Page:The Mythology of the Aryan Nations.djvu/330

298 ^Deiancira is fatally wounded by the hero. In his last moments ' Nessos bids her preserve his blood, as the sure means of recovering her husband's love if it should be transferred to another. The catas- trophe brought about l)y these words of Nessos is related by Sophokles ; but before this end came, Herakles had aided many friends and vanquished many foes. Among these was Augeias, whom he attacked at the head of an Arkadian host, the men of the bright land. Against him were arrayed, among other allies of the Eleian king, Eurytos and Kteatos, the sons of the grinders or crushers Molion and Aktor. Here the strength of Herakles for a time fails him, and the enemy hesitates not to attack him during his sick- ness ; but the hero lies in ambush, like the sun lurking behind the clouds while his rays are ready to burst forth like spears, and having slain some of his enemies, advances and takes the city of Elis, making Phyleus king in place of Augeias, whom he slays together with his children.

The death When at length the evening of his life was come, Deianeira kids."^ " received the tidings that her husband was returning in triumph from the Euboian Oichalia, not alone, but bringing with him the beautiful lole, whom he had loved since the hour when he first put the shaft to his bow in the contest for that splendid prize. Now he had slain her father, as Perseus slew Akrisios and as Oidipous smote down Laios, and the maiden herself was coming to grace his home. Then the words of Nessos come back to the memory of the forsaken wife, who steeps in his blood the white garment which at the bidding of Herakles Lichas comes to fetch from Trachis. The hero is about to offer his sacrifice to the Kenaian Zeus, and he wishes to offer it up in peace, clad in a seemly robe of pure white, with the fair and gentle lole standing by his side. But so it is not to be. Scarcely has he put on the robe which Lichas brings than the poison ^ begins to course through his veins and rack every limb with agony unspeakable, as the garment given by Helios to Medeia consumed the flash of Glauke and of Kreon. Once more the sufi"cring hero is lashed into madness, and seizing the luckless Lichas he hurls him into the sea. Thus, borne at last to the heights of Oita, he gathers wood, and charges those who are around him to set the pile on fire, when he shall have laid himself down upon it. Only the shepherd Poias ventures to do the hero's will : Inil when the flame is kindled, the thunder crashes tlirough the heaven, and a cloud comes down which bears him away to Olympos, there to dwell in everlasting youth with

' The poisonc'l Herakles answers to ihc leprous Chaldccan Izdubar, the (solar) lion, with llic thorn in his foot.