracles's lion skin and go about
dragging his club； while he； dressed in woman's garb； washed dishes and
emptied pots。
But he would lose patience with these servant's tasks； and then
Omphale would let him go away and perform some great exploit。 Often he
went on long journeys and stayed away for long times。 It was while he
was in slavery to Omphale that he liberated Theseus from the dungeon in
which he was held with Peirithous； and it was while he still was in slavery
that he made his journey to Troy。
At Troy he helped to repair for King Laomedon the great walls that
years before Apollo and Poseidon had built around the city。 As a reward
for this labor he was offered the Princess Hesione in marriage； she was the
daughter of King Laomedon； and the sister of Priam； who was then called；
not Priam but Podarces。 He helped to repair the wall； and two of the
Argonauts were there to aid him： one was Peleus and the other was
Telamon。 Peleus did not stay for long： Telamon stayed； and to reward
Telamon Heracles withdrew his own claim for the hand of the Princess
Hesione。 It was not hard on Heracles to do this； for his thoughts were ever
upon Deianira。 But Telamon rejoiced； for he loved Hesione greatly。 On
the day they married Heracles showed the two an eagle in the sky。 He said
it was sent as an omen to theman omen for their marriage。 And in
memory of that omen Telamon named his son 〃Alas〃； that is； 〃Eagle。〃
Then the walls of Troy were repaired and Heracles turned toward
Lydia； Omphale's home。 Not long would he have to serve Omphale now；
for his three years' slavery was n arly over。 Soon he would go back to
Calydon and wed Deianira。
As he went along the road to Lydia he thought of all the pleasantries
that had been made in Omphale's house and he laughed at the memory of
them。 Lydia was a friendly country； and even though he had been in
slavery Heracles had had his good times there。
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He was tired with the journey and made sleepy with the heat of the sun；
and when he came within sight of Omphale's house he lay down by the
side of the road； first taking off his armor； and laying aside his bow； his
quiver； and his shield。 He wakened up to see two men looking down upon
him； he knew that these were the Cercopes； robbers who waylaid travelers
upon this road。 They were laughing as they looked down on him； and
Heracles saw that they held his arms and his armor in their hands。
They thought that this man； for all his tallness； would yield to them
when he saw that they had his arms and his armor。 But Heracles sprang up；
and he caught one by the waist and the other by the neck； and he turned
them upside down and tied them together by the heels。 Now he held them
securely and he would take them to the town and give them over to those
whom they had waylaid and robbed。 He hung them by their heels across
his shoulders and marched on。
But the robbers； as they were being bumped along； began to relate
pleasantries and mirthful tales to each other； and Heracles； listening； had
to laugh。 And one said to the other； 〃O my brother； we are in the position
of the frogs when the mice fell upon them with such fury。〃 And the other
said； 〃Indeed nothing can save us if Zeus does not send an ally to us as he
sent an ally to the frogs。〃 And the first robber said； 〃Who began that
conflict； the frogs or the mice？〃 And thereupon the second robber； his head
reaching down to Heracles's waist； began：
THE BATTLE OF THE FROGS AND MICE
A warlike mouse came down to the brink of a pond for no other reason
than to take a drink of water。 Up to him hopped a frog。 Speaking in the
voice of one who had rule and authority； the frog said：
〃Stranger to our shore； you may not know it； but I am Puff Jaw； king of
the frogs。 I do not speak to common mice； but you； as I judge； belong to
the noble and kingly sort。 Tell me your race。 If I know it to be a noble one
I shall show you my kingly friendship。〃
The mouse； speaking haughtily； said： 〃I am Crumb Snatcher； and my
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race is a famous one。 My father is the heroic Bread Nibbler； and he
married Quern Licker； the lovely daughter of a king。 Like all my race I am
a warrior who has never been wont to flinch in battle。 Moreover； I have
been brought up as a mouse of high degree； and figs and nuts； cheese and
honeycakes is the provender that I have been fed on。〃
Now this reply of Crumb Snatcher pleased the kingly frog greatly。
〃Come with me to my abode； illustrious Crumb Snatcher；〃 said he； 〃and I
shall show you such entertainment as may be found in the house of a
king。〃
But the mouse looked sharply at him。 〃How may I get to your house？〃
he asked。 〃We live in different elements； you and I。 We mice want to be in
the driest of dry places； while you frogs have your abodes in the water。〃
〃Ah；〃 answered Puff jaw； 〃you do not know how favored the frogs are
above all other creatures。 To us alone the gods have given the power to
live both in the water and on the land。 I shall take you to my land palace
that is the other side of the pond。〃
〃How may I go there with you？〃 asked Crumb Snatcher the mouse；
doubtfully。
〃Upon my back；〃 said the frog。 〃Up now； noble Crumb Snatcher。 And
as we go I will show you the wonders of the deep。〃
He offered his back and Crumb Snatcher bravely mounted。 The mouse
put his forepaws around the frog's neck。 Then Puff jaw swam out。 Crumb
Snatcher at first was pleased to feel himself moving through the water。 But
as the dark waves began to rise his mighty heart began to quail。 He longed
to be back upon the land。 He groaned aloud。
〃How quickly we get on；〃 cried Puff Jaw； 〃soon we shall be at my land