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been before。 The Earth； you remember； was his mother； and was very fond
of him； as being almost the biggest of her children； and so she took this
method of keeping him always in full vigor。 Some persons affirm that he
grew ten times stronger at every touch； others say that it was only twice as
strong。 But only think of it！ Whenever Antaeus took a walk； supposing it
were but ten miles； and that he stepped a hundred yards at a stride； you
may try to cipher out how much mightier he was； on sitting down again；
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than when he first started。 And whenever he flung himself on the earth to
take a little repose； even if he got up the very next instant； he would be as
strong as exactly ten just such giants as his former self。 It was well for the
world that Antaeus happened to be of a sluggish disposition and liked ease
better than exercise； for； if he had frisked about like the Pygmies； and
touched the earth as often as they did； he would long ago have been strong
enough to pull down the sky about people's ears。 But these great lubberly
fellows resemble mountains； not only in bulk； but in their disinclination to
move。
Any other mortal man； except the very one whom Antaeus had now
encountered； would have been half frightened to death by the Giant's
ferocious aspect and terrible voice。 But the stranger did not seem at all
disturbed。 He carelessly lifted his club； and balanced it in his hand；
measuring Antaeus with his eye； from head to foot； not as if wonder…
smitten at his stature； but as if he had seen a great many Giants before； and
this was by no means the biggest of them。 In fact； if the Giant had been no
bigger than the Pygmies （who stood pricking up their ears； and looking
and listening to what was going forward）； the stranger could not have been
less afraid of him。
〃Who are you； I say？〃 roared Antaeus again。 〃What's your name？ Why
do you come hither？ Speak； you vagabond； or I'll try the thickness of your
skull with my walking…stick！〃
〃You are a very discourteous Giant；〃 answered the stranger quietly；
〃and I shall probably have to teach you a little civility； before we part。 As
for my name； it is Hercules。 I have come hither because this is my most
convenient road to the garden of the Hesperides； whither I am going to get
three of the golden apples for King Eurystheus。〃
〃Caitiff； you shall go no farther！〃 bellowed Antaeus； putting on a
grimmer look than before； for he had heard of the mighty Hercules； and
hated him because he was said to be so strong。〃 Neither shall you go back
whence you came！〃
〃How will you prevent me；〃 asked Hercules； 〃from going whither I
please？〃
〃By hitting you a rap with this pine tree here；〃 shouted Antaeus；
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scowling so that he made himself the ugliest monster in Africa。 〃I am fifty
times stronger than you； and now that I stamp my foot upon the ground； I
am five hundred times stronger！ I am ashamed to kill such a puny little
dwarf as you seem to be。 I will make a slave of you； and you shall likewise
be the slave of my brethren here； the Pygmies。 So throw down your club
and your other weapons； and as for that lion's skin； I intend to have a pair
of gloves made of it。〃
〃Come and take it off my shoulders； then；〃 answered Hercules； lifting
his club。
Then the Giant； grinning with rage； strode tower…like towards the
stranger （ten times strengthened at every step）； and fetched a monstrous
blow at him with his pine tree； which Hercules caught upon his club； and
being more skilful than Antaeus； he paid him back such a rap upon the
sconce； that down tumbled the great lumbering man…mountain； flat upon
the ground。 The poor little Pygmies （who really never dreamed that
anybody in the world was half so strong as their brother Antaeus） were a
good deal dismayed at this。 But no sooner was the Giant down； than up he
bounced again； with tenfold might； and such a furious visage as was
horrible to behold。 He aimed another blow at Hercules； but struck awry；
being blinded with wrath； and only hit his poor innocent Mother Earth；
who groaned and trembled at the stroke。 His pine tree went so deep into
the ground； and stuck there so fast； that； before Antaeus could get it out；
Hercules brought down his club across his shoulders with a mighty thwack；
which made the Giant roar as if ali sorts of intolerable noises had come
screeching and rumbling out of his immeasurable lungs in that one cry。
Away it went； over mountains and valleys； and； for aught I know； was
heard on the other side of the African deserts。
As for the Pygmies； their capital city was laid in ruins by the
concussion and vibration of the air； and； though there was uproar enough
without their help； they all set up a shriek out of three millions of little
throats； fancying； no doubt； that they swelled the Giant's bellow by at least
ten times as much。 Meanwhile； Antaeus had scrambled upon his feet again；
and pulled his pine tree out of the earth； and； all aflame with fury； and
more outrageously strong than ever； he ran at Hercules； and brought down
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another blow。
〃This time； rascal；〃 shouted he； 〃you shall not escape me。〃
But once more Hercules warded off the stroke with his club； and the
Giant's pine tree was shattered into a thousand splinters； most of which
flew among the Pygmies； and did them more mischief than I like to think
about。 Before Antaeus could get out of the way； Hercules let drive again；
and gave him another knock… down blow； which sent him heels over head；
but served only to increase his already enormous and insufferable strength。
As for his rage； there is no telling what a fiery furnace it had now got to be。
His one eye was nothing but a circle of red flame。 Having now no
weapons but his fists； he doubled them up （each bigger than a hogshead）；
smote one against the other； and danced up and down with absolute frenzy；
flourishing his immense arms about； as if he meant not merely to kill
Hercules； but to