Now was fierce Nessus well across the stream,
And still in middle flood Alcides fared,
Breasting with mighty strides the eager waves;
When he, beholding Hercules afar,510
Cried, "Thou shalt be my wife, my booty thou,
For Hercules is held within the stream;"
And clasping me was galloping away.
But now the waves could not thwart Hercules.
"O faithless ferryman," he shouted out,
"Though Ganges and the Ister join their floods,515