Threehundredhiddenmusicians，dividedintowindandchordorchestras，accompanyachorusoftwohundredexecutants，andfurnishthemusicforaballetofseventydancers。
Asthethirdstrokediesaway，theMuse，MademoiselleRabuteau，entersanddeclaimsthesalutationaddressedbyLouisGallettotheCityofBeziers。Atitsconclusionthetragedybegins。
Thisisnottheplacetodescribeorcriticiseatlengthsonewanattemptatclassicrestoration。TheauthorfollowstheadmirablefableofantiquitywithadirectnessandsimplicityworthyofhisGreekmodel。ThestoryofDejaniraandHerculesistoofamiliartoberepeatedhere。Thehero’sinfidelityandthepassionofaneglectedwomanarerelatedthroughfiveactslogicallyandforcibly，withthenoblemusicofSaint—
Saensasabackground。
Wewatchthegrowingaffectionofthedemi—godforthegentleIole。Wesympathizewithjealous，desperateDejanirawheninalastattempttogainbacktheloveofHerculesshepersuadestheunsuspectingIoletoofferhimatunicsteepedinNessus’sblood，whichDejanirahasbeentoldbyCentaurwillwhenwarmedinthesunrestorethewearertoherarms。