Hercules and the Wagoner

A wagoner was driving his loaded cart along a country lane after a night of rain. The road was soft, the ruts were deep, and the wheels creaked heavily as the oxen drew the load onward. The man wished only to reach the next village, and so he urged the beasts forward without much care for the muddy track.

All at once one wheel sank fast into a rut. The wagon tilted, the oxen stopped, and the sacks in the cart shifted from side to side. The wagoner stood helpless in the road. He did not examine the wheel, nor lighten the load, nor put his shoulder against the cart. Instead he lifted his hands and cried loudly, “Hercules, help me!”

He called again and again. Then, as the tale is told, Hercules appeared by the roadside. The mighty hero did not at once lift the wagon, nor did he make the mud vanish. He looked at the wagoner and said, “Put your shoulder to the wheel, my man. Goad on your oxen. Do not pray to me for help until you have first done your best to help yourself.”

The wagoner stared, then saw that his own hands were still clean. He bent down, set his shoulder firmly to the wheel, and called to the oxen. At the first he gained only an inch. At the second try, mud splashed his coat. At the third, the oxen pulled strongly, the wheel rose, and the wagon rolled free.

Hercules nodded and was gone. The wagoner went on his way with sweat on his brow and a wiser heart. From that day, when a road grew difficult, he began with effort before he asked for rescue.