Table traits : with something on them / by Dr. Doran.

  • John Doran
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Table traits : with something on them / by Dr. Doran. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    Was he real? is he a myth? was he ever in the body? or is his name that of a shadow only, employed for purposes of significance ? If real, whence came he ? What does classic story say of the abused husband of Alcmena ? Amphitryon was a Theban gentleman, who had two nephews, fast young men, who were slain by the Tele- boans. This is a myth. They were extravagant indi- viduals, of the class of those who count the chimes at midnight. Their father could not help them ; and so the uncle, a bachelor, was expected to do his avuncular office, spend his substance for the benefit of his brother’s chil- dren, and get small thanks for his trouble. His brother, however, had an article of small value,—a daughter, named Alcmena ; and this lady was given in marriage to her uncle, without any scruple about the laws of affinity. As soon as the ceremony of the betrothal was over, Amphitryon departed to punish the Teleboans; and he had not been long absent, when Jupiter presented him- self in the likeness of the absent husband, set up a household with the readily-convinced Alcmena, and became the father of Hercules. When Amphitryon returned, his surprise was natural, and his ill-temper not to be wondered at. But Jupiter explained the imbroglio in a very cavalier way, as was his custom, and which they who are curious may see in the liveliest of the lively comedies of the miller’s man, Plautus. An incident connected with the story shows us that Amphitryon, fond of good living generally, and of beef in particular, made a razzia among the Teleboan herds, and brought back all the cows and oxen he found amongst them. He was exhibiting the cattle to his brother Electryon, when one of the animals strayed from the herd ; and Amphitryon, in order to bring it back, flung a stick at it, but with such violence, that the weapon,
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