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Prosperous is he to whom a god has given a share of fine things, and a rich life to live out with enviable luck. For no man on earth
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was born to be fortunate in everything.
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So it was, they say, that the gate-destroying unconquerable son Heracles. of Zeus of the flashing thunderbolt went down to the halls of slender-ankled Persephone
to bring up into the light from Hades the razor-toothed dog, Cerberus. son of the fearsome Echidna. There he saw the souls of miserable mortals by the streams of Cocytus,
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like leaves swirled by the wind along the sheep-pasturing headlands of shining Ida. Among them, the shade of Porthaon's bold,
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spear-wielding descendant Meleager. Porthaon is his grandfather; his father is Oineus. stood out.
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When the marvellous hero, son of Alcmene, Heracles. Alcmene is his mother. saw him shining in his armor, he stretched the clear-sounding bowstring onto his bow, and opened the lid of his quiver and drew out a bronze-tipped
arrow. But the soul of Meleager appeared in front of him and spoke to him, knowing him well: Son of great Zeus,
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stand where you are, and calm your spirit—
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Do not shoot a harsh arrow from your hands in vain against the souls of those who have perished. You have no need to fear. So he spoke. And the son of Amphitryon Heracles has both a divine father (Zeus) and a nominal mortal father (Amphitryon). was astonished,
and said, What god or mortal raised such a fine young plant as you? In what land? Who killed you? No doubt Hera with her beautiful belt will soon
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send that killer after me. But that must be the concern of golden-haired Pallas. And Meleager answered him, in tears, It is hard
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for men on earth to sway the minds of the gods;
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