A FIRST LATIN READER
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10. POLYDECTES IS TURNED TO STONE
Postquam Perseus ad ínsulam návem appulit, sé ad locum contulit
ubi máter
ólim habitáverat, sed domum invénit vacuam et omnínó
désertam. Trís diés
per tótam ínsulam mátrem quaerébat; tandem quartó
dié ad templum Diánae
pervénit. Húc Danaé refúgerat, quod Polydectem timébat.
Perseus ubi haec
cógnóvit, írá mágná commótus est; ad
régiam Polydectis sine morá
contendit, et ubi eó vénit, statim in átrium inrúpit.
Polydectés mágnó
timóre adfectus est et fugere volébat. Dum tamen ille fugit, Perseus
caput Medúsae mónstrávit; ille autem simul atque hóc
vídit, in saxum
versus est.
II. THE ORACLE FULFILLED
Post haec Perseus cum uxóre suá ad urbem Acrisí rediit. Ille autem
ubi
Perseum vídit, mágnó terróre adfectus est; nam propter
óráculum istud
nepótem suum adhúc timébat. In Thessaliam igitur ad urbem
Lárísam statim
refúgit, frústrá tamen; neque enim fátum suum
vítávit. Post paucós annós
réx Lárísae lúdós mágnós fécit;
núntiós in omnís partís dímíserat et diem
édíxerat. Multí ex omnibus urbibus Graeciae ad lúdós
convénérunt. Ipse
Perseus inter aliós certámen discórum iniit. At dum discum conicit,
avum
suum cású occídit; Acrisius enim inter
spectátórés éius certáminis forte
stábat.
HERCULES
Hercules, a Greek hero celebrated for his great strength, was pursued
throughout his life by the hatred of Juno. While yet an infant, he
strangled some serpents sent by the goddess to destroy him. During his
boyhood and youth he performed various marvelous feats of strength, and
on reaching manhood succeeded in delivering the Thebans from the
oppression of the Minÿae. In a fit of madness sent upon him by Juno, he
slew his own children; and on consulting the Delphic oracle as to how he
should cleanse himself from this crime, he was ordered to submit himself
for twelve years to Eurystheus, king of Tiryns, and to perform whatever
tasks were appointed him. Hercules obeyed the oracle, and during the
twelve years of his servitude accomplished twelve extraordinary feats
known as the Labors of Hercules. His death was caused unintentionally by
his wife Dejanira. Hercules had shot with his poisoned arrows a centaur
named Nessus, who had insulted Dejanira. Nessus, before he died, gave
some of his blood to Dejanira, and told her it would act as a charm to
secure her husband's love. Some time after, Dejanira wishing to try the
charm soaked one of her husband's garments in the blood, not knowing
that it was poisoned. Hercules put on the robe, and after suffering
terrible torments died, or was carried off by his father Jupiter.
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