[4.] Amid thy realms.]—Ver. 18. The river Acheloüs flowed between Ætolia and Acarnania.
[5.] Bent inwards.]—Ver. 33. ‘Varus,’ which we here translate ‘bent inwards,’ according to some authorities, means ‘bent outwards.’
[6.] Casting of yellow sand.]—Ver. 35. It was the custom of wrestlers, after they had anointed the body with ‘ceroma’ or wrestler’s oil, in order to render the body supple and pliant, to sprinkle the body with sand, or dust, to enable the antagonist to take a firm hold. It was, however, considered more praiseworthy to conquer in a contest which was ἀκονιτὶ ‘without the use of sand.’
[7.] Most beauteous mate.]—Ver. 47. Clarke translates ‘nitidissima conjux,’ ‘the neatest cow.’
[8.] Recourse to my arts.]—Ver. 62. ‘Devertor ad artes,’ is rendered by Clarke, ‘I fly to my tricks.’
[9.] To conquer serpents.]—Ver. 67. Hercules, while an infant in his cradle, was said to have strangled two serpents, which Juno sent for the purpose of destroying him.
[10.] Hundred in number.]—Ver. 71. The number of heads of the Hydra varies in the accounts given by different writers. Seven, nine, fifty, and a hundred are the numbers mentioned. This, however, is not surprising, as we are told that where one was cut off, two sprang up in their place, until Hercules, to prevent such consequences, adopted the precaution of searing the neck, where the head had been cut off, with a red hot iron.
[11.] Nessus.]—Ver. 101. He was one of the Centaurs which were begotten by Ixion the cloud sent by Jupiter, under the form of Juno.
[12.] Evenus.]—Ver. 104. This was a river of Ætolia, which was also called by the name of ‘Lycormas.’
[13.] Strong of limb.]—Ver. 108. ‘Membrisque valens,’ is rendered by Clarke, ‘being an able-limbed fellow.’