佚名/Anonymous
In his famous choice of labor over pleasure, Hercules sees a distinction far too many fail to discern. He sees that to choose labor is to choose virtue, and thereby happiness. It is important to note, however, that happiness is not his goal; it is rather a result of his dedication to labor. It's a crucial point. Many people pursue pleasure as an end because they believe, as the personification of pleasure says in this story, that ease is the state in which“you shall not want for anything that makes life joyous”. But even if you attain that kind of pleasure, something fundamental is missing—the satisfaction of the soul that comes only through human striving. We know true happiness will come to Hercules as we see him set off down the road of Virtue and Labor.
When Hercules was a fair-faced youth, and life was all before him, he went out one morning to do an errand for his stepfather. But as he walked his heart was full of bitter thoughts; and he murmured because others no better than himself were living in ease and pleasure, while for him there was naught but a life of labor and pain.
As he thought upon these things, he came to a place where two roads met; and he stopped, not certain which one to take.
The road on his right was hilly and rough. There was no beauty in it or about it, but he saw that it led straight toward the green mountains in the far distance.
The road on his left was broad and smooth, with shade trees on either side, where sang an innumerable choir of birds; and it went winding among green meadows, where bloomed countless flowers. But it ended in fog and mist long before it reached the wonderful green mountains in the distance.
While the lad stood in doubt as to these roads, he saw two fair women coming toward him, each on a different road. The one who came by the flowery way reached him first, and Hercules saw that she was as beautiful as a summer day.
Her cheeks were red, her eyes sparkled; she spoke warm, persuasive words.“O noble youth,”she said,“be no longer bowed down with labor and sore trials, but come and follow me. I will lead you into pleasant paths, where there are no storms to disturb and no troubles to annoy. You shall live in ease, with one unending round of music and mirth; and you shall not want for anything that makes life joyous — sparkling wine, or soft couches, or rich robes, or the loving eyes of beautiful maidens. Come with me, and life shall be to you a daydream of gladness.”