could grow by it; no bird could fly across it. For night and day a poisonous vapour ascended from it, destroying all things that had life. And as Hercules stood by the lake, the air came chill and deadly around him: his limbs trembled, and his heart sunk within him. Iolaus, fearing the end, would have besought him to draw back, but the hero would not even listen to such counsel.

As thus they stood on the shore, there was a troubled motion in the dark waters. A shape arose forth from them and half flying, half swimming, it drew nigh to the son of Zeus. Its body was as large as the last wagon that leaves the field at harvest home, when the sun is sinking in the red horizon, and the weary team are longing for the village pond. Its hundred necks were like leathern pipes, dark, and sinewy, and flexible. Its countless eyes were like the live coals of the fire; its tongues like two-edged swords; its claws, like the bowsprit of a vessel: and its huge wings like the mainsails of a man-of-war. As it came it roared terribly; and the echo rolled up the mountain ravines, dying away in the far distance. The waters foamed around the scaly breast of the monster; until, coming up out of the deep, it waded through the

shallowest part of the lake, eager to devour him that had ventured to disturb its repose. Then Iolaus forgot his promise and fled away.

But Hercules gathered up all his courage. He drew his lion's skin closer around him; he grasped his terrible club, and raised it high above his left shoulder: and so he awaited the oncoming of his enemy.

And now it was but twenty paces from him: and darting out one of its long necks, it sought to pierce him with its sword-like tongue. But the hero was on his guard: and he smote so true a blow on the scaly head, that scales and skull were crushed beneath his club. And the long neck moved convulsively to and fro; as a worm writhes in agony that has been wounded by the garden-roller.

"Thus," said Hercules, "the son of Zeus conquers his enemies. Return, Iolaus, return! As I have done to this head, so will I do to the ninety-nine that remain."

But lo! as he boasted, a wonder! From the end of the neck that had been crushed, two fresh heads sprang forth more terrible than their fellows. Their eyes glared more brightly their tongues quivered more fiercely; and the hero confessed that he had boasted too soon. Again he smote

them with his brazen club; he struck two, and four sprang up in their place. He entered into combat with the other heads; and still, the more valiant deeds he did, the more numerous enemies rose up against him. And thus he stood in the midst of the furious necks of the hydra: he, defending himself as he could; they, twining one with another, hissing, snarling, and bellowing around him. At last his arms began to grow faint, and his knees to tremble, and still keeping his face to his enemy, he withdrew to a little distance. There, knowing that strength only was in vain, he called on Athene.

Goddess," he said, "thou that art adored in sea-girt Attica, and to whom a thousand sacrifices are offered in thy Brazen House at hollow Lacedæmon; thou that didst spring armed from thy father's head, and now graspest the spear, the heavy, the mighty, the unbending, with which thou, mighty in thy father's mightiness, quellest the ranks of heroes: hear me now, filling my soul with wisdom, and my arm with strength! So shall a hecatomb of oxen bleed on thy altar at Mycenæ so shalt thou be celebrated in the song and the dance, when the maidens of Peloponnesus meet to do thee honour."

Thus prayed he, nor was the blue-eyed goddess

inattentive. And she put a thought in his mind, and gave him the wisdom that he desired. And Zeus, father of men and gods, thundered mightily on the left hand; and the hero exulted in the sign of victory, and forthwith he spake to his companion :

"Gather wood, O, Iolaus, heap it high, and kindle a fire: I, if the hydra comes on, will shield you from its fury."

So Iolaus gathered wood,-the dry pine, and the aged cedar he kindled it with speed, and the flames leaped up to heaven. Then again spake Hercules, son of Zeus and Alcmene:

"Loose thy sword, O Iolaus, and heat it in the flame let it glow like the blacksmith's forge, and then follow me."

Then Hercules went forth to meet the monster, and Iolaus followed. The hero dashed in pieces one of the hundred heads, and ere it could sprout again, his friend seared the neck with a hot iron, and stopped its growth. Then the Hydra waxed dismayed: and Athene cast darkness over its eyes, and struck terror into its heart. But they two, exulting in their strength, went on in the conflict head after head was struck down, and neck after neck seared. Often were their hands weary-often did the iron wax cold: but still ⚫ D 2

they renewed the fire, and still they stirred themselves up to battle.

And now there remained but three of the hundred heads: now there are but two; now but one; and now the huge beast breathes forth its spirit in one loud roar, and falls like a crag from a precipice. The lake trembled; the valleys resounded; even Hercules himself drew back.

"To thee, O Zeus,” said he, "I dedicate this labour: do thou be still with me: give me favourable signs, and guard thy son evermore!"

And are not we, too, sent into the world to labour for a while, that we may rest for ever? Are we not promised, if we suffer for a little space, that we shall attain the Crown of Glory, that fadeth not away? Have we not an Hydra to fight, with "that old dragon, called the Devil and Satan, that deceiveth the world"? Yes: and as fast as we destroy one of his temptations, he will have two ready to send in its place. Of our own strength we can do nothing; with that Grace which is indeed like fire, subduing and melting all things, we shall be more than conquerors through Him That loved us.