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The Heroes
unless the good Lord Jesus teaches him by His Spirit； which gives man
understanding。
But these Greeks； as St。 Paul told them； forgot what God had taught
them； and； though they were God's offspring； worshipped idols of wood
and stone； and fell at last into sin and shame； and then； of course； into
cowardice and slavery； till they perished out of that beautiful land which
God had given them for so many years。
For； like all nations who have left anything behind them； beside mere
mounds of earth； they believed at first in the One True God who made
all heaven and earth。 But after a while； like all other nations； they began
to worship other gods； or rather angels and spirits； who （so they fancied）
lived about their land。 Zeus； the Father of gods and men （who was
some dim remembrance of the blessed true God）； and Hera his wife； and
Phoebus Apollo the Sun…god； and Pallas Athene who taught men wisdom
and useful arts； and Aphrodite the Queen of Beauty； and Poseidon the
Ruler of the Sea； and Hephaistos the King of the Fire； who taught men to
work in metals。 And they honoured the Gods of the Rivers； and the
Nymph…maids； who they fancied lived in the caves； and the fountains；
and the glens of the forest； and all beautiful wild places。 And they
honoured the Erinnues； the dreadful sisters； who； they thought； haunted
guilty men until their sins were purged away。 And many other dreams
they had； which parted the One God into many； and they said； too； that
these gods did things which would be a shame and sin for any man to
do。 And when their philosophers arose； and told them that God was
One； they would not listen； but loved their idols； and their wicked idol
feasts； till they all came to ruin。 But we will talk of such sad things no
more。
But； at the time of which this little book speaks； they had not fallen
as low as that。 They worshipped no idols； as far as I can find； and they
still believed in the last six of the ten commandments； and knew well
what was right and what was wrong。 And they believed （and that was
what gave them courage） that the gods loved men； and taught them； and
that without the gods men were sure to come to ruin。 And in that they
were right enough； as we know … more right even than they thought； for
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without God we can do nothing； and all wisdom comes from Him。
Now； you must not think of them in this book as learned men； living
in great cities； such as they were afterwards； when they wrought all their
beautiful works； but as country people； living in farms and walled
villages； in a simple； hard…working way； so that the greatest kings and
heroes cooked their own meals； and thought it no shame； and made
their own ships and weapons； and fed and harnessed their own horses；
and the queens worked with their maid…servants； and did all the business
of the house； and spun； and wove； and embroidered； and made their
husbands' clothes and their own。 So that a man was honoured among
them； not because he happened to be rich； but according to his skill； and
his strength； and courage； and the number of things which he could do。
For they were but grown…up children； though they were right noble
children too； and it was with them as it is now at school … the strongest
and cleverest boy； though he be poor； leads all the rest。
Now； while they were young and simple they loved fairy tales； as
you do now。 All nations do so when they are young： our old
forefathers did； and called their stories 'Sagas。' I will read you some of
them some day … some of the Eddas； and the Volusp*； and Beowulf； and
the noble old Romances。 The old Arabs； again； had their tales； which
we now call the 'Arabian Nights。' The old Romans had theirs； and they
called them 'Fabulae；' from which our word 'fable' comes； but the old
Hellens called theirs 'Muthoi；' from which our new word 'myth' is taken。
But next to those old Romances； which were written in the Christian
middle age； there are no fairy tales like these old Greek ones； for beauty；
and wisdom； and truth； and for making children love noble deeds； and
trust in God to help them through。
Now； why have I called this book 'The Heroes'？ Because that was
the name which the Hellens gave to men who were brave and skilful；
and dare do more than other men。 At first； I think； that was all it meant：
but after a time it came to mean something more； it came to mean men
who helped their country； men in those old times； when the country was
half…wild； who killed fierce beasts and evil men； and drained swamps；
and founded towns； and therefore after they were dead； were honoured；
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because they had left their country better than they found it。 And we
call such a man a hero in English to this day； and call it a 'heroic' thing to
suffer pain and grief； that we may do good to our fellow…men。 We may
all do that； my children； boys and girls alike； and we ought to do it； for
it is easier now than ever； and safer； and the path more clear。 But you
shall hear how the Hellens said their heroes worked； three thousand
years ago。 The stories are not all true； of course； nor half of them； you
are not simple enough to fancy that； but the meaning of them is true； and
true for ever； and that is … Do right； and God will help you。'
FARLEY COURT；
ADVENT； 1855。
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STORY I。 … PERSEUS
PART I … HOW PERSEUS AND HIS MOTHER
CAME TO SERIPHOS
ONCE upon a time there were two princes who were twins。 Their
names were Acrisius and Proetus； and they lived in the pleasant vale of
Argos； far away in Hellas。 They had fruitful meadows and vineyards；
sheep and oxen； great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen； and all
that men could need to make them blest： and yet they were wretched；
because they were jealous of each other。 From the moment they were
born they began to quarrel； and when they grew up each tried to take
away the other's share of the kingdom； and keep all for himself。 So
first Acrisius drove out Proetus； and he went across the seas； and brought
home a foreign princess for his wife； and foreign warriors to help him；
who were called Cyclopes； and drove out Acrisius in his turn； and then
they fought a long while up and down the land； till the quarrel was
settled； and Acrisius took Argos and one half the land； and Proetus took
Tiryns and the other half。 And Proetus and his Cyclopes built around
Tiryns great walls of unhewn stone； which are standing to this day。
But there came a prophet to that hard…hearted Acrisius and
prophesied against him； and said； 'Because you have risen up against
your own blood； your own blood shall rise up against you； because you
have sinned against your kindred； by your kindred you shall be punished。
Your daughter Danae shall bear a son； and by that son's hands you shall
die。 So the Gods have ordained； and it will surely come to pass。'
And at that Acrisius was very much afraid； but he did not mend his
ways。 He had been cruel to his own family； and； instead of repenting
and being kind to them； he went on to be