And , besides , I have no fancy for burdening myself with the sky , just now . '' Here Hercules 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 affright , thinking that the sky might be going to fall next . `` O , that will never do ! '' cried 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 ! '' shouted Hercules , very wrathfully , `` 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 hundred years , or perhaps the next thousand . I bore it a good while longer , in spite of the back-ache . Well , then , after a thousand years , if I happen to feel in the mood , we may possibly shift about again . You are certainly a very strong man , and can never have a better opportunity to prove it . Posterity will talk of you , I warrant it ! '' `` Pish ! a fig for its talk ! '' cried Hercules , with another hitch of his shoulders . `` Just take the sky upon your head one instant , will you ?
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