HER. One should speak freely to a friend, Admetus, and, not in silence keep
within our bosoms what we blame. Now I thought myself worthy as a friend to
stand near thy calamities, and to search them out;[47] but thou didst not
tell me that it was thy wife's corse that demanded thy attention; but didst
receive me in thy house, as though occupied in grief for one not thine. And
I crowned my head and poured out to the Gods libations in thy house which
had suffered this calamity. And I _do_ blame thee, I blame thee, having met
with this treatment! not that I wish to grieve thee in thy miseries. But
wherefore I am come, having turned back again, I will tell thee. Receive
and take care of this woman for me, until I come hither driving the
Thracian mares, having slain the king of the Bistonians. But if I meet with
what I pray I may not meet with, (for may I return!) I give thee her as an
attendant of thy palace. But with much toil came she into my hands; for I
find some who had proposed a public contest for wrestlers, worthy of my
labors, from whence I bear off her, having received her as the prize of my
victory; for those who conquered in the lighter exercises had to receive
horses, but those again who conquered in the greater, the boxing and the
wrestling, cattle, and a woman was added to these; but in me, who happened
to be there, it had been base to neglect this glorious gain. But, as I
said, the woman ought to be a care to you, for I am come not having
obtained her by stealth, but with labor; but at some time or other thou too
wilt perhaps commend me for it.
ADM. By no means slighting thee, nor considering thee among mine enemies,
did I conceal from thee the unhappy fate of my wife; but this had been a
grief added to grief, if thou hadst gone to the house of another host: but
it was sufficient for me to weep my own calamity. But the woman, if it is
in any way possible, I beseech thee, O king, bid some one of the
Thessalians, who has not suffered what I have, to take care of (but thou
hast many friends among the Pheræans) lest thou remind me of my
misfortunes. I can not, beholding her in the house, refrain from weeping;
add not a sickness to me already sick; for I am enough weighed down with
misery. Where besides in the house can a youthful woman be maintained? for
she is youthful, as she evinces by her garb and her attire; shall she then
live in the men's apartment? And how will she be undefiled, living among
young men? A man in his vigor, Hercules, it is no easy thing to restrain;
but I have a care for thee. Or can I maintain her, having made her enter
the chamber of her that is dead? And how can I introduce her into her bed?
I fear a double accusation, both from the citizens, lest any should convict
me of having betrayed my benefactress, and lying in the bed of another
girl; and I ought to have much regard toward the dead (and she deserves my
respect). But thou, O lady, whoever thou art, know that thou hast the same
size of person with Alcestis, and art like her in figure. Ah me! take by
the Gods this woman from mine eyes, lest you destroy me already destroyed.
For I think, when I look upon her, that I behold my wife; and it agitates
my heart, and from mine eyes the streams break forth; O unhappy I, how
lately did I begin to taste this bitter grief!
CHOR. I can not indeed speak well of thy fortune; but it behooves thee,
whatever thou art, to bear with firmness the dispensation of the Gods.
HER. Oh would that I had such power as to bring thy wife to the light from
the infernal mansions, and to do this service for thee!
ADM. Well know I that thou hast the will: but how can this be? It is not
possible for the dead to come into the light.
HER. Do not, I pray, go beyond all bound, but bear it decently,
ADM. Tis easier to exhort, than suffering to endure.
HER. But what advantage can you gain if you wish to groan forever?
ADM. I know that too myself; but a certain love impels me.
HER. For to love one that is dead draws the tear.
ADM. She hath destroyed me, and yet more than my words express.
HER. Thou hast lost an excellent wife; who will deny it?
ADM. _Ay,_ so that I am no longer delighted with life.
HER. Time will soften the evil, but now it is yet in its vigor[48] on thee.
ADM. Time thou mayst say, if to die be time.
HER. A wife will bid it cease, and the desire of a new marriage.
ADM. Hold thy peace--What saidst thou? I could not have supposed it.
HER. But why? what, wilt not marry, but pass a widowed life alone?
ADM. There is no woman that shall lie with me.
HER. Dost thou think that thou art in aught benefiting her that is dead?
ADM. Her, wherever she is, I am bound to honor.
HER. I praise you indeed, I praise you; but you incur the charge of folly.
ADM. _Praise me, or praise me not;_ for you shall never call me bridegroom.
HER. I do praise thee, because thou art a faithful friend to thy wife.
ADM. May I die, when I forsake her, although she is not!
HER. Receive then this noble woman into thine house.
ADM. Do not, I beseech thee by thy father Jove.
HER. And yet you will be acting wrong, if you do not this.
ADM. Yes, and if I do it, I shall have my heart gnawed with sorrow.
HER. Be prevailed upon: perhaps this favor may be proved a duty.
ADM. Ah! would that you had never borne her off from the contest!
HER. Yet with me conquering thou'rt victorious too.
ADM. Thou hast well spoken; but let the woman depart.
HER. She shall depart, if it is needful; but first see whether it be
needful.
ADM. It is needful, if thou at least dost not mean to make me angry.
HER. I too have this desire, for I know somewhat.
ADM. Conquer then. Thou dost not however do things pleasing to me.
HER. But some time or other thou wilt praise me; only be persuaded.
ADM. Lead her in, if I must receive her in my house.
HER. I will not deliver up the woman into the charge of the servants.
ADM. But do thou thyself lead her into the house if it seems fit.
HER. I then will give her into thine hands.
ADM. I will not touch her; but she is at liberty to enter the house.
HER. I trust her to thy right hand alone.
ADM. O king, thou compellest me to do this against my will.
HER. Dare to stretch out thy hand and touch the stranger.
ADM. And in truth I stretch it out, as I would to the Gorgon with her
severed head.[49]
HER. Have you her?
ADM. I have.
HER. Then keep her fast; and some time or other thou wilt say that the son
of Jove is a generous guest. But look on her, whether she seems aught to
resemble thy wife; and being blest leave off from thy grief.
ADM. O Gods, what shall I say? An unexpected wonder this! Do I truly see
here my wife, or does the mocking joy of the Deity strike me from my
senses?
HER. It is not so; but thou beholdest here thy wife.
ADM. Yet see, whether this be not a phantom from the realms beneath.
HER. Thou hast not made thine host an invoker of spirits.
ADM. But do I behold my wife, whom I buried?
HER. Be well assured _thou dost;_ but I wonder not at thy disbelief of thy
fortune.