First, though he saw our Lord was in mourning, he entered, and dared to pass through the gates. Then, knowing our misfortune, he did not soberly accept what was offered him, but if anything was not served to him he ordered us to bring it. In both hands he took a cup of ivy-wood, and drank the unmixed wine of the dark grape-mother, until he was encompassed and heated with the flame of wine. He crowned his head with myrtle sprays, howling discordant songs. There was he caring nothing for Admetus's misery, and we servants weeping for our Queen; and yet we hid our tear-laden eyes from the guest, for so Admetus had commanded.
And now in the Palace I must entertain this stranger, some villainous thief and brigand, while she, the Queen I mourn, has gone from the house unfollowed, unsaluted, she who was as a mother to me and all us servants, for she sheltered us from a myriad troubles by softening her husband's wrath.
Am I not right, then, to hate this stranger, who came to us in the midst of sorrow?
(HERACLES comes from the Palace. He is drunkenly merry, with a myrtle wreath on his head, and a large cup and wine-skin in his hands.
He staggers a little.)
HERACLES
Hey, you! Why so solemn and anxious? A servant should not be sullen with guests, but greet them with a cheerful heart.
You see before you a man who is your lord's friend, and you greet him with a gloomy, frowning face, because of your zeal about a strange woman's death. Come here, and let me make you a little wiser!
(With drunken gravity) Know the nature of human life? Don't think you do. You couldn't. Listen to me. All mortals must die.
Isn't one who knows if he'll be alive to-morrow morning. Who knows where Fortune will lead? Nobody can teach it. Nobody learn it by rules. So, rejoice in what you hear, and learn from me! Count each day as it comes as Life-and leave the rest to Fortune. Above all, honour the Love Goddess, sweetest of all the Gods to mortal men, a kindly goddess! Put all the rest aside. Trust in what I say, if you think Ispeak truth-as I believe. Get rid of this gloom, rise superior to Fortune. Crown yourself with flowers and drink with me, won't you? Iknow the regular clink of the wine-cup will row you from darkness and gloom to another haven. Mortals should think mortal thoughts. To all solemn and frowning men, life I say is not life, but a disaster.
SERVANT
We know all that, but what we endure here to-day is far indeed from gladness and laughter.
HERACLES
But the dead woman was a stranger. Lament not overmuch, then, for the Lords of this Palace are still alive.
SERVANT
How, alive? Do you not know the misery of this house?
HERACLES
Your lord did not lie to me?
SERVANT
He goes too far in hospitality!
HERACLES
But why should I suffer for a stranger's death?
SERVANT
It touches this house only too nearly.
HERACLES
Did he hide some misfortune from me?
SERVANT
Go in peace! The miseries of our lords concern us.
HERACLES
That speech does not imply mourning for a stranger!
SERVANT
No, or I should not have been disgusted to see you drinking.
HERACLES
Have I then been basely treated by my host?
SERVANT
You did not come to this house at a welcome hour. We are in mourning. You see my head is shaved and the black garments I wear.
HERACLES
But who, then, is dead? One of the children? The old father?
SERVANT
O stranger, Admetus no longer has a wife.
HERACLES
What! And yet I was received in this way?
SERVANT
He was ashamed to send you away from his house.
HERACLES
O hapless one! What a wife you have lost!
SERVANT
Not she alone, but all of us are lost.
HERACLES (now completely sobered)
I felt there was something when I saw his tear-wet eyes, his shaven head, his distracted look. But he persuaded me he was taking the body of a stranger to the grave. Against my will I entered these ates, and drank in the home of this generous man-and he in such grief!
And shall I drink at such a time with garlands of flowers on my head? You, why did you not tell me that such misery had come upon this house? Where is he burying her? Where shall I find him?
SERVANT
Beside the straight road which leads to Larissa you will see a tomb of polished stone outside the walls.
(Returns to the servants' quarters)
HERACLES
O heart of me, much-enduring heart, O right arm, now indeed must you show what son was born to Zeus by Alcmena, the Tirynthian, daughter of Electryon! For I must save this dead woman, and bring back Alcestis to this house as a grace to Admetus.
I shall watch for Death, the black-robed Lord of the Dead, and Iknow I shall find him near the tomb, drinking the blood of the sacrifices. If can leap upon him from an ambush, seize him, grasp him in my arms, no power in the world shall tear his bruised sides from me until he has yielded up this woman. If I miss my prey, if he does not come near the bleeding sacrifice, I will go down to Kore and her lord in their sunless dwelling, and I will make my entreaty to them, and I know they will give me Alcestis to bring back to the hands of the host who welcomed me, who did not repulse me from his house, though he was smitten with heavy woe which most nobly he hid from me! Where would be a warmer welcome in Thessaly or in all the dwellings of Hellas?
He shall not say he was generous to an ingrate!
(HERACLES goes out. Presently ADMETUS and his attendants, followed by the CHORUS, return from the burial of ALCESTIS.)ADMETUS (chanting)
Alas!
Hateful approach, hateful sight of my widowed house! Oh me! Oh me!
Alas! Whither shall I go? Where rest? What can I say? What refrain from saying? Why can I not die? Indeed my mother bore me for a hapless fate. I envy the dead, I long to be with them, theirs are the dwellings where I would be. Without pleasure I look upon the light of day and set my feet upon the earth-so precious a hostage has Death taken from me to deliver unto Hades!
CHORUS (chanting responsively with ADMETUS)Go forward, Enter your house.
ADMETUS
Alas!
CHORUS
Your grief deserves our tears.
ADMETUS
O Gods!
CHORUS
I know you have entered into sorrow.
ADMETUS
Woe! Woe!
CHORUS
Yet you bring no aid to the dead.
ADMETUS
Oh me! Oh me!
CHORUS