第5部分(第2/6 页)

makes　life　joyous。”　But　even　if　you　attain　that　kind　of　pleasure；　something　fundamental　is　missing—the　satisfaction　of　the　soul　that　es　only　through　human　striving。　We　know　true　happiness　will　e　to　Hercules　as　we　see　him　set　off　down　the　road　of　Virtue　and　Labor。

When　Hercules　was　a　fair…faced　youth；　and　life　was　all　before　him；　he　went　out　one　morning　to　do　an　errand　for　his　stepfather。　But　as　he　walked　his　heart　was　full　of　bitter　thoughts；　and　he　murmured　because　others　no　better　than　himself　were　living　in　ease　and　pleasure；　while　for　him　there　was　naught　but　a　life　of　labor　and　pain。

As　he　thought　upon　these　things；　he　came　to　a　place　where　two　roads　met；　and　he　stopped；　not　certain　which　one　to　take。

The　road　on　his　right　was　hilly　and　rough。　There　was　no　beauty　in　it　or　about　it；　but　he　saw　that　it　led　straight　toward　the　blue　mountains　in　the　far　distance。

The　road　on　his　left　was　broad　and　smooth；　with　shade　trees　on　either　side；　where　sang　an　innumerable　choir　of　birds；　and　it　went　winding　among　green　meadows；　where　bloomed　countless　flowers。　But　it　ended　in　fog　and　mist　long　before　it　reached　the　wonderful　blue　mountains　in　the　distance。

While　the　lad　stood　in　doubt　as　to　these　roads；　he　saw　two　fair　women　ing　toward　him；　each　on　a　different　road。　The　one　who　came　by　the　flowery　way　reached　him　first；　and　Hercules　saw　that　she　was　as　beautiful　as　a　summer　day。

Her　cheeks　were　red；　her　eyes　sparkled；　she　spoke　warm；　persuasive　words。　“O　noble　youth；”　she　said；　“be　no　longer　bowed　down　with　labor　and　sore　trials；　but　e　and　follow　me。　I　will　lead　you　into　pleasant　paths；　where　there　are　no　storms　to　disturb　and　no　troubles　to　annoy。　You　shall　live　in　ease；　with　one　unending　round　of　music　and　mirth；　and　you　shall　not　wan