The Shirt of Nessus

The Shirt of Nessus originates with the mythology of Hercules. Nessus was a centaur who attempted to rape Hercules's bride Deianeira, but Hercules managed to kill Nessus. However, before the centaur died he told Deianeira to keep his blood, for any who wore a garment with his blood rubbed in it would love her forever. Eventually, as the story evolved, Deianeira gave Hercules a shirt with Nessus's blood rubbed in it, but the garment proved to be poisonous, not an inducement to love.

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