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Admetus
There, then, I stretch it out as toward the Gorgon’s severed head.
1
There, then, I stretch it out as toward the Gorgon’s severed head.
1
Heracles
Hast hold of her?
Hast hold of her?
Admetus
I have.
I have.
Heracles
(removes the veil). So; keep her safely then, and
in days to come thou wilt confess the son of Zeus proved himself a noble guest. Look well at her, if haply to thy gaze she have a semblance of thy wife; and now that thou art blest, cease from sorrowing.
1120
(removes the veil). So; keep her safely then, and
in days to come thou wilt confess the son of Zeus proved himself a noble guest. Look well at her, if haply to thy gaze she have a semblance of thy wife; and now that thou art blest, cease from sorrowing.
1120
Admetus
Great gods, what shall I say? a marvel past all hope is here! My wife, my own true wife I see,
or is some mocking rapture sent by heaven to drive me mad?
1125
Great gods, what shall I say? a marvel past all hope is here! My wife, my own true wife I see,
or is some mocking rapture sent by heaven to drive me mad?
1125
Heracles
No, no; ’tis thy own wife thou seest here.
No, no; ’tis thy own wife thou seest here.
Admetus
Beware it be not a phantom from that nether world.
Beware it be not a phantom from that nether world.
Heracles
No necromancer was this guest whom thou didst welcome.
No necromancer was this guest whom thou didst welcome.
Admetus
Do I behold my wife, her whom I buried?
Do I behold my wife, her whom I buried?
Heracles
Be well assured thereof; still I marvel not thou dost distrust thy luck.
1130
Be well assured thereof; still I marvel not thou dost distrust thy luck.
1130
Admetus
May I touch her, may I speak to her as my living wife?
May I touch her, may I speak to her as my living wife?
Heracles
Speak to her. For thou hast all thy heart’s desire.
Speak to her. For thou hast all thy heart’s desire.
Admetus
O form and features of my well-loved wife! past all hope I hold thee, never expecting to see thee again.
O form and features of my well-loved wife! past all hope I hold thee, never expecting to see thee again.
Heracles
So thou dost; may no jealous god rise against thee!
1135
So thou dost; may no jealous god rise against thee!
1135
Admetus
O noble son of almighty Zeus, good luck to thee! may the father that begat thee hold thee in his keeping; for thou and none else hast raised my fallen fortunes. How didst thou bring her from the world below to this light of day?
O noble son of almighty Zeus, good luck to thee! may the father that begat thee hold thee in his keeping; for thou and none else hast raised my fallen fortunes. How didst thou bring her from the world below to this light of day?
Heracles
By encountering the god
2
who had her in his power.
1140
By encountering the god
2
who had her in his power.
1140
Admetus
Where didst thou engage with Death? tell me this.
Where didst thou engage with Death? tell me this.
Heracles
Just by the tomb I from my ambush sprang and caught him in my grip.
Just by the tomb I from my ambush sprang and caught him in my grip.
Admetus
But why thus speechless stands my wife?
But why thus speechless stands my wife?
Heracles
’Tis not lawful yet for thee to hear her speak,
ere she be purified from the gods below and the third day be come. So lead her in; and hereafter, e’en as now, be just and kind to guests, Admetus. Now farewell! for I must go to perform my appointed task
1145
for the lordly son of Sthenelus.
1150
’Tis not lawful yet for thee to hear her speak,
ere she be purified from the gods below and the third day be come. So lead her in; and hereafter, e’en as now, be just and kind to guests, Admetus. Now farewell! for I must go to perform my appointed task
1145
for the lordly son of Sthenelus.
1150
Admetus
Abide with us and be our welcome guest.
Abide with us and be our welcome guest.
Heracles
Another time; now must I use all haste.
Another time; now must I use all haste.
Admetus
Good luck to thee! and mayst thou come again! To the citizens and ail my realm
I make this proclamation, that they institute dances in honour of the glad event, and make the altars steam with sacrifice, and offer prayers; for now have I moored my bark of life in a happier haven than before, and so will own myself a happy man.
1155
Good luck to thee! and mayst thou come again! To the citizens and ail my realm
I make this proclamation, that they institute dances in honour of the glad event, and make the altars steam with sacrifice, and offer prayers; for now have I moored my bark of life in a happier haven than before, and so will own myself a happy man.
1155
Alcestis. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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