Hercules Once upon a
time there was a great Greek hero, Hercules. He was taller and stronger than
anyone you have ever seen. On his shoulder he carried a club and in his hand he
held a bow (弓). He was known as the hero of a hundred adventures.
Hercules served a king. The king was afraid of him. So again and again he
sent him on difficult tasks. One morning the king sent for him and told him to
fetch three golden apples for him from the garden of the Singing Maidens (歌女).
But no one knew where the garden was. So Hercules went away. He
walked the whole day and the next day and the next. He walked for months before
he saw mountains far in the distance one fine morning. One of the mountains was
in the shape of a man, with long, long legs and arms and huge shoulders and a
huge head. He was holding up the sky. Hercules knew it was Atlas, the Mountain
God. So he asked him for help. Atlas answered, "My head and
arms and shoulders all ache. Could you hold up the sky while I fetch the golden
apples for you" Hercules climbed the mountain and shouldered
the sky. Soon the sky grew very heavy. When finally Atlas came back with three
golden apples, he said, "Well, you are going to carry the mountain for ever. I’m
going to see the king with the apples." Hercules knew that he couldn’t fight him
because of the sky on his back. So he shouted: "Just one
minute’s help. My shoulders are hurting. Hold the sky for a minute while I make
a cushion (垫子) for my shoulders." Atlas believed him. He threw
down the apples and held up the sky. Hercules picked up the
apples and ran back to see the king. Hercules was the tallest man in the world.