27-55) But the father of men and gods was forming another scheme in
his heart, to beget one to defend against destruction gods and men who
eat bread. So he arose from Olympus by night pondering guile in the deep
of his heart, and yearned for the love of the well-girded woman. Quickly
he came to Typhaonium, and from there again wise Zeus went on and trod
the highest peak of Phicium [1801]: there he sat and planned marvellous
things in his heart. So in one night Zeus shared the bed and love of the
neat-ankled daughter of Electyron and fulfilled his desire; and in the
same night Amphitryon, gatherer of the people, the glorious hero, came
to his house when he had ended his great task. He hastened not to go to
his bondmen and shepherds afield, but first went in unto his wife: such
desire took hold on the shepherd of the people. And as a man who has
escaped joyfully from misery, whether of sore disease or cruel bondage,
so then did Amphitryon, when he had wound up all his heavy task, come
glad and welcome to his home. And all night long he lay with his modest
wife, delighting in the gifts of golden Aphrodite. And she, being
subject in love to a god and to a man exceeding goodly, brought forth
twin sons in seven-gated Thebe. Though they were brothers, these were
not of one spirit; for one was weaker but the other a far better man,
one terrible and strong, the mighty Heracles. Him she bare through
the embrace of the son of Cronos lord of dark clouds and the other,
Iphiclus, of Amphitryon the spear-wielder--offspring distinct, this one
of union with a mortal man, but that other of union with Zeus, leader of
all the gods.

(ll. 57-77) And he slew Cycnus, the gallant son of Ares. For he found
him in the close of far-shooting Apollo, him and his father Ares, never
sated with war. Their armour shone like a flame of blazing fire as they
two stood in their car: their swift horses struck the earth and pawed
it with their hoofs, and the dust rose like smoke about them, pounded
by the chariot wheels and the horses' hoofs, while the well-made chariot
and its rails rattled around them as the horses plunged. And blameless
Cycnus was glad, for he looked to slay the warlike son of Zeus and his
charioteer with the sword, and to strip off their splendid armour.
But Phoebus Apollo would not listen to his vaunts, for he himself had
stirred up mighty Heracles against him. And all the grove and altar
of Pagasaean Apollo flamed because of the dread g