Then the Queen took counsel with her companions, maidens that dwelt in the city of Trachis, and told them how she had a charm with her, the blood of Nessus the Centaur; and that Nessus had given it to her in old time because she was the last whom he carried over the river Evenus; and that it would win back for her the love of her husband.  So she called Lichas, the herald, and said to him that he must do a certain thing for her.  And he answered, “What is it, lady?  Already I have lingered too long.”

And she said, “Take now this robe, which thou seest to be fair and well woven, and carry it as a gift from me to my husband.  And say to him from me that he suffer no man to wear it before him, and that the light of the sun touch it not, no, nor the light of a fire, till he himself shall clothe himself with it on a day on which he doeth sacrifice to the Gods.  And say that I made this vow, if he should come back from this journey, that I would array him in this robe, wherein to do sacrifice.  And that he may know thee to be a true messenger from me, take with thee this seal.”

And Lichas said, “So surely as I know the craft of Hermes, who is the god of heralds, I will do this thing according to thy bidding.”

Now the Queen had anointed the fair garment which she sent with the blood of Nessus the Centaur, that when her husband should clothe himself with it, his heart might be turned to her as at the first.

So Lichas the herald departed, bearing the robe.  But after no long time the Queen ran forth from the palace in great fear, wringing her hands, and crying to the maidens, her companions, that she was sore afraid lest in ignorance she had done some great mischief.  And when they would know the cause of her grief and fear, she spake, saying, “A very marvellous and terrible thing hath befallen me.  There was a morsel of sheep’s wool which I dipped into the charm, even the blood of the Centaur, that I might anoint therewith the robe which ye saw me send to my husband.  Now, this morsel of wool hath perished altogether.  But that ye may understand this thing the better, I will set it forth to you at length.  Know then that I have not forgotten aught of the things which the Centaur commanded me when he gave me this charm, but have kept them in my heart, even as if they were written on bronze.  Now he bade me keep the thing where neither light of the sun nor fire might touch it.  And this have I done; and when I anointed the robe, I anointed it in secret, in a certain dark place in the palace; but the morsel of wool wherewith I anointed it I threw, not heeding, into the sunshine.  And, lo! it hath wasted till it is like unto dust which falleth when a man saweth wood.  And from the earth whereon it lay there arise great bubbles of foam, like to the bubbles which arise when men pour into the vats the juice of the vine.  And now I know not what I should say; for indeed, though I thought not so of the matter before, it seemeth not a thing to be believed that this Centaur should wish well to the man that slew him.  Haply he deceived me, that he might work him woe.  For I know that this is a very deadly poison, seeing that Chiron also suffered grievously by reason of it, albeit he was a god.  Now if this be so, as I fear, then have I, and I only, slain my husband.”