"Empower me with your ancestors' sword and a scabbard to place it in, sire," I asked the king, "and your confidence, in addition, and I will travel to the lake of Lerna and slay the Hydra who lives there." So he did and off I went, out on a terrific journey on a strong horse with the wind in my hair and I stopped along the way at taverns and roadhouses and ate roasted game hens and drank beers.