8 The final task

Chapter 8 The final task Eurystheus was flabbergasted. Not only was Hercules strong enough to hold up the sky, he was cunning enough to outwit Atlas.

欧律斯透斯大吃一惊。 赫拉克勒斯不仅有足够的力量撑起天空，他还足够狡猾，智胜阿特拉斯。

But even Hercules couldn't go to the underworld and back, could he? For the final task, Eurystheus sent Hercules down into Hades, the land of the dead. To prove he'd been, he had to bring back Cerberus, a three-headed guard dog who kept the dead from leaving.

但即使是大力神也不能去阴间再回来，不是吗？ 为了完成最后的任务，欧律斯透斯派赫拉克勒斯下到冥府，也就是死亡之地。 为了证明他去过那里，他不得不带回了三只头的看门狗Cerberus，它的作用是防止死者离开。

First, Hercules had to cross the murky river Styx, but Charon, the ferryman, wouldn't take him. "I am Hercules, slayer of beasts and men," boasted Hercules. "I go where I choose. Now take me across into Hades!" Charon was so scared that he didn't argue. Gulp!

首先，赫拉克勒斯必须渡过浑浊的冥河，但船夫卡戎不愿带他过河。 “我是赫拉克勒斯，人兽的杀手。”赫拉克勒斯得意地说。 “我想去哪里就去哪里。现在带我去地狱吧！”卡戎吓得不敢跟他争辩。 杯!

No sooner had Hercules jumped out of the boat on the other side, than a spooky figure appeared in front of him. It was Persephone, the queen of Hades. "I've only come for Cerberus, said Hercules with a friendly grin. "I won't stay." Stop! You do not belong here.

赫拉克勒斯刚从船的另一边跳出来，一个可怕的身影就出现在他面前。 她就是冥王的王后珀尔塞福涅。 “我只是来找刻耳伯勒斯的。”赫拉克勒斯友好地笑着说。 “我不会留下来的。”停!你不属于这里。

"If you can defeat Cerberus with your bare hands, I will let you borrow him. But you must let him go afterwards," said Persephone. It was the fight of Hercules's life... ...but he won.

“如果你能徒手打败刻耳柏洛斯，我就把他借给你。 但事后你必须让他走。”珀尔塞福涅说。 这是赫拉克勒斯一生中最艰难的一次战斗。 …但他赢了。

"Well done, Hercules," said King Eurystheus. "You have proved that you are a mighty hero, the strongest, bravest man on earth!" "Now go out into the world," bellowed Zeus. "You are forgiven."

“干得好，赫拉克勒斯，”欧律斯透斯国王说。 “你已经证明了你是一个伟大的英雄，是世界上最强大、最勇敢的人！”“现在到外面的世界去吧！”宙斯吼道。 “我原谅你了。”