 In the painting, Virtue appears to be winning the struggle over Hercules, but Vice has torn Hercules' stocking and still reaches out her hand toward him.Concealed behind her skirt is a dagger and a statue of a sphinx.On the stonework above the scene, an inscription reads "[HO]NOR ET VIRTUS/[P]OST MORTE FLORET (Honor and Virtue Flourish after Death)."