suum casu occidit; Acrisius enim inter spectatores eius certaminis forte
stabat.




HERCULES


_Hercules, a Greek hero celebrated for his great strength, was pursued
throughout his life by the hatred of Juno. While yet an infant, he
strangled some serpents sent by the goddess to destroy him. During his
boyhood and youth he performed various marvelous feats of strength, and
on reaching manhood succeeded in delivering the Thebans from the
oppression of the Minyae. In a fit of madness sent upon him by Juno, he
slew his own children; and on consulting the Delphic oracle as to how he
should cleanse himself from this crime, he was ordered to submit himself
for twelve years to Eurystheus, king of Tiryns, and to perform whatever
tasks were appointed him. Hercules obeyed the oracle, and during the
twelve years of his servitude accomplished twelve extraordinary feats
known as the Labors of Hercules. His death was caused unintentionally by
his wife Dejanira. Hercules had shot with his poisoned arrows a centaur
named Nessus, who had insulted Dejanira. Nessus, before he died, gave
some of his blood to Dejanira, and told her it would act as a charm to
secure her husband's love. Some time after, Dejanira wishing to try the
charm soaked one of her husband's garments in the blood, not knowing
that it was poisoned. Hercules put on the robe, and after suffering
terrible torments died, or was carried off by his father Jupiter_.