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AUGEAS

Volume 3 · 105 words · 1823 Edition

in fabulous history, was king of Elis, and particularly famed for his stable, which contained 3000 oxen, and had not been cleaned for 30 years. Hercules was desired to clear away the filth from this stable in one day; and Augæas promised, if he performed it, to give him a tenth part of the cattle. This task Hercules is said to have executed by turning the course of the river Alpheus through the stable; when Augæas refusing to stand by his engagement, Hercules slew him with his arrows, and gave his kingdom to Phyleus his son, who had shown an abhorrence of his father's insincerity.