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My friends, I count my dead wife’s lot more blest than mine, for all it seems not so; for nevermore can sorrow touch her for ever; all her toil is over, and glorious is her fame. While I, who had no right to live, have passed the bounds of fate
935
only to live a life of misery; I know it now. For how shall I endure to enter this my house? Whom shall I address, by whom be answered back, to find
1
aught joyful in my entering in? Whither shall I turn? Within, the desolation will drive me forth,
940
whensoe’er I see my widowed couch, the seat whereon she sat, the floor ail dusty in the house, and my babes falling at my knees with piteous tears for their mother, while my servants mourn the good mistress their house hath lost.
945
These are the sorrows in my home, while abroad the marriages among Thessalians and the thronging crowds of women will drive me mad,
2
for I can never bear to gaze upon the compeers of my wife. And whoso is my foe will taunt me thus,
950
Behold him living in his shame, a wretch who quailed at death himself, but of his coward heart gave up his wedded wife instead, and escaped from Hades; doth he deem himself a man after that? And he loathes his parents, though himself refused to die. Such ill report shall I to my evils add.
955
What profit, then, my friends, for me to live, in fame and fortune ruined.
960
My friends, I count my dead wife’s lot more blest than mine, for all it seems not so; for nevermore can sorrow touch her for ever; all her toil is over, and glorious is her fame. While I, who had no right to live, have passed the bounds of fate
935
only to live a life of misery; I know it now. For how shall I endure to enter this my house? Whom shall I address, by whom be answered back, to find
1
aught joyful in my entering in? Whither shall I turn? Within, the desolation will drive me forth,
940
whensoe’er I see my widowed couch, the seat whereon she sat, the floor ail dusty in the house, and my babes falling at my knees with piteous tears for their mother, while my servants mourn the good mistress their house hath lost.
945
These are the sorrows in my home, while abroad the marriages among Thessalians and the thronging crowds of women will drive me mad,
2
for I can never bear to gaze upon the compeers of my wife. And whoso is my foe will taunt me thus,
950
Behold him living in his shame, a wretch who quailed at death himself, but of his coward heart gave up his wedded wife instead, and escaped from Hades; doth he deem himself a man after that? And he loathes his parents, though himself refused to die. Such ill report shall I to my evils add.
955
What profit, then, my friends, for me to live, in fame and fortune ruined.
960
Alcestis. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1906.
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