第5部分(第3/6 页)

t　for　anything　that　makes　life　joyous—sparkling　wine；　or　soft　couches；　or　rich　robes；　or　the　loving　eyes　of　beautiful　maidens。　e　with　me；　and　life　shall　be　to　you　a　daydream　of　gladness。”

By　this　time　the　other　fair　woman　had　drawn　near；　and　she　now　spoke　to　the　lad。　“I　have　nothing　to　promise　you；”　said　she；　“save　that　which　you　shall　win　with　your　own　strength。　The　road　upon　which　I　would　lead　you　is　uneven　and　hard；　and　climbs　many　a　hill；　and　descends　into　many　a　valley　and　quagmire。　The　views　which　you　will　sometimes　get　from　the　hilltops　are　grand　and　glorious；　but　the　deep　valleys　are　dark；　and　the　ascent　from　them　is　toilsome。

赫拉克勒斯的选择（3）

Nevertheless；　the　road　leads　to　the　blue　mountains　of　endless　fame；　which　you　see　far　away　on　the　horizon。　They　cannot　be　reached　without　labor；　in　fact；　there　is　nothing　worth　having　that　must　not　be　won　by　toil。　If　you　would　have　fruits　and　flowers；　you　must　plant　them　and　care　for　them；　if　you　would　gain　the　love　of　your　fellow　men；　you　must　love　them　and　suffer　for　them；　if　you　would　enjoy　the　favor　of　heaven；　you　must　make　yourself　worthy　of　that　favor；　if　you　would　have　eternal　fame；　you　must　not　scorn　the　hard　road　that　leads　to　it。”

Then　Hercules　saw　that　this　lady；　although　she　was　as　beautiful　as　the　other；　had　a　countenance　pure　and　gentle；　like　the　sky　on　a　balmy　morning　in　May。

“What　is　your　name？”　he　asked。

“Some　call　me　Labor；”　she　answered；　“but　others　know　me　as　Virtue。”

Then　he　turned　to　the　first　lady。　“And　what　is　your　name？”　he　asked。

“Some　call　me　Pleasure；”　she　said；　with　bewitching　smile；　“but　I　choose　to　be　known　as　the　Joyous　and　Happy　One。”

“Virtue；”　said　Hercules；　“I　will　take　thee　as　my　guide！　The　road　of　labor　and　honest　effort　shall　be