He was king of Mycenae and cousin of Hercules.   In a fit of insanity, Hercules killed his wife and children.   To expiate this crime he agreed to serve Eurystheus, who then set him to do “Twelve Labors.”  The tasks Eurystheus laid upon Hercules were all perilous and hard to accomplish. 

[解說]

1.      “In a fit of insanity, Hercules killed his wife and children”：在一陣發瘋時，Hercules 殺死他的妻兒。 “fit”：(病) 之ㄧ陣 (發作)。 “insanity” =  madness (發瘋)。

2.      “To expiate this crime he agreed to serve Eurystheus”：為了贖這個罪，他同意服務 Eurystheus。 “expiate”：贖 (罪)、補償。

3.      “who then set him to do ‘Twelve Labors.’”：他於是派他去做「十二種勞役」。 “set  sb.  to V”：使 (令) 某人 …。

4.      “The tasks Eurystheus laid upon Hercules were all perilous and hard to accomplish”： Eurystheus 放在 Hercules 身上的任務都是危險而很難完成的。 “lay tasks upon”：放任務於 … 身上。  “perilous”：危險。 “accomplish”：完成。 

[複習填充]

Eurystheus was king of Mycenae and cousin of Hercules.  In a    of insanity, Hercules killed his wife and children.  To ex        this crime he agreed to serve Eurystheus, who then        him to do “Twelve Labors.”  The tasks Eurystheus laid       Hercules were all p        and hard to accomplish.

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