As, however, the distemper was incurable, and death inevitable, he
determined to die the hero he had lived, and giving his bow and arrow to
Philoctetes, he erected a funeral pile on Mount Oeta, and spreading upon it
his lion's skin, lay down with dignity and composure, his head placed upon
his club, to await his death. The pile was lighted, and the flames arose in
volumes, but the hero gazed calmly upon them, unalarmed at his impending
doom. His mind was resolved to meet his fate, when, suddenly, the burning
pile was surrounded with dark smoke, the fire burned like a furnace, and
when it had consumed the mortal portion of Hercules, a chariot and horses
was seen awaiting, which carried his immortal part to heaven, there to be
seated amongst the gods. Loud claps of thunder accompanied his exaltation,
and when his friends sought his ashes to grant them burial, unable to find
them, they erected an altar to his memory, upon the spot where the burning
pile had been.
* * * * *
{189}