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No stubborn purpose, I will tell thee all,

The whole truth, nought concealing. All is so

As this man tells thee. Strong desire for her

Did seize on Heracles, and so her land,

Œchalia, was laid waste by armed host,

And brought full low. And this (for I must tell

His doings also) he nor bade conceal

Nor yet denied; but I myself, dear lady,

Fearing to grieve thy heart with these my words,

Did sin, if thou dost count it as a sin.

And now, since thou dost know the whole of things

For his sake and for thine, full equally

Treat the girl kindly, and those words of thine

Thou saidst of her, be firm and true to them;

For he whose might prevails in all things else,

In all is conquered by his love for her."—(P.)

Then he takes his leave. Dejanira bethinks herself of some means by which she may recall the waning affections of her husband, and she remembers that she has still preserved the blood which had flowed from the wound of Nessus, but has never yet used it, though the Centaur had assured her it would prove a resistless love-charm. After taking counsel with the Chorus, who advise her to make experiment before putting her project into action, she smears an embroidered robe with the blood, and intrusts it to Lichas, with strict charge that none should wear it before Hercules himself:—

Nor must the light of sunshine look on it,

Nor sacred shrine, nor flame of altar hearth,

Before he stands, conspicuous, showing it

On day of sacrifice, in sight of gods.

For so I vowed, if I should see him safe