128 THE THREE GOLDEN APPLES.

“ Perhaps you may have heard of me before,”’ said he,
modestly. ‘‘ My name is Hercules! ”

“We had already guessed it,” replied the maidens ;
“for your wonderful deeds are known all over the world.
We do not think it strange, any longer, that you should
set out in quest of the golden apples of the Hesperides.
Come, sisters, let us crown the hero with flowers! ”’

Then they flung beautiful wreaths over his stately
head and mighty shoulders, so that the lion’s skim was
almost entirely covered with roses. ‘They took posses-
sion of his ponderous club, and so entwined it about with
the brightest, softest, and most fragrant blossoms, that not
a finger’s breadth of its oaken substance could be seen.
It looked all like a huge bunch of flowers. Lastly,
they jomed hands, and danced around him, chanting
words which became poetry of their own accord, and
grew into a choral song, in honor of the illustrious Her-
cules.

And Hercules was rejoiced, as any other hero would
have been, to know that these fair young girls had heard
of the valiant deeds which it had cost him so much toil
and danger to achieve. But, still, he was not satisfied.
He could not think that what he had already done was
worthy of so much honor, while there remained any bold
or difficult adventure to be undertaken.

“Dear maidens,” said he, when they paused to take
breath, ‘now that you know my name, will you not tell
me how I am to reach the garden of the Hesperides 2” —

“Ah! must you go so soon?” they exclaimed. “ You
— that have performed so many wonders, and spent such