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To the ship through the gloom; and he knew him, and straightway a tale most dread

He told, while laboured with heavy panting his heart, and he said:

‘God help thee, that I first bring to thee tidings of bitter pain!

Hylas hath gone to the spring, and returned not alive again!

Or robbers have seized him, and hale him away to captivity,

Or evil beasts are rending:—I heard but now his cry.’{1260}

Upon Herakles’ temples then did the great sweat-gouts upstart,

As he heard him speak, and the dark blood curdled about his heart.

In fury he flung to the earth the pine, and along that path

Rushed, whithersoever his feet might hurry his aimless wrath.

And as, stung by a gadfly, a bull rusheth onward frenzy-stirred

Forsaking the meadows and marshlands, the while of herdsman or herd

He taketh no heed, pressing on in his wild course now without check,

Now making a moment’s stand, and uplifting his massive neck,

He uttereth bellowings, mad with the sting of the cruel breese;

So he in his frenzy now would be plying his strong swift knees{1270}