Then Hera the gold-enthroned marked well where the babe mid his saffron swaddlings lay; + 

And the Queen of the Gods, with anger stung, two serpents against him sent straightway. + 

Into the chamber, when opened its portal, they slid, those servants of hate immortal, + 

Ravening-eager to coil their swiftly-darting jaws round the children twain. + 

But Heracles straightway uplifted his head, and was first to essay the battle-strain, + 