ALCESTIS

Asclepius, the son of Apollo, being a mighty physician, raised men

from the dead. But Zeus was wroth that a man should have such power,

and so make of no effect the ordinance of the gods. Wherefore he smote

Asclepius with a thunderbolt and slew him. And when Apollo knew this,

he slew the Cyclopes that had made the thunderbolts for his father

Zeus, for men say that they make them on their forges that are in the

mountain of Etna.

Zeus suffered not this deed to go unpunished, but passed this sentence

on his son Apollo, that he should serve a mortal man for the space of

a whole year. Wherefore, for all that he was a god, he kept the sheep

of Admetus, who was the Prince of Pherae in Thessaly. And Admetus knew

not that he was a god; but, nevertheless, being a just man, dealt

truly with him.

And it came to pass after this that Admetus was sick unto death. But

Apollo gained this grace for him of the Fates (who order of life and

death for men), that he should live, if only he could find some one

who should be willing to die in his stead. And he went to all his

kinsmen and friends and asked this thing of them, but found no one

that was willing so to die; only Alcestis his wife was willing.

And when the day was come on the which it was appointed for her to

die, Death came that he might fetch her. And when he was come, he

found Apollo walking to and for before the palace of King Admetus,

having his bow in his hand. And when Death saw him, he said:

"What doest thou here, Apollo? Is it not enough for thee to have kept

Admetus from his doom? Dost thou keep watch and ward over this woman

with thine arrows and thy bow?"

"Fear not," the god made answer, "I have justice on my side."

"If thou hast justice, what need of thy bow?"

"'Tis my wont to carry it."

"Ay, and it is thy wont to help this house beyond all right and law."

"Nay, but I was troubled at the sorrows of one that I loved, and

helped him."

"I know thy cunning speech and fair ways; but this woman thou shalt

not take from me."

"But consider; thou canst have but one life. Wilt thou not take

another in her stead?"

"Her and no other will I have, for my honour is the greater when I

take the young."

"I know thy temper, hated both of gods and of men. But there cometh a

guest to this house, whom Eurystheus sendeth to the snowy plains of

Thrace, to fetch the horses of Diomed. Haply he shall persuade thee

against thy will."

"Say what thou wilt; it shall avail nothing. And now I go to cut off

a lock of her hair, for I take these first-fruits of them that die."

In the meantime, within the palace, Alcestis prepared herself for

death. And first she washed her body with pure water from the river,

and then she took from her coffer of cedar her fairest apparel, and

adorned herself therewith. Then, being so arranged, she stood before

the hearth and prayed, saying:

"O Queen Here, behold! I depart this day. Do thou therefore keep my

children, giving to this one a noble husband and to that a loving

wife."

And all the altars that were in the house she visited in like manner,

crowning them with myrtle leaves and praying at them. Nor did she weep

at all, or groan, or grow pale. But at the last, when she came to her

chamber, she cast herself upon the bed and kissed it, crying:

"I hate thee not, though I die for thee, giving myself for my husband.

And thee another wife shall possess, not more true than I am, but,

maybe, more fortunate!"

And after she had left the chamber, she turned to it again and again

with many tears.

And all the while her children clung to her garments, and she took

them up in her arms, the one first and then the other, and kissed

them. And all the servants that were in the house bewailed their

mistress, nor did she fail to reach her hand to each of them greeting

him. There was not one of them so vile but she spake to him and was

spoken to again.

After this, when the hour was now come when she must die, she cried to

her husband (for he held her in his arms, as if he would have stayed

her that she should not depart):

"I see the boat of the dead, and Charon standing with his hand upon

the pole, who calleth me, saying, 'Hasten; thou delayest us'; and then

again, 'A winged messenger of the dead looketh at me from under his

dark eyebrows, and would lead me away. Dost thou not see him?'"

Then, after this, she seemed now ready to die, yet again she gathered

strength, and said to the King:

"Listen, and I will tell thee before I die what I would have thee do.

Thou knowest how I have given my life for thy life. For when I might

have lived, and had for my husband any prince of Thessaly that I

would, and dwelt here in wealth and royal state, yet could I not

endure to be widowed of thee and that thy children should be

fatherless. Therefore I spared not myself, though thy father and

mother betrayed thee. But the gods have ordered all this after their

own pleasure. So be it. Do thou therefore make this recompense, which

indeed thou owest to me, for what will not a man give for his life?

Thou lovest these children even as I love them. Suffer them then to be

rulers in this house, and bring not a stepmother over them who shall

hate them and deal with them unkindly. A son, indeed, hath a tower of

strength in his father. But, O my daughter, how shall it fare with

thee, for thy mother will not give thee in marriage, nor be with thee,

comforting thee when a mother most showeth kindness and love. And now

farewell, for I die this day. And thou, too, farewell, my husband.

Thou losest a true wife, and ye, too, my children, a true mother."

Then Admetus made answer:

"Fear not, it shall be as thou wilt. I could not find other wife fair

and well born and true as thou. Never more shall I gather revellers

in my palace, or crown my head with garlands, or hearken to the voice

of music. Never shall I touch the harp or sing to the Libyan flute.

And some cunning craftsman shall make an image fashioned like unto

thee, and this I will hold in my arms and think of thee. Cold comfort

indeed, yet that shall ease somewhat of the burden of my soul. But oh!

that I had the voice and melody of Orpheus, for then had I gone down

to Hell and persuaded the Queen thereof or her husband with my song to

let thee go; nor would the watch-dog of Pluto, nor Charon that

ferrieth the dead, have hindered me but that I had brought thee to the

light. But do thou wait for me there, for there will I dwell with

thee; and when I die they shall lay me by thy side, for never was wife

so true as thou."

Then said Alcestis:

"Take these children as a gift from me, and be as a mother to them."

"O me!" he cried, "what shall I do, being bereaved of thee?"

And she said:

"Time will comfort thee; the dead are as nothing."

But he said:

"Nay, but let me depart with thee."

But the Queen made answer:

"'Tis enough that I die in thy stead."

And when she had thus spoken she gave up the ghost.

Then the King said to the old men that were gathered together to

comfort him:

"I will see to this burial. And do ye sing a hymn as is meet to the

god of the dead. And to all my people I make this decree; that they

mourn for this woman, and clothe themselves in black, and shave their

heads, and that such as have horses cut off their manes, and that

there be not heard in the city the voice of the flute or the sound of

the harp for the space of twelve months."

Then the old men sang the hymn as they had been bidden. And when they

had finished, it befell that Hercules, who was on a journey, came to

the palace and asked whether King Admetus was sojourning there.

And the old men answered:

"'Tis even so, Hercules. But what, I pray thee, bringeth thee to this

land?"

"I am bound on an errand for King Eurystheus; even to bring back to

him horses of King Diomed."

"How wilt thou do this? Dost thou not know this Diomed?"

"I know naught of him, nor of his land."

"Thou wilt not master him or his horses without blows."

"Even so, yet I may not refuse the tasks that are set to me."

"Thou art resolved then to do this thing or to die?"

"Ay; and this is not the first race that I have run."

"Thou wilt not easily bridle these horses."

"Why not? They breathe not fire from their nostrils."

"No, but they devour the flesh of men."

"What sayest thou? This is the food of wild beasts, not of horses."

"Yet 'tis true. Thou wilt see their mangers foul with blood."

"And the master of these steeds, whose son is he?"

"He is son of Ares, lord of the land of Thrace."

"Now this is a strange fate and a hard that maketh me fight ever with

the sons of Ares, with Lycaon first, and with Cycnus next, and now

with this King Diomed. But none shall ever see the son of Alcmena

trembling before an enemy."

And now King Admetus came forth from the palace. And when the two had

greeted one another, Hercules would fain know why the King had shaven

his hair as one that mourned for the dead. And the King answered that

he was about to bury that day one that was dear to him.

And when Hercules inquired yet further who this might be, the King

said that his children were well, and his father also, and his mother.

But of his wife he answered so that Hercules understood not that he

spake of her. For he said that she was a stranger by blood, yet near

in friendship, and that she had dwelt in his house, having been left

an orphan of her father. Nevertheless Hercules would have departed and

found entertainment elsewhere, for he would not be troublesome to his

host. But the King suffered him not. And to the servant that stood by

he said:

"Take thou this guest to the guest-chamber; and see that they that

have charge of these matters set abundance of food before him. And

take care that ye shut the doors between the chambers and the palace;

for it is not meet that the guest at his meal should hear the cry of

them that mourn."

And when the old men would know why the King, having so great a

trouble upon him, yet entertained a guest, he made answer:

"Would ye have commended me the more if I had caused him to depart

from this house and this city? For my sorrow had not been one whit the

less, and I had lost the praise of hospitality. And a right worthy

host is he to me if ever I chance to visit the land of Argos."

And now they had finished all things for the burying of Alcestis, when

the old man Pheres, the father of the King, approached, and servants

came with him bearing robes and crowns and other adornments wherewith

to do honour to the dead. And when he was come over against the bier

whereon they laid the dead woman, he spake to the King, saying:

"I am come to mourn with thee, my son, for thou hast lost a noble

wife. Only thou must endure, though this indeed is a hard thing. But

take these adornments, for it is meet that she should be honoured who

died for thee, and for me also, that I should not go down to the grave

childless." And to the dead he said, "Fare thee well, noble wife, that

hast kept this house from falling. May it be well with thee in the

dwellings of the dead!"

But the King answered him in great wrath:

"I did not bid thee to this burial, nor shall this dead woman be

adorned with gifts of thine. Who art thou that thou shouldest bewail

her? Surely thou art not father of mine. For being come to extreme old

age, yet thou wouldst not die for thy son, but sufferedst this woman,

being a stranger in blood, to die for me. Her, therefore, I count

father and mother also. Yet this had been a noble deed for thee,

seeing that the span of life that was left to thee was short. And I,

too, had not been left to live out my days thus miserably, bereaved of

her whom I loved. Hast thou not had all happiness, thus having lived

in kingly power from youth to age? And thou wouldst have left a son to

come after thee, that thy house should not be spoiled by thine

enemies. Have I not always done due reverence to thee and to my

mother? And, lo! this is the recompense that ye make me. Wherefore I

say to thee, make haste and raise other sons who may nourish thee in

thy old age, and pay thee due honour when thou art dead, for I will

not bury thee. To thee I am dead."

Then the old man spake:

"Thinkest thou that thou art driving some Lydian and Phrygian slave

that hath been bought with money, and forgettest that I am a freeborn

man of Thessaly, as my father was freeborn before me? I reared thee to

rule this house after me; but to die for thee, that I owed thee not.

This is no custom among the Greeks that a father should die for his

son. To thyself thou livest or diest. All that was thy due thou hast

received of me; the kingdom over many people, and, in due time, broad

lands which I also received of my father. How have I wronged thee? Of

what have I defrauded thee? I ask thee not to die for me; and I die

not for thee. Thou lovest to behold this light. Thinkest thou that thy

father loveth it not? For the years of the dead are very long; but the

days of the living are short yet sweet withal. But I say to thee that

thou hast fled from thy fate in shameless fashion, and hast slain this

woman. Yea, a woman hath vanquished thee, and yet thou chargest

cowardice against me. In truth, 'tis a wise device of thine that thou

mayest live forever, if marrying many times, thou canst still persuade

thy wife to die for thee. Be silent, then, for shame's sake; and if

thou lovest life, remember that others love it also."

So King Admetus and his father reproached each other with many

unseemly words. And when the old man had departed, they carried forth

Alcestis to her burial.

But when they that bare the body had departed, there came in the old

man that had the charge of the guest-chambers, and spake, saying:

"I have seen many guests that have come from all the lands under the

sun to this palace of Admetus, but never have I given entertainment to

such evil guest as this. For first, knowing that my lord was in sore

trouble and sorrow, he forebore not to enter these gates. And then he

took his entertainment in most unseemly fashion; for if he lacked

aught he would call loudly for it; and then, taking a great cup

wreathed with leaves of ivy in his hands, he drank of red wine

untempered with water. And when the food had warmed him, he crowned

his head with myrtle boughs, and sang in the vilest fashion. Then

might one hear two melodies, this fellow's songs, which he sang

without thought for the troubles of my lord and the lamentation

wherewith we servants lamented our mistress. But we suffered not this

stranger to see our tears, for so my lord had commanded. Surely this

is a grievous thing that I must entertain this stranger, who surely is

some thief or robber. And meanwhile they have taken my mistress to her

grave, and I followed not after her, nor reached my hand to her, that

was as a mother to all that dwell in this place."

When the man had so spoken, Hercules came forth from the

guest-chamber, crowned with myrtle, and his face flushed with wine.

And he cried to the servant, saying:

"Ho, there! why lookest thou so solemn and full of care? Thou shouldst

not scowl on thy guest after this fashion, being full of some sorrow

that concerns thee not nearly. Come hither, and I will teach thee to

be wiser. Knowest thou what manner of thing the life of a man is? I

trow not. Hearken therefore. There is not a man who knoweth what a day

may bring forth. Therefore I say to thee: Make glad thy heart; eat,

drink, count the day that now is to be thine own, but all else to be

doubtful. As for all other things, let them be, and hearken to my

words. Put away this great grief that lieth upon thee, and enter into

this chamber. Right soon shall I ease thee of these gloomy thoughts.

As thou art a man, be wise after the fashion of a man; for to them

that are of a gloomy countenance, life, if only I judge rightly, is

not life but trouble only."

Then the servant answered:

"All this I know; but we have fared so ill in this house that mirth

and laughter ill beseem us."

"But they tell me that this dead woman was a stranger. Why shouldst

thou be so troubled, seeing that they who rule this house yet live?"

"How sayest thou that they live? Thou knowest not what trouble we

endure."

"I know it, unless thy lord strangely deceived me."

"My lord is given to hospitality."

"And should it hinder him that there is some stranger dead in the

house?"

"A stranger, sayest thou? 'Tis passing strange to call her thus."

"Hath thy lord then suffered some sorrow that he told thee not?"

"Even so, or I had not loathed to see thee at thy revels. Thou seest

this shaven hair and these black robes."

"What then? Who is dead? One of thy lord's children, or the old man,

his father?"

"Stranger, 'tis the wife of Admetus that is dead."

"What sayest thou? And yet he gave me entertainment?"

"Yea, for he would not, for shame, turn thee from his house."

"O miserable man, what a helpmeet thou hast lost!"

"Ay, and we are all lost with her."

"Well I knew it; for I saw the tears in his eyes, and his head shaven,

and his sorrowful regard; but he deceived me, saying that the dead

woman was a stranger. Therefore did I enter the doors and make merry,

and crown myself with garlands, not knowing what had befallen my host.

But, come, tell me; where doth he bury her? Where shall I find her?"

"Follow straight along the road that leadeth to Larissa, and thou

shalt see her tomb in the outskirts of the city."

Then said Hercules to himself:

"O my heart, thou hast dared many great deeds before this day; and now

most of all must I show myself a true son of Zeus. Now will I save

this dead woman Alcestis, and give her back to her husband, and make

due recompense to Admetus. I will go, therefore, and watch for this

black-robed king, even Death. Me-thinks I shall find him nigh unto the

tomb, drinking the blood of the sacrifices. There will I lie in wait

for him, and run upon him, and throw my arms about him, nor shall

anyone deliver him out of my hands, till he have given up to me this

woman. But if it chance that I find him not there, and he come not to

the feast of blood, I will go down to the Queen of Hell, to the land

where the sun shineth not, and beg her of the Queen; and doubtless she

will give her to me, that I may give her to her husband. Right nobly

did he entertain me, and drave me not from his house, for all that he

had been stricken by such sorrow. Is there a man in Thessaly, nay in

the whole land of Greece, that is such a lover of hospitality? I trow

not. Noble is he, and he shall know that he is no ill friend to whom

he hath done this thing."

So Hercules went his way. And when he was gone Admetus came back from

the burying of his wife, a great company following him, of whom the

elders sought to comfort him in his sorrow. And when he was come to

the gates of his palace he cried:

"How shall I enter thee? how shall I dwell in thee? Once I came within

thy gates with many pine-torches from Pelion, and the merry noise of

the marriage song, holding in my hand the hand of her that is dead;

and after us followed a troop that magnified her and me, so noble a

pair we were. And now with wailing instead of marriage songs, and

garments of black for white wedding robes, I go to my desolate couch."

But while he yet lingered before the palace Hercules came back,

leading with him a woman that was covered with a veil. And when he saw

the King, he said:

"I hold it well to speak freely to one that is a friend, and that a

man should not hide a grudge in his heart. Hear me, therefore. Though

I was worthy to be counted thy friend, yet thou saidst not that thy

wife lay dead in thy house, but suffered me to feast and make merry.

For this, therefore, I blame thee. And now I will tell thee why I am

returned. I pray thee, keep this woman against the day when I shall

come back from the land of Thrace, bringing the horses of King Diomed.

And if it should fare ill with me, let her abide here and serve thee.

Not without toil came she into my hands. I found as I went upon my way

that certain men had ordered contests for wrestlers and runners, and

the like. Now for them that had the preeminence in lesser things there

were horses for prizes; and for the greater, as wrestling and boxing,

a reward of oxen, to which was added this woman. And now I would have

thee keep her, for which thing, haply, thou wilt one day thank me."

To this the King answered:

"I thought no slight when I hid this truth from thee. Only it would

have been for me sorrow upon sorrow if thou hadst gone to the house of

another. But as for this woman, I would have thee ask this thing of

some prince of Thessaly that hath not suffered such grief as I. In

Pherae here thou hast many friends; but I could not look upon her

without tears. Add not then this new trouble. And also how could she,

being young, abide in my house, for young I judge her to be? And of a

truth, lady, thou art very like in shape and stature to my Alcestis

that is dead. I pray you, take her from my sight, for she troubleth my

heart, and my tears run over with beholding her."

Then said Hercules:

"Would I had such strength that I could bring back thy wife from the

dwellings of the dead, and put her in thy hands."

"I know thy good will, but what profiteth it? No man may bring back

the dead."

"Well, time will soften thy grief, which yet is new."

"Yea, if by time thou meanest death."

"But a new wife will comfort thee."

"Hold thy peace; such a thing cometh not into my thoughts."

"What? wilt thou always keep this widowed state?"

"Never shall woman more be wife of mine."

"What will this profit her that is dead?"

"I know not, yet had I sooner die than be false to her."

"Yet I would have thee take this woman into thy house."

"Ask it not of me, I entreat thee, by thy father Zeus."

"Thou wilt lose much if thou wilt not do it."

"And if I do it I shall break my heart."

"Haply some day thou wilt thank me; only be persuaded."

"Be it so; they shall take the woman into the house."

"I would not have thee entrust her to thy servants."

"If thou so thinkest, lead her in thyself."

"Nay, but I would give her into thy hands."

"I touch her not, but my house she may enter."

"'Tis only to thy hand I entrust her."

"O King, thou compellest me to this against my will."

"Stretch forth thy hand and touch her."

"I touch her as I would touch the Gorgon's head."

"Hast thou hold of her?"

"I have hold."

"Then keep her safe, and say that the son of Zeus is a noble friend.

See if she be like thy wife; and change thy sorrow for joy."

And when the King looked, lo! the veiled woman was Alcestis his wife.