Iole

I give you joy that the conquest of Oechalia is now added to your other trophies; but I am sorry that the conqueror is forced to submit to the conquered.

For a report that tends greatly to your dishonor, and which by your actions you must study to discredit, has been suddenly propagated through all the cities of Greece, that he whom neither the malice of Juno nor an endless series of toils could subdue, is now a captive to the charms of Iole.

Eurystheus has much longed for this, as has the sister of the Thunderer; and your stepmother triumphs in this stain of your character.

But it is far from pleasing him, to whom, if fame can be believed, one night was not sufficient to beget you, great as you are.

She carries her head high amidst the captives subdued by Hercules, as if Ocalea still stood, and her father yet existed.

Perhaps, too, laying aside the name of mistress, she will be received as your spouse, and Deianira of Aetolia be banished from your bed.

An impious marriage may join, in unchaste bands, Iole, the daughter of Eurytus, and the infatuated Alcides.

My mind sickens with apprehension; a shivering coldness spreads itself over all my limbs, and my languid hands lie motionless upon my knees.

The Argonauts had now won back to Greece.

But before he saw any of them, he had been in Oichalia and had seen the maiden Iole.

The king of Oichalia had offered his daughter Iole in marriage to the hero who could excel himself and his sons in shooting with arrows.

Heracles saw Iole, the blue-eyed and childlike maiden, and he longed to take her with him to some place near the garden of the Hesperides.

And Iole looked on him, and he knew that she wondered to see him so tall and so strongly knit, even as he wondered to see her so childlike and delicate.

Then the contest began.

The king and his sons shot wonderfully well, and none of the heroes who stood before Heracles had a chance of winning.

Heracles.

The Argonauts had now won back to Greece.

But before he saw any of them, he had been in Oichalia and had seen the maiden Iole.

The king of Oichalia had offered his daughter Iole in marriage to the hero who could excel himself and his sons in shooting with arrows.

Heracles saw Iole, the blue-eyed and childlike maiden, and he longed to take her with him to some place near the garden of the Hesperides.

And Iole looked on him, and he knew that she wondered to see him so tall and so strongly knit, even as he wondered to see her so childlike and delicate.

Then the contest began.

The king and his sons shot wonderfully well, and none of the heroes who stood before Heracles had a chance of winning.

Heracles.

Heracles.

Iole, who does not speak.

Scene.

Before the temporary abode of Heracles in Trachis.

From the subject it might have been called Deianira or The Death of Heracles.

The centaur Nessus, in dying by the arrow of Heracles, which had been dipped in the venom of the Hydra, persuaded the bride Deianira, whose beauty was the cause of his death, to keep some of the blood from the wound as a love charm for her husband.

Many years afterwards, when Heracles was returning from his last exploit of sacking Ecalia in Euboea, he sent before him by his herald Lycus, Iole, the king's daughter whom he had espoused.

Deianira, when she had discovered this, commissioned Lycus when he returned to present his master with a robe which he anointed with the charm, hoping by this means to regain her lord's affection.

If she ever worries that Heracles is falling for another woman, she should soak a garment in his blood and give it to him.

Years later, the king of Achaelia, Eurydice, the same guy associated with teaching Heracles archery in some traditions, holds an archery contest and promises the hand of his daughter Iole to the winner.

Herakles wins, but Eurydice refuses to honor the agreement.

Why depends on the version.

Usually it's because Herakles has a reputation for violence and Eurydice doesn't want his daughter marrying him.

Years later, after a bunch of other events, Herakles comes back, attacks Achaelia, kills Eurydice, and carries off Aioli.

whether he intends to marry her or just sleep with her or simply keep her as captive varies by the version but he takes her home and dianira sees exactly what it looks like right her husband has brought home a younger woman terrified of losing him she remembers nessus's words she smears his blood onto a robe and sends it to heracles but nessus lied His blood is contaminated with hydrovenom from the arrow that killed him.

Where usually the princess would fall in love with the hero at first sight, here it's the other way around.

The Trachinian Maidens, The Persons.

Deianira, wife of Heracles, an attendant, Helus, son of Heracles and Deianira, chorus of Trachinian maidens, a messenger, Lichas, the herald, a nurse, an old man, Heracles, Iole, who does not speak.

Scene, before the temporary abode of Heracles in Trachis.

This tragedy is named from the chorus.

From the subject it might have been called Deianira or The Death of Heracles.

The centaur Nessus, in dying by the arrow of Heracles, which had been dipped in the venom of the Hydra, persuaded the bride Deianira, whose beauty was the cause of his death, to keep some of the blood from the wound as a love charm for her husband.

Many years afterwards, when Heracles was returning from his last exploit of sacking Icaria in Euboea, he sent before him by his herald Lichas, Iole, the king's daughter whom he had espoused.

Deianira, when she had discovered this, commissioned Lichas when he returned to present his master with a robe which he anointed with the charm, hoping by this means to regain her lord's affection.