That marks the spot whereon the arrow steeped In the Lernaean Hydra's venom fell; In it thou'lt ever find a spell to bind The heart of Heracles, and to prevent His loving any woman in thy stead." Of this love-charm, my friends, bethinking me, As, kept with care, it in my closet lay, I steeped a robe in it, adding whate'er The Centaur bade, and now my work is done. Black arts I know not nor desire to know, And all who practise such abominate; But if so be, we can with this love-charm Win from yon maid the heart of Heracles, The means are found, unless my plan to thee Seems ill-advised; if so, I give it o'er. CHORUS. Nay, if in any plan we could confide, Thine, in our judgment, is not ill-advised. DEIANIRA. So far I can confide as judgment serves, For no trial of the charm has yet been made. CHORUS. Then make one; knowledge that thou seemst to have Thou hast not, till experience set its seal. DEIANIRA. All doubts will soon be cleared; here Lichas comes Forth from the house, and soon he will be here. Only, my friends, keep ye my counsel well; Sin in the dark and thou shalt not be sham'd. LICHAS. Daughter of Oeneus, what are thy commands? Too long already have we been delayed. DEIANIRA. To speed thy going I was taking thought, While thou wert talking to the stranger maid. Bear this well-woven garment to my lord, An offering from his Deianira's hand. Enjoin him straightly that before himself No man be suffered to put on this robe, And that it be exposed to no sun's ray, No sacred altar's fire, no blazing hearth, Until himself before the gods shall stand Dight in it on the day of sacrifice. I registered a vow that when I saw Or heard of his home-coming, in this robe I would attire him, that before the gods Freshly in fresh array he might appear. For token bear with thee this signet ring, Which, when he sees it, he will recognise. Set forth; first keep the law of messengers, Which bids them not beyond their mission go. Then what is now my husband's single debt, If thou canst, double by my gratitude. LICHAS. Fear not, if I am Hermes' liegeman true, That I shall fail thy bidding to perform, To place this casket in thy husband's hands, And therewith thy assurances repeat. DEIANIRA. Proceed then on thy road; thou canst report To my good lord that all is well at home. LICHAS. I know and shall report that all is well. DEIANIRA. Thyself didst witness in how gentle wise We did receive and welcome yonder maid. LICHAS. The sight astonished and delighted me. DEIANIRA. Then all thou hast to say is said. I fear That thou wilt tell of my fond love for him Ere thou canst tell of his fond love for me. * * * * * _THE CENTAUR'S REVENGE._ Deianira recounts to the Chorus an alarming and portentous incident. Then Hyllus, the son of Hercules, comes and announces the catastrophe. LINES 663-820. DEIANIRA. Maidens, I greatly fear that I have gone, In what I did, beyond the line of right. CHORUS.