Chapter 12 The Tale of Hercules - 12

Hercules completed the task and returned happily to the kingdom of Eurystheus, but the king announced that the task could not be counted because Heracles asked for payment.He sent Hercules to complete the sixth task, which is to drive away the strange birds of Lake Stympharos.This is a huge bird of prey, with iron wings, iron beak, and iron claws, very powerful.They inhabit the shores of Lake Stympharos in Arcadia.The feathers they shake off are like flying arrows, and their iron beaks can even pierce bronze shields, where they hurt countless people and animals. Hercules set off for Lake Stympharos, and soon came to the lake surrounded by dense forests.A group of strange birds flew around in fear in the forest, as if they were afraid of being eaten by wolves.Hercules watched the birds fly through the air, but could not subdue them.Suddenly, he felt someone tap on the shoulder, and when he looked back, it was Athena who handed him two large cymbals, which Hephaestus had made for her.She taught Hercules how to use cymbals to drive away strange birds.After speaking, she suddenly disappeared.So Hercules climbed up a hill by the lake and beat the cymbals to scare the strange birds. They couldn't bear the harsh sound and flew out of the woods in a hurry.Taking this opportunity, Hercules bent his bow and set his arrows, and shot several arrows in succession. Several strange birds landed in response, and the rest flew away in a hurry.They flew over the sea, as far as the island of Aretia, and never came back.