§4.26.1οὗτος γὰρ κατὰ τοὺς παραδεδομένους μύθους καταβὰς εἰς τοὺς καθʼ ᾅδου τόπους, καὶ προσδεχθεὶς ὑπὸ τῆς Φερσεφόνης ὡς ἂν ἀδελφός, Θησέα μὲν ἀνήγαγεν ἐκ δεσμῶν μετὰ Πειρίθου, χαρισαμένης τῆς Κόρης, τὸν δὲ κύνα παραλαβὼν δεδεμένον παραδόξως ἀπήγαγε καὶ φανερὸν κατέστησεν ἀνθρώποις.
For he, according to the transmitted myths, having descended into the regions of Hades, and having been received by Persephone as if he were a brother, brought back Theseus from his bonds along with Pirithous, since the Maiden granted this favor, and having taken the dog in chains, he remarkably led him away and made him visible to men.
§4.26.2τελευταῖον δʼ ἆθλον λαβὼν ἐνεγκεῖν τὰ τῶν Ἑσπερίδων χρυσᾶ μῆλα, πάλιν ἔπλευσεν εἰς τὴν Λιβύην.
And having received as his last labor the task of bringing back the golden apples of the Hesperides, he sailed again to Libya.
περὶ δὲ τῶν μήλων τούτων διαπεφωνήκασιν οἱ μυθογράφοι, καὶ τινὲς μέν φασιν ἔν τισι κήποις τῶν Ἑσπερίδων ὑπάρξαι κατὰ τὴν Λιβύην μῆλα χρυσᾶ, τηρούμενα συνεχῶς ὑπό τινος δράκοντος φοβερωτάτου, τινὲς δὲ λέγουσι ποίμνας προβάτων κάλλει διαφερούσας κεκτῆσθαι τὰς Ἑσπερίδας, χρυσᾶ δὲ μῆλα ἀπὸ τοῦ κάλλους ὠνομάσθαι ποιητικῶς, ὥσπερ καὶ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην χρυσῆν καλεῖσθαι διὰ τὴν εὐπρέπειαν.
But concerning these apples the mythographers disagree, and some say that there existed golden apples in certain gardens of the Hesperides in Libya, guarded continuously by a most formidable dragon, while others say that the Hesperides possessed flocks of sheep outstanding in beauty, and that these were poetically named "golden apples" because of their beauty, just as Aphrodite is also called "golden" on account of her comeliness.
§4.26.3ἔνιοι δὲ λέγουσιν ὅτι τὰ πρόβατα τὴν χρόαν ἰδιάζουσαν ἔχοντα καὶ παρόμοιον χρυσῷ τετευχέναι ταύτης τῆς προσηγορίας, Δράκοντα δὲ τῶν ποιμνῶν ἐπιμελητὴν καθεσταμένον, καὶ ῥώμῃ σώματος καὶ ἀλκῇ διαφέροντα, τηρεῖν τὰ πρόβατα καὶ τοὺς λῃστεύειν αὐτὰ τολμῶντας ἀποκτείνειν.
And some say that because the sheep had a unique color similar to gold, they obtained this appellation, and that a man named Dracon had been appointed overseer of the flocks, who, outstanding in physical strength and valor, guarded the sheep and killed those who dared to plunder them.
ἀλλὰ περὶ μὲν τούτων ἐξέσται διαλαμβάνειν ὡς ἂν ἕκαστος ἑαυτὸν πείθῃ.
But concerning these matters, it shall be permitted for each person to judge as he may persuade himself.
§4.26.4ὁ δʼ Ἡρακλῆς τὸν φύλακα τῶν μήλων ἀνελών, καὶ ταῦτα ἀποκομίσας πρὸς Εὐρυσθέα, καὶ τοὺς ἄθλους ἀποτετελεκώς, προσεδέχετο τῆς ἀθανασίας τεύξεσθαι, καθάπερ ὁ Ἀπόλλων ἔχρησεν.
But Heracles, having slain the guardian of the apples, and having brought them back to Eurystheus, and having completed his labors, expected that he would obtain immortality, just as Apollo had foretold in his oracle.