---
title: "Alcestis · Ἄλκηστις"
author: "Euripides"
translator: "Edward P. Coleridge"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 1 of 2
url: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-alcestis/1/
cite: "Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge, Alcestis · Ἄλκηστις, section 1. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-alcestis/1/"
---

# Alcestis · Ἄλκηστις

*Euripides, tr. Edward P. Coleridge*

A wife agrees to die in her husband’s place, and Heracles wrestles Death for her.

> Greek: ed. Gilbert Murray, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0006.tlg002, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Edward P. Coleridge, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0006.tlg002.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 1. Lines 1–596

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-alcestis/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/euripides-alcestis/1/#p-N

[¶0] Apollo:
Halls of Admetus, wherein I steeled my heart to be content with a servant’s board, god though I was. Zeus was to blame; he slew my son Asclepius, piercing his bosom with a thunderbolt;

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
Ὦ δώματ’ Ἀδμήτειʼ, ἐν οἷς ἔτλην ἐγὼ
θῆσσαν τράπεζαν αἰνέσαι θεός περ ὤν.
Ζεὺς γὰρ κατακτὰς παῖδα τὸν ἐμὸν αἴτιος
Ἀσκληπιόν, στέρνοισιν ἐμβαλὼν φλόγα·

[¶1] whereat I was enraged and smote his Cyclopes, forgers of the heavenly fire; so my sire in recompense for this forced me to become a slave in a mortal’s home. Then came I to this land and kept a stranger’s flocks, and to this day have been the saviour of this house.

> Greek: οὗ δὴ χολωθεὶς τέκτονας Δίου πυρὸς
κτείνω Κύκλωπας· καί με θητεύειν πατὴρ
θνητῷ παρ’ ἀνδρὶ τῶνδ’ ἄποιν’ ἠνάγκασεν.
ἐλθὼν δὲ γαῖαν τήνδ’ ἐβουφόρβουν ξένῳ,
καὶ τόνδ’ ἔσῳζον οἶκον ἐς τόδ’ ἡμέρας.

[¶2] For in Pheres’ son I found a man as holy as myself, and him I saved from death by cheating Destiny, for they promised me, those goddesses of fate, that Admetus should escape the impending doom, if he found a substitute for the powers below.

> Greek: ὁσίου γὰρ ἀνδρὸς ὅσιος ὢν ἐτύγχανον
παιδὸς Φέρητος, ὃν θανεῖν ἐρρυσάμην,
Μοίρας δολώσας· ᾔνεσαν δέ μοι θεαὶ
Ἄδμητον ᾅδην τὸν παραυτίκ’ ἐκφυγεῖν,
ἄλλον διαλλάξαντα τοῖς κάτω νεκρόν.

[¶3] So he went through all his list of friends, made trial of each, his father and the aged mother that bare him, but none he found save his wife alone that was willing to die for him and forego the light of life; she now within the house is upheld in his arms,
gasping out her life; for to-day is she doomed to die and pass from life to death. But I, for fear pollution overtake me in the house, am leaving the shelter of this roof I love so well, for already I see Death hard by,
the priest of souls departed, who is on his way to lead her to the halls of Hades; true to time he comes, watching this day that calls her to her doom.

> Greek: πάντας δ’ ἐλέγξας καὶ διεξελθὼν φίλους,
πατέρα γεραιάν θ’ ἥ σφ’ ἔτικτε μητέρα,
οὐχ ηὗρε πλὴν γυναικὸς ὅστις ἤθελε
θανὼν πρὸ κείνου μηκέτ’ εἰσορᾶν φάος·
ἣ νῦν κατ’ οἴκους ἐν χεροῖν βαστάζεται
ψυχορραγοῦσα· τῇδε γάρ σφ’ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ
θανεῖν πέπρωται καὶ μεταστῆναι βίου.
ἐγὼ δέ, μὴ μίασμά μ’ ἐν δόμοις κίχῃ,
λείπω μελάθρων τῶνδε φιλτάτην στέγην.
ἤδη δὲ τόνδε Θάνατον εἰσορῶ πέλας,
ἱερῆ θανόντων, ὅς νιν εἰς Ἅιδου δόμους
μέλλει κατάξειν· συμμέτρως δ’ ἀφίκετο,
φρουρῶν τόδ’ ἦμαρ ᾧ θανεῖν αὐτὴν χρεών.

[¶4] Death:
Ha! What dost thou at this house? why is it thou art ranging here,
Phoebus? Once again thou wrongest me, circumscribing and limiting the honours of the nether world. Wert thou not content to hinder the death of Admetus, by thy knavish cunning baulking Destiny? but now again
hast thou armed thee with thy bow and art keeping guard o’er her, this daughter of Pelias, who undertook, of her free will, to die for her lord and set him free.

> Greek: Θάνατος:
ἆ ἆ·
τί σὺ πρὸς μελάθροις; τί σὺ τῇδε πολεῖς,
Φοῖβʼ; ἀδικεῖς αὖ τιμὰς ἐνέρων
ἀφοριζόμενος καὶ καταπαύων;
οὐκ ἤρκεσέ σοι μόρον Ἀδμήτου
διακωλῦσαι, Μοίρας δολίῳ
σφήλαντι τέχνῃ; νῦν δ’ ἐπὶ τῇδ’ αὖ
χέρα τοξήρη φρουρεῖς ὁπλίσας,
ἣ τόδ’ ὑπέστη πόσιν ἐκλύσασ’
αὐτὴ προθανεῖν Πελίου παῖς.

[¶5] Apollo:
Never fear; I have, be sure, justice and fair pleas to urge.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
θάρσει· δίκην τοι καὶ λόγους κεδνοὺς ἔχω.

[¶6] Death:
What has that bow to do, if thou hast justice on thy side?

> Greek: Θάνατος:
τί δῆτα τόξων ἔργον, εἰ δίκην ἔχεις;

[¶7] Apollo:’Tis my habit ever to carry it.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
σύνηθες αἰεὶ ταῦτα βαστάζειν ἐμοί.

[¶8] Death:
Ay, and to help this house more than is right.

> Greek: Θάνατος:
καὶ τοῖσδέ γ’ οἴκοις ἐκδίκως προσωφελεῖν.

[¶9] Apollo:
The reason is, I cannot bear a friend’s distress.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
φίλου γὰρ ἀνδρὸς συμφοραῖς βαρύνομαι.

[¶10] Death:
Wilt rob me of this second corpse likewise?

> Greek: Θάνατος:
καὶ νοσφιεῖς με τοῦδε δευτέρου νεκροῦ;

[¶11] Apollo:
Come! I did not take the other from thee by violence.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
ἀλλ’ οὐδ’ ἐκεῖνον πρὸς βίαν σ’ ἀφειλόμην.

[¶12] Death:
Then how is it he lives above the earth and not beneath?

> Greek: Θάνατος:
πῶς οὖν ὑπὲρ γῆς ἐστι κοὐ κάτω χθονός;

[¶13] Apollo:
He gave his wife instead, her whom now thou art come to fetch.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
δάμαρτ’ ἀμείψας, ἣν σὺ νῦν ἥκεις μέτα.

[¶14] Death:
Yea, and I will bear her hence to the nether world.

> Greek: Θάνατος:
κἀπάξομαί γε νερτέρων ὑπὸ χθόνα.

[¶15] Apollo:
Take her and go, for I do not suppose I can persuade thee.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
λαβὼν ἴθʼ· οὐ γὰρ οἶδ’ ἂν εἰ πείσαιμί σε.

[¶16] Death:
To slay my rightful victim? Why, that is my appointed task.

> Greek: Θάνατος:
κτείνειν γ’ ὃν ἂν χρῇ; τοῦτο γὰρ τετάγμεθα.

[¶17] Apollo:
Nay, but to lay thy deadly hand on those who soon would die.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
οὔκ, ἀλλὰ τοῖς μέλλουσι θάνατον ἐμβαλεῖν.

[¶18] Death:
I see thy drift, thy eager plea.

> Greek: Θάνατος:
ἔχω λόγον δὴ καὶ προθυμίαν σέθεν.

[¶19] Apollo:
Is it then possible that Alcestis should attain old age?

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
ἔστ’ οὖν ὅπως Ἄλκηστις ἐς γῆρας μόλοι;

[¶20] Death:
It is not possible; I too, methinks, find a pleasure in my rights.

> Greek: Θάνατος:
οὐκ ἔστι· τιμαῖς κἀμὲ τέρπεσθαι δόκει.

[¶21] Apollo:
Thou canst not anyhow take more than one life.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
οὔτοι πλέον γ’ ἂν ἢ μίαν ψυχὴν λάβοις.

[¶22] Death:
When young lives die I reap a higher honour.

> Greek: Θάνατος:
νέων φθινόντων μεῖζον ἄρνυμαι γέρας.

[¶23] Apollo:
Should she die old, a sumptuous funeral will she have.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
κἂν γραῦς ὄληται, πλουσίως ταφήσεται.

[¶24] Death:
Phoebus, the law thou layest down is all in favour of the rich.

> Greek: Θάνατος:
πρὸς τῶν ἐχόντων, Φοῖβε, τὸν νόμον τίθης.

[¶25] Apollo:
What mean’st thou? art so wise, and I never knew it?

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
πῶς εἶπας; ἀλλ’ ἦ καὶ σοφὸς λέληθας ὤν;

[¶26] Death:
Those who have wealth would buy the chance of their dying old.

> Greek: Θάνατος:
ὠνοῖντ’ ἂν οἷς πάρεστι γηραιοὺς θανεῖν.

[¶27] Apollo:
It seems then thou wilt not grant me this favour.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
οὔκουν δοκεῖ σοι τήνδε μοι δοῦναι χάριν;

[¶28] Death:
Not I; my customs well thou knowest.

> Greek: Θάνατος:
οὐ δῆτʼ· ἐπίστασαι δὲ τοὺς ἐμοὺς τρόπους.

[¶29] Apollo:
That I do, customs men detest and gods abhor.

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
ἐχθρούς γε θνητοῖς καὶ θεοῖς στυγουμένους.

[¶30] Death:
Thou canst not realise every lawless wish.

> Greek: Θάνατος:
οὐκ ἂν δύναιο πάντ’ ἔχειν ἃ μή σε δεῖ.

[¶31] Apollo:
Mark me, thou shalt have a check for all thy excessive fierceness;

> Greek: Ἀπόλλων:
ἦ μὴν σὺ παύσῃ καίπερ ὠμὸς ὢν ἄγαν·

[¶32] such a hero shall there come to Pheres’ halls, by Eurystheus sent to fetch a team of steeds from the wintry world of Thrace; he, a guest awhile in these halls of Admetus, will wrest this woman from thee by sheer force.

> Greek: τοῖος Φέρητος εἶσι πρὸς δόμους ἀνήρ,
Εὐρυσθέως πέμψαντος ἵππειον μέτα
ὄχημα Θρῄκης ἐκ τόπων δυσχειμέρων,
ὃς δὴ ξενωθεὶς τοῖσδ’ ἐν Ἀδμήτου δόμοις
βίᾳ γυναῖκα τήνδε σ’ ἐξαιρήσεται.

[¶33] So wilt thou get no thanks from me but yet wilt do this all the same, and earn my hatred too.

> Greek: κοὔθ’ ἡ παρ’ ἡμῶν σοι γενήσεται χάρις
δράσεις θ’ ὁμοίως ταῦτʼ, ἀπεχθήσῃ τ’ ἐμοί.

[¶34] Death:
Thou wilt not gain thy purpose any the more for all thy many words; that woman shall to Hades’ halls go down, I tell thee.

> Greek: Θάνατος:
πόλλ’ ἂν σὺ λέξας οὐδὲν ἂν πλέον λάβοις·
ἡ δ’ οὖν γυνὴ κάτεισιν εἰς Ἅιδου δόμους.
στείχω δ’ ἐπ’ αὐτήν, ὡς κατάρξωμαι ξίφει·

[¶35] Lo! I am going for her, that with the sword I may begin my rites, for he whose hair this sword doth hallow is sacred to the gods below.

> Greek: ἱερὸς γὰρ οὗτος τῶν κατὰ χθονὸς θεῶν
ὅτου τόδ’ ἔγχος κρατὸς ἁγνίσῃ τρίχα.

[¶36] First Semichorus:
What means this silence in front of the palace? why is the house of Admetus stricken dumb?

> Greek: Χορός:
—τί ποθ’ ἡσυχία πρόσθεν μελάθρων;
—τί σεσίγηται δόμος Ἀδμήτου;

[¶37] Second Semichorus:
Not one friend near
to say if we must mourn our queen as dead, or if she liveth yet and sees the sun, Alcestis, daughter of Pelias, by me and all esteemed the best of wives
to her husband.

> Greek: —ἀλλ’ οὐδὲ φίλων πέλας οὐδείς,
ὅστις ἂν εἴποι πότερον φθιμένην
βασίλεαν πενθεῖν χρή ⟨μʼ⟩, ἢ ζῶσ’ ἔτι
φῶς τόδε λεύσσει Πελίου παῖς
Ἄλκηστις, ἐμοὶ πᾶσί τ’ ἀρίστη
δόξασα γυνὴ
πόσιν εἰς αὑτῆς γεγενῆσθαι.

[¶38] First Semichorus:
Doth any of you hear a groan, or sound of hands that smite together, or the voice of lamentation, telling all is over and done? Yet is there no servant
stationed about the gate, no, not one. O come, thou saving god, to smooth the swelling waves of woe!

> Greek: Χορός:
—κλύει τις ἢ στεναγμὸν ἢ
χειρῶν κτύπον κατὰ στέγας
ἢ γόον ὡς πεπραγμένων;
—οὐ μὰν οὐδέ τις ἀμφιπόλων στα-
τίζεται ἀμφὶ πύλας. εἰ
γὰρ μετακύμιος ἄτας,
ὦ Παιάν, φανείης.

[¶39] Second Semichorus:
Surely, were she dead, they would not be so still.

> Greek: Χορός:
—οὔ τἂν φθιμένης γ’ ἐσιώπων.

[¶40] First Semichorus:
Maybe her corpse is not yet from the house borne forth.

> Greek: —νέκυς ἤδη.
—οὐ δὴ φροῦδός γ’ ἐξ οἴκων.

[¶41] Second Semichorus:
Whence that inference? I am not so sanguine. What gives thee confidence?

> Greek: —πόθεν; οὐκ αὐχῶ. τί σε θαρσύνει;

[¶42] First Semichorus:
How could Admetus let his noble wife go unattended to the grave?

> Greek: —πῶς ἂν ἔρημον τάφον Ἄδμητος
…
κεδνῆς ἂν ἔπραξε γυναικός;

[¶43] Second Semichorus:
Before the gates I see no lustral water from the spring, as custom doth ordain should be
at the gates of the dead, no shorn lock lies on the threshold, which, as thou knowest, falls in mourning for the dead, no choir of maidens smites its youthful palms together.

> Greek: Χορός:
—πυλῶν πάροιθε δ’ οὐχ ὁρῶ
πηγαῖον ὡς νομίζεται
χέρνιβ’ ἐπὶ φθιτῶν πύλαις.
—χαίτα τ’ οὔτις ἐπὶ προθύροις το-
μαῖος, ἃ δὴ νεκύων πέν-
θει πίτνει· οὐ νεολαία
δουπεῖ χεὶρ γυναικῶν.

[¶44] First Semichorus:
And yet this is the appointed day.

> Greek: Χορός:
—καὶ μὴν τόδε κύριον ἦμαρ...

[¶45] Second Semichorus:
What meanest thou by this?
First Semichorus:
The day appointed for the journey to the world below.

> Greek: —τί τόδ’ αὐδᾷς;
—ᾧ χρή σφε μολεῖν κατὰ γαίας.

[¶46] Second Semichorus:
Thou hast touched me to the heart, e’en to the soul.

> Greek: —ἔθιγες ψυχᾶς, ἔθιγες δὲ φρενῶν.

[¶47] Chorus:
Whoso from his youth up has been accounted virtuous,
needs must weep to see the good suddenly cut off.

> Greek: —χρὴ τῶν ἀγαθῶν διακναιομένων
πενθεῖν ὅστις
χρηστὸς ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς νενόμισται.

[¶48] Chorus:’Tis done; no single spot in all the world remains whither one might steer a course, either to Lycia
or to the parched abodes of Ammon to release the hapless lady’s soul; on comes death with step abrupt,
nor know I to whom I should go of all who at the gods’ altars offer sacrifice.

> Greek: Χορός:
—ἀλλ’ οὐδὲ ναυκληρίαν
ἔσθ’ ὅποι τις αἴας
στείλας, ἢ Λυκίαν
εἴτ’ ἐπὶ τὰς ἀνύδρους
Ἀμμωνιάδας [ἕδρας],
δυστάνου παραλύσαι
ψυχάν· μόρος γὰρ ἀπότομος
πλάθει· θεῶν δ’ ἐπ’ ἐσχάραις
οὐκ ἔχω ἐπὶ τίνα
μηλοθύταν πορευθῶ.

[¶49] Chorus:
Only the son of Phoebus, if he yet saw this light of day—
Ah! then then might she have left the dark abode and gates of Hades and have come again, for he would raise the dead to life, till that the thunderbolt’s forked flame, hurled by Zeus, smote him.

> Greek: Χορός:
—μόνος δ’ ἄν, εἰ φῶς τόδ’ ἦν
ὄμμασιν δεδορκὼς
Φοίβου παῖς, προλιποῦσ’
ἦλθεν ἕδρας σκοτίους
Ἅιδα τε πύλας·
δμαθέντας γὰρ ἀνίστη,
πρὶν αὐτὸν εἷλε διόβολον
πλῆκτρον πυρὸς κεραυνίου.

[¶50] But now what further hope of life can I welcome to me?

> Greek: νῦν δὲ τίν’ ἔτι βίου
ἐλπίδα προσδέχωμαι;

[¶51] Chorus:
Our lords have ere this done all they could; on every altar streams the blood of abundant sacrifice;

> Greek: Χορός:
—πάντα γὰρ ἤδη τετέλεσται βασιλεῦσι,
πάντων δὲ θεῶν ἐπὶ βωμοῖς
αἱμόρραντοι θυσίαι πλήρεις·

[¶52] yet our sorrows find no cure.

> Greek: οὐδ’ ἔστι κακῶν ἄκος οὐδέν.

[¶53] Chorus:
Lo! from the house cometh a handmaid weeping; what shall I be told hath chanced? Grief may well be pardoned, if aught happeneth to one’s master; yet I fain would learn whether our lady
still is living or haply is no more.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλ’ ἥδ’ ὀπαδῶν ἐκ δόμων τις ἔρχεται
δακρυρροοῦσα, τίνα τύχην ἀκούσομαι;
πενθεῖν μέν, εἴ τι δεσπόταισι τυγχάνει,
συγγνωστόν· εἰ δ’ ἔτ’ ἐστὶν ἔμψυχος γυνὴ
εἴτ’ οὖν ὄλωλεν εἰδέναι βουλοίμεθ’ ἄν.

[¶54] Maid:
Alive, yet dead thou may’st call her.

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
καὶ ζῶσαν εἰπεῖν καὶ θανοῦσαν ἔστι σοι.

[¶55] Chorus:
Why, how can the same person be alive, yet dead?

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ πῶς ἂν αὑτὸς κατθάνοι τε καὶ βλέποι;

[¶56] Maid:
She is sinking even now, and at her last gasp.

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
ἤδη προνωπής ἐστι καὶ ψυχορραγεῖ.

[¶57] Chorus:
My poor master! how sad thy lot to lose so good a wife!

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ τλῆμον, οἵας οἷος ὢν ἁμαρτάνεις.

[¶58] Maid:
He did not know his loss, until the blow fell on him.

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
οὔπω τόδ’ οἶδε δεσπότης, πρὶν ἂν πάθῃ.

[¶59] Chorus:
Is there then no more a hope of saving her?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐλπὶς μὲν οὐκέτ’ ἐστὶ σῴζεσθαι βίον;

[¶60] Maid:
None; the fated day comes on so fast.

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
πεπρωμένη γὰρ ἡμέρα βιάζεται.

[¶61] Chorus:
Are then the fitting rites already taking place o’er her body?

> Greek: Χορός:
οὔκουν ἐπ’ αὐτῇ πράσσεται τὰ πρόσφορα;

[¶62] Maid:
Death’s garniture is ready, wherewith her lord will bury her.

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
κόσμος γ’ ἕτοιμος, ᾧ σφε συνθάψει πόσις.

[¶63] Chorus:
Well let her know, though die she must, her fame ranks far above any other wife’s beneath the sun.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἴστω νυν εὐκλεής γε κατθανουμένη
γυνή τ’ ἀρίστη τῶν ὑφ’ ἡλίῳ, μακρῷ.

[¶64] Maid:
Far above! of course it does; who will gainsay it? What must the woman be who hath surpassed her? For how could any wife have shown a clearer regard
for her lord than by offering in his stead to die? Thus much the whole city knows right well; but thou shalt hear with wonder what she did within the house. For when she knew the fatal day was come, she washed her fair white skin with water from the stream,
then from her cedar chests drew forth vesture and ornaments and robed herself becomingly; next, standing before the altar-hearth, she prayed, “Mistress mine, behold! I pass beneath the earth; to thee in suppliant wise will I my latest prayer address;”
“be mother to my orphans, and to my boy unite a loving bride, to my daughter a noble husband. Let them not die, as I, their mother, perish now, untimely in their youth, but let them live their glad lives out, happy in their native land.”

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
πῶς δ’ οὐκ ἀρίστη; τίς δ’ ἐναντιώσεται;
τί χρὴ γενέσθαι τὴν ὑπερβεβλημένην
γυναῖκα; πῶς δ’ ἂν μᾶλλον ἐνδείξαιτό τις
πόσιν προτιμῶσ’ ἢ θέλουσ’ ὑπερθανεῖν;
καὶ ταῦτα μὲν δὴ πᾶσ’ ἐπίσταται πόλις·
ἃ δ’ ἐν δόμοις ἔδρασε θαυμάσῃ κλύων.
ἐπεὶ γὰρ ᾔσθεθ’ ἡμέραν τὴν κυρίαν
ἥκουσαν, ὕδασι ποταμίοις λευκὸν χρόα
ἐλούσατʼ, ἐκ δ’ ἑλοῦσα κεδρίνων δόμων
ἐσθῆτα κόσμον τ’ εὐπρεπῶς ἠσκήσατο,
καὶ στᾶσα πρόσθεν Ἑστίας κατηύξατο·
Δέσποινʼ, ἐγὼ γὰρ ἔρχομαι κατὰ χθονός,
πανύστατόν σε προσπίτνουσ’ αἰτήσομαι,
τέκν’ ὀρφανεῦσαι τἀμά· καὶ τῷ μὲν φίλην
σύζευξον ἄλοχον, τῇ δὲ γενναῖον πόσιν.
μηδ’ ὥσπερ αὐτῶν ἡ τεκοῦσ’ ἀπόλλυμαι
θανεῖν ἀώρους παῖδας, ἀλλ’ εὐδαίμονας
ἐν γῇ πατρῴᾳ τερπνὸν ἐκπλῆσαι βίον.

[¶65] To every altar in Admetus’ halls she went and crowned them and prayed, plucking from myrtle boughs their foliage, with never a tear or groan, nor did her coming trouble change the colour of her comely face.

> Greek: πάντας δὲ βωμούς, οἳ κατ’ Ἀδμήτου δόμους,
προσῆλθε κἀξέστεψε καὶ προσηύξατο,
πτόρθων ἀποσχίζουσα μυρσίνης φόβην,
ἄκλαυτος ἀστένακτος, οὐδὲ τοὐπιὸν
κακὸν μεθίστη χρωτὸς εὐειδῆ φύσιν.

[¶66] Anon into her bridal bower she burst, and then her tears brake forth and thus she cried, “O couch, whereon I loosed my maiden state for the man in whose cause I die, farewell! no hate I feel for thee; for me alone hast thou undone,”
“dying as I die from fear of betraying thee and my lord. Some other wife will make thee hers, more blest maybe than me, but not more chaste.” And she fell upon her knees and kissed it, till with her gushing tears the whole bed was wet.

> Greek: κἄπειτα θάλαμον ἐσπεσοῦσα καὶ λέχος,
ἐνταῦθα δὴ ʼδάκρυσε καὶ λέγει τάδε·
Ὦ λέκτρον, ἔνθα παρθένει’ ἔλυσ’ ἐγὼ
κορεύματ’ ἐκ τοῦδ’ ἀνδρός, οὗ θνῄσκω πέρι,
χαῖρʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἐχθαίρω σʼ· ἀπώλεσας δ’ ἐμὲ
μόνην· προδοῦναι γάρ σ’ ὀκνοῦσα καὶ πόσιν
θνῄσκω. σὲ δ’ ἄλλη τις γυνὴ κεκτήσεται,
σώφρων μὲν οὐκ ἂν μᾶλλον, εὐτυχὴς δ’ ἴσως.
κυνεῖ δὲ προσπίτνουσα, πᾶν δὲ δέμνιον
ὀφθαλμοτέγκτῳ δεύεται πλημμυρίδι.

[¶67] At last, when she had had her fill of weeping, she tore herself from the bed and hurried headlong forth, and oft as she was leaving the chamber turned she back and cast herself once more upon the couch; while her children were weeping as they clung to their mother’s robes;
but she took them each in turn in her arms and kissed them fondly, as a dying mother might. And all the servants in the house fell a-crying in sorrow for their mistress; but she held out her hand to each, nor was there one so mean
but she gave him a word and took his answer back. Such are the sorrows in the halls of Admetus. Dying he had died once for all, but by avoiding death he hath a legacy of grief that he will ne’er forget.

> Greek: ἐπεὶ δὲ πολλῶν δακρύων εἶχεν κόρον,
στείχει προνωπὴς ἐκπεσοῦσα δεμνίων,
καὶ πολλὰ θαλάμων ἐξιοῦσ’ ἐπεστράφη
κἄρριψεν αὑτὴν αὖθις ἐς κοίτην πάλιν.
παῖδες δὲ πέπλων μητρὸς ἐξηρτημένοι
ἔκλαιον· ἣ δὲ λαμβάνουσ’ ἐς ἀγκάλας
ἠσπάζετ’ ἄλλοτ’ ἄλλον, ὡς θανουμένη.
πάντες δ’ ἔκλαιον οἰκέται κατὰ στέγας
δέσποιναν οἰκτίροντες. ἣ δὲ δεξιὰν
προύτειν’ ἑκάστῳ, κοὔτις ἦν οὕτω κακὸς
ὃν οὐ προσεῖπε καὶ προσερρήθη πάλιν.
τοιαῦτ’ ἐν οἴκοις ἐστὶν Ἀδμήτου κακά.
καὶ κατθανών τἂν ὤλετʼ, ἐκφυγών δ’ ἔχει
τοσοῦτον ἄλγος, οὗ ποτ’—οὐ λελήσεται.

[¶68] Chorus:
Doubtless Admetus sorrows in this calamity,
if he must lose so good a wife.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἦ που στενάζει τοισίδ’ Ἄδμητος κακοῖς,
ἐσθλῆς γυναικὸς εἰ στερηθῆναί σφε χρή;

[¶69] Maid:
Ah yes! he weeps, holding in his arms his darling wife, and prays her not to leave him, impossible request! for she is worn and wasted with illness, and lies exhausted, a sad burden in his arms.
Still, though her breath comes short and scant, she yearns to gaze yet on the sunshine, for nevermore, but now the last and latest time her eye shall see his radiant orb. But I will go, thy presence to announce,
for ’tis not all who have the goodwill to stand by their masters with kindly hearts in adversity. But thou of old hast been my master’s friend.

> Greek: Θεράπαινα:
κλαίει γ’ ἄκοιτιν ἐν χεροῖν φίλην ἔχων,
καὶ μὴ προδοῦναι λίσσεται, τἀμήχανα
ζητῶν· φθίνει γὰρ καὶ μαραίνεται νόσῳ.
παρειμένη δέ, χειρὸς ἄθλιον βάρος
…
ὅμως δὲ καίπερ σμικρὸν ἐμπνέουσ’ ἔτι
βλέψαι πρὸς αὐγὰς βούλεται τὰς ἡλίου
ὡς οὔποτ’ αὖθις, ἀλλὰ νῦν πανύστατον.
[ἀκτῖνα κύκλον θ’ ἡλίου προσόψεται.]
ἀλλ’ εἶμι καὶ σὴν ἀγγελῶ παρουσίαν·
οὐ γάρ τι πάντες εὖ φρονοῦσι κοιράνοις,
ὥστ’ ἐν κακοῖσιν εὐμενεῖς παρεστάναι·
σὺ δ’ εἶ παλαιὸς δεσπόταις ἐμοῖς φίλος.

[¶70] Chorus:
O Zeus, what way out of these sorrows can be found? how can we loose the bonds of fate that bind our lord?

> Greek: Χορός:
— ἰὼ Ζεῦ, τίς ἂν [πῶς] πᾷ πόρος κακῶν
γένοιτο καὶ λύσις τύχας
ἃ πάρεστι κοιράνοις;

[¶71] Comes some one forth? Am I at once to cut my hair, and cast the sable robe about me? Too plainly, ay too plainly, friends; still let us to heaven pray; for the gods’ power is very great.

> Greek: —αἰαῖ· εἶσί τις; ἢ τέμω τρίχα,
καὶ μέλανα στολμὸν πέπλων
ἀμφιβαλώμεθ’ ἤδη;
—δῆλα μέν, φίλοι, δῆλά γʼ, ἀλλ’ ὅμως
θεοῖσιν εὐχώμεσθα· θεῶν
γὰρ δύναμις μεγίστα.

[¶72] O king Paean, devise for Admetus some means of escape from his sorrows. Yes, yes, contrive it; for thou in days gone by didst find salvation for him, so now be thou a saviour from the toils of death
and stay bloodthirsty Hades.

> Greek: —ὦναξ Παιάν,
ἔξευρε μηχανάν τιν’ Ἀδμήτῳ κακῶν.
—πόριζε δὴ πόριζε· καὶ πάρος γὰρ
τοῦδ’ ἐφεῦρες, καὶ νῦν
λυτήριος ἐκ θανάτου γενοῦ,
φόνιον δ’ ἀπόπαυσον Ἅιδαν.

[¶73] Chorus:
Woe! woe! alas! Thou son of Pheres, woe! Ah, thy fate in losing thy wife! Is not this enough to make thee slay thyself, ah! more than cause enough to tie the noose aloft and fit it to the neck?
Yea, for to-day wilt thou witness the death of her that was not merely dear, but dearest of the dear. Look, look! she cometh even now, her husband with her, from the house. Cry aloud and wail, O land of Pherae,
wail for the best of women, as with sickness worn she passes ’neath the earth to Hades, lord below.

> Greek: Χορός:
— παπαῖ …
ὦ παῖ Φέρητος, οἷ’ ἔπρα-
ξας δάμαρτος σᾶς στερείς.
—αἰαῖ· ἄξια καὶ σφαγᾶς τάδε,
καὶ πλέον ἢ βρόχῳ δέρην
οὐρανίῳ πελάσσαι;
τὰν γὰρ οὐ φίλαν ἀλλὰ φιλτάταν
γυναῖκα κατθανοῦσαν ἐν
ἄματι τῷδ’ ἐπόψῃ.
—ἰδοὺ ἰδού,
ἥδ’ ἐκ δόμων δὴ καὶ πόσις πορεύεται.
—βόασον ὦ, στέναξον, ὦ Φεραία
χθών, τὰν ἀρίσταν
γυναῖκα μαραινομέναν νόσῳ
κατὰ γᾶς χθόνιον παρ’ Ἅιδαν.

[¶74] Chorus:
Never, never will I say that marriage brings more joy than grief, as I
conjecture by the past and witness these misfortunes of our king, for he when widowed of this noble wife will for the future lead a life that is no life at all.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὔποτε φήσω γάμον εὐφραίνειν
πλέον ἢ λυπεῖν, τοῖς τε πάροιθεν
τεκμαιρόμενος καὶ τάσδε τύχας
λεύσσων βασιλέως, ὅστις ἀρίστης
ἀπλακὼν ἀλόχου τῆσδ’ ἀβίωτον
τὸν ἔπειτα χρόνον βιοτεύσει.

[¶75] Alcestis:
O sun-god, lamp of day!
O scudding clouds that dance along the sky!

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
Ἅλιε καὶ φάος ἁμέρας,
οὐράνιαί τε δῖναι νεφέλας δρομαίου.

[¶76] Admetus:
He sees us both with anguish bowed, albeit guiltless of any crime against the gods, for the which thy death is due.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
ὁρᾷ σὲ κἀμέ, δύο κακῶς πεπραγότας,
οὐδὲν θεοὺς δράσαντας ἀνθ’ ὅτου θανῇ.

[¶77] Alcestis:
O earth, O sheltering roof, and ye my maiden chambers in my native land Iolcos!

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
γαῖά τε καὶ μελάθρων στέγαι
νυμφίδιοί τε κοῖται πατρίας Ἰωλκοῦ.

[¶78] Admetus:
Lift thyself, unhappy wife, forsake me not; entreat the mighty gods to pity us.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
ἔπαιρε σαυτήν, ὦ τάλαινα, μὴ προδῷς·
λίσσου δὲ τοὺς κρατοῦντας οἰκτῖραι θεούς.

[¶79] Alcestis:
I see the two-oared skiff, I see it; and Charon, death’s ferryman, his hand upon the boatman’s pole,
is calling me e’en now, “Why lingerest thou? Hasten. Thou art keeping me.” Thus in his eager haste he hurries me.

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
ὁρῶ δίκωπον ὁρῶ σκάφος ἐν λίμνᾳ·
νεκύων δὲ πορθμεὺς
ἔχων χέρ’ ἐπὶ κοντῷ Χάρων
μ’ ἤδη καλεῖ· Τί μέλλεις;
ἐπείγου· σὺ κατείργεις. τάδε τοί με
σπερχόμενος ταχύνει.

[¶80] Admetus:
Ah me! bitter to me is this voyage thou speakest of. Unhappy wife, what woes are ours!

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
οἴμοι, πικράν γε τήνδε μοι ναυκληρίαν
ἔλεξας. ὦ δύσδαιμον, οἷα πάσχομεν.

[¶81] Alcestis:
One draws me, draws me hence, seest thou not?
to the courts of death, winged Hades glaring from beneath his dark brows. What wilt thou with me? Unhand me. On what a journey am I setting out, most wretched woman I!

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
ἄγει μ’ ἄγει τις· ἄγει μέ τις—οὐχ ὁρᾷς;—
νεκύων ἐς αὐλάν,
ὑπ’ ὀφρύσι κυαναυγέσι
βλέπων πτερωτός—αἵδας.
[μέθες με·] τί ῥέξεις; ἄφες.—οἵαν ὅδον ἁ δει-
λαιότατα προβαίνω.

[¶82] Admetus:
Bitter journey to thy friends, yet most of all to me
and to thy babes, the partners in this sorrow.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
οἰκτρὰν φίλοισιν, ἐκ δὲ τῶν μάλιστ’ ἐμοὶ
καὶ παισίν, οἷς δὴ πένθος ἐν κοινῷ τόδε.

[¶83] Alcestis:
Hands off! hands off at once! Lay me down, I cannot stand. Hades standeth near; and with its gloom steals night upon my eyes.

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
μέθετε μέθετέ μ’ ἤδη.
κλίνατʼ, οὐ σθένω ποσίν·
πλησίον Ἅιδας.
σκοτία δ’ ἐπ’ ὄσσοισι νὺξ ἐφέρπει.

[¶84] O my children, my children, ye have no mother now. Fare ye well, my babes, live on beneath the light!

> Greek: τέκνα, τέκνʼ, οὐκέτι δὴ
οὐκέτι μάτηρ σφῷν ἔστιν.
χαίροντες, ὦ τέκνα, τόδε φάος ὁρῷτον.

[¶85] Admetus:
Woe is me! this is a message of sorrow to me, worse than aught that death can do.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
οἴμοι· τόδ’ ἔπος λυπρὸν ἀκούω
καὶ παντὸς ἐμοὶ θανάτου μεῖζον.

[¶86] Steel not thy heart to leave me, I implore, by heaven, by thy babes whom thou wilt make orphans; nay, raise thyself, have courage. For if thou die I can no longer live; my life, my death are in thy hands; thy love is what I worship.

> Greek: μὴ πρός ⟨σε⟩ θεῶν τλῇς με προδοῦναι,
μὴ πρὸς παίδων οὓς ὀρφανιεῖς,
ἀλλ’ ἄνα, τόλμα·
σοῦ γὰρ φθιμένης οὐκέτ’ ἂν εἴην·
ἐν σοὶ δ’ ἐσμὲν καὶ ζῆν καὶ μή·
σὴν γὰρ φιλίαν σεβόμεσθα.

[¶87] Alcestis:
Admetus, lo! thou seest how it is with me; to thee I fain would tell my wishes ere I die. Thee I set before myself, and instead of living have ensured thy life, and so I die, though I need not have died for thee,
but might have taken for my husband whom I would of the Thessalians, and have had a home blest with royal power; reft of thee, with my children orphans, I cared not to live, nor, though crowned with youth’s fair gifts, wherein I used to joy, did I grudge them.

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
Ἄδμηθʼ, ὁρᾷς γὰρ τἀμὰ πράγμαθ’ ὡς ἔχει,
λέξαι θέλω σοι πρὶν θανεῖν ἃ βούλομαι.
ἐγώ σε πρεσβεύουσα κἀντὶ τῆς ἐμῆς
ψυχῆς καταστήσασα φῶς τόδ’ εἰσορᾶν,
θνῄσκω, παρόν μοι μὴ θανεῖν, ὑπὲρ σέθεν,
ἀλλ’ ἄνδρα τε σχεῖν Θεσσαλῶν ὃν ἤθελον,
καὶ δῶμα ναίειν ὄλβιον τυραννίδι.
οὐκ ἠθέλησα ζῆν ἀποσπασθεῖσά σου
σὺν παισὶν ὀρφανοῖσιν, οὐδ’ ἐφεισάμην
ἥβης, ἔχουσ’ ἐν οἷς ἐτερπόμην ἐγώ.

[¶88] Yet the father that begat thee, the mother that bare thee, gave thee up, though they had reached a time of life when to die were well, so saving thee their child, and winning noble death. For thou wert their only son, nor had they any hope, when thou wert dead, of other offspring.

> Greek: καίτοι σ’ ὁ φύσας χἠ τεκοῦσα προύδοσαν,
καλῶς μὲν αὐτοῖς κατθανεῖν ἧκον βίου,
καλῶς δὲ σῶσαι παῖδα κεὐκλεῶς θανεῖν.
μόνος γὰρ αὐτοῖς ἦσθα, κοὔτις ἐλπὶς ἦν
σοῦ κατθανόντος ἄλλα φιτύσειν τέκνα.

[¶89] And I should have lived and thou the remnant of our days, nor wouldst thou have wept thy wife’s loss, nor have had an orphan family. But some god hath caused these things to be even as they are. Enough! Remember thou the gratitude due to me for this;

> Greek: κἀγώ τ’ ἂν ἔζων καὶ σὺ τὸν λοιπὸν χρόνον,
κοὐκ ἂν μονωθεὶς σῆς δάμαρτος ἔστενες
καὶ παῖδας ὠρφάνευες. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν
θεῶν τις ἐξέπραξεν ὥσθ’ οὕτως ἔχειν.
εἶεν· σὺ νῦν μοι τῶνδ’ ἀπόμνησαι χάριν·

[¶90] yea, for I shall never ask thee for an adequate return, for naught is prized more highly than our life; but just is my request, as thou thyself must say, since thou no less than I dost love these children, if so be thou think’st aright. Be content to let them rule my house,
and do not marry a new wife to be a stepmother to these children, for she from jealousy, if so she be a woman worse than me, will stretch out her hand against the children of our union. Then do not this, I do beseech thee. For the stepmother that succeeds, hateth children
of a former match, cruel as the viper’s are her tender mercies. A son,’tis true, hath in his sire a tower of strength, [to whom he speaks and has his answer back]; but thou, my daughter, how shall thy maidenhood be passed in honour? What shall thy experience be of thy father’s wife?

> Greek: αἰτήσομαι γάρ σ’—ἀξίαν μὲν οὔποτε·
ψυχῆς γὰρ οὐδέν ἐστι τιμιώτερον—
δίκαια δʼ, ὡς φήσεις σύ· τούσδε γὰρ φιλεῖς
οὐχ ἧσσον ἢ ʼγὼ παῖδας, εἴπερ εὖ φρονεῖς·
τούτους ἀνάσχου δεσπότας ἐμῶν δόμων,
καὶ μὴ ʼπιγήμῃς τοῖσδε μητρυιὰν τέκνοις,
ἥτις κακίων οὖσ’ ἐμοῦ γυνὴ φθόνῳ
τοῖς σοῖσι κἀμοῖς παισὶ χεῖρα προσβαλεῖ.
μὴ δῆτα δράσῃς ταῦτά γʼ, αἰτοῦμαί σ’ ἐγώ.
ἐχθρὰ γὰρ ἡ ʼπιοῦσα μητρυιὰ τέκνοις
τοῖς πρόσθʼ, ἐχίδνης οὐδὲν ἠπιωτέρα.
καὶ παῖς μὲν ἄρσην πατέρ’ ἔχει πύργον μέγαν,
[ὃν καὶ προσεῖπε καὶ προσερρήθη πάλιν.]
σὺ δʼ, ὦ τέκνον μοι, πῶς κορευθήσῃ καλῶς;
ποίας τυχοῦσα συζύγου τῷ σῷ πατρί;

[¶91] She may fasten on thee some foul report in thy youthful bloom, and frustrate thy marriage. Never shall thy mother lead thee to the bridal bed, nor by her presence in thy travail hearten thee, my child, when a mother’s kindness triumphs over all.

> Greek: μή σοί τιν’ αἰσχρὰν προσβαλοῦσα κληδόνα
ἥβης ἐν ἀκμῇ σοὺς διαφθείρῃ γάμους.
οὐ γάρ σε μήτηρ οὔτε νυμφεύσει ποτὲ
οὔτ’ ἐν τόκοισι σοῖσι θαρσυνεῖ, τέκνον,
παροῦσʼ, ἵν’ οὐδὲν μητρὸς εὐμενέστερον.

[¶92] No, for I must die; and lo! this evil cometh to me not to-morrow nor yet on the third day of the month, but in a moment shall I be counted among the souls that are no more. Fare ye well, be happy; and thou, husband, canst boast thou hadst a peerless wife,
and you, children, that you had such an one for mother.

> Greek: δεῖ γὰρ θανεῖν με· καὶ τόδ’ οὐκ ἐς αὔριον
οὐδ’ ἐς τρίτην μοι μηνὸς ἔρχεται κακόν,
ἀλλ’ αὐτίκ’ ἐν τοῖς οὐκέτ’ οὖσι λέξομαι.
χαίροντες εὐφραίνοισθε· καὶ σοὶ μέν, πόσι,
γυναῖκ’ ἀρίστην ἔστι κομπάσαι λαβεῖν,
ὑμῖν δέ, παῖδες, μητρὸς ἐκπεφυκέναι.

[¶93] Chorus:
Take heart; I do not hesitate to answer for him; he will perform all this, unless his mind should go astray.

> Greek: Χορός:
θάρσει· πρὸ τούτου γὰρ λέγειν οὐχ ἅζομαι·
δράσει τάδʼ, εἴπερ μὴ φρενῶν ἁμαρτάνει.

[¶94] Admetus:
It shall be so, fear not, it shall; alive thou wert the only wife I had, and dead shalt thou,
none else, be called mine; no Thessalian maid shall ever take thy place and call me lord; not though she spring from lineage high nor though besides she be the fairest of her sex. Of children I have enough; god grant I may in them
be blessed! for in thee has it been otherwise. No year-long mourning will I keep for thee, but all my life through, lady: loathing the mother that bare me, and hating my father, for they were friends in word but not in deed.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
ἔσται τάδ’ ἔσται, μὴ τρέσῃς· ἐπεὶ σ’ ἐγὼ
καὶ ζῶσαν εἶχον καὶ θανοῦσ’ ἐμὴ γυνὴ
μόνη κεκλήσῃ, κοὔτις ἀντὶ σοῦ ποτε
τόνδ’ ἄνδρα νύμφη Θεσσαλὶς προσφθέγξεται.
οὐκ ἔστιν οὕτως οὔτε πατρὸς εὐγενοῦς
οὔτ’ εἶδος ἄλλως ἐκπρεπεστάτη γυνή.
ἅλις δὲ παίδων· τῶνδ’ ὄνησιν εὔχομαι
θεοῖς γενέσθαι· σοῦ γὰρ οὐκ ὠνήμεθα.
οἴσω δὲ πένθος οὐκ ἐτήσιον τὸ σόν,
ἀλλ’ ἔστ’ ἂν αἰὼν οὑμὸς ἀντέχῃ, γύναι,
στυγῶν μὲν ἥ μ’ ἔτικτεν, ἐχθαίρων δ’ ἐμὸν
πατέρα· λόγῳ γὰρ ἦσαν οὐκ ἔργῳ φίλοι.

[¶95] But thou didst give thy dearest for my life and save it. May I not then mourn to lose a wife like thee? And I will put an end to revelry, to social gatherings o’er the wine, forego the festal crown and music which once reigned in my halls.

> Greek: σὺ δ’ ἀντιδοῦσα τῆς ἐμῆς τὰ φίλτατα
ψυχῆς ἔσωσας. ἆρά μοι στένειν πάρα
τοιᾶσδ’ ἁμαρτάνοντι συζύγου σέθεν;
παύσω δὲ κώμους συμποτῶν θ’ ὁμιλίας
στεφάνους τε μοῦσάν θ’ ἣ κατεῖχ’ ἐμοὺς δόμους.

[¶96] For nevermore will I touch the lyre nor lift my soul in song to the Libyan flute, for thou hast taken with thee all my joy in life. But in my bed thy figure shall be laid full length, by cunning artists fashioned;
thereon will I throw myself and, folding my arms about thee, call upon thy name, and think I hold my dear wife in my embrace, although I do not; chill comfort this, no doubt, but still I shall relieve my soul of its sad weight; and thou wilt come
to me in dreams and gladden me. For sweet it is to see our friends, come they when they will, e’en by night. Had I the tongue, the tuneful voice of Orpheus to charm Demeter’s daughter or her husband by my lay and bring thee back from Hades,
I had gone down, nor Pluto’s hound, nor Charon, ferryman of souls, whose hand is on the oar, had held me back, till to the light I had restored thee alive. At least do thou await me there, against the hour I die, prepare a home for me to be my true wife still.

> Greek: οὐ γάρ ποτ’ οὔτ’ ἂν βαρβίτου θίγοιμ’ ἔτι
οὔτ’ ἂν φρέν’ ἐξαίροιμι πρὸς Λίβυν λακεῖν
αὐλόν· σὺ γάρ μου τέρψιν ἐξείλου βίου.
σοφῇ δὲ χειρὶ τεκτόνων δέμας τὸ σὸν
εἰκασθὲν ἐν λέκτροισιν ἐκταθήσεται,
ᾧ προσπεσοῦμαι καὶ περιπτύσσων χέρας
ὄνομα καλῶν σὸν τὴν φίλην ἐν ἀγκάλαις
δόξω γυναῖκα καίπερ οὐκ ἔχων ἔχειν·
ψυχρὰν μέν, οἶμαι, τέρψιν, ἀλλ’ ὅμως βάρος
ψυχῆς ἀπαντλοίην ἄν. ἐν δ’ ὀνείρασι
φοιτῶσά μ’ εὐφραίνοις ἄν· ἡδὺ γὰρ φίλους
κἀν νυκτὶ λεύσσειν, ὅντιν’ ἂν παρῇ χρόνον.
εἰ δ’ Ὀρφέως μοι γλῶσσα καὶ μέλος παρῆν,
ὥστ’ ἢ κόρην Δήμητρος ἢ κείνης πόσιν
ὕμνοισι κηλήσαντά σ’ ἐξ Ἅιδου λαβεῖν,
κατῆλθον ἄν, καί μ’ οὔθ’ ὁ Πλούτωνος κύων
οὔθ’ οὑπὶ κώπῃ ψυχοπομπὸς ἂν Χάρων
ἔσχον, πρὶν ἐς φῶς σὸν καταστῆσαι βίον.
ἀλλ’ οὖν ἐκεῖσε προσδόκα μʼ, ὅταν θάνω,
καὶ δῶμ’ ἑτοίμαζʼ, ὡς συνοικήσουσά μοι.

[¶97] For in this same cedar coffin I will bid these children lay me with thee and stretch my limbs by thine; for never even in death may I be severed from thee, alone found faithful of them all.

> Greek: ἐν ταῖσιν αὐταῖς γάρ μ’ ἐπισκήψω κέδροις
σοὶ τούσδε θεῖναι πλευρά τ’ ἐκτεῖναι πέλας
πλευροῖσι τοῖς σοῖς· μηδὲ γὰρ θανών ποτε
σοῦ χωρὶς εἴην τῆς μόνης πιστῆς ἐμοί.

[¶98] Chorus:
Lo! I too will share with thee thy mourning for her, friend with friend;
for this is but her due.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ μὴν ἐγώ σοι πένθος ὡς φίλος φίλῳ
λυπρὸν συνοίσω τῆσδε· καὶ γὰρ ἀξία.

[¶99] Alcestis:
My children, ye with your own ears have heard your father’s promise, that he will never wed another wife to set her over you, nor e’er dishonour me.

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
ὦ παῖδες, αὐτοὶ δὴ τάδ’ εἰσηκούσατε
πατρὸς λέγοντος μὴ γαμεῖν ἄλλην ποτὲ
γυναῖκ’ ἐφ’ ὑμῖν μηδ’ ἀτιμάσειν ἐμέ.

[¶100] Admetus:
Yea, so I promise now, and accomplish it I will.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
καὶ νῦν γέ φημι, καὶ τελευτήσω τάδε.

[¶101] Alcestis:
On these conditions receive the children from my hand.

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
ἐπὶ τοῖσδε παῖδας χειρὸς ἐξ ἐμῆς δέχου.

[¶102] Admetus:
I receive them, dear pledges by a dear hapd given.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
δέχομαι, φίλον γε δῶρον ἐκ φίλης χερός.

[¶103] Alcestis:
Take thou my place and be a mother to these babes.

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
σὺ νῦν γενοῦ τοῖσδ’ ἀντ’ ἐμοῦ μήτηρ τέκνοις.

[¶104] Admetus:
Sore will be their need when they are reft of thee.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
πολλή μ’ ἀνάγκη, σοῦ γ’ ἀπεστερημένοις.

[¶105] Alcestis:
O my children, I am passing to that world below, when my life was needed most.

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
ὦ τέκνʼ, ὅτε ζῆν χρῆν μʼ, ἀπέρχομαι κάτω.

[¶106] Admetus:
Ah me, what can I do bereft of thee?

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
οἴμοι, τί δράσω δῆτα σοῦ μονούμενος;

[¶107] Alcestis:
Thy sorrow Time will soothe;’tis the dead who are as naught.

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
χρόνος μαλάξει σʼ· οὐδέν ἐσθ’ ὁ κατθανών.

[¶108] Admetus:
Take me, O take me, I beseech, with thee ’neath the earth.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
ἄγου με σὺν σοί, πρὸς θεῶν, ἄγου κάτω.

[¶109] Alcestis:
Enough that I in thy stead am dying.

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
ἀρκοῦμεν ἡμεῖς οἱ προθνῄσκοντες σέθεν.

[¶110] Admetus:
O Destiny! of what a wife art thou despoiling me!

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
ὦ δαῖμον, οἵας συζύγου μ’ ἀποστερεῖς.

[¶111] Alcestis:
Lo! the darkness deepens on my drooping eyes.

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
καὶ μὴν σκοτεινὸν ὄμμα μου βαρύνεται.

[¶112] Admetus:
Lost indeed am I, if thou, dear wife, wilt really leave me.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
ἀπωλόμην ἄρ’, εἴ με δὴ λείψεις, γύναι.

[¶113] Alcestis:
Thou mayst speak of me as naught, as one whose life is o’er.

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
ὡς οὐκέτ’ οὖσαν οὐδὲν ἂν λέγοις ἐμέ.

[¶114] Admetus:
Lift up thy face, leave not thy children.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
ὄρθου πρόσωπον, μὴ λίπῃς παῖδας σέθεν.

[¶115] Alcestis:’Tis not my own free will; O my babes, farewell!

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
οὐ δῆθ’ ἑκοῦσά γʼ, ἀλλὰ χαίρετʼ, ὦ τέκνα.

[¶116] Admetus:
Look, look on them but once.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
βλέψον πρὸς αὐτοὺς βλέψον.

[¶117] Alcestis:
My end is come.

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
οὐδέν εἰμ’ ἔτι.

[¶118] Admetus:
What mean’st thou? art leaving us?

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
τί δρᾷς; προλείπεις;

[¶119] Alcestis:
Farewell!

> Greek: Ἄλκηστις:
χαῖρʼ.

[¶120] Admetus:
Lost! lost! woe is me!

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
ἀπωλόμην τάλας.

[¶121] Chorus:
She is gone, the wife of Admetus is no more.

> Greek: Χορός:
βέβηκεν, οὐκέτ’ ἔστιν Ἀδμήτου γυνή.

[¶122] Eumelus:
O my hard fate! My mother has passed to the realms below; she lives no more,
dear father,’neath the sun. Alas for her! she leaves us ere her time and to me bequeaths an orphan’s life. Behold that staring eye, those nerveless hands!

> Greek: Παῖς:
ἰώ μοι τύχας. μαῖα δὴ κάτω
βέβακεν, οὐκέτ’ ἔστιν, ὦ
πάτερ, ὑφ’ ἁλίῳ.
προλιποῦσα δ’ ἀμὸν
βίον ὠρφάνισσε τλάμων.
ἴδε γὰρ ἴδε βλέφαρον καὶ παρατόνους χέρας.

[¶123] Hear me, mother, hear me, I implore!’tis I who call thee now, I thy tender chick, printing my kisses on thy lips.

> Greek: ὑπάκουσον ἄκουσον, ὦ μᾶτερ, ἀντιάζω.
ἐγώ σ’ ἐγώ, μᾶτερ,
καλοῦμαί σ’ ὁ σὸς ποτὶ σοῖσι πίτ-
στόμασιν νεοσσός.

[¶124] Admetus:
She cannot hear, she cannot see;
a heavy blow hath fortune dealt us, you children and me.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
τὴν οὐ κλύουσαν οὐδ’ ὁρῶσαν· ὥστ’ ἐγὼ
καὶ σφὼ βαρείᾳ συμφορᾷ πεπλήγμεθα.

[¶125] Eumelus:
O father, I am but a child to have my loving mother leave me here alone; O cruel my fate, alas!
and thine, my sister, sharer in my cup of woe. Woe to thee, father! in vain, in vain didst thou take a wife and hast not reached the goal of eld with her; for she is gone before, and now that thou art dead,
my mother, our house is all undone.

> Greek: Παῖς:
νέος ἐγώ, πάτερ, λείπομαι φίλας
μονόστολός τε ματρός· ὦ
σχέτλια δὴ παθὼν
ἐγὼ ἐργὰ..,
σύ τέ μοι σύγκασι κούρα
συνέτλας· … ὦ πάτερ,
ἀνόνατ’ ἀνόνατ’ ἐνύμφευσας, οὐδὲ γήρως
ἔβας τέλος σὺν τᾷδʼ·
ἔφθιτο γὰρ πάρος· οἰχομένας δὲ σοῦ,
μᾶτερ, ὄλωλεν οἶκος.

[¶126] Chorus:
Admetus, these misfortunes thou must bear. Thou art by no means the first nor yet shalt be the last of men to lose a wife of worth; know this, we all of us are debtors unto death.

> Greek: Χορός:
Ἄδμητʼ, ἀνάγκη τάσδε συμφορὰς φέρειν·
οὐ γάρ τι πρῶτος οὐδὲ λοίσθιος βροτῶν
γυναικὸς ἐσθλῆς ἤμπλακες· γίγνωσκε δὲ
ὡς πᾶσιν ἡμῖν κατθανεῖν ὀφείλεται.

[¶127] Admetus:
I understand; this is no sudden flight of ill hither; I was ware of it and long have pined. But since I am to. carry the dead forth to her burial, stay here with me and to that inexorable god in Hades raise your antiphone. While raise your antiphone.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
ἐπίσταμαί γε, κοὐκ ἄφνω κακὸν τόδε
προσέπτατʼ· εἰδὼς δ’ αὔτ’ ἐτειρόμην πάλαι.
ἀλλʼ, ἐκφορὰν γὰρ τοῦδε θήσομαι νεκροῦ,
πάρεστε καὶ μένοντες ἀντηχήσατε
παιᾶνα τῷ κάτωθεν ἀσπόνδῳ θεῷ.

[¶128] While to all Thessalians in my realm I do proclaim a general mourning for this lady, with hair shorn off and robes of sable hue; all ye who harness steeds for cars, or single horses ride, cut off their manes with the sharp steel.

> Greek: πᾶσιν δὲ Θεσσαλοῖσιν ὧν ἐγὼ κρατῶ
πένθους γυναικὸς τῆσδε κοινοῦσθαι λέγω
κουρᾷ ξυρήκει καὶ μελαμπέπλῳ στολῇ·
τέθριππά θ’ οἳ ζεύγνυσθε καὶ μονάμπυκας
πώλους, σιδήρῳ τέμνετ’ αὐχένων φόβην.

[¶129] Hush’d be every pipe, silent every lyre throughout the city till twelve full moons are past; for never again shall I bury one whom I love more, no! nor one more loyal to me; honour from me is her due, for she for me hath died, she and she alone. [Exeunt ADMETUS and EUMELUS, with the other children.

> Greek: αὐλῶν δὲ μὴ κατ’ ἄστυ, μὴ λύρας κτύπος
ἔστω σελήνας δώδεκ’ ἐκπληρουμένας·
οὐ γάρ τιν’ ἄλλον φίλτερον θάψω νεκρὸν
τοῦδ’ οὐδ’ ἀμείνον’ εἰς ἔμʼ· ἀξία δέ μοι
τιμῆς, ἐπεὶ τέθνηκεν ἀντ’ ἐμοῦ μόνη.

[¶130] Chorus:
Daughter of Pelias, be thine a happy life in that sunless home in Hades’ halls! Let Hades know, that swarthy god,
and that old man who sits to row and steer alike at his death-ferry, that he hath carried o’er the lake of Acheron in his two-oared skiff a woman peerless amidst her sex.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ Πελίου θύγατερ,
χαίρουσά μοι εἰν Ἀίδαο δόμοις
τὸν ἀνάλιον οἶκον οἰκετεύοις.
ἴστω δ’ Ἀίδας ὁ μελαγχαίτας θεὸς ὅς τ’ ἐπὶ κώπᾳ
πηδαλίῳ τε γέρων
νεκροπομπὸς ἵζει,
πολὺ δὴ πολὺ δὴ γυναῖκ’ ἀρίσταν
λίμναν Ἀχεροντίαν πορεύ-
σας ἐλάτᾳ δικώπῳ.

[¶131] Chorus:
Oft of thee the Muses’ votaries shall sing on the seven-stringed mountain shell and in hymns that need no harp, glorifying thee, oft as the season in his cycle cometh round at Sparta in that Carnean month
when all night long the moon sails high o’erhead, yea, and in splendid Athens, happy town. So glorious a theme has thy death bequeathed to tuneful bards.

> Greek: Χορός:
πολλά σε μουσοπόλοι
μέλψουσι καθ’ ἑπτάτονόν τ’ ὀρείαν
χέλυν ἔν τ’ ἀλύροις κλέοντες ὕμνοις,
Σπάρτᾳ κύκλος ἁνίκα Καρνείου περινίσσεται ὥρας
μηνός, ἀειρομένας
παννύχου σελάνας,
λιπαραῖσί τ’ ἐν ὀλβίαις Ἀθάναις.
τοίαν ἔλιπες θανοῦσα μολ-
πὰν μελέων ἀοιδοῖς.

[¶132] Chorus:
Would it were in my power and range to bring thee to the light from the chambers of Hades and the streams of Cocytus with the oar that sweeps yon nether flood!

> Greek: Χορός:
εἴθ’ ἐπ’ ἐμοὶ μὲν εἴη,
δυναίμαν δέ σε πέμψαι
φάος ἐξ Ἀίδα τεράμνων
καὶ Κωκυτοῖο ῥεέθρων
ποταμίᾳ νερτέρᾳ τε κώπᾳ.

[¶133] For thou, and thou alone, most dear of women, hadst the courage to redeem thy husband from Hades in exchange for thy own life. Light lie the earth above thee, lady! And if ever thy lord take to him a new wife, I vow he will earn my hatred
and thy children’s too.

> Greek: σὺ γὰρ ὤ, μόνα, ὦ φίλα γυναικῶν,
σὺ τὸν αὑτᾶς
ἔτλας πόσιν ἀντὶ σᾶς ἀμεῖψαι
ψυχᾶς ἐξ Ἅιδα. κούφα σοι
χθὼν ἐπάνωθε πέσοι, γύναι. εἰ δέ τι
καινὸν ἕλοιτο πόσις λέχος, ἦ μάλ’ ἂν ἔμοιγ’ ἂν εἴη
στυγηθεὶς τέκνοις τε τοῖς σοῖς.

[¶134] Chorus:
His mother had no heart to plunge into the darkness of the tomb for her son, no! nor his aged sire. Their own child they had not the courage to rescue,
the wretches! albeit they were grey-headed. But thou in thy youth and beauty hast died for thy lord and gone thy way. O be it mine to have for partner such a loving wife! for this lot is rare in life. Surely she should be my help-meet all my life
and never cause one tear.

> Greek: Χορός:
ματέρος οὐ θελούσας
πρὸ παιδὸς χθονὶ κρύψαι
δέμας, οὐδὲ πατρὸς γεραιοῦ,
…
ὃν ἔτεκον δʼ, οὐκ ἔτλαν ῥύεσθαι,
σχετλίω, πολιὰν ἔχοντε χαίταν.
σὺ δ’ ἐν ἥβᾳ
νέᾳ προθανοῦσα φωτὸς οἴχῃ.
τοιαύτας εἴη μοι κῦρσαι
συνδυάδος φιλίας [ἀλόχου]· τοῦτο γὰρ
ἐν βιότῳ σπάνιον μέρος· ἦ γὰρ ἂν ἔμοιγ’ ἄλυπος
δι’ αἰῶνος ἂν ξυνείη.

[¶135] Heracles:
Mine hosts, dwellers on this Phersean soil! say, shall I find Admetus in the house?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ξένοι, Φεραίας τῆσδε κωμῆται χθονός,
Ἄδμητον ἐν δόμοισιν ἆρα κιγχάνω;

[¶136] Chorus:
The son of Pheres is within, Heracles. Tell me what need is bringing thee to the Thessalian land,
to visit this city of the Pheraeans?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔστ’ ἐν δόμοισι παῖς Φέρητος, Ἡράκλεις.
ἀλλ’ εἰπὲ χρεία τίς σε Θεσσαλῶν χθόνα
πέμπει, Φεραῖον ἄστυ προσβῆναι τόδε.

[¶137] Heracles:
I am performing a labour for Tirynthian Eurystheus.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
Τιρυνθίῳ πράσσω τιν’ Εὐρυσθεῖ πόνον.

[¶138] Chorus:
And whither art thou journeying? on what wandering art thou forced to go?

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ ποῖ πορεύῃ; τῷ προσέζευξαι πλάνῳ;

[¶139] Heracles:
To fetch the chariot-steeds of Thracian Diomedes.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
Θρῃκὸς τέτρωρον ἅρμα Διομήδους μέτα.

[¶140] Chorus:
How canst thou? art a stranger to the ways of thy host?

> Greek: Χορός:
πῶς οὖν δυνήσῃ; μῶν ἄπειρος εἶ ξένου;

[¶141] Heracles:
I am; for never yet have I gone to the land of the Bistones.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἄπειρος· οὔπω Βιστόνων ἦλθον χθόνα.

[¶142] Chorus:
Thou canst not master his horses without fighting.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐκ ἔστιν ἵππων δεσπόσαι σ’ ἄνευ μάχης.

[¶143] Heracles:
Still I cannot refuse these labours.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἀλλ’ οὐδ’ ἀπειπεῖν μὴν πόνους οἷόν τ’ ἐμοί.

[¶144] Chorus:
Then shalt thou slay them and return, or thyself be slain and stay there.

> Greek: Χορός:
κτανὼν ἄρ’ ἥξεις ἢ θανὼν αὐτοῦ μενεῖς.

[¶145] Heracles:
It will not be the first hard course that I have run.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οὐ τόνδ’ ἀγῶνα πρῶτον ἂν δράμοιμ’ ἐγώ.

[¶146] Chorus:
And what will be thy gain, suppose thou master their lord?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δ’ ἂν κρατήσας δεσπότην πλέον λάβοις;

[¶147] Heracles:
The steeds will I drive away to the Tirynthian king.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
πώλους ἀπάξω κοιράνῳ Τιρυνθίῳ.

[¶148] Chorus:
No easy task to bit their jaws.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐκ εὐμαρὲς χαλινὸν ἐμβαλεῖν γνάθοις.

[¶149] Heracles:
Easy enough, unless their nostrils vomit fire.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
εἰ μή γε πῦρ πνέουσι μυκτήρων ἄπο.

[¶150] Chorus:
With ravening jaws they rend the limbs of men.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλ’ ἄνδρας ἀρταμοῦσι λαιψηραῖς γνάθοις.

[¶151] Heracles:
Thou speakest of the food of mountain beasts, not of horses.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
θηρῶν ὀρείων χόρτον, οὐχ ἵππων, λέγεις.

[¶152] Chorus:
Their mangers blood-bedabbled thou shalt see.

> Greek: Χορός:
φάτνας ἴδοις ἂν αἵμασιν πεφυρμένας.

[¶153] Heracles:
Whose son doth he who feeds them boast to be?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
τίνος δ’ ὁ θρέψας παῖς πατρὸς κομπάζεται;

[¶154] Chorus:
Ares’ son, king of the golden targe of Thrace.

> Greek: Χορός:
Ἄρεος, ζαχρύσου Θρῃκίας πέλτης ἄναξ.

[¶155] Heracles:
This toil again is but a piece of my ill-luck;

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
καὶ τόνδε τοὐμοῦ δαίμονος πόνον λέγεις·

[¶156] hard it ever is and still is growing steeper, if I with Ares’ own-begotten sons must fight, first with Lycaon, next with Cycnus, while now I am bound on this third contest to engage the horses and their master.

> Greek: σκληρὸς γὰρ αἰεὶ καὶ πρὸς αἶπος ἔρχεται·
εἰ χρή με παισὶν οἷς Ἄρης ἐγείνατο
μάχην συνάψαι, πρῶτα μὲν Λυκάονι,
αὖθις δὲ Κύκνῳ, τόνδε δ’ ἔρχομαι τρίτον
ἀγῶνα πώλοις δεσπότῃ τε συμβαλῶν.

[¶157] Yet shall no man ever see Alcmena’s son trembling at his foemen’s prowess.

> Greek: ἀλλ’ οὔτις ἔστιν ὃς τὸν Ἀλκμήνης γόνον
τρέσαντα χεῖρα πολεμίαν ποτ’ ὄψεται.

[¶158] Chorus:
See where Admetus, lord of this land, comes in person from the palace forth.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ μὴν ὅδ’ αὐτὸς τῆσδε κοίρανος χθονὸς
Ἄδμητος ἔξω δωμάτων πορεύεται.

[¶159] Admetus:
Hail! son of Zeus, from Perseus sprung.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
χαῖρʼ, ὦ Διὸς παῖ Περσέως τ’ ἀφ’ αἵματος.

[¶160] Heracles:
Joy to thee also, Admetus, king of Thessaly.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
Ἄδμητε, καὶ σὺ χαῖρε, Θεσσαλῶν ἄναξ.

[¶161] Admetus:
Would there were! yet thy kindly heart I know full well.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
θέλοιμ’ ἄν· εὔνουν δ’ ὄντα σ’ ἐξεπίσταμαι.

[¶162] Heracles:
Why dost thou appear with head shorn thus in mourning?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
τί χρῆμα κουρᾷ τῇδε πενθίμῳ πρέπεις;

[¶163] Admetus:
To-day I am to bury one who is dead.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
θάπτειν τιν’ ἐν τῇδ’ ἡμέρᾳ μέλλω νεκρόν.

[¶164] Heracles:
Heaven avert calamity from thy children!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἀπ’ οὖν τέκνων σῶν πημονὴν εἴργοι θεός.

[¶165] Admetus:
The children I have begotten are alive within my house.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
ζῶσιν κατ’ οἴκους παῖδες οὓς ἔφυσ’ ἐγώ.

[¶166] Heracles:
Thy father maybe is gone; well, he was ripe to go.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
πατήρ γε μὴν ὡραῖος, εἴπερ οἴχεται.

[¶167] Admetus:
No, Heracles, he lives; my mother too.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
κἀκεῖνος ἔστι χἡ τεκοῦσά μʼ, Ἡράκλεις.

[¶168] Heracles:
It cannot be thy wife is dead, thy Alcestis?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οὐ μὴν γυνή γ’ ὄλωλεν Ἄλκηστις σέθεν;

[¶169] Admetus:
I can a twofold tale tell about her.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
διπλοῦς ἐπ’ αὐτῇ μῦθος ἔστι μοι λέγειν.

[¶170] Heracles:
Dost mean that she is dead, or living still?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
πότερα θανούσης εἶπας ἢ ζώσης ἔτι;

[¶171] Admetus:
She lives, yet lives no more; that is my grief.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
ἔστιν τε κοὐκέτ’ ἔστιν, ἀλγύνει δ’ ἐμέ.

[¶172] Heracles:
I am no wiser yet; thy words are riddles to me.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οὐδέν τι μᾶλλον οἶδʼ· ἄσημα γὰρ λέγεις.

[¶173] Admetus:
Knowest thou not the doom she must undergo?

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
οὐκ οἶσθα μοίρας ἧς τυχεῖν αὐτὴν χρεών;

[¶174] Heracles:
I know she did submit to die in thy stead.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οἶδʼ, ἀντὶ σοῦ γε κατθανεῖν ὑφειμένην.

[¶175] Admetus:
How then is she still alive, if so she promised?

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
πῶς οὖν ἔτ’ ἔστιν, εἴπερ ᾔνεσεν τάδε;

[¶176] Heracles:
Ah! weep not thy wife before the day, put that off till then.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἆ, μὴ πρόκλαι’ ἄκοιτιν, ἐς τότ’ ἀμβαλοῦ.

[¶177] Admetus:
The doomed is dead; the dead no more exists.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
τέθνηχ’ ὁ μέλλων, κοὐκέτ’ ἔσθ’ ὁ κατθανών.

[¶178] Heracles:
Men count to be and not to be something apart.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
χωρὶς τό τ’ εἶναι καὶ τὸ μὴ νομίζεται.

[¶179] Admetus:
Thy verdict this, O Heracles, mine another.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
σὺ τῇδε κρίνεις, Ἡράκλεις, κείνῃ δ’ ἐγώ.

[¶180] Heracles:
Why weepest then? which of thy dear ones is the dead?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
τί δῆτα κλαίεις; τίς φίλων ὁ κατθανών;

[¶181] Admetus:’Tis a woman; I spoke of a woman just now.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
γυνή· γυναικὸς ἀρτίως μεμνήμεθα.

[¶182] Heracles:
A stranger, or one of thine own kin?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ὀθνεῖος ἢ σοὶ συγγενὴς γεγῶσά τις;

[¶183] Admetus:
A stranger, yet in another sense related to my house.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
ὀθνεῖος, ἄλλως δ’ ἦν ἀναγκαία δόμοις.

[¶184] Heracles:
How then came she by her death in house of thine?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
πῶς οὖν ἐν οἴκοις σοῖσιν ὤλεσεν βίον;

[¶185] Admetus:
Her father dead, she lived here as an orphan.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
πατρὸς θανόντος ἐνθάδ’ ὠρφανεύετο.

[¶186] Heracles:
Ah! would I had found thee free from grief, Admetus!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
φεῦ.
εἴθ’ ηὕρομέν σʼ, Ἄδμητε, μὴ λυπούμενον.

[¶187] Admetus:
With what intent dost thou devise this speech?

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
ὡς δὴ τί δράσων τόνδ’ ὑπορράπτεις λόγον;

[¶188] Heracles:
I will seek some other friendly hearth.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ξένων πρὸς ἄλλων ἑστίαν πορεύσομαι.

[¶189] Admetus:
Never, O prince! Heaven forefend such dire disgrace!

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
οὐκ ἔστιν, ὦναξ· μὴ τοσόνδ’ ἔλθοι κακόν.

[¶190] Heracles:
A guest is a burden to sorrowing friends, if come he should.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
λυπουμένοις ὀχληρός, εἰ μόλοι, ξένος.

[¶191] Admetus:
The dead are dead. Come in.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
τεθνᾶσιν οἱ θανόντες· ἀλλ’ ἴθ’ ἐς δόμους.

[¶192] Heracles:
To feast in a friend’s house of sorrow is shameful.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
αἰσχρὸν παρὰ κλαίουσι θοινᾶσθαι ξένους.

[¶193] Admetus:
The guest chambers lie apart, whereto we will conduct thee.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
χωρὶς ξενῶνές εἰσιν οἷ σ’ ἐσάξομεν.

[¶194] Heracles:
Let me go; ten thousandfold shall be my thanks to thee.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
μέθες με, καί σοι μυρίαν ἕξω χάριν.

[¶195] Admetus:
Thou must not go to any other hearth. (To a Servant.) Go before, open the guest-rooms that face not these chambers, and bid my stewards see there is plenty of food; then shut the doors that lead into the courtyard; for ’tis not seemly that guests when at their meat
should hear the voice of weeping or be made sad. [Exit HERACLES.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλου σ’ ἀνδρὸς ἑστίαν μολεῖν.
ἡγοῦ σὺ τῷδε δωμάτων ἐξωπίους
ξενῶνας οἴξας, τοῖς τ’ ἐφεστῶσιν φράσον
σίτων παρεῖναι πλῆθος· εὖ δὲ κλῄσατε
θύρας μεσαύλους· οὐ πρέπει θοινωμένους
κλύειν στεναγμῶν οὐδὲ λυπεῖσθαι ξένους.

[¶196] Chorus:
What doest thou? With such calamity before thee, hast thou the heart, Admetus, to welcome visitors? What means this folly?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δρᾷς; τοιαύτης συμφορᾶς προκειμένης,
Ἄδμητε, τολμᾷς ξενοδοκεῖν; τί μῶρος εἶ;

[¶197] Admetus:
Well, and if I had driven him from my house and city when he came to be my guest, wouldst thou have praised me more?

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
ἀλλ’ εἰ δόμων σφε καὶ πόλεως ἀπήλασα
ξένον μολόντα, μᾶλλον ἄν μ’ ἐπῄνεσας;

[¶198] No indeed! for my calamity would have been no whit less, while I should have been more churlish. And this would have been another woe to add to mine, that my house should be called no friend to guests. Yea, and I find him myself the best of hosts
whene’er to Argos’ thirsty land I come.

> Greek: οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεί μοι συμφορὰ μὲν οὐδὲν ἂν
μείων ἐγίγνετʼ, ἀξενώτερος δ’ ἐγώ.
καὶ πρὸς κακοῖσιν ἄλλο τοῦτ’ ἂν ἦν κακόν,
δόμους καλεῖσθαι τοὺς ἐμοὺς ἐχθροξένους.
αὐτὸς δ’ ἀρίστου τοῦδε τυγχάνω ξένου,
ὅταν ποτ’ Ἄργους διψίαν ἔλθω χθόνα.

[¶199] Chorus:
Why then didst thou conceal thy present misfortune, if, as thy own lips declare, it was a friend that came?

> Greek: Χορός:
πῶς οὖν ἔκρυπτες τὸν παρόντα δαίμονα,
φίλου μολόντος ἀνδρός, ὡς αὐτὸς λέγεις;

[¶200] Admetus:
He would never have entered my house, had he known aught of my distress.

> Greek: Ἄδμητος:
οὐκ ἄν ποτ’ ἠθέλησεν εἰσελθεῖν δόμους,
εἰ τῶν ἐμῶν τι πημάτων ἐγνώρισε.

[¶201] Maybe there are who think me but a fool for acting thus, and these will blame me; but my halls have never learnt to drive away or treat with scorn my guests.
Chorus:
O home of hospitality, thrown open by thy lord to all now and ever!
In thee it was that Pythian Apollo, the sweet harper, deigned to make his home, and in thy halls was content to lead a shepherd’s life,
piping o’er the sloping downs shepherd’s madrigals to thy flocks.

> Greek: καὶ τῷ μέν, οἶμαι, δρῶν τάδ’ οὐ φρονεῖν δοκῶ,
οὐδ’ αἰνέσει με· τἀμὰ δ’ οὐκ ἐπίσταται
μέλαθρ’ ἀπωθεῖν οὐδ’ ἀτιμάζειν ξένους.
Χορός:
ὦ πολύξεινος καὶ ἐλεύθερος ἀνδρὸς ἀεί ποτ’ οἶκος,
σέ τοι καὶ ὁ Πύθιος εὐλύρας Ἀπόλλων
ἠξίωσε ναίειν,
ἔτλα δὲ σοῖσι μηλονόμας
ἐν δόμοις γενέσθαι,
δοχμιᾶν διὰ κλιτύων
βοσκήμασι σοῖσι συρίζων
ποιμνίτας ὑμεναίους.

[¶202] Chorus:
And spotted lynxes couched amid his sheep in joy to hear his melody,
and the lions’ tawny troop left the glen of Othrys and came; came too the dappled fawn on nimble foot from beyond the crested pines and frisked about thy lyre, O Phoebus,
for very joy at thy gladsome minstrelsy.

> Greek: Χορός:
σὺν δ’ ἐποιμαίνοντο χαρᾷ μελέων βαλιαί τε λύγκες,
ἔβα δὲ λιποῦσ’ Ὄθρυος νάπαν λεόντων
ἁ δαφοινὸς ἴλα·
χόρευσε δ’ ἀμφὶ σὰν κιθάραν,
Φοῖβε, ποικιλόθριξ
νεβρὸς ὑψικόμων πέραν
βαίνουσ’ ἐλατᾶν σφυρῷ κούφῳ,
χαίρουσ’ εὔφρονι μολπᾷ.

[¶203] Chorus:
And so it is thy lord inhabits a home rich in countless flocks
by Boebe’s lovely mere, bounding his tilled corn-land and his level pastures with the clime of the Molossi near the sun’s dark stable,
and holding sway as far as the harbourless strand of the Aegean ’neath Pelion’s shadow.

> Greek: Χορός:
τοιγὰρ πολυμηλοτάταν
ἑστίαν οἰκεῖς παρὰ καλλίναον
Βοιβίαν λίμναν. ἀρότοις δὲ γυᾶν
καὶ πεδίων δαπέδοις ὅρον ἀμφὶ μὲν
ἀελίου κνεφαίαν
ἱππόστασιν αἰθέρα τὰν Μολοσσῶν … τίθεται,
πόντιον δ’ Αἰγαίων’ ἐπ’ ἀκτὰν
ἀλίμενον Πηλίου κρατύνει.