Do thou, who knowest now my secret plans, 535 Make haste and bring this charm to me, that so Its force, imparted to a gleaming robe, May at the touch dart through his soul, his limbs, And through the very marrow of his bones. _Nurse:_ With speed will I thy bidding do, dear child. And do thou call upon the god of love, Invincible, who with his tender hand 540 Doth speed his arrows with unerring aim. [_Exit_ Nurse.] _Deianira_ [_invoking_ Cupid]: O wingéd boy, by earth and heaven feared, By creatures of the sea, and him who wields The bolts in Aetna forged; and dreaded too By thy relentless mother, queen of love: Aim with unerring hand thy swiftest dart. Not harmless be the shaft, but choose, I pray 545 One of thy keenest arrows, which thy hand Has never used; for such must be thy dart If mighty Hercules be forced to love. Make firm thy hands and strongly bend thy bow; Now, now that shaft let loose which once thou aim'dst 550 At Jove the terrible, what time the god Laid down his thunderbolts, and as a bull With swelling forehead clove the boisterous sea, And bore the Assyrian maiden as his prize. Now fill his heart with love; let him surpass All who have ever felt thy passion's power-- And learn to love his wife. If Iole 555 Has kindled flames of love within his heart, Extinguish them, and let him dream alone Of me. Thou who hast often conquered Jove, The Thunderer, and him whose scepter dark Holds sway within the gloomy underworld, The king of countless throngs, the lord of Styx; 560 Whom angry Juno cannot quell: win thou Alone this triumph over Hercules. _Nurse_ [_returning with robe and charm ready_]: The charm from its dark hiding-place is brought, And that fair robe upon whose cunning web Thy maidens all have wrought with wearied hands. Now bring the poisoned blood and let the robe 565 Drink in its magic power, while by my prayers Will I the charm augment. [_Enter_ Lichas.] But at the word The faithful Lichas comes. Quick! hide the charm, Lest by his mouth our plot may be revealed.