His Greek name is Heracles.   He was the son of Zeus by Alcmene, wife of Amphitryon.  From the moment of his birth, Hera pursued him with relentless hostility.   Once Hera drove him mad, and in his madness he killed his wife and children.   To expiate this crime, he served Eurystheus for twelve years, and Eurystheus set him to accomplish Twelve Labors.  He had many legends and adventures.   The Romans worshipped him as the god of physical strength, which mingled in effect with his shrewdness. 

　

[解說]

1.      “He was the son of Zeus by Alcmene, wife of Amphitryon”: 他是 Zeus 的兒子，藉由 Amphitryon 的妻子 (Alcmene) 所生。

2.      “From the moment of his birth, Hera pursued him with relentless hostility”: 自從他出生的那ㄧ剎那起， Hera 就以殘酷的敵意來追逐他。 “relentless”: 無慈悲心的，殘酷的。 Hera 是 Zeus 之妻，她嫉恨 Zeus 的情婦與私生子。

3.      “Once Hera drove him mad, and in his madness he killed his wife and children”: 有一次， Hera 驅使他發瘋，而在他發瘋時，他殺了妻子和小孩。

4.      “To expiate this crime, he served Eurystheus for twelve years”: 為了贖這個罪，他服務 Eurystheus 十二年。 “expiate”: 贖、補償。

5.      “and Eurystheus set him to accomplish Twelve Labors”: 而 Eurystheus 令他去完成十二項勞役。 “set sb.  to V”: 使某人去 …。

6.      “He had many legends and adventures”: 他有許多傳說和歷險。

7.      “The Romans worshipped him as the god of physical strength”: 羅馬人奉他為體力之神。 “physical strength”: 肢體力量。

8.      “which mingled in effect with his shrewdness”: 那個 (力量) 其實和他的精明混合在一起。 “mingle with”: 混合。  in effect =  in fact: 事實上。 “shrewd, shrewdness”: 精明。 

[複習填充]

Hercules' Greek name is Heracles.  He was the son of Zeus ______ Alcmene, wife of Amphitryon.  From the moment of his birth, Hera pursued him with re______ hostility.  Once Hera d______ him mad, and in his madness he killed his wife and children.  To ex______ this crime, he served Eurystheus for twelve years, and Eurystheus s____ him to accomplish Twelve Labors.  He had many legends and ad______.  The Romans worshipped him as the god of physical s______, which mingled in e_____ with his shrewdness.

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