3. He bound a wild boar, of prodigious size, that infested the mountain of Erymanthus.

4. He pursued, for the space of a whole year, on the mountains of Menelaus, a hind consecrated to Diana, famous for its golden horns and brazen feet; he at length caught it.

5. He killed or drove away the birds of the lake Stymphalus, which obscured the sun in their flight, and carried way men and devoured them.

6. He defeated the Amazons, a nation of warlike women, and took their Queen, Hippolite, prisoner.

7. He cleansed, in one day, by turning the river Alpheus through it, the stables of Augeas, which had not been emptied for thirty years, though three thousand oxen were constantly lodged in them.

8. He tamed a furious bull, who did great mischief in Crete.

9. He vanquished Diomede, tyrant of Thrace, who it is said fed his horses with human flesh.

10. He slew Geryon, King of Spain, said to have three bodies, because he reigned over three islands, Majorca, Minorca, and Ebusa.

11. He destroyed the dragon that guarded the golden apples in the gardens of the Hesperides.

12. He dragged to the light of day the triple headed Cerberus, from the infernal regions. Having achieved these celebrated labors, he became formidable not only to Eurystheus, who had no longer any hope of conquering him, but to all the other princes in the world. But all his valor could not protect him from the power of love. Omphale, queen of Lydia, gained such an ascendancy over his affections, that he degraded himself so far as to spin among her women. He afterwards espoused Dejanira, which was fatal to him, for Nessus (who is described as a Centaur, being always on horseback) insulted and attempted to carry her off; but the hero letting fly an arrow steeped in the blood of the Hydra, gave him a mortal wound. Nessus, to revenge his death, gave her his coat, pretending it had the property of preventing the affections of Hercules from wandering. As soon as he had put on this fatal gift of Dejanira, he felt himself consumed by a devouring fire, and threw himself

on the pile he had prepared for a sacrifice, where he perished. He is represented clothed in the skin of the Nemean lion, and leaning on a club.

JASON.

Jason was the son of Eson, king of Thessalia and Alcimede. He was the leader of the celebrated expedition to Colchis, to fetch the Golden Fleece. This was called the Argonautic expedition, from the ship Argo, which was said to be made of the wood of the grove Dodona, and to possess the power of giving oracular responses. In this vessel he embarked with many of the most illustrious warriors of Greece, who offered 'to share the glory of the enterprize. Poetic fiction has exaggerated the dangers and difficulties, which were represented as formidable monsters, who guarded this treasure-which by some was supposed to be a Ram with a golden fleece:

others imagined, that particles of gold being mixed with the sands of the river in Colchis, sheep skins were extended at the bottom; by which means Etes amassed great riches.

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The achievement of this conquest was obtained by the assistance of Medea, the daughter of this prince, who by her enchantments lulled to sleep the monsters that guarded the fleece, of which he took possession, and set sail with Medea, whom he married. He afterwards abandoned her for Creusa, daughter of the king of Corinth. Medea, to revenge this infidelity, murdered her own children by him, and enclosing fire in a casket she sent it to Creüsa, who opening it, the flames burst out, and destroyed her and all the palace.

CASTOR AND POLLUX..

Castor and Pollux were the twin sons of

Leda, the wife of king Tyndarus. Pollux, being

honored with the appellation of the son of Jupiter, was considered immortal. Being reared together, and continually engaged in the same pursuits, they became so tenderly attached to each other, that Castor being killed in an engagement, Pollux intreated Jupiter either to suffer him to die, or suffer his departed brother to share his immortality. Jupiter granted his request, and they were transported to the Zodiac, where they form the Constellation called the Twins.

ORPHEUS.

Orpheus was considered the son of Apollo and the Muse Calliope. He excelled in music, poetry, and philosophy; and played so harmoniously on his lute, that he stilled the tempests, tamed savage animals, and gave motion to the trees and rocks. After the loss of Eurydice, his wife,