21.1Prīmum ab Eurystheō iussus est Herculēs leōnem occīdere quī illō tempore vallem Nemeaeam reddēbat īnfestam.First Hercules was ordered by Eurystheus to kill a lion which at that time was making the valley of Nemea dangerous.Note. Prīmum ('first') is used when listing things in order; prīmō ('at first') contrasts with what follows. 21.2In silvās igitur in quibus leō habitābat statim sē contulit.So he went at once into the woods in which the lion lived. 21.3Mox feram vīdit, et arcum, quem sēcum attulerat, intendit; eius tamen pellem, quae dēnsissima erat, trāicere nōn potuit.Soon he saw the beast, and drew the bow which he had brought with him; but he could not pierce its hide, which was very thick.Note. sēcum = cum sē, 'with himself'. cum is attached to the end of personal and reflexive pronouns: mēcum, tēcum, nōbīscum. 21.4Tum clāvā magnā quam semper gerēbat leōnem percussit, frūstrā tamen; neque enim hōc modō eum occīdere potuit.Then he struck the lion with a great club which he always carried, but in vain; for he could not kill it in this way either. 21.5Tum dēmum collum mōnstrī bracchiīs suīs complexus est et faucīs eius omnibus vīribus compressit.Then at last he clasped the monster's neck in his arms and squeezed its throat with all his strength. 21.6Hōc modō leō brevī tempore exanimātus est; nūlla enim respīrandī facultās eī dabātur.In this way the lion was killed in a short time; for it was given no chance to breathe.Note. respīrandī: genitive of the gerund, 'of breathing', describing facultās.
21.7Tum Herculēs cadāver ad oppidum in umerīs rettulit; et pellem, quam dētrāxerat, posteā prō veste gerēbat.Then Hercules carried the body back to the town on his shoulders; and afterwards he wore the skin, which he had stripped off, as clothing. 21.8Omnēs autem quī eam regiōnem incolēbant, ubi fāmam dē morte leōnis accēpērunt, vehementer gaudēbant et Herculem magnō honōre habēbant.All who lived in that region, when they heard the news of the lion's death, rejoiced greatly and held Hercules in great honor.