Unit 8: Vocabulary from Readings 2

When the madness passed and he saw what he had done he was overwhelmed with grief and guilt. Terrible remorse drove him to the oracle of the god Apollo at Delphi, and he asked the priestesses there what he could do to expiate his terrible deed.

“Go to the swamp of Lerna and defeat the hydra, who lives at the confluence of the three springs.”

But Hercules diverted the course of two rivers and sent them through the stables so that they were entirely cleaned in one day.

The foliage was so thick not even he could hack through it with his sword, so that his forward motion was stopped, and he sat upon the ground in despair.

"...Please allow me to carry Deianeira across this river. I am a most excellent swimmer.” Hercules assented to this, and as Nessus clattered down into the water, with Deianeira on his back, he threw his bow and arrows across the water, and vaulted in.

Philoctetes agreed to, and Hercules climbed to its very top, placed upon it the skin of the Nemean Lion as a blanket, and the oaken club as a pillow, and laid himself down there in a state of serene composure.

Long, long ago, in a small village nestled beside the sea of Japan, there lived two brothers.

He looked up at the murky skies full of the promise of snow, but he found no comfort anywhere.

Before he could even turn around, they had gathered about the cake and were making a great commotion that sounded like a thousand mosquitoes buzzing in the air.

The young man and his wife looked wonderingly at their new home, and decided they would invite all their friends to visit this beautiful estate.

There was a cottager named Maibon, and one day he was driving down the road in his horse and cart when he saw an old man hobbling along, so frail and feeble he doubted the poor soul could go many more steps.

Then he dropped his axe and gaped in astonishment.

Believe me, if I could have done, you never would have found me in such a plight. Worse luck!

“Oh, clever!” Doli retorted.

“Yes, I’ll give you a favor,” Doli went on. “That’s the rule, I’m obliged to. Now, get on with it.”

That redheaded little wretch! He’ll rue the day if I ever find him again!