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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
EurytusEurytus 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
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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 robea beautifully woven robe that she hadthat 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 wood and he climbed upon it。
There he stayed with the flaming robe burning into him； and he begged of
those who passed to fire the pile that his end might come more quickly。
None would fire the pile。 But at last there came that way a young
warrior named Philoctetes； and Heracles begged of him to fire the pile。
Philoctetes； knowing that it was the will of the gods that Heracles should
die that way； lighted the pile。 For that Heracles bestowed upon him his
great bow and his unerring arrows。 And it was this bow and these arrows；
brought from Philoctetes； that afterward helped to take Priam's city。
The pile that Heracles stood upon was fired。 High up； above the sea；
the pile burned。 All who were near that burning fledall except Iole； that
childlike maiden。 She stayed and watched the flames mount up and up。
They wrapped the sky； and the voice of Heracles was heard calling upon
Zeus。 Then a great chariot came and Heracles was borne away to Olympus。
Thus； after many labors； Heracles passed away； a mortal passing into an
immortal being in a great burning high above the sea。
V。 ADMETUS
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I
It happened once that Zeus would punish Apollo； his son。 Then he
banished him from Olympus； and he made him put off his divinity and
appear as a mortal man。 And as a mortal Apollo sought to earn his bread
amongst men。 He came to the house of King Admetus and took service
with him as his herdsman。
For a year Apollo served the young king； minding his herds of black
cattle。 Admetus did not know that it was one of the immortal gods who
was in his house and in his fields。 But he treated him in friendly wise； and
Apollo was happy whilst serving Admetus。
Afterward people wondered at Admetus's ever…smiling face and
everradiant being。 It was the god's kindly thought of him that gave him
such happiness。 And when Apollo was leaving his house and his fields he
revealed himself to Admetus； and he made a promise to him that when the
god of the Underworld sent Death for him he would have one more chance
of baffling Death than any mortal man。
That was before Admetus sailed on the Argo with Jason and the
companions of the quest。 The companionship of Admetus brought
happiness to many on the voyage； but the hero to whom it gave the most
happiness was Heracles。 And often Heracles would have Admetus beside
him to tell him about the radiant god Apollo； whose bow and arrows
Heracles had been given。
After that voyage and after the hunt in Calydon Admetus went back to
his own land。 There he wed that fair and loving woman； Alcestis。 He
might not wed her until he had yoked lions and leopards to the chariot that
drew her。 This was a feat that no hero had been able to accomplish。 With
Apollo's aid he accomplished it。 Thereafter Admetus； having the love of
Alcestis； was even more happy than he had been before。
One day as he walked by fold and through pasture field he saw a
figure standing beside his herd of black cattle。 A radiant figure it was； and
Admetus knew that this was Apollo come to him again。 He went toward
the god and he made reverence and began to speak to him。 But Apollo
turned to Admetus a face that was without joy。
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〃What years of happiness have been mine； O Apollo； through your
friendship for me；〃 said Admetus。 〃Ah； as I walked my pasture land today
it came into my mind how much I loved this green earth and the blue sky！
And all that I know of love and happiness has come to me through you。〃
But still Apollo stood before him with a face that was without joy。 He
spoke and his voice was not that clear and vibrant voice that he had once
in speaking to Admetus。 〃Admetus； Admetus；〃 he said； 〃it is for me to tell
you that you may no more look on the blue sky nor walk upon the green
earth。 It is for me to tell you that the god of the Underworld will have you
come to him。 Admetus； Admetus； know that even now the god of the
Underworld is sending Death for you。〃
Then the light of the world went out for Admetus； and he heard
himself speaking to Apollo in a shaking voice： 〃O Apollo； Apol