For hours they rolled in the dust until the life was at last throttled from it and the great Nemean Lion breathed no more. Heracles stood by its body and bowed his head. “It was a fair fight,” he said. “And I hope you didn’t suffer. I hope you will forgive me if I now flay the hide from you.” Such respect for an enemy, even a dumb brute, was typical of Heracles. When an adversary was alive he knew no mercy, but the moment they were gone he did his best, where possible, to send them to the next world with honor and ceremony. He could not be sure that animals had souls or the expectation of an
...more
