On went the
crabs as if they cared nothing for their victory, and the frogs
came out of the water and sat upon the bank and watched them in
awe.
Heracles had laughed at the diverting tale that the robbers had
told him; he could not bring them then to a place where they
would meet with captivity or death. He let them loose upon the
highway, and the robbers thanked him with highflowing speeches,
and they declared that if they should ever find him sleeping by
the roadway again they would let him lie. Saying this they went
away, and Heracles, laughing as he thought upon the great
exploits of the frogs and mice, went on to Omphale's house.
Omphale, the widow, received him mirthfully, and then set him to
do tasks in the kitchen while she sat and talked to him about
Troy and the affairs of King Laomedon. And afterward she put on
his lion's skin, and went about in the courtyard dragging the
heavy club after her. Mirthfully and pleasantly she made the rest
of his time in Lydia pass for Heracles, and the last day of his
slavery soon came, and he bade good-by to Omphale, that pleasant
widow, and to Lydia, and he started off for Calydon to claim his
bride Deianira.
Beautiful indeed Deianira looked now that she had ceased to mourn
for her brother, for the laughter that had been under her grief
always now flashed out even while she looked priestesslike and of
good counsel; her dark eyes shone like stars, and her being had
the spirit of one who wanders from camp to camp, always greeting
friends and leaving friends behind her.
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