Accordingly the
costume and mask of Hercules are compounded, of his conventional
appearance in Tragedy, in which he is conceived as the perfection of
physical strength toiling and suffering for mankind, and his
conventional appearance in Satyric plays as the gigantic feeder, etc.
The two are harmonized in the conception of conscious energy rejoicing
in itself, and plunging with equal eagerness into duty and relaxation,
while each lasts._
_Hercules_ hails the Chorus and enquires for Admetus. They reply that
he is within the Palace, and [shrinking, like all Greeks, from being
the first to tell evil tidings] turn the conversation by enquiring what
brings the Demi-god to Pherae--_in stichomuthic dialogue_ it is brought
out that Hercules is on his way to one of his 'Labors'--that of the
Thracian Steeds; and (so lightly does the thought of toil sit on him)
it appears he has not troubled to enquire what the task meant: from the
Chorus he learns for the first time the many dangers before him, and
how the Steeds are devourers of human flesh.
_Herc.
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