In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

26 Hercules Reflects on Victory Every morsel of this world yields a groan. Honey followed by sting, major by minor chord, marriage vow by telegram, banquet by rape. I had to rip the horn from a bull to win my bride. My hands became a ring of Saturn to contract his neck, my body became his hunchback. I tore it from him. I tongued the gash like an amuse-bouche. But bad begets good begets bad. I was faithful to my wife; her madness was more steadfast. One day she covered me with a gasoline cloak and bid me burn. I sat burning and it seemed no victory— no number of whipped dogs, apples stolen, pilgrims saved, no hollowed horn—would relieve me. What did she want? What did I keep from her? I end my life on earth crawling like a woman in childbirth, trees in my teeth like a bit, broadcast into ash and afraid of heaven. ...

Share