04.07.25: Level 3; the Labours of Hercules; [V] The Arcadian Stag and the Erymanthian Boar

[V] THE ARCADIAN STAG AND THE ERYMANTHIAN BOAR

Postquam Eurystheō mors Hydrae nūntiata est, summus terror animum eius occupāvit. Itaque iussit Herculem capere et ad sē reportāre cervum quendam; nam minimē cupīvit tantum virum in rēgnō suō tenere. Hic autem cervus dīcēbātur aurea cornua et pedēs multō celeriōrēs ventō habēre. Prīmum Herculēs vestigia animālis petīvit, deinde, ubi cervum, ipsum vidit, omnibus vīribus currere incēpit. Per plūrimōs diēs contendit nec noctū cessāvit. Dēnique postquam per tōtum annum cucurrerat — ita dīcitur — cervum iam dēfessum cēpit et ad Eurystheum portāvit.

Tum vērō iussus est Herculēs aprum quendam capere quī illō tempore agrōs Erymanthiōs vāstābat et hominēs illīus locī magnopere perterrēbat. Herculēs laetē negōtium suscēpit et in Arcadiam celeriter sē recēpit. Ibi mox aprum repperit. Ille autem, simul atque Herculem vidit, statim quam celerrimē fugit et metū perterritus in fossam altam sēsē abdidit. Herculēs tamen summā cum difficultāte eum extrāxit, nec aper ūllō modō sēsē liberāre potuit, et vīvus ad Eurystheum portātus est.

[1] Itaque (Eurystheus) iussit Herculem … ad sē reportāre cervum quendam │ Therefore, (Eurystheus) ordered Hercules … to bring a certain stag back to him; the reflexive pronoun sē is used since Eurystheus want the stag brought back to himself.

celeriter sē recēpit │ literally: he took himself back = he withdrew / retreated

sēsē abdidit │ hid itself; nec aper … sēsē liberāre potuit │ nor was the boar able to free itself

sēsē = sē

More information on reflexive pronouns:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/08/280924-level-2-ora-maritima-24-and-25-7.html

[2] cervus dīcēbātur … habēre │ the stag was said ¦ to have

[3] pedēs [i] multō celeriōrēs ¦ [ii] ventō │ feet [i] much faster ¦ [ii] than the wind

[i] ablative of degree of difference

[ii] ablative of comparison

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/110623-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of.html

[4] quam celerrimē fugit │ he fled as quickly as possible

quam + superlative adverb = as [quickly, slowly etc.] as possible

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/111224-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-21.html

[5] vestīgium, -ī [2/n]: footprint; trace; track (of an animal)

[6] suscipiō, -ere, suscēpī, susceptus [3-iō]: undertake

[7] summā cum difficultāte │ with the greatest difficulty; ablative of manner:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/210525-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of_37.html