10 tion to scale it, nor even to go around it. What more likely, then, that he should grasp it in his mighty hands, tear it asunder, and pass through! This he certainly did; and there to this day the two great 5 rocks stand-the Pillars of Hercules-guarding the entrance right and left, and forming the Straits of Gibraltar. 15 But of them all, the most wonderful was our hero's success in reaching the garden of the Hesperides and securing the golden apples of Juno. Now, many brave youths had gone in search of these golden apples, but the tree was guarded by a dragon so fierce that no one had ever dared go near it. "I will find this tree," said Hercules, the young giant, "and I will kill this dragon and bring back the apples." "Many brave youths have said that," thought the people; "but the dragon is very terrible to look upon." "I'm not afraid," laughed Hercules. And, throwing his cloak of lion skin over his shoulders he started forth with his great club upon his journey. 20 Up and down mountains Hercules traveled, over hills and plains, across great rivers, until at last he reached the land beyond the setting sun. 25 "Where is the tree that bears the golden apples?" cried Hercules, seeing afar off a great giant. "Come across the sea and I will tell you," shouted the giant. "I am coming," shouted Hercules; and with two or three great strides, Hercules had crossed the water. "What is this great round ball you carry upon your 30 back?" asked Hercules as he came near. "This great round ball is the earth," answered the giant. "I have heard of you," answered Hercules, "and I am 35 glad to see you. There are wonderful stories told of you 10 in my country; and I have often wished I might chance to find you in my journeys to distant countries." "Who are you, pray?" asked Atlas, shifting the earth over upon his other shoulder that he might see his bold 5 guest more plainly. "I? I am Hercules," shouted our hero. "Hercules! Hercules! Are you the Hercules that was a giant in strength even when a baby?" cried Atlas. "Are you the Hercules that has performed the Great Labors? "Indeed, young man, your fame has reached me even in this far-off land. But, brave as you have been, you will never find the golden apples." "Why?" asked Hercules. "Because," answered Atlas, "no one can enter that 15 garden but myself. But if you will take this great ball upon your shoulders, I will go and get the apples for you. I shall be very glad of a little rest and change." So Hercules took the earth upon his shoulders, and away Atlas ran towards the far-off garden. How heavy the 20 earth grew! "I can never hold it! O dear!" And the earth rolled back and forth from one shoulder to the other. "O dear! O dear," cried the people on the earth. "How the earth rocks and rolls! There must be a terrible earthquake!" 25 Soon Atlas returned, bearing in his hand three golden apples. “Ha, ha, ha!" he laughed. "How do you like to carry the earth?" "O hurry!" groaned Hercules, "my back will break!" "O no!" laughed Atlas, "I am not coming back. Ha! ha! 30 good-bye!" and away he ran up the hillside. "Come back!" shouted Hercules. "At least you might help me to put my lion skin across my shoulder for the earth to rest upon." "O yes! I will do that," shouted Atlas, coming towards 35 Hercules. Now Atlas was not very bright. Such very heavy people usually are stupid; and as he came near, laughing all the while at his own escape, Hercules, quick as a flash of lightning, rolled the earth over on to the shoulders of Atlas, 5 seized the golden apples, and flew away. "Such dreadful earthquakes as there have been," said the people to Hercules when he had reached his home again. Whole cities have been laid flat. But Hercules held up the golden apples, and the people forgot all about their troubles, 10 so glad were they to see the apples. "How did you get them?" the people asked. Hercules did not answer, and the people never knew. Then there was the famous encounter with Antæus, the son of Mother Earth, and whose strength could not be over15 come so long as he stood upon the ground. Many and many a brave youth had fought with him; but never had Antæus been even harmed. Now Hercules would have been quite willing to have escaped from this giant; but Antæus saw him passing through 20 his territory and shouted to him to come and contend for his life, as, indeed, it was his custom to shout to every unfortunate that chanced to come within hearing of his mighty voice. There was no escape; and Hercules would not play the 25 coward by taking to flight. Accordingly the two faced each other. Over and over they rolled; sometimes one, sometimes the other, seemed victorious; but at last the bright mind of the hero perceived that every time Antæus was thrown to the ground, 30 he arose with strength redoubled. "We will see," said Hercules; and, rushing upon the giant, he seized him by the waist and lifted him high in the air. How the old giant kicked and howled! But Hercules only held him all the more tightly, and very soon the 35 thunderous tones grew weaker and weaker; the kicking ceased; and the great Antæus gave himself up, a defeated, humbled creature; and never again did he seize upon mortals who passed through that part of the country, challenging them to a battle in which there was for them 5 no hope of victory. So passed the life of the Greeks' favorite hero; and when at length the time came for him to die, Jupiter, descending from Olympus with his golden chariot of winged horses, wrapped him in a shining cloud, and bore him to the home 10 of the gods. There he was met by the beautiful cupbearer, Hebe, who gave him to drink of the immortal wine; and he became henceforth one of the gods, and dwelt forever among them upon the Olympic Mount. NOTES 261:28 Nemea. A valley and city in the northern part of Argolis, Greece. 262:31 Augean stables. These were the stables of Augeas, a king of Elis, Greece, and one of the Argonauts. 263:3 Peneus. The principal river of Elis, in ancient Greece. 264:8 Hesperides. The maidens who guarded the golden apples which Gæa (Earth) had caused to grow as a marriage gift for Juno. 265:9 Juno. The wife of Jupiter and queen of heaven. In Greek mythology, she was known as Hera. 266: 23 Fates. Three goddesses who presided over the birth and life of mankind. They were Clotho, who held the distaff; Lachesis, who drew out the thread of human life, and Atropsis, who cut off the thread. Antæus (an-tē'us) Augean (â'je-an) VOCABULARY Hercules (her'kū-lēz) Peneus (pe-ne'us) Gibraltar (ji-brâl'tär) THE RACE OF ATALANTA Never was there a maiden so free and happy, so tall and straight and handsome. All her life had she dwelt in the forests and followed the chase, as brave and daring as any youth, and as unfailing with her arrows as Diana herself. 5 Many a youth loved her and longed to win her to grace his home; but the Oracle had said, "Nay, nay, Atalanta; never marry; a terrible fate awaits you if you do." And so, when the youths came to her, rather than that they should count her heartless, she would say, "There 10 is but one condition upon which I can hear your prayer. First, you must race with me. Such is my fate. If you outrun me, then will I give up my free life and come to dwell with you.. If you fail to outrun me, then you must surrender up your life; such is the decree of the 15 gods." And many a youth, so beautiful was she, had accepted her challenge; but, alas! brave lads though they were, none had succeeded in outrunning the fleet-footed Atalanta. But one day a youth came to her, so tall and brave and 20 beautiful that her heart was touched. "It is a shame," thought she, "that such a noble life as this should be wasted." Still what could she do. Never would it be acceptable either to gods or men that she should make an exception. 25 "I know the risk I take," said Hippomenes; "but I am ready." It was with a heart as sad as her free heart could be, that Atalanta prepared for this contest. But in Hippomenes' heart there was only hope and |