wherein were written many things such as a man writeth who is about to die.  For he had ordered therein the portion which his wife should have as her right of marriage, and how his possessions should be divided among his children.  Also he wrote therein a certain space of time, even a year and three months, for when that was come to an end, he said, he must either be dead or have finished happily all his labours, and so be at peace continually.  And this he had heard as an oracle from the doves that dwell in the oaks of Dodona.  And when this time was well-nigh come to an end, Deianeira, being in great fear, told the matter to Hyllus, her son.  And even as she had ended, there came a messenger, saying, “Hail, lady!  Put thy trouble from thee.  The son of Alcmena lives and is well.  This I heard from Lichas the herald; and hearing it I hastened to thee without delay, hoping that so I might please thee.”

“But,” said the Queen, “why cometh not the herald himself?”

“Because all the people stand about him, asking him questions, and hinder him.”

And not a long while after the herald came; and the name of the man was Lichas.  And when the Queen saw him she cried, “What news hast thou of my husband?  Is he yet alive?”

“Yea,” said the herald, “he is alive and in good health.”

“And where didst thou leave him?  In some country of the Greeks, or among barbarians?”

“I left him in the land of Euboea, where he ordereth a sacrifice to Zeus.”

“Payeth he thus some vow, or did some oracle command it?”

“He payeth a vow.  And this vow he made before he took with his spear the city of these women whom thou seest.”

“And who are these?  For they are very piteous to behold.”

“These he led captive when he destroyed the city of King Eurytus.”

“And hath the taking of the city so long delayed him?  For I have not seen him for the space of a year and three months.”

“Not so.  The most of this time he was a slave in the land of Lydia.  For he was sold to Omphale, who is Queen of that land, and served her.  And how this came about I will tell thee.  Thy husband sojourned in the house of King Eurytus, who had been long time his friend.  But the King dealt ill with him, and spake to him unfriendly.  For first he said that Hercules could not excel his sons in shooting with the bow, for all that he had arrows that missed not their aim.  And next he reviled him, for that he was but a slave who served a free man, even King Eurystheus, his brother.  And at the last, at a banquet, when Hercules was overcome with wine, the King cast him forth.  Wherefore Hercules, being very wroth, slew the man.  For the King came to the land of Tiryns, looking for certain horses, and Hercules caught him unawares, having his thoughts one way and his eyes another, and cast him down from the cliff that he died.  Then Zeus was very wroth because he had slain him by craft, as he