A FIRST LATIN READER
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56. THE DEATH OF HERCULES
Herculés nihil malí suspicáns vestem quam Lichás attulerat
statim induit;
pauló post tamen dolórem per omnia membra sénsit, et quae causa esset
éius reí mágnopere mirábátur. Dolóre paene
exanimátus vestem détrahere
cónátus est; illa tamen in corpore haesit, neque úlló
modó abscindí
potuit. Tum démum Herculés quasi furóre impulsus in montem Octam
sé
contulit, et in rogum, quem summá celeritáte exstrúxit, sé
imposuit. Hóc
cum fécisset, eós quí circumstábant órávit ut
rogum quam celerrimé
succenderent. Omnés diú recúsábant; tandem tamen pástor
quídam ad
misericordiam inductus ígnem subdidit. Tum, dum omnia fúmó
obscúrantur,
Herculés dénsá núbe vélátus á Iove in
Olympum abreptus est.
THE ARGONAUTS
The celebrated voyage of the Argonauts was brought about in this way.
Pelias had expelled his brother Aeson from his kingdom in Thessaly, and
had determined to take the life of Jason, the son of Aeson. Jason,
however, escaped and grew up to manhood in another country. At last he
returned to Thessaly; and Pelias, fearing that he might attempt to
recover the kingdom, sent him to fetch the Golden Fleece from Colchis,
supposing this to be an impossible feat. Jason with a band of heroes set
sail in the ship Argo (called after Argus, its builder), and after many
adventures reached Colchis. Here Aeétes, king of Colchis, who was
unwilling to give up the Fleece, set Jason to perform what seemed an
impossible task, namely to plough a field with certain fire-breathing
oxen, and then to sow it with dragon's teeth. Medéa, however, the
daughter of the king, assisted Jason by her skill in magic, first to
perform the task appointed, and then to procure the Fleece. She then fled
with Jason, and to delay the pursuit of her father, sacrificed her
brother Absyrtus. After reaching Thessaly, Medéa caused the death of
Pelias and was expelled from the country with her husband. They removed
to Corinth, and here Medéa becoming jealous of Glauce, daughter of Creon,
caused her death by means of a poisoned robe. She was afterward carried
off in a chariot sent by the sun-god, and a little later Jason was
accidentally killed.
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