Hercules came from Caludon to his friend Keyux of Trachis. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 Along the way, Hera 14 Les experienced the most dangerous thing of his life. When he came to the Oyuenos River, he saw Nessus, a Kentaurus. Nessus always demanded a fee to cross the river from the returning passengers. He crossed the river with his hands carrying passers-by.

Nessus thought it was a good conscience to take the money, because the gods believed him to be honest and gave him the task. Hercules, of course, did not need his help, and he took a big stride and waded through the water. His wife, Deianira, needed the help of Nessus. He took Hercules' wife on his shoulders and led her across the river.

Deianira was young and beautiful, and Nessus was so enchanted by her in the river that he touched her with his hands. Hercules suddenly heard his wife's cry on the other side, and when he looked closely, he found that this half-man, half-horse monster had insulted his wife, and his heart could not help but be on fire. He hurriedly drew an arrow from his quiver, and when Nessus came ashore, he shot an arrow and knocked him to the ground.

Deianira broke free from the Kentaurus' arms and hurried toward her husband. At this time, the dying Nessus still did not forget to take revenge, and he cried out to her, deceiving her: "Listen, daughter of Onius! You're the last person I crossed the river with my arms, so you have a responsibility to bury my body. You keep the last drop of blood from my wounds! It will work magically. If you smear your husband's clothes with it, he will never fall in love with another woman but you again! Nessus died after saying these sinister words.

Although she never doubted her husband's loyalty and love for her, Deianira took the last drop of the blood of the Kentauros with a cup and kept it. Hercules didn't know at all. After some other adventures, they finally find their friend, Keyux. He was king of Thessaly and kindly received the Hercules couple and let them stay with him.

Hercules' last adventure was a crusade against the Okarian king Eurytus, who had promised anyone who was superior in archery to him and his sons that he would marry his daughter Iol, but he refused. In revenge on him, Hercules gathered a powerful army, besieged Okaria, and breached the city, killing the king and his three sons, and capturing the young and beautiful Ioles.

Deianira waited anxiously at home for news of her husband's battle. There was a shout of joy in the palace, and a messenger rushed back and reported: "Your husband, great victory, is about to return!" His servant Lycas was announcing the good news of victory to the people outside the city.

Hercules would not be able to return for a few days because he was preparing a sacrifice to Zeus on the Cornaeon Peninsula in Euboa. “

Soon the retinue Likas returned with a group of captives. "Greetings, noble lady." He said to Deianira, "The just cause of Hercules has triumphed. We took the city and captured a number of prisoners. Your husband said, "Please be kind to these captives, especially this unfortunate woman who is kneeling at your feet." “

Deianira looked at the young woman sympathetically. She lifted the girl up from the ground and said, "Who art thou, poor woman?" It seems that you are not married, and you must have come from a noble family! Tell me, Licas, who is the father of this young girl? “

"How do I know? Why are you asking me? Rikas replied evasively, his expression suggesting that he seemed to be hiding a secret. Naturally, this woman," said Licas, after a moment's hesitation, "would never have come from a small family in Okaria. “

Hearing this, the young girl sighed and remained silent. Deianira was surprised, but could not ask any more, but ordered that the girl be sent into the inner chamber, and that she should not be treated badly. When Likas went to carry out her command, the messenger who had risen first approached the mistress and whispered to him, "Deianira, do not believe Licas. He hid the truth from you. He had said in his own mouth that Hercules had only fought against Okaria for the sake of this young woman. She was Iole, the daughter of Eurythos.

Before Hercules met you, he was very fond of her. She's not here to be your maid, she's your competitor. She was the mistress of Hercules. “

Deianira was grieved. But she immediately regained her composure, and ordered her husband's servant, Rikas, to come to her. Pointing to the sky, Likas swore to Zeus that he was telling the truth, and that he really did not know who the girl's father was. Deianira begged him not to play tricks on her. "Even though I may blame my husband for his infidelity, I will never hate this girl, for she has never hurt me.

I sympathize with her, her appearance has brought her misery and ruined her country. Seeing that Madame was so reasonable, Rikas told her everything. Deianira did not reproach him at all, but told him to wait a moment, and she was to prepare a gift for her husband in return for the captives he had given her. According to the instructions of Nessus the native of Kentaurus before he died, she made his poisonous blood into a blood paste and hid it in a place where there was no sunlight. She thought it was harmless, just a potion to restore Hercules' love and loyalty. Now she crept into the little room, took the blood cream, and dipped it in wool and applied it to a precious garment. Then, she folded up her clothes and locked them in a nice little box.

After doing all this, Deianira threw the used wool on the ground and went outside to give the gift to the servant Licas.

"Please bring this dress to my husband," she instructed, "and I have sewn it myself." No one but him can wear it. It is my wish that he should not put it by the fire or in the sun before he wears this garment to worship the gods. I'll give you a ring as a token, and he'll know that this is my true message. “

Likas promised to do as she was told. He rushed to Oboah with a gift to give to his master who was preparing to sacrifice. A few days later, the eldest son of Hercules and Deianira, Hüros, went to visit his father, who wanted to persuade him to return home quickly. Deianira stumbled into a small room containing the blood ointment, and was shocked to see that the wool on the floor had been coated with potions and had turned to ashes in the sunlight. She was so frightened that she circled around the palace, not knowing what to do.

His son Xu Luo finally returned, but there was no father by his side. "Alas, Mother," he cried out to her with hatred, "I wish there had never been you in the world, and I wish you had never been my mother!" She was taken aback when she heard her son's words, and hurriedly asked, "Child, what's wrong with you?" “

"I have just returned from Quenaion, mother," said the son, sobbing, "and it was you who ruined my father's life!" “

Deianira's face turned pale, but she still asked him calmly, "Who told you this, my son?" Who would dare to accuse me of doing such an unreasonable thing? "No, no one told me that it was me who saw my father's tragic end," the son said. When I met him in Kenaeon, he was busy slaughtering cattle for sacrifice to Zeus. Then Rikas came, and he brought you a gift, a garment that should be cursed. His father immediately put it on his body, and he liked it very much. He began to offer sacrifices. A total of twelve bulls were slaughtered that day.

At first, my father prayed very calmly. But when the flames rose from the altar, beads of sweat broke out all over his body, and the straitjacket seemed to have been cast on him with iron, and he trembled as if a viper were biting him. The father called out to Licas. Likas is actually innocent, and he faithfully handed over that poisonous leotard of yours. Likas came, and he repeated what you commanded him. His father immediately grabbed him, threw him to his death on the rocks on the seashore, and threw his bones into the sea. His crazy behavior made people afraid to come near him. He howled and rolled on the ground in pain, then suddenly jumped up again. He curses you and your marriage. At last he shouted to me: 'Son, if you have compassion for my father, then send me back to the ship.'

I can't die in a foreign land. \'We carried him to the boat, and he screamed in pain, but finally returned to his hometown. You can see him right away, either alive or dead. This is your good thing, Mother, that you have shamefully murdered the greatest hero in the world! “

Deianira has no excuse for her son's rebuke. She left him in despair. Some of the servants had heard her speak of the love potion that Nessus had given her, and they told the child that he had blamed his mother in his anger. When the son heard this, he hurried after his unfortunate mother. But he came too late. Deianira lay upright on her husband's bed, dead. She had a sharp sword on her chest. The son knelt beside his mother, weeping bitterly and hugging his mother's corpse, deeply regretting his radical words. Suddenly, when he heard that his father had returned to the palace, he was so frightened that he quickly jumped up.

"Son," cried Hercules, "son, where are you?" Draw your sword, aim it at your father, aim it at my neck, and kill me! So that I can be relieved of the pain that your mother has given me! Then he turned desperately to the men standing by, stretched out his hands to them, and said in a loud voice: "Not a spear, not a beast, not a team of giants can subdue me." But a woman's hand conquered me! Kill me, my son, and then go and punish your mother! “

When Xu Rose told him that his mother had inadvertently killed him, and in order to avenge his sin, he had already pulled out a knife and committed suicide. Herculeston was stunned, and his grief turned to sorrow. He immediately married his son Xu Ross to Iol, whom he had previously loved and had become his captive. Because the oracle of Delphi said that Hercules would die on Mount Ota in the region of Trachis, he had himself carried to the top of Mount Ota despite his physical pain. He also had a pile of wood set up, rested him on the pile, and ordered a fire, but no one would do it. In the end, unable to withstand his repeated pleadings, his friend Philoctetes, seeing that he was in unbearable pain, stood up and prepared to light the fire.

Hercules thanked him by giving him his invincible bow and arrows. As soon as the firewood was lit, lightning flashed in the sky, fueling the fire. Finally, an auspicious cloud descended, sending the immortal hero to the sacred mountain of Olympus amid the rumbling sound of snow. As the wood burned to ashes, Iolaus and some of his friends prepared to pick up his bones, but they found nothing. There is no doubt that Hercules answered the confession of the gods, and he had changed from a mortal to a god. They sacrificed to him and honored him as a god. Later, all the Greeks worshipped him as a god.

In heaven, he meets his girlfriend Athena. She introduced this hero into the ranks of the gods. Hera forgave him and married him her daughter, Heber. Heber is the goddess of eternal youth, who lived on the sacred mountain of Olympus and gave birth to many beautiful eternal children.

After Hercules was summoned to heaven, Eurystheus, the king of Argos, had no need to fear him anymore. So, he tried his best to take revenge on the children and grandchildren of the great hero. Most of them lived with Hercules' mother, Alcmene, and lived in Mykenny, the capital of Argos. In order to escape the king's persecution, they fled to Trachis, hoping to be protected by King Keyux. Eurystheus demanded that Keyux hand over the descendants of Hercules, or else he would use force against the weak kingdom. The sons and grandsons of Hercules were disturbed and fled from Trachis. Hercules' nephew and friend Iolaus, the son of Iphicles, always took care of them like a father. In his youth, he shared the fate and hardships of Hercules

Although he is old and gray-haired, he still protects the children and grandchildren of his old friends and drifts with them. Their aim was to consolidate the position and possessions that Hercules had acquired in the Peloponnese. Pursued by Eurystheus, they came to Athens. This is where Demophon, the son of Theseus, ruled. He had just ousted the usurper Menas Thos and returned to the throne.

When they arrived in Athens, they pitched their tents in the wilderness near the altar of Zeus and prostrated themselves in front of the altar and prayed to the Athenians for protection. Eurystheus sent a messenger to threaten them. The messenger mockingly said to Iolaus, "Iolaus, do you think it's safe here?" But who would dare to oppose the mighty Eurystheus? Let's hurry back to Argos. What awaits you there is a harsh verdict: to beat you to death with a rock! “

Fearlessly, Iolaus replied, "No! This altar will protect me, not only am I not afraid of villains like you, nor am I afraid of the mighty army sent by your master, this is a free land to save us. Hearing this, the messenger Kuployus threatened: "Well, listen, I am not here alone, and there is a strong army behind me. You will soon be driven out of this so-called land of freedom! “

Iolaus turned around and cried out to the inhabitants of Athens: "Pious citizens, you must not watch the people protected by Zeus being taken away, nor the desecration of the Holy Land, for this is also a disgrace to your city. “

The Athenians heard cries for help coming from all directions, and they saw a group of exiles sitting around the altar. "Who is that old man? Who are those beautiful young men? Everyone asked. When they learned that these people seeking protection were descendants of the great hero Hercules, they not only sympathized, but also revered. They ordered the barbarian messenger to leave the altar quickly, and told him to report his request to the king's vote first.

"Who's the king here," Kupolois asked, embarrassed, calmed by the Athenian's abruptness.

"He is a great man," they replied, "and you must obey his ruling." Our king is none other than Demophon, the son of the immortal hero Theseus. “

King Demophon heard news in the palace that the square outside was full of fugitives, and that there was a foreign army, and that a messenger demand that the fugitives be handed over to him. The king himself came to the square and heard from the mouth of the messenger the intentions of Eurystheus. "I'm an Argosian," said Kupoloyus, "and I'm asking to bring back a group of Argos." They are the servants of our king. Son of Theseus, you probably won't lose your mind and go to war with Eurystheus in order to protect these fugitives! “

Demophon, a calm and forgiving king, listened to the messenger and simply said: "I have not heard the opinions of the two sides, so how can I determine who is right and who is wrong?" And how can it be decided to go to war? This old man, you are the protector of the young, do you have anything to say? “

Iolaus rose from the stone steps of the altar, bowed reverently to the king, and said, "King, for the first time I feel that I have arrived in a free city. I'm allowed to speak here, and I'm listened to here. Elsewhere, we are deported, without our right to speak. Eurystheus drove us out of Argos. If we cannot stay in the country, how can he say that we are his subjects? Do those who flee from Argos have no place in all Greece?

No! At least not in Athens! The inhabitants of this heroic city will not drive the descendants of Hercules out of their land. Their king will not allow those who ask for protection to be dragged away from the altar. Be of good cheer, my child! You are now in a free country, and you are with your relatives. O king, you are not protecting the strangers, but the persecuted people are the sons of Hercules, and Hercules and your father Theseus are the grandsons of Pelops, and Hercules rescued your father from the underworld. “

When the king heard these words, he stretched out his hand to Iolaus and said, "There are three reasons why I am obliged to protect you and not to refuse your request. The first is Zeus and this altar, the second is kinship, and the third is the favor of Hercules to my father. If I let you be dragged away from the altar, then this country will no longer be a free country, a country that respects God, and a country that obeys morality! Therefore, messenger, return to McKenny at once, and tell your king that I will not allow you to bring these exiles back again! “

"I'll go, I'll go!" Kupoloyus said, waving his scepter threateningly, "I will lead an army of Argos back." Ten thousand soldiers are waiting for my king to give orders. He will personally command the army, which has reached the borders of your kingdom. “

"What the hell is you!" "I am not afraid of you, nor of all you Argos!" “

The sons and grandsons of Hercules rejoiced when they heard this. A group of young men jumped up from the altar and put their hands in the king's hands to thank the generous savior. Iolaus spoke on behalf of the crowd and thanked the king and the citizens of Athens.

After returning to the royal palace, King Demophon made urgent arrangements to prepare for the enemy's invasion. He gathered a group of diviners and observers of the heavens, commanded them to perform a solemn sacrifice, and invited Iolaus and his men to live in the palace. Iolaus repeatedly refused, declaring that he did not want to leave the altar of Zeus, and that they were willing to stay here and pray for the happiness of the city of Athens. "It is not until the gods have helped the king to victory," he said, "that we are willing to let our weary bodies rest under your roofs!" “

At this time, the king climbed the highest tower and observed the approaching enemy army. He gathered his soldiers, ordered them to defend the city of Athens, and then consulted with astrologers and soothsayers. While Iolaus was praying to the gods, suddenly Demophon came to him with a sad face. "What do you think I'm going to do, friend?" He exclaimed, "Although my army is ready to fight against the Argos, my soothsayers say that there must be a condition for victory in this war, but this condition cannot be met by me. The oracle tells us clearly: you do not have to slaughter calves and bulls, but only to sacrifice a young woman of noble birth, and only then can you, including the city, hope to be victorious and saved. But how can I do that?

I have a daughter of my own, but what father would be willing to make such a sacrifice? Who would give birth to a noble family with a daughter to hand over their daughter? This is a troublesome thing that will cause a civil war! “

The sons and grandsons of Hercules were heartbroken when they heard the king's words. "Oh my God!" "We are like shipwrecked people, who have just climbed onto the beach and been swept back to sea by the waves," shouted Iolaus. Hope, why is it like a dream? It's over, children, now the king will hand us over, but we can't blame him for that. Suddenly, a glimmer of hope flashed in the old man's eyes. Do you know how we can save ourselves? You leave the sons of Hercules, and give me up to Eurystheus!" He will surely put me to death, for I am the companion of the great hero and his faithful friend. I am already an old man, willing to sacrifice my life for these young people! “

Demophon looked at him and said sadly, "Your spirit is noble, but it can't help us. Do you think Eurystheus would be satisfied by killing a man? No! He will kill the sons of Hercules. If you have any other ideas, let me know. The idea just now doesn't work. (To be continued.) )