；　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　es　only　through　human　striving。　We　know　true　happiness　will　e　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　blue　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　blue　mountains　in　the　distance。