ty on the
part of her husband. Afterwards, on hearing that Hercules is in love
with Iole, Deianira sends him the tunic, that it may have the
supposed effect. As soon as he puts it on, he is affected with
excruciating torments, and is seized with such violent fits of
madness, that he throws Lychas, the bearer of the garment, into the
sea, where he is changed into a rock. Hercules, then, in obedience
to a response of the oracle, which he consults, prepares a funeral
pile, and laying himself upon it, his friend Philoctetes applies the
torch to it, on which the hero, having first recounted his labours,
expires in the flames. After his body is consumed, Jupiter
translates him to the heavens, and he is placed in the number of the
Gods.

But a passion for this same maiden proved fatal to thee, fierce
Nessus,[11] pierced through the back with a swift arrow. For the son of
Jupiter, as he was returning to his native city with his new-made wife,
had {now} come to the rapid waters of {the river} Evenus.[12] The stream
was swollen to a greater extent than usual with the winter rains, and
was full of whirlpools, and impassable. Nessus came up to him,
regardless of himself, {but} feeling anxiety for his wife, both strong
of limb,[13] and well acquainted with the fords, and said, "Alcides, she
shall be landed on yonder bank through my services, do thou employ thy
strength in swimming;" and the Aonian {hero} entrusted to Nessus the
Calydonian damsel full of alarm, and pale with apprehension, and
{equally} dreading both the river and {Nessus} himself. Immediately,
just as he was, loaded both with his quiver and the spoil of the lion,
(for he had thrown his club and his crooked bow to the opposite side),
he said, "Since I have undertaken it, the stream must be passed."

And he does not hesitate; nor does he seek out where the stream is the
smoothest, and he spurns to be borne over by the compliance of the
river. And now having reached the bank, and as he is taking up the bow
which he had thrown over, he recognizes the voice of his wife; and as
Nessus is preparing to rob him of what he has entrusted to his care, he
cries out, "Whither, thou ravisher, does thy vain confidence in thy feet
hurry thee? to thee am I speaking, Nessus, thou two-shaped {monster}.
Listen; and do not carry off my property. If no regard for myself
influences thee, still the wheel of thy father[14] might have restrained
thee from forbidden em