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Heracles
Would I had the power to bring thy wife up to the light from the halls of death, and confer this kindness on thee!
Would I had the power to bring thy wife up to the light from the halls of death, and confer this kindness on thee!
Admetus
Right well I know thou wouldst. But what of that? The dead can never come to life again.
1075
Right well I know thou wouldst. But what of that? The dead can never come to life again.
1075
Heracles
Do not exceed the mark, but bear thy grief with moderation.
Do not exceed the mark, but bear thy grief with moderation.
Admetus
’Tis easier to advise than to suffer and endure.
’Tis easier to advise than to suffer and endure.
Heracles
Yet what thy gain, if thou for aye wilt mourn?
Yet what thy gain, if thou for aye wilt mourn?
Admetus
I too know that myself, but some strange yearning leads me on.
1080
I too know that myself, but some strange yearning leads me on.
1080
Heracles
Love for the dead compels a tear.
Love for the dead compels a tear.
Admetus
Her death was mine, more than any words of mine can tell.
Her death was mine, more than any words of mine can tell.
Heracles
Thou hast lost a noble wife; who shall gainsay it?
Thou hast lost a noble wife; who shall gainsay it?
Admetus
Life henceforth hath lost all charm for me.
Life henceforth hath lost all charm for me.
Heracles
Time will soothe the smart; as yet thy grief is young.
1085
Time will soothe the smart; as yet thy grief is young.
1085
Admetus
Time! use that word, if death and time are one.
Time! use that word, if death and time are one.
Heracles
A new wife and a longing for a fresh marriage will stay thy sorrow.
A new wife and a longing for a fresh marriage will stay thy sorrow.
Admetus
Peace! What words are thine? I ne’er of thee had thought it.
Peace! What words are thine? I ne’er of thee had thought it.
Heracles
What! wilt never wed, but preserve thy widowed state?
What! wilt never wed, but preserve thy widowed state?
Admetus
There is no woman living that shall share my couch.
1090
There is no woman living that shall share my couch.
1090
Heracles
Dost think that this will help the dead at all?
Dost think that this will help the dead at all?
Admetus
My reverence she deserves, where’er she is.
My reverence she deserves, where’er she is.
Heracles
I praise thee, yes; but still thou bringest on thyself the charge of folly.
I praise thee, yes; but still thou bringest on thyself the charge of folly.
Admetus
So that thou never call’st me bridegroom, praise me if thou wilt.
So that thou never call’st me bridegroom, praise me if thou wilt.
Heracles
I praise thee for thy loyalty to thy wife.
1095
I praise thee for thy loyalty to thy wife.
1095
Admetus
Come death! if ever I betray her, dead though she be.
Come death! if ever I betray her, dead though she be.
Heracles
Well, take this maiden to the shelter of thy noble house.
Well, take this maiden to the shelter of thy noble house.
Admetus
Spare me, I entreat thee by Zeus, thy sire.
Spare me, I entreat thee by Zeus, thy sire.
Heracles
Be sure, if thou refuse, ’twill be a sad mistake.
Be sure, if thou refuse, ’twill be a sad mistake.
Admetus
If I comply, remorse will gnaw my heart.
1100
If I comply, remorse will gnaw my heart.
1100
Heracles
Yield; for in god’s good time maybe thou wilt give me thanks.
Yield; for in god’s good time maybe thou wilt give me thanks.
Admetus
Ah! would thou hadst never won her in the games!
Ah! would thou hadst never won her in the games!
Heracles
Yet thou too sharest in my victory.
Yet thou too sharest in my victory.
Admetus
True; still let this maiden go away.
True; still let this maiden go away.
Heracles
Go she shall, if go she must; but first see if this is needful.
1105
Go she shall, if go she must; but first see if this is needful.
1105
Admetus
I needs must, else wilt thou be wroth with me.
I needs must, else wilt thou be wroth with me.
Heracles
I have a reason good to press the matter thus.
I have a reason good to press the matter thus.
Admetus
Have thy way then. Yet know well thy deed I disapprove.
Have thy way then. Yet know well thy deed I disapprove.
Heracles
A day will come that thou wilt praise me; only yield.
A day will come that thou wilt praise me; only yield.
Admetus
(to his servants). Take her in, if I needs must give her welcome in my house.
1110
(to his servants). Take her in, if I needs must give her welcome in my house.
1110
Heracles
To thy servants will I not hand her over.
To thy servants will I not hand her over.
Admetus
Conduct her then thyself within, if so thou thinkest good.
Conduct her then thyself within, if so thou thinkest good.
Heracles
Nay, but into thy hands shall mine consign her.
Nay, but into thy hands shall mine consign her.
Admetus
I will not touch her, though she is free to go within my halls.
I will not touch her, though she is free to go within my halls.
Heracles
To thy hand, and thine alone I her entrust.
1115
To thy hand, and thine alone I her entrust.
1115
Admetus
Prince, against my will thou dost constrain me to this deed.
Prince, against my will thou dost constrain me to this deed.
Heracles
Boldly stretch out thy hand and touch the stranger maid.
Boldly stretch out thy hand and touch the stranger maid.
Alcestis. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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