The fourth of the labours that Heracles wrought,
Was when the boar of Erymanthus was caught.
Eurystheus’ word was ‘bring it alive’;
For since the time that the boar did arrive
In Psophis, it had wrought havoc; its fear
Was sown in the hearts of all who were near.
Down from the mountain, it ravaged and raged,
And still all its wrath could not be assuaged.
But when Heracles had gone on his way,
He came to the Centaur Pholos on a day.
The Centaur prepared a feast for his guest,
And roasted some meat which himself had dressed:
He served it to Heracles, but other meat
That was raw was what he himself did eat.
But when Heracles requested some wine,
Pholos was afeared, and said ‘It’s not mine.’
In common the wine of the Centaurs was held,
And Pholos because of this bond was compelled
Not to open the jar, but Heracles bid
Him to take courage and took off the lid.
But shortly thereafter the smell of the wine
Had reached the Centaurs, the odour a sign
Of theft, and they all came armed for a fight
With fir trees and rocks, to show forth their might,
Up unto the entrance of Pholos’ cave;
The first of that tribe who showed themselves brave
Were Anchios and Agrios, who fled
When bright flaming brands towards them were sped,
Which Heracles hurled, and he chased all the rest
With arrows, and these were greatly distressed,
And flew thence to Malea for respite
From Heracles, whom they had sought to fight,
With Chiron, who lodged them, but couldn’t conceal
Their presence, so Heracles on them did steal.
He let loose an arrow, which shot through the limb
Of Elatos, and struck not only him:
Chiron was pierced by the point of the dart
In his knee, and Heracles gave a start.
He rushed to Chiron, and pulled out the shaft,
And smeared on the wound a potion whose craft
Was unequalled; the same Chiron had made:
But the course of the poison couldn’t be stayed.
Chiron in anguish desired to die,
But Zeus with his wish refused to comply,
Until Prometheus offered to live
As an immortal instead: then did Zeus give
Unto him his wish, and so Chiron died.
Relief from his pains to him was supplied.
The other Centaurs ran away with haste,
But none of them by Heracles were chased.
Some went thence to Malea, while Nessos
Betook himself to the river Evenos.
But to Pholoe went Eurytion;
All the others were received by Poseidon
At Eleusis; there did the god bequeath
To the Centaurs a hiding place beneath
A mountain. But, Pholos pulled an arrow
Out of a carcass, wondering that so
Small a blade could fell beasts of giant size
(But who is poisoned also surely dies);
He dropped it on his foot – bitter hopelessness! –
Instantly he died, for his carelessness.
But Heracles returned, and saw him dead,
And digged, and made his corpse in earth a bed.
Then, after this he went to seek the boar,
And chased it from a wood, when he gave a roar.
He followed it until the beast was tired,
And in exhaustion all its strength expired;
And so, he caught it with a noose, and brought
Back to Mycenae the beast that he’d caught.