All 11 Uses of
Hercules
in
Love's Labour's Lost
- Great Hercules is presented
Scene 5.2 *Hercules = Roman mythology: hero famous for his strength; performed 12 immense labors to gain immortality
- Hercules, master.†
Scene 1.2
- Most sweet Hercules!†
Scene 1.2
- Cupid's butt-shaft is too hard for Hercules' club, and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard's rapier.†
Scene 1.2
- with what strict patience have I sat, To see a king transformed to a gnat; To see great Hercules whipping a gig, And profound Solomon to tune a jig, And Nestor play at push-pin with the boys, And critic Timon laugh at idle toys!†
Scene 4.3
- For valour, is not Love a Hercules, Still climbing trees in the Hesperides?†
Scene 4.3
- Joshua, yourself; myself, Alexander; this gallant gentleman, Judas Maccabaeus; this swain, because of his great limb or joint, shall pass Pompey the Great; the page, Hercules,— ARMADO.†
Scene 5.1
- He shall present Hercules in minority: his enter and exit shall be strangling a snake; and I will have an apology for that purpose.†
Scene 5.1
- So, if any of the audience hiss, you may cry 'Well done, Hercules; now thou crushest the snake!'†
Scene 5.1
- He presents Hector of Troy; the swain, Pompey the Great; the parish curate, Alexander; Armado's page, Hercules; the pedant, Judas Maccabaeus: And if these four Worthies in their first show thrive, These four will change habits and present the other five.†
Scene 5.2
- [Enter HOLOFERNES armed, for JUDAS; and MOTH armed, for HERCULES.†
Scene 5.2
Definitions:
-
(1)
(Hercules) mythological Roman hero famous for his strength and for performing 12 immense labors to gain immortality
- (2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)