OVID - Metamorphoses

As does Ovid in his treatment of this  pair, Spencer's  Amoretti and Epithalamion , Egyptian tapestry roundel with  Orpheus and Eurydice , 5th–6th century CE   a 1595 Ode to his bride Elizabeth Boyle,  invokes both Orpheus and Hymen thus: So Orpheus did for his owne bride,  So I unto my selfe alone will sing,  The woods shall to me answer and my Eccho ring.  Early before the worlds light giving lampe,  His golden beame upon the hils doth spred,  Having disperst the nights unchearefull dampe,  Doe ye awake, and with fresh lusty hed,  Go to the bowre of my beloved love,  My truest turtle dove,  Bid her awake; for Hymen is awake,  And long since ready forth his maske to move,  With his bright Tead that flames with many a flake,  And many a bachelor to waite on him,  In theyr fresh garments trim.....              ...

Isis appears promising help. " Not far from Knossos * lived a man Ligdus by name, of humble family,  Freeborn but hardly known, nor did his purse Surpass his pedigree, though none could blame His life or probity. "  ( * The term "palace" may be misleading; Knossos was an intricate collection of over 1000 interlocking rooms, some of which served as artisans' workrooms and food processing centres (e.g. wine presses). It served as a central storage point, and a religious and administrative centre. ) Otherwise today Ligdus would be judged a "wrongheaded Cretan" in the pejorative sense when he observes:  "Girls are more burdensome " Telethus, wife of Ligdus, is caused " carking cares " when he announces " And fate denies our means. If--heaven forbid!-- The babe should chance to be a girl-- she must die ". ----------------Time passes-------------- Telethus on the midnight eve of...

Repoussé and engraved relief of Hercules (right),   Eros (center) and Iolaus (left) on the Ficoroni cista.  4th century BC Etruscan ritual vessel Magically a young lad, Iolaus, appears. He's a gift of Juno's daughter, Hebe. Thought to be Hercules lover but also his nephew. Themis is mentioned. Civil war is upon Thebes. She meant to swear not to bestow such gifts On any man thereafter, but was stopped By Themis. From wikipedia: " As a son of Iphicles, Iolaus was a nephew of Heracles. He often acted as Heracles' charioteer and companion. He was sometimes regarded as Heracles' lover, and the shrine to him in Thebes was a place where male couples worshiped and made vows. The Theban gymnasium was also named after him, and the Iolaia or Iolaea (Greek: Ιολάεια), an athletic festival consisting of gymnastic and equestrian events, was held yearly in Thebes in his honor. The victors at the Iolaea were crowned with garlands of myrtle. Iolaus provided...

Hercules and Achelous in a Roman wall painting from the Hall of the Augustales . Achelous is subdued even after changing himself into a snake and then into a Bull. Hercules wins Deianira and marries her.  ============ Time passes here.=========  Nessus, a centaur, abducts Deianira; Hercules returns after many love affairs, subdues and slays Nessus. But it's a lingering death ( pierced with an arrow). His blood bearing the Hydra's poison soaks Hercules tunic after Nessus has given it to Deianira, "A talisman, he said, to kindle love... Long years had passed, and Hercules' great deeds Had filled the world and sated Juno's hate...'At Cenaeum, when rumour rode ahead-- Rumour who talks and loves to tangle true with false, and from near nothing flourishes On her own lies --and swiftly reaches the ears Of Deianira, rumour that her lord was held in thrall by love of Iole.  Her doting heart believed." Deianira decides... "To send the s...