按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
monsters。 When he had it all thought out he had Heracles brought before
him and he told him of these other labors。
He was to go to savage Thrace and there destroy the man…eating horses
of King Diomedes； afterward he was to go amongst the dread women； the
Amazons； daughters of Ares； the god of war； and take from their queen；
Hippolyte； the girdle that Ares had given her； then he was to go to Crete
and take from the keeping of King Minos the beautiful bull that Poseidon
had given him； afterward he was to go to the Island of Erytheia and take
away from Geryoneus； the monster that had three bodies instead of one；
the herd of red cattle that the two…headed hound Orthus kept guard over；
then he was to go to the Garden of the Hesperides； and from that garden he
was to take the golden apples that Zeus had given to Hera for a marriage
giftwhere the Garden of the Hesperides was no mortal knew。
So Heracles set out on a long and perilous quest。 First he went to
Thrace； that savage land that was ruled over by Diomedes； son of Ares； the
war god。 Heracles broke into the stable where the horses were； he caught
152
… Page 153…
THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
three of them by their heads； and although they kicked and bit and
trampled he forced them out of the stable and down to the seashore； where
his companion； Abderus； waited for him。 The screams of the fierce horses
were heard by the men of Thrace； and they； with their king； came after
Heracles。 He left the horses in charge of Abderus while he fought the
Thracians and their savage king。
Heracles shot his deadly arrows amongst them； and then he fought
with their king。 He drove them from the seashore； and then he came back
to where he had left Abderus with the fierce horses。
They had thrown Abderus upon the ground； and they were trampling
upon him。 Heracles drew his bow and he shot the horses with the unerring
arrows that were dipped with the gall of the Hydra he had slain。 Screaming；
the horses of King Diomedes raced toward the sea； but one fell and
another fell； and then； as it came to the line of the foam； the third of the
fierce horses fell。 They were all slain with the unerring arrows。 Then
Heracles took up the body of his companion and he buried it with proper
rights； and over it he raised a column。 Afterward； around that column a
city that bore the name of Heracles's friend was built。
Then toward the Euxine Sea he went。 There； where the River
Themiscyra flows into the sea he saw the abodes of the Amazons。 And
upon the rocks and the steep place he saw the warrior women standing
with drawn bows in their hands。 Most dangerous did they seem to
Heracles。 He did not know how to approach them； he might shoot at them
with his unerring arrows； but when his arrows were all shot away； the
Amazons； from their steep places； might be able to kill him with the
arrows from their bows。
While he stood at a distance； wondering what he might do； a horn was
sounded and an Amazon mounted upon a white stallion rode toward him。
When the warrior…woman came near she cried out； 〃Heracles； the Queen
Hippolyte permits you to come amongst the Amazons。 Enter her tent and
declare to the queen what has brought you amongst the never…conquered
Amazons。〃
Heracles came to the tent of the queen。 There stood tall Hippolyte with
153
… Page 154…
THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
an iron crown upon her head and with a beautiful girdle of bronze and
iridescent glass around her waist。 Proud and fierce as a mountain eagle
looked the queen of the Amazons： Heracles did not know in what way he
might conquer her。 Outside the tent the Amazons stood； they struck their
shields with their spears； keeping up a continuous savage din。
〃For what has Heracles come to the country of the Amazons？〃 Queen
Hippolyte asked。
〃For the girdle you wear；〃 said Heracles； and he held his hands ready
for the struggle。
〃Is it for the girdle given me by Ares； the god of war； that you have
come； braving the Amazons； Heracles？〃 asked the queen。
〃For that；〃 said Heracles。
〃I would not have you enter into strife with the Amazons；〃 said Queen
Hippolyte。 And so saying she drew 骹 f the girdle of bronze and iridescent
glass； and she gave it into his hands。
Heracles took the beautiful girdle into his hands。 Fearful he was that
some piece of guile was being played upon him； but then he looked into
the open eyes of the queen and he saw that she meant no guile。 He took
the girdle and he put it around his great brows； then he thanked Hippolyte
and he went from the tent。 He saw the Amazons standing on the rocks and
the steep places with bows bent； unchallenged he went on； and he came to
his ship and he sailed away from that country with one more labor
accomplished。
The labor that followed was not dangerous。 He sailed over sea and he
came to Crete； to the land that King Minos ruled over。 And there he found；
grazing in a special pasture； the bull that Poseidon had given King Minos。
He laid his hands upon the bull's horns and he struggled with him and he
overthrew him。 Then he drove the bull down to the seashore。
His next labor was to take away the herd of red cattle that was owned
by the monster Geryoneus。 In the Island of Erytheia； in the middle of the
Stream of Ocean； lived the monster； his herd guarded by the two…headed
hound Orthusthat hound was the brother of Cerberus； the threeheaded
hound that kept guard in the Underworld。
154
… Page 155…
THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
Mounted upon the bull given Minos by Poseidon； Heracles fared
across the sea。 He came even to the straits that divide Europe from Africa；
and there he set up two pillars as a memorial of his journeythe Pillars of
Heracles that stand to this day。 He and the bull rested there。 Beyond him
stretched the Stream of Ocean； the Island of Erytheia was there； but
Heracles thought that the bull would not be able to bear him so far。
And there the sun beat upon him； and drew all strength away from him；
and he was dazed and dazzled by the rays of the sun。 He shouted out