The Choice of Hercules 1

Domenico Beccafumi, The Choice of Hercules (c. 1525)

Few people will recognize the image these days, but the current fashions shouldn't concern me too much, since what is timeless is always new, and will never grow old. The "Choice of Hercules", sometimes called "Hercules at the Crossroads", is a wonderful allegory that described the ultimate choice in life that we must all make, even if we are not entirely sure when we are making it. 

The Greeks and Romans were in love with such stories, and with very good reason, as they are useful ways to remember what really matters in life. The plot is simple, but the stakes are high. Will I take the easy path, a way of gratification, or will I take the hard path, a way of character? Perhaps I can put off the decision for a while, but I will have to commit one way or another. Every one of us has to do so. 

I first came across it in Xenophon's Memorabilia of Socrates, though he attributes it to Prodicus, and then I couldn't help but find references to it all through the art and literature of the centuries. Once it was stuck in my head, it became a sort of reference point, when I realized that even situations that seemed trivial always pointed back to this decision. 

The text from Xenophon is included below. I suggest it is worth taking a few minutes to read it, since it has given me many years of benefit. 

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When Hercules was emerging from boyhood into the bloom of youth, having reached that season in which the young man, now standing upon the verge of independence, shows plainly whether he will enter upon the path of virtue or of vice, he went forth into a quiet place, and sat debating with himself which of those two paths he should pursue; and as he there sat musing, there appeared to him two women of great stature which drew nigh to him. 

 

The one was fair to look upon, frank and free by gift of nature, her limbs adorned with purity and her eyes with bashfulness; sobriety set the rhythm of her gait, and she was clad in white apparel. 

 

The other was of a different type; the fleshy softness of her limbs betrayed her nurture, while the complexion of her skin was embellished that she might appear whiter and rosier than she really was, and her figure that she might seem taller than nature made her; she stared with wide-open eyes, and the raiment wherewith she was clad served but to reveal the ripeness of her bloom. With frequent glances she surveyed her person, or looked to see if others noticed her; while ever and anon she fixed her gaze upon the shadow of herself intently.

 

Now when these two had drawn near to Hercules, she who was first named advanced at an even pace towards him, but the other, in her eagerness to outstrip her, ran forward to the youth, exclaiming, “I see you, Hercules, in doubt and difficulty what path of life to choose; make me your friend, and I will lead you to the pleasantest road and easiest. 

 

“This I promise you: you shall taste all of life's sweets and escape all bitters. In the first place, you shall not trouble your brain with war or business; other topics shall engage your mind; your only speculation, what meat or drink you shall find agreeable to your palate; what delight of ear or eye; what pleasure of smell or touch; what darling lover's intercourse shall most enrapture you; how you shall pillow your limbs in softest slumber; how cull each individual pleasure without alloy of pain; and if ever the suspicion steal upon you that the stream of joys will one day dwindle, trust me 

 

“I will not lead you where you shall replenish the store by toil of body and trouble of soul. No! others shall labor, but you shall reap the fruit of their labors; you shall withhold your hand from nothing which shall bring you gain. For to all my followers I give authority and power to help themselves freely from every side.”

 

Hercules hearing these words made answer: “What, O lady, is the name you bear?” To which she: “Know that my friends call be Happiness, but they that hate me have their own nicknames for me, Vice and Naughtiness.”

 

But just then the other of those fair women approached and spoke: “Hercules, I too am come to you, seeing that your parents are well known to me, and in your nurture I have gauged your nature; wherefore I entertain good hope that if you choose the path which leads to me, you shall greatly bestir yourself to be the doer of many a doughty deed of noble emprise; and that I too shall be held in even higher honor for your sake, lit with the luster shed by valorous deeds. 

 

“I will not cheat you with preludings of pleasure, but I will relate to you the things that are according to the ordinances of God in very truth. Know then that among things that are lovely and of good report, not one have the gods bestowed upon mortal men apart from toil and pains.

 

“Would you obtain the favor of the gods, then must you pay these same gods service; would you be loved by your friends, you must benefit these friends; do you desire to be honored by the state, you must give the state your aid; do you claim admiration for your virtue from all Hellas, you must strive to do some good to Hellas; do you wish earth to yield her fruits to you abundantly, to earth must you pay your court; do you seek to amass riches from your flocks and herds, on them must you bestow your labor; or is it your ambition to be potent as a warrior, able to save your friends and to subdue your foes, then must you learn the arts of war from those who have the knowledge, and practice their application in the field when learned; or would you even be powerful of limb and body, then must you habituate limbs and body to obey the mind, and exercise yourself with toil and sweat.”

 

At this point, Vice broke in exclaiming: “See you, Hercules, how hard and long the road is by which yonder woman would escort you to her festal joys. But I will guide you by a short and

easy road to happiness.”

 

Then spoke Virtue: “Nay, wretched one, what good thing have you? Or what sweet thing are you acquainted with—that will stir neither hand nor foot to gain it? 

 

“You, that may not even await the desire of pleasure, but, or ever that desire springs up, are already satiated; eating before you hunger, and drinking before you thirst; who to eke out an appetite must invent an army of cooks and confectioners; and to whet your thirst must lay down costliest wines, and run up and down in search of ice in summer-time; to help your slumbers soft coverlets suffice not, but couches and feather-beds must be prepared for you and rockers to rock you to rest; since desire for sleep in your case springs not from toil but from vacuity and nothing in the world to do. 

 

“Even the natural appetite of love you force prematurely by every means you may devise, confounding the sexes in your service. Thus you educate your friends: with insult in the night season and drowse of slumber during the precious hours of the day.

 

“Immortal, you are cast forth from the company of gods, and by good men art dishonored: that sweetest sound of all, the voice of praise, has never thrilled your ears; and the fairest of all fair visions is hidden from your eyes that have never beheld one bounteous deed wrought by your own hand. 

 

“If you open your lips in speech, who will believe your word? If you have need of anything, none shall satisfy you. What sane man will venture to join your rabble rout? Ill indeed are your revelers to look upon, young men impotent of body, and old men witless in mind: in the heyday of life they batten in sleek idleness, and wearily do they drag through an age of wrinkled wretchedness: and why? they blush with shame at the thought of deeds done in the past, and groan for weariness at what is left to do. During their youth they ran riot through their sweet things, and laid up for themselves large store of bitterness against the time of old. 

 

“But my companionship is with the gods; and with the good among men my conversation; no bounteous deed, divine or human, is wrought without my aid. Therefore am I honored in Heaven pre-eminently, and upon earth among men whose right it is to honor me; as a beloved fellow-worker of all craftsmen; a faithful guardian of house and lands, whom the owners bless; a kindly helpmeet of servants; a brave assistant in the labors of peace; an unflinching ally in the deeds of war; a sharer in all friendships indispensable. 

 

“To my friends is given an enjoyment of meats and drinks, which is sweet in itself and devoid of trouble, in that they can endure until desire ripens, and sleep more delicious visits them than those who toil not. Yet they are not pained to part with it; nor for the sake of slumber do they let slip the performance of their duties. 

 

“Among my followers the youth delights in the praises of his elders, and the old man glories in the honor of the young; with joy they call to memory their deeds of old, and in today's well-doing are well pleased. 

 

“For my sake they are dear in the sight of God, beloved of their friends and honored by the country of their birth. When the appointed goal is reached they lie not down in oblivion with dishonor, but bloom afresh—their praise resounded on the lips of men forever. 

 

“Toils like these, O son of noble parents, Hercules, it is yours to meet with, and having endured, to enter into the heritage assured you of transcendent happiness.”

 

—from Xenophon, Memorabilia 2.1 (tr H.G. Dakyns)

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Annibale Carracci, The Choice of Hercules (1596)