THE LABOURS OF HERCULES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22203, 21 February 1942, Page 7

THE LABOURS OF HERCULES

THE APPLES OF THE HESPERIDES Chapter 12 Near the mountain where Atlas stood with the weight of the heavens upon his shoulders, there was a garden whete some beautiful maidens had charge of a number of golden apples which Juno had received as a wedding present. To aid the Hesperides, as these maidens were called, a many headed dragoh was set to keep watch night and day; so it seemed very unlikely that Hercules would succeed in bringing the apples to his master.

The hero set off on his task, though he did not know where to find the garden of the Hesperides. After a time he came to a river oh the banks of which sat three water nymphs. “Do you know where the garden of the Hesperides is ” he asked. “Go down to the sea,” they said, “and ask Nereus the sea-god. He will tell you the way. He walked a little further and found an old man lying asleep bn the gleaming sandy beach. “Nereus," muttered Hercules, bounding to his side and shaking the sleeping sea-god roughly. Nereus was annoyed at this rude treatment, and changed himself into a barking dog which snapped and snarled and tried to escape. Next he changed hinlself into a gigantic bird which strained on the wing—but still Hercules kept his grip. Snakes and giants and wild anltnals were the forms that the sea-god assumed- without avail. At length he gave up the struggle, and told Hercules all he knew. “I don’t know the Way myself,” he said, “but go to the mountain where Prometheus lies bound, and he will tell you (Prometheus, you may remember, had stolen fire from heaven, and Jupiter had bound him to a mountain crag, where a large eagle preyed upon him). So off went Hercules to the east, and at last came to where Prometheus lay chained. He fought the big eagle and killed it, then speadily released the sufferer, who told him that Atlas knew just where the garden of the Hesperids was, and the way to reach it. Off went Hercules again and soon arrived in the land of the pygmies. These little people who were in constant dread of being devoured by the cranes who swept through the air, and of being overwhelmed by their larger and more powerful neighbours, had accepted an offer made to them by the giant Antaeus who was willing to be their protector. Now Antaeus was a queer sort of person. No matter how tired he might be, as soon as any part of his body touched the earth, his strength was renewed. He came forth to meet Hercules and challenged him to combat, and the pygmies standing round, witnessed a terrible struggle. It was not until be was almost exhausted that Hercules discovered the secret of the strength of Antaeus —he must keep him from touching the ground. Rushing at him suddenly, Hercules seized the giant in his strong arms, and using every ounce of strength left, lifted him high in the air. ’Moment by moment the giant lost strength; his struggles became weaker and weaker, and at length Hercules left him for dead. After many adventures by land and see, Hercules came in a golden ship across the water to where Atlas held up the heavens on his shoulders. Hercules told him why he had come, and Atlas made a suggestion. “If you will hold up the heavens for a little while, I will go and bring the apples to you.” Hercules consented, and Atlas set off for the garden of the Hesperides. Now. Atlas was the uncle of the fair maidens, and when he promised that Hercules would return the three golden apples, they consented to part with them. Hercules had grown very weary by the time Atlas came back; but the huge giant, rejoicing in his new found freedom, refused to give up the apples, saying that he would deliver them to Eurystheus. “Veil’ well,” exclaimed Hercules, “but before you go, you might just hold up tile heavens while I put this cushion on my shoulders.” Atlas fell into the trap, and Hercules, picking up the golden apples and promising to bring them back, Walked calmly away. Then after a long journey he reached Argos, and delivered the apples to Eurystheus. Then, fulfilling his promise to return them, he delivered them to Minerva, who undertook to send them to the Hesperides.