tables, beds of roses, clouds of perfumes, concerts of music, crouds of
beauties, are all in readiness to receive you. Come along with me into
this region of delights, this world of pleasure, and bid farewell for
ever to care, to pain, and to business.

6. Hercules hearing the lady talk after this manner, desired to know her
name; to which she answered, my friends, and those who are well
acquainted with me, call me Happiness; but my enemies, and those who
would injure my reputation, have given me the name of Pleasure.

7. By this time the other lady was come up, who addressed herself to the
young hero in a very different manner.

Hercules, says she, I offer myself to you, because I know you are
descended from the gods, and give proofs of that descent by your love to
virtue, and application to the studies proper to your age. This makes me
hope you will gain both for yourself and me an immortal reputation. But
before I invite you into my society and friendship, I will be open and
sincere with you, and must lay down this as an established truth, that
there is nothing truly valuable which can be purchased without pains and
labour.

8. The gods have set a price upon every real and noble pleasure. If you
would gain the favour of the Deity, you must be at the pains of
worshipping him; if the friendship of good men, you must study to oblige
them; if you would be honoured by your country, you must take care to
serve it. In short, if you would be eminent in war or peace, you must
become master of all the qualifications that can make you so. These are
the only terms and conditions upon which I can propose happiness. The
goddess of pleasure here broke in upon her discourse:

9. You see, said she, Hercules, by her own confession, the way to her
pleasure is long and difficult, whereas that which I propose is short
and easy. Alas! said the other lady, whose visage glowed with a passion
made up of scorn and pity, what are the pleasures you propose? To eat
before you are hungry, drink before you are thirsty, sleep before you
are tired, to gratify appetites before they are raised, and raise such
appetites as nature never planted.

10. You never heard the most delicate music, which is the praise of
one's self; nor saw the most beautiful object, which is the work of
one's own hands. Your votaries pass away their youth in a dream of
mistaken pleasures, while they are hoarding up anguish, torment, and
remorse, for old age.

11. As fo