Page:Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners.djvu/25

 get possession of this; so Hercules was ordered to fetch it. At length he reached the country of the Amazons. There at first Hippolyte received him kindly, and promised (him) the girdle, but a quarrel having arisen, the Amazons fought against Hercules. These having been conquered and Hippolyte slain, Hercules got possession of the girdle. 64.Geryones, a giant with a threefold body, used to live in the island of Erythia; the same had many oxen, guarded by the giant Eurytion and a dog with two heads. Hercules wished to get possession of these, so he set out for Libya and Spain. There he set up columns on each side of the sea; to these, therefore, was given the name of the Columns of Hercules. Being annoyed by the heat of the sun he hurled darts at Helios; but the latter, wondering at his boldness, presented him with a golden boat; so he was able to get to Erythia. After killing Geryones, with Eurytion and the dog, he returned with the oxen.

65.Soon a more difficult work was appointed for Hercules; that is to say, he was ordered to fetch the apples of the Hesperides, for he did not know their abode. Now the Hesperides used to live on Mount Atlas. There, with a huge serpent, they used to guard the golden apples. Having at last found the place, Hercules said to Atlas, ‘Are you willing to carry off the golden apples for me? While you are doing this, I will support the sky placed on my shoulders in your stead.’ Atlas, having returned with the apples, said to Hercules: ‘Now you may always support the sky on your shoulders, but I myself will go away.’ Then Hercules, having again placed the burden on Atlas’ shoulders by a trick, retired with the apples.

66.Having finished these labours, a very difficult work is appointed for Hercules. There was in the infernal regions a dog with three heads, Cerberus by name. He used to guard the approach to the infernal regions. He was ordered to bring him