The Portland daily press., 1878-10-26
Hercules and I0le, and Omp hale
and also Deianira.
Chapter L.

A simple squib by itself is an interesting
and attractive fire-work, but in the presence
OF that complex pyrotechnical arrangement
called "Jack-in-the-box' it sinks into insig-
nifcance; its brilliant coruscations are I'M
noticed, the bang with which its existence
terminates causes no shock, and the very
odor it leaves behind is attributed to its pow
erfnl rival.
Considerations of this kind determined
Eurytus, King of Gchalia, to decline accept
ing Hercules for a son-in law. 1t would
never do. He might as well cease to be King
as take man into his family who would rule
him, making him do all the despicable work
of governing turbulent people, and taking
to himself all the accruing credit and none OF
the blame. That Hercules would appropri-
ate the kudOS Eurytus knew full well; for the
son OF Jupiter, who was master of any
weapon he used, excelled in the exercise OF
none more than the long bow and the hatch
ct; the former he drew, the latter he threw,
to an unrivaled extent.
at that time Hercules was name as COM
mon in Attica as Smith at later day in these
parts, and any deed of prowess done by one
of his name was at once claimed as his own
particular performance by the Theban Her
cules. He was prodigiously strong and vastly
clever, and he had knack of compelling
folks to do as he chose, Eurytus knew; but
q
law by King who was constitutionally weak
in the knees, who was not clever, and who
moreover had himself very great desire to
do pretty much as he liked. And it struck
him that, by refusing an alliance with so
great man, he should obtain larger space
In future classical dictionaries than by &C
cepting him; so he said very blandly:
mo, my dear friend; proud as should be
to accept the alliance you propose, am
h0up6 nv a nj rouarontia1 Iutu 10 do
cline match which would certainly be re-
garded as mesalliance by your dear papa
And wouldn't annoy Jupiter for worlds,
that l wouldn't.
1t was the first time Hercules had been re.
buffed, and to be baked by puny, insignif-
cant, knock-kneed monarch was an indignity
that he could not calmly receive. He flew
into des oerate passion, and, looking about
for means of revenge, he caught sight of
Iphitus, the infant son of Eurytus, who at
that moment was calmly imbibing nourish-
ment from pap-boat in the arms Of his
father. lit was washing day, the Queen was
out, and Eurytus was 'Just holding baby for
five minutes".) In an instant Hercules
snatched the innocent child from his parent,
dabbed it on the chifonier, and deliberately
sat upon it. The furniture was smashed and
so was the babe.
They were rather particular about Princes
in those days, although thev seem to have
been as plentiful as and not much more use
full than at present; and the consequences of
his rash act flashed across the mind of the
Theban as he surveyed the battered Iphitus.
''Pve made a pretty mess of it now"
thought he. And the only way of escaping
the penalty OF his act that appeared to him
was to feign madness. So he trimmed his
hair with straws, sang snatches of comic
songs and gave up drinking spirits, openly
declaring that he was mad for love Of Iole.
OF course the tribunal before which he was
accused of murder acquitted him on the
ground of insanity, and the King was
charged to keep him under proper restraint,
as having indirectly been the cause Of the
lunacy.
This was not gratifying to Eurytus; Her.
cules required so much restraint and food,
and 80 many visitors came to see the I'M
happy lover. He broke all the furniture in
the palace and the heads OF every one he did
not like; he howled all night, so that no one
could get wink of sleep; and he once threat
ened to murder Eurytus when cold mutton
was served up fer dinner.
These sleepless nights Eurytus employed
in deep thought, taxing his ingenuity for a
means of Kidding himself of his intolerable
charge. He tried poison, but to no purpose
Hercules had the digestion of an ostrich and
prussic acid merely sharpened his appetite.
But after thinking no end for three weeks,
the King devised scheme.
81 have it," said he: "Yes, that's 1t; see
away to reimburse'myself for this outlay and
that baby; and, what is more, I'll sicken this
joker OF going mad at my EXPENSE
So he called Mercury to his assistance, and
between them they arranged matters for the
disposal of the shackled Hercules.