Alcestis (1 of 15)
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THE ALCESTIS OF EURIPIDES
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY GILBERT MURRAY
CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY
ADMETUS, _King of Pherae in Thessaly_.
ALCESTIS, _daughter of Pelias, his wife_.
PHERES, _his father, formerly King but now in retirement_.
TWO CHILDREN, _his son and daughter_.
A MANSERVANT _in his house_.
A HANDMAID.
The Hero HERACLES.
The God APOLLO.
THANATOS _or_ DEATH.
CHORUS, _consisting of Elders of Pherae_.
_The scene represents the ancient Castle of_ ADMETUS _near Pherae in Thessaly. It is the dusk before dawn_; APOLLO, _radiant in the darkness, looks at the Castle._
APOLLO. Admetus' House! 'Twas here I bowed my head Of old, and chafed not at the bondman's bread, Though born in heaven. Aye, Zeus to death had hurled My son, Asclepios, Healer of the World, Piercing with fire his heart; and in mine ire I slew his Cyclop churls, who forged the fire. Whereat Zeus cast me forth to bear the yoke Of service to a mortal. To this folk I came, and watched a stranger's herd for pay, And all his house I have prospered to this day. For innocent was the Lord I chanced upon And clean as mine own heart, King Pheres' son, Admetus. Him I rescued from the grave, Beguiling the Grey Sisters till they gave A great oath that Admetus should go free, Would he but pay to Them Below in fee Another living soul.
Long did he prove All that were his, and all that owed him love, But never a soul he found would yield up life And leave the sunlight for him, save his wife: Who, even now, down the long galleries Is borne, death-wounded; for this day it is She needs must pass out of the light and die. And, seeing the stain of death must not come nigh My radiance, I must leave this house I love.
But ha! The Headsman of the Pit, above Earth's floor, to ravish her! Aye, long and late He hath watched, and cometh at the fall of fate.
_Enter from the other side_ THANATOS; _a crouching black-haired and winged figure, carrying a drawn sword. He starts in revulsion on seeing_ APOLLO.
THANATOS. Aha! Why here? What mak'st thou at the gate,
Thou Thing of Light? Wilt overtread The eternal judgment, and abate
And spoil the portions of the dead? 'Tis not enough for thee to have blocked
In other days Admetus' doom With craft of magic wine, which mocked
The three grey Sisters of the Tomb;
But now once more
I see thee stand at watch, and shake
That arrow-armed hand to make This woman thine, who swore, who swore,
To die now for her husband's sake.
APOLLO. Fear not. I bring fair words and seek but what is just.
THANATOS (_sneering_) And if words help thee not, an arrow must?
APOLLO. 'Tis ever my delight to bear this bow.
THANATOS. And aid this house unjustly? Aye, 'tis so.
APOLLO. I love this man, and grieve for his dismay.
THANATOS. And now wilt rob me of my second prey!
APOLLO. I never robbed thee, neither then nor now.
THANATOS. Why is Admetus here then, not below?
APOLLO. He gave for ransom his own wife, for whom ...
THANATOS (_interrupting_). I am come; and straight will bear her to the tomb.
APOLLO. Go, take her.--I can never move thine heart.
THANATOS (_mocking_). To slay the doomed?--Nay; I will do my part.
APOLLO. No. To keep death for them that linger late.
THANATOS (_still mocking_). 'Twould please thee, so?... I owe thee homage great.
APOLLO. Ah, then she may yet ... she may yet grow old?
THANATOS (_with a laugh_). No!... I too have my rights, and them I hold.
APOLLO. 'Tis but one life thou gainest either-wise.
THANATOS. When young souls die, the richer is my prize.
APOLLO. Old, with great riches they will bury her.
THANATOS. Fie on thee, fie! Thou rich-man's lawgiver!
APOLLO. How? Is there wit in Death, who seemed so blind?
THANATOS. The rich would buy long life for all their kind.
APOLLO. Thou will not grant me, then, this boon? 'Tis so?
THANATOS. Thou knowest me, what I am: I tell thee, no!
APOLLO. I know gods sicken at thee and men pine.
