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Tonight. And if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by Wonderful Exploits. Tonight we'll read the story, the three golden apples written by Nathaniel Hawthorn and found in a wonder book, originally published in 1851, this episode first aired in 2021. This is Hawthorne's retelling of Hercules's search for three golden apples. Along the way, he meets the old man of the sea, a six-legged man creature, and the mighty giant Atlas. This story also features

the Hasparades. In Greek mythology, they are the nymphs of evening and golden light of sunsets.

The Hasparades love to sing, and they spend their time tending to Queen Heras apple orchard. Let's get cozy. Close your eyes. your body into the softness of your bed. Now take a few deep breaths. Did you ever hear of the golden apples that grew in the garden of the Hesperides? Ah, those were such apples as would bring a great price by the bushel if any of them could be found growing in the orchards of nowadays.

But there is not, I suppose, a graft of that wonderful fruit on a single tree in the wide world. Not so much as a seed of these apples exists any longer. And even in the old, old, half forgotten times, before the garden of the hisparities was overrun with weeds, a great many people doubted whether there could be real trees that bore apples of solid gold upon their branches. All had heard of them, but nobody remembered to have seen any. It is said that there was a dragon beneath the tree with a hundred terrible heads, 50 of which were always on the watch, while the other 50 slept. Hercules was wandering through the pleasant land of Italy, with a mighty club in his hand, and a bow and quiver slung across his shoulders. He was wrapped in the skin of the biggest and fiercest lion that ever had been seen, and though, on the whole, He was kind and generous and noble, there was a good deal of the lion's fierceness in his heart. As he went on his way, he continually inquired whether they were on the right road to the famous garden. But none of the country people knew anything about the matter, and many looked as if they would have laughed at the question, if the stranger had not carried so very big a club. So he journeyed on and on, still making the same inquiry. Until it last, he came to the brink of a river, where some beautiful young women sat, twining wreaths of flowers. Can you tell me pretty maidens? Ask the stranger whether this is the right way to the garden of the hisparities. On hearing the stranger's question, they dropped all their flowers on the grass and gazed at him with astonishment. The garden of the hisparities cried one. We thought mortals had been weary of seeking it after so many disappointments, and pray adventurous traveler, what do you want there? A certain king who is my cousin replied he, has ordered me to get him three of the golden apples. And do you know, as the damsel who had first spoken, that a terrible dragon with a hundred heads keeps watch under the golden apple tree? I know it well. Answered the stranger calmly.

But f***. keeps watch under the golden apple tree? I know it well.

Answered the stranger calmly. But from my cradle upward, it has been my business, and almost my pastime, to deal with serpents and dragons. The young women looked at his massive club and at the shaggy lion's skin which he wore, and likewise at his heroic limbs and figure, and they whispered to each other that the stranger appeared to be the one who might reasonably expect to perform deeds far beyond the might of others. Go back, cried they all. Go back to your own home. No matter for the golden apples, no matter for the king, your cruel cousin, we do not wish the dragon with the hundred heads to eat you up. The stranger seemed to grow impatient at these remonstrains as he carefully lifted his mighty club and let it fall upon a rock that lay half buried in the earth nearby.

With the force of that idle blow, the great rock was shattered all to pieces. Do you not believe?" said he, looking at the damsels with a smile that such a blue would have crushed one of the dragon's hundred hens. But the dragon of the disparities you know observed one of the damsels has a hundred hens. Nevertheless, replied the stranger, I would rather fight two such dragons than a single hydra. The traveler proceeded next to tell how he chased a very swift stag for a 12-month together without ever stopping to take breath and had it last caught it by the antlers and carried it home alive. Do you call that a wonderful exploit? Ask one of the young maidens with a smile? Any clown in the country has done as much. Perhaps you may have heard of me before?" said he, modestly.

My name is Hercules. We have already guessed it, replied the maidens. For your wonderful deeds are known all over the world. We do not think it's strange any longer that you should set out in quest of the golden apples of the disparities. Come, sisters, let us crown the hero with flowers. Then, they flung beautiful wreaths over his stately head and mighty shoulders, so that the lion's skin was almost entirely covered with roses. They took possession of his ponderous club, and so entwined it about with the brightest, softest, and most fragrant blossoms that not a finger's breath of its oak and substance could be seen. Lastly, they joined hands and danced around him, chanting words which became poetry of their own accord, and grew into a choral song in honor of the illustrious Hercules. Dear maidens, said he, when they paused to take a breath. Now that you know my name, will you not tell me how I may reach the garden of the disparities? We will give you the best directions we can. the damsels. You must go to the seashore and find out the old one and compel him to inform you where the golden apples are to be found. The old one repeated hercules laughing at this odd name and pray who may the old one repeated her killings, laughing at this odd name and pray, who may the old one be. Why? The old man of the sea to be sure answered one of the damsels. You must talk with this old man of the sea. He is a seafaring person, and knows all about the garden of the

hisperities, for it is situated in an island, which he is often in the habit of visiting. Hercules then asked whereabouts the old one was most likely to be met with. When the the damseld had informed him, he thanked them all for their kindness. But before he was out of hearing, one of the maidens called after him. "'Keep fast hold of the old one when you catch him,' cried she. "'Don't be astonished at anything that may happen. Only hold him fast and he will tell you what you wish to know. Hercules again thanked her and pursued his way. We will crown him with the loveliest of our garlands," said they, when he returns hither with the three golden apples after slaying the dragon with a hundred heads. Hercules traveled constantly onward over hill and dale and through the solitary woods woods. Hacening forward, without ever pausing or looking behind, he, by and by, heard the sea roaring at a distance. At this sound, he increased his speed, and soon came to a a beach where the great surf waves tumbled themselves upon the heart sand in a long line of snowy foam. At one end of the beach however there was a pleasant spot where some green shrubbery clambered up a cliff, making its rocky face look soft and beautiful. A carpet, a firted grass, largely intermixed with sweet smelling clover covered the narrow space between the bottom of the cliff and the sea. And what should Hercules espy there but an old man fast asleep? But was it really and truly an old man? Certainly, at first sight, it looked very like one, but on closer inspection, it rather seemed to be some kind of a creature that lived in the sea. For on his legs and arms there were scales such as fishes have. He was webfooted and web-fingered after the fashion of a duck, and his long beard, being of a greenish tinge, had more the appearance of a turf of seaweed than of an ordinary beard. Hercules, the instant He said eyes on this strange, was convinced that it could be no other than the old one who was too direct to him on his way. Thinking his stars for the lucky accident of finding the old fellow asleep, Hercules stole on tiptoe toward him and caught him by the arm and leg. Tell me, cried he, before the old one was well awake, which is the way to the garden of the the disparities. The old man of the sea awoke in of fright, but his astonishment could hardly have been greater than that of Hercules the next moment. 4. All of a sudden, the old one seemed to disappear out of his grasp, and he found himself holding a stag by the four and hind leg. But still, he kept fast-hold. Then the stag disappeared, and in its stead there was a sea bird, fluttering and screaming, while Hercules clutched it by the wing and claw. But the bird could not get away. In another minute, what should appear but a huge snake? But Hercules was no wit disheartened and squeezed the great snake so tightly that he soon began to hiss with anger.

You must understand that the old man of the sea, though he generally looked so like the wave beaten figurehead of a vessel, had the power of assuming any shape he pleased. When he found himself so roughly seized by Hercules, he had been in hopes of putting him into such surprise and terror by these magical transformations that the hero would be glad to let him go. If Hercules had relaxed his grasp, the old one would certainly have plunged down to the very bottom of the sea. But as Hercules held on so stubbornly and only squeezed the old one so much the tighter at every change of shape. He finally thought it best to reappear in his own figure. Pray, what do you want with me?" cried the old one as soon as he could take breath. My name is Hercules. Wrote the mighty stranger, and you will never get out of my clutch until you tell me the nearest way to the garden of the disparities. When the old fellow heard who it was that had caught him, he saw with half an eye that it would be necessary to tell him everything that he wanted to know. Of course, he had often heard of the fame of Hercules and of the wonderful things that he was constantly performing in various parts of the earth and how determined he always was to accomplish whatever he undertook. He, therefore, made no more attempts to escape, but told the hero how to find the garden of the hisperities. You must go on thus and thus, said the old man of the sea, till you come in sight of a

varied You must go on thus and thus, said the old man of the sea, till you come in sight of a very tall giant who holds a key to the sky on his shoulders. And the giant, if he happens to be in a humor for it, will tell you exactly where the garden of the hispherity's lies. Thanking the old man of the sea and begging his pardon for having squeezed him so roughly, the hero resumed his journey. Hercules continued his travels, passing through the deserts of Africa and going as fast as he could. He arrived at last on the shore of the Great Ocean. And here, unless he could walk on the crests of the billows, it seemed as if his journey must be at an end. Nothing was before him save the foaming, dashing, measureless ocean. But suddenly, as he looked toward the horizon, he saw something, a great way off, which he had not seen the moment before. It gleamed very brightly, almost as you may have beheld the round, golden disc of the sun, when it rises or sats over the edge of the world.

It evidently drew nearer, for at every instant this wonderful object became larger and more lustrous. At length it had come so nigh that Hercules discovered it to be an immense cup or bowl made either of gold or burnished brass. I have seen many giants in my time, thought Hercules, but never one that would need to drink his wine out of a cup like this. And true enough, what a cup it must have been. To speak within bounds, it was ten times larger than a great mill-wheel. And all of metal as it was, it floated over the heaving surges more lightly than an acorn cup down the brook. The waves tumbled it onward until it grazed against the shore within a short distance of the spot where Hercules was standing. As soon as this happened, he knew what was to be done. It was just as clear as daylight that this marvelous cup had been set adrift by some unseen power, and guided hitherward in order to carry hercules across the sea on his way to the garden of the hisparities. Accordingly, he clambered over the brim and slid down on the inside. The waves dashed with a pleasant and ringing sound against the circumference of the hollow cup. It rocked lightly to and fro, and the motion was so soothing that it speedily rocked Hercules into an agreeable slumber.

His nap had probably lasted a good while when the cup chanced to graze against a rock, and in consequence immediately resounded and reverberated through its golden or brazen substance a hundred times as loudly as ever you heard a church bell. The noise, of course, awoke hercules, who instantly started up and gazed around him, wondering whereabouts he was. He was not long in discovering that the cup had floated across a great part of the sea and was approaching the shore of what seemed to be an island. And on that island, what do you think he saw? It was a giant as tall as a mountain, so vast a giant that the clouds rested about his mist like a girdle and hung like a beard from his chin and flitted before his huge eyes, so that he could neither see hercules nor the golden cup in which he was voyaging. And most wonderful of all, the giant held up his great hands and appeared to support the sky, which so far as Hercules could discern through the clouds was resting upon his head.

Meanwhile, the bright cup continued to float onward and finally touched the strand. Just then a breeze wafed it away the clouds from before the giant's view and Hercules beheld it with all its enormous features. Eyes each of them as big as yonder lake, a nose, a mile long, and a mouth the same width. He had evidently stood there a long while, an ancient forest had been growing and decaying around his feet, and oak trees of six or seven centuries had sprung from the acorns and forced themselves between his toes. The giant now looked down from the far height of his great eyes, and, perceiving hercules, roared out. Who are you, down at my feet there? And once do you come in that little cup. I am Hercules, thundered back the hero, and I am seeking for the garden of the disparities. Please. Oh, oh, oh.

Word the giant in a fit of immense laughter. That is a wise adventure, truly. And why not, Crite Hercules, do you think I am afraid of the dragon with a hundred hands? Just at this time, while they were talking together, some black clouds gathered about the giant's middle and burst into tremendous storms of thunder and lightning, causing such a father that Hercules found it impossible to distinguish a word.

At last the storm swept over suddenly as it had come, and there again was the clear sky,

and the weary giant holding it up, and the pleasant sunshine beaming over his vast height and illuminating it against the background of the sullen thunder clouds. So far above the shower had been his head that not a hair of it was moistened by the raindrops. When the giant could see Hercules was still standing on the seashore, he roared out at him, a new. I am atless, the mightiest giant in the world, and I hold the sky upon my head. So I see, answered Hercules, but can you show me the way to the garden of the Hesperides? What do you want there? Ask the giant. I won three of the golden apples. Shout at Hercules. For my cousin, the king, there is nobody but myself. Quote the giant. That can go to the garden of the disparities and gather the golden apples. If it were not for this little business of holding up the sky, I would make half a dozen steps across the sea and get them for you. You're very kind, replied Hercules, and cannot you rest the sky upon a mountain? "'None of them are quite high enough,' said Atlus, shaking his head. But if you were to take your stand on the summit of that nearest one, your head would be pretty nearly on the level with mine. You seem to be a fellow of some strength. What if you

should take my burden on your shoulders while I do your errand for you? Is the sky very heavy, inquired, why, not particularly so at first, answered the giant, shrugging his shoulders, but it gets to be a little burden some after a thousand years. And how long a time, as the hero, will it take you to get the golden apples. Oh, that will be done in a few moments. Cryt Atlas. I shall take ten or fifteen miles at a stride, and be at the garden and back again before your shoulders begin to ache.

Well, then, answered Hercules, I will climb the mountain behind you and relieve you of your burden. The truth is, Hercules had a kind heart of his own and considered that he should be doing the giant of favor by allowing him this opportunity for a ramble. And besides, he thought that it would be still more for his own glory if he could boast of upholding the sky than merely to do so ordinary a thing as to conquer a dragon with a hundred heads. Accordingly, the sky was shifted from the shoulders of Atlas and placed upon those of Hercules. When this was safely accomplished, the first thing that the giant did was to stretch himself. Next, he slowly lifted one of his feet out of the forest that had grown up around it, then the other. Then, all at once, he began to cappr and leap and dance for joy at his freedom, flinging himself nobody knows how high into the air and floundering down again with a shock that made the earth tremble. When his joy had a little subsided, he stepped into the sea. Ten miles at the first stride, which brought him mid-leg deep, and ten miles at the second, when the water came just above his knees, and ten miles more at the third, by which he was immersed nearly to his waist. This was the greatest depth of the sea. Achilles watched the giant until the gigantic shape faded entirely out of view. And now Hercules began to consider what he should do in case Atlas should be drowned in the sea, or if he were to be stung to death by the dragon with a hundred heads, which guarded the golden apples of the disparities. If any such misfortune were to happen, how could he ever get rid of the sky? And by the way, its weight began already to be a little rick sum to his head and shoulders. I really pity the poor giant, thought Hercules, if it worries me so much in ten minutes, I would must have worried him in a thousand years. To his unspeakable joy, he beheld the huge shape of the giant, like a cloud, on the far off edge of the sea. his nearer approach atless held up his hand in which Hercules could perceive three magnificent golden apples as big as pumpkins and all hanging from one branch. I'm glad to see you again, shouted Hercules when the giant was within hearing. So you have got the golden apples? Certainly, certainly answered Atlas, and very fair apples they are. I took the finest that grew on the tree, I assure you.

Ah, it is a beautiful spot that garden of the disparities. Yes, and the dragon with a hundred

heads is a sight worth any man seeing. After all, you had better have gone for the apples yourself. No matter, replied Hercules. You have had a pleasant ramble and have done the business as well as I could. I heartily thank you for your trouble. And now, as I have a long way to go, and am rather enaste, and as the king, my cousin, is anxious to receive the Golden Apples, will you be kind enough to take the sky off my shoulders again? Why, as to that, said the giant, chucking the golden apples into the air twenty miles high where they're abouts, and catching them as they came down. As to that, my good friend, I consider you a little unreasonable. not I carry the golden apples to the king, your cousin, much quicker than you could? As his majesty is in such a hurry to get them, I promise you to take my longest strides. Besides, I have no fancy for burdening myself with the sky just now. Here, Thurcules grew impatient and gave a great shrug of his shoulders. It being now Twilight, you might have seen two or three stars tumble out of their places. Everybody on earth looked upward in a fright, thinking that the sky might be going to fall next. Oh, that will never do. Cry giant atlas with a great roar of laughter. I have not let fall so many stars within the last five centuries. By the time you have stood there as long as I did, you will begin to learn patience. What? Shout at Hercules very roughly. Do you intend to make me bear this burden forever? We will see about that one of these days. Answered the giant? At all events, you ought not to complain if you have to bear it the next

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