Adventurous young men , who desired to do a braver thing than any of their fellows , set out in quest of this fruit . Many of them returned no more ; none of them brought back the apples . No wonder that they found it impossible to gather them ! It is said that there was a dragon beneath the tree , with a hundred terrible heads , fifty of which were always on the watch , while the other fifty slept . In my opinion it was hardly worth running so much risk for the sake of a solid golden apple . Had the apples been sweet , mellow , and juicy , indeed that would be another matter . There might then have been some sense in trying to get at them , in spite of the hundred-headed dragon . But , as I have already told you , it was quite a common thing with young persons , when tired of too much peace and rest , to go in search of the garden of the Hesperides . And once the adventure was undertaken by a hero who had enjoyed very little peace or rest since he came into the world . At the time of which I am going to speak , he was wandering through the pleasant land of Italy , with a mighty club in his hand , and a bow and quiver slung across his shoulders . He was wrapt in the skin of the biggest and fiercest lion that ever had been seen , and which he himself had killed ; and though , on the whole , he was kind , and generous , and noble , there was a good deal of the lion 's fierceness in his heart . As he went on his way , he continually inquired whether that were the right road to the famous garden . But none of the country people knew anything about the matter , and many looked as if they would have laughed at the question , if the stranger had not carried so very big a club . So he journeyed on and on , still making the same inquiry , until , at last , he came to the brink of a river where some beautiful young women sat twining wreaths of flowers . `` Can you tell me , pretty maidens , '' asked the stranger , `` whether this is the right way to the garden of the Hesperides ? '' The young women had been having a fine time together , weaving the flowers into wreaths , and crowning one another 's heads . And there seemed to be a kind of magic in the touch of their fingers , that made the flowers more fresh and dewy , and of brighter lines , and sweeter fragrance , while they played with them , than even when they had been growing on their native stems . But , on hearing the stranger 's question , they dropped all their flowers on the grass , and gazed at him with astonishment . `` The garden of the Hesperides ! '' cried one .
`` We thought mortals had been weary XXXXX seeking it , after so many disappointments .
At In So about as beneath of on than that