Heracles, Hero of Hardness and of Pumping Power
Theocritus of Syracuse, Idyll XIII
As far as Hylas was concerned, not just
The heart of Heracles was bronze. That part
The boy controlled because heroic lust
Took over certainly was not the heart
Of Amphytryon’s son. The god of love
Is stronger than mere bronze and surely more
Than bronze when melted. Eros is above
Hard metal. His arrows pierce with gold to score
His triumphs. Hylas’ beard was still “unshorn”
According to Theocritus. The hint
Is that the lad’s young whiskers were unborn.
Blond budding stubble caught Apollo’s glint.
Who wants a rugged hero who’s uncaught
By deepest passion? That would be a blot.