for the
death he had brought upon him. He called to Deianira, and she, seeing
he could do her no more hurt, came close to him. He told her that in
repentance for his attack upon her he would bestow a great gift upon
her. She was to gather up some of the blood that flowed from him; his
blood, the centaur said, would be a love philter, and if ever her
husband's love for her waned it would grow fresh again if she gave to
him something from her hands that would have this blood upon it.

Deianira, who had heard from Heracles of the wisdom of the centaurs,
believed what Nessus told her. She took a phial and let the blood pour
into it. Then Nessus plunged into the river and died there as Heracles
came up to where Deianira stood.

She did not speak to him about the centaur's words to her, nor did she
tell him that she had hidden away the phial that had Nessus's blood in
it. They crossed the river at another point and they came after a time
to Tiryns and to the kingdom that had been left to Heracles.

There Heracles and Deianira lived, and a son who was named Hyllos was
born to them. And after a time Heracles was led into a war with
Eurytus--Eurytus who was king of Oichalia.

Word came to Deianira that Oichalia was taken by Heracles, and that the
king and his daughter Iole were held captive. Deianira knew that
Heracles had once tried to win this maiden for his wife, and she feared
that the sight of Iole would bring his old longing back to him.

She thought upon the words that Nessus had said to her, and even as she
thought upon them messengers came from Heracles to ask her to send him
a robe--a beautifully woven robe that she had--that he might wear it
while making a sacrifice. Deianira took down the robe; through this
robe, she thought, the blood of the centaur could touch Heracles and
his love for her would revive. Thinking this she poured Nessus's blood
over the robe.

Heracles was in Oichalia when the messengers returned to him. He took
the robe that Deianira sent, and he went to a mountain that overlooked
the sea that he might make the sacrifice there. Iole went with him.
Then he put on the robe that Deianira had sent. When it touched his
flesh the robe burst into flame. Heracles tried to tear it off, but
deeper and deeper into his flesh the flames went. They burned and
burned and none could quench them.

Then Heracles knew that his end was near. He would die by fire, and
knowing that he piled up a great heap of wo