XIII. HERCULE.

Ll. 2-4. Imprudent in being too credulous, Dejanira became the innocent

cause of Hercules' death; for, fearing his infidelity, she sent her

husband a robe or shirt that the Centaur Nessas had given her, and which

he had said would preserve her husband's love to her. No sooner had

Hercules put on the garment his wife gave him than he suffered terrible

agony, under which he ordered a funeral pile to be kindled, and placed

himself in its flames, thus falling a victim to the Centaur, Nessus,

whom he had slain. Hercules killed Nessus because, carrying Dejanira

over a river, he attempted to run away with her.

Ll. 5, 6. _ta cime... amoncelle._ Literally, 'thy top heaps up,' for

'thy top is heaped up with.'

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