Book 9

Summary

Acheloüs and Hercules

[miniature, fol. 226r: hercules wrestling acheloüs in serpent form]

{A}bove, you heard the tale as told by Acheloüs: he was a snake when it pleased him, or turned himself into a river or a bull. But when he transformed into a bull, he was missing his right horn. He had lost it in combat. All because he was missing his right horn, he sighed and began to groan and his whole body started trembling. What made him groan, and why was his forehead injured? Theseus asked and questioned him about his horn. Acheloüs, his tangled hair wreathed with reeds, answered his question. [1–16]

It’s a dreadful thing for me to tell of something for which I should feel ashamed. How can I speak of a battle where I was defeated? Still, without a doubt, I will tell you everything in order. I will never lie out of shame. It wasn’t so unpleasant for me to yield as it was a thing of beauty to struggle with a man so valiant and strong: I’m comforted by who the victor was. [17–26]

{O}eneus was king of the city of Calydon and the whole surrounding realm. There was no prince or lord who did not owe him fealty. He held the land for many years, in peace to his satisfaction. He had a daughter, who was most well-bred. Nature had made her beautiful and gracious. She had invested so much care and attention that she could hardly craft such a beautiful piece of craftsmanship again. Her bright face, her beautiful shape, her forehead more luminous than an icicle, her long curly hair that came down to her heels, her blue-gray eyes, her arched eyebrows, her finely tapered chin, her lovely nose, her lovely little mouth, her teeth, her lips, the dimple in her chin, all the rest of her body – no tongue could ever describe it to you. The beauty was named Deianira. I don’t know if you ever saw her or heard anyone speak of her. She was most courtly and of great worth. Many men were seized with love for her, and so many dukes, counts, princes, and other men of high rank sought her as a wife. I, who am native to Calydon, and Hercules, son of Alcmena, sought her hand in marriage.