Herculés’s Choice. When Herculês was a young man, he was accosted by two women, Pleasure and Virtue, and asked to choose which he would follow. Pleasure promised him all carnal delights, but Virtue promised him immortality. Herculês gave his hand to the latter, and hence led a life of great toil, but was ultimately received amongst the immortals.—Xenophon.
⁂ Mrs. Barbauld has borrowed this allegory, but instead of Herculês has substituted Melissa, “a young girl,” who is accosted by Dissipation and Housewifery. While she is somewhat in doubt which to follow, Dissipation’s mask falls off, and immediately Melissa beholds such a “wan and ghastly countenance,” that she turns away in horror, and gives her hand to the more sober of the two ladies.—Evenings at Home, xix. (1795).
Herculês’s Horse, Arion, given him by Adrastos. It had the gift of human speech, and its feet on the right side were those of a man.
Herculês’s Pillars, Calpê and Ab´yla, one at Gibraltar and the other at Ceuta (3 syl.). They were torn asunder by Alcīdês on his route to Gadês (Cadiz).
Herculês’s Ports: (1) “Herculis Corsani Portus” (now called Porto-Ercolo, in Etruria); (2) “Herculis Liburni Portus” (now called Livorno, i.e. Leghorn); (3) “Herculis Monœci-Portus” (now called Monaco, near Nice).
Herculês (The Attic), Theseus (2 syl.), who went about, like Herculês, destroying robbers, and performing most wonderful exploits.
Herculês (The Cretan). All the three Idæan Dactyls were so called: viz., Kelmis (“the smelter”), Damnamĕneus (“the hammer”), and Acmon (“the anvil”).
Herculês (The Egyptian), Sesostris (fl. B.C. 1500). Another was Som or Chon, called by Pausanias, Macĕris, son of Amon.
Herculês (The English), Guy, earl of Warwick (890-958).
Warwick ... thou English Herculês.