Chapter 4 Descendants of Hercules - 4

Fate does not allow people to be immersed in sorrow for a long time.The king and the Athenians watched Heracles' daughter Macaria go away with admiration.As soon as her figure disappeared, a messenger ran towards the altar with a happy expression. "Where is Iolaus?" he cried, "I have good news for him!" Iolaus stood up from the altar, looking sad. "Don't you know me?" asked the messenger, "I am the old servant of Hylos! Isn't Hylos the son of Heracles and Deianira? You know that my master is in Parted from you while fleeing, to find allies. Now he is back with a mighty army."

People around cheered, and the news quickly spread throughout the city.Iolaus put on his armor and took up arms, regardless of his age and infirmity.He left the child and the old mother of Hercules in the city to the care of the old men of Athens, and he set out with a company of young men and King Demophon to join the army of Hylos. After the two armies met, they bravely faced the army of Eurystheus.When the armies of both sides approached, Hylos stepped down from his chariot, stood on the crossing in front of the battle, and called to the king of Argos: "O king Eurystheus! Before an army fights desperately for the benefit of a few, take my advice: let us fight alone to decide the outcome. If I am defeated by you, then you take my brothers and sisters, Everything is at your disposal; and if you lose, then you shall return to me and my kinsmen my father's kingdom, his palace, and the dominion of the Peloponnese."

The soldiers behind Schloss cheered loudly in favor of the suggestion.The soldiers of Argos on the opposite side also whispered and agreed.Eurystheus, who had been cowardly before Hercules, and now again fearful of life, objected to this suggestion, and dared not leave his army.So Xu Ross returned to his team. Soothsayers and astrologers offer sacrifices to the gods, and the horns of battle are sounded. King Demophon turned to his soldiers and shouted: "Citizens, remember, this is a fight for your lands, for the city that gave birth and raised you!" On the other side, Eurystheus also encouraged his soldiers to fight for the glory of Argos and Mycenae.Now trumpets sound, shields clash, chariots meet, spears clash, swords swing.Soldiers from both sides fought together, the wounded moaned, and blood flowed like rivers.At first the allies of the sons of Hercules were shaken by the spears of the Argives and forced to retreat; then they attacked and advanced.The two sides fought for a long time, and finally, the Argives' positions became chaotic, and the infantry and chariots fled one after another, colliding and trampling each other, causing heavy casualties.

The old Iolaus was full of fighting spirit. When he saw Xuros chasing the enemy in a chariot and passing by, he hurriedly stretched out his right hand and asked to jump on the chariot to take his place.Xu Ross respectfully gave up his seat to his father's friend.After getting into the chariot, Iolaus struggled to control the four-horse chariot with both hands, and rushed forward bravely.When he reached the temple of Athena, he saw Eurystheus' chariot fleeing ahead of him.So he prayed to Zeus and Hebe, the goddess of youth, to give him the strength of a young man, so that he could win the battle on this day and avenge Hercules.Hebe is the wife Heracles married after he went to the holy mountain of Olympus.After Iolaus prayed, a miracle happened: two bright stars slowly descended and landed on the saddle, and a thick fog covered the chariot.After a while, the thick fog dissipated and the stars disappeared.Iolaus was much younger.He stood upright on the chariot rejuvenated, waved his two strong arms, tightly grasped the reins of the four horses, and galloped forward.

Eurystheus fled into a valley that he thought was safe, and he saw that the pursuers were about to overtake him.He didn't know the person who was chasing him, so he stood in the car and fought back.Iolaus knocked his adversary from his chariot to the ground by the power bestowed upon him by the gods, bound him to his chariot, and sent him back as a prize. The Argives were captured alive because of Eurystheus, lost their commander, and fled in all directions.The sons of Eurystheus and countless soldiers were killed, and soon there was not a single enemy from Argos in the land of Attica.