Exodos
LEADER.But see, it is Alcmena's son once more,My lord King, cometh striding to thy door.
(Enter HERACLES; his dress is as in the last scene, but shows signs of a struggle. Behind come two Attendants, guiding between them a veiled Woman, who seems like one asleep or unconscious. The Woman remains in the background while HERACLES comes forward.)
HERACLES.Thou art my friend, Admetus; therefore boldAnd plain I tell my story, and withholdNo secret hurt.--Was I not worthy, friend,To stand beside thee; yea, and to the endBe proven in sorrow if I was true to thee?And thou didst tell me not a word, while sheLay dead within; but bid me feast, as thoughNaught but the draping of some stranger's woeWas on thee. So I garlanded my browAnd poured the gods drink-offering, and but nowFilled thy death-stricken house with wine and song.Thou hast done me wrong, my brother; a great wrongThou hast done me. But I will not add more painIn thine affliction.Why I am here again,Returning, thou must hear. I pray thee, takeAnd keep yon woman for me till I makeMy homeward way from Thrace, when I have ta'enThose four steeds and their bloody master slain.And if--which heaven avert!--I ne'er should seeHellas again, I leave her here, to beAn handmaid in thy house. No labour smallWas it that brought her to my hand at all.I fell upon a contest certain KingsHad set for all mankind, sore buffetingsAnd meet for strong men, where I staked my lifeAnd won this woman. For the easier strifeBlack steeds were prizes; herds of kine were castFor heavier issues, fists and wrestling; last,This woman.... Lest my work should all seem doneFor naught, I needs must keep what I have won;So prithee take her in. No theft, but trueToil, won her.... Some day thou mayst thank me, too.
ADMETUS.'Twas in no scorn, no bitterness to thee,I hid my wife's death and my misery.Methought it was but added pain on painIf thou shouldst leave me, and roam forth againSeeking another's roof. And, for mine ownSorrow, I was content to weep alone.But, for this damsel, if it may be so,I pray thee, Lord, let some man, not in woeLike mine, take her. Thou hast in ThessalyAbundant friends.... 'Twould wake sad thoughts in me.How could I have this damsel in my sightAnd keep mine eyes dry? Prince, why wilt thou smiteThe smitten? Griefs enough are on my head.Where in my castle could so young a maidBe lodged--her veil and raiment show her young:Here, in the men's hall? I should fear some wrong.'Tis not so easy, Prince, to keep controlledMy young men. And thy charge I fain would holdSacred.--If not, wouldst have me keep her inThe women's chambers ... where my dead hath been?How could I lay this woman where my brideOnce lay? It were dishonour double-dyed.These streets would curse the man who so betrayedThe wife who saved him for some younger maid;The dead herself ... I needs must worship herAnd keep her will.
(During the last few lines ADMETUS has been looking at the veiled Woman and, though he does not consciously recognize her, feels a strange emotion overmastering him. He draws back.)
Aye. I must walk with care....O woman, whosoe'er thou art, thou hastThe shape of my Alcestis; thou art castIn mould like hers.... Oh, take her from mine eyes!In God's name!
(HERACLES signs to the Attendants to take ALCESTIS away again. She stays veiled and unnoticing in the background.)
I was fallen, and in this wiseThou wilt make me deeper fall.... Meseems, meseems,There in her face the loved one of my dreamsLooked forth.--My heart is made a turbid thing,Craving I know not what, and my tears springUnbidden.--Grief I knew 'twould be; but howFiery a grief I never knew till now.
LEADER.Thy fate I praise not. Yet, what gift soe'erGod giveth, man must steel himself and bear.
HERACLES (drawing ADMETUS on).Would God, I had the power, 'mid all this mightOf arm, to break the dungeons of the night,And free thy wife, and make thee glad again!
ADMETUS.Where is such power? I know thy heart were fain;But so 'tis writ. The dead shall never rise.
HERACLES.Chafe not the curb, then: suffer and be wise.
ADMETUS.Easier to give such counsel than to keep.
HERACLES.Who will be happier, shouldst thou always weep?
ADMETUS.Why, none. Yet some blind longing draws me on...
HERACLES.'Tis natural. Thou didst love her that is gone.
ADMETUS.'Tis that hath wrecked, oh more than wrecked, my life.
HERACLES.'Tis certain: thou hast lost a faithful wife.
ADMETUS.Till life itself is dead and wearies me.
HERACLES.Thy pain is yet young. Time will soften thee,
(The veiled Woman begins dimly, as though in a dream, to hear the words spoken.)
ADMETUS.Time? Yes, if time be death.
HERACLES.Nay, wait; and someWoman, some new desire of love, will come.
ADMETUS (indignantly).Peace!How canst thou? Shame upon thee!
HERACLES.Thou wilt stayUnwed for ever, lonely night and day?
ADMETUS.No other bride in these void arms shall lie.
HERACLES.What profit will thy dead wife gain thereby?
ADMETUS.Honour; which finds her wheresoe'er she lies.
HERACLES.Most honourable in thee: but scarcely wise!
ADMETUS.God curse me, if I betray her in her tomb!
HERACLES.So be it!...And this good damsel, thou wilt take her home?
ADMETUS.No, in the name of Zeus, thy father! No!
HERACLES.I swear, 'tis not well to reject her so.
ADMETUS.'Twould tear my heart to accept her.
HERACLES.Grant me, friend,This one boon! It may help thee in the end.
ADMETUS.Woe's me!Would God thou hadst never won those victories!
HERACLES.Thou sharest both the victory and the prize.
ADMETUS.Thou art generous.... But now let her go.
HERACLES.She shall,If go she must. Look first, and judge withal.
(He takes the veil off ALCESTIS.)
ADMETUS (steadily refusing to look).She must.--And thou, forgive me!
HERACLES.Friend, there isA secret reason why I pray for this.
ADMETUS (surprised, then reluctantly yielding).I grant thy boon then--though it likes me ill.
HERACLES.'Twill like thee later. Now ... but do my will.
ADMETUS (beckoning to an Attendant).Take her; find her some lodging in my hall.
HERACLES.I will not yield this maid to any thrall.
ADMETUS.Take her thyself and lead her in.
HERACLES.I standBeside her; take her; lead her to thy hand.
(He brings the Woman close to ADMETUS, who looks determinedly away. She reaches out her arms.)
ADMETUS.I touch her not.--Let her go in!
HERACLES.I am lothTo trust her save to thy pledged hand and oath.
(He lays his hand on ADMETUS'S shoulder.)
ADMETUS (desperately).Lord, this is violence ... wrong ...
HERACLES.Reach forth thine handAnd touch this comer from a distant land.
ADMETUS (holding out his hand without looking).Like Perseus when he touched the Gorgon, there!
HERACLES.Thou hast touched her?
ADMETUS (at last taking her hand).Touched her?... Yes.
HERACLES (a hand on the shoulder of each).Then cling to her;And say if thou hast found a guest of graceIn God's son, Heracles! Look in her face;Look; is she like...?
(ADMETUS looks and stands amazed.)Go, and forget in blissThy sorrow!
ADMETUS.O ye Gods! What meaneth this?A marvel beyond dreams! The face ... 'tis she;Mine, verily mine! Or doth God mock at meAnd blast my vision with some mad surmise?
HERACLES.Not so. This is thy wife before thine eyes.
ADMETUS (who has recoiled in his amazement).Beware! The dead have phantoms that they send...
HERACLES.Nay; no ghost-raiser hast thou made thy friend.
ADMETUS.My wife ... she whom I buried?
HERACLES.I deceiveThee not; nor wonder thou canst scarce believe.
ADMETUS.And dare I touch her, greet her, as mine ownWife living?
HERACLES.Greet her. Thy desire is won.
ADMETUS (approaching with awe).Beloved eyes; beloved form; O thouGone beyond hope, I have thee, I hold thee now?
HERACLES.Thou hast her: may no god begrudge your joy.
ADMETUS (turning to HERACLES).O lordly conqueror, Child of Zeus on high,Be blessèd! And may He, thy sire above,Save thee, as thou alone hast saved my love!
(He kneels to HERACLES, who raises him.)
But how ... how didst thou win her to the light?
HERACLES.I fought for life with Him I needs must fight.
ADMETUS.With Death thou hast fought! But where?
HERACLES.Among his deadI lay, and sprang and gripped him as he fled.
ADMETUS (in an awed whisper, looking towards ALCESTIS).Why standeth she so still? No sound, no word!
HERACLES.She hath dwelt with Death. Her voice may not be heardEre to the Lords of Them Below she payDue cleansing, and awake on the third day.(To the Attendants)So; guide her home.
(They lead ALCESTIS to the doorway.)
And thou, King, for the restOf time, be true; be righteous to thy guest,As he would have thee be. But now farewell!My task yet lies before me, and the spellThat binds me to my master; forth I fare.
ADMETUS.Stay with us this one day! Stay but to shareThe feast upon our hearth!
HERACLES.The feasting dayShall surely come; now I must needs away.
(HERACLES departs.)
ADMETUS.Farewell! All victory attend thy nameAnd safe home-coming!Lo, I make proclaimTo the Four Nations and all Thessaly;A wondrous happiness hath come to be:Therefore pray, dance, give offerings and make fullYour altars with the life-blood of the Bull!For me ... my heart is changed; my life shall mendHenceforth. For surely Fortune is a friend.
(He goes with ALCESTIS into the house.)
CHORUS.There be many shapes of mystery;And many things God brings to be,Past hope or fear.And the end men looked for cometh not,And a path is there where no man thought.So hath it fallen here.
Words in this poem 37
- veiled a.
- Covered by, or as by, a veil; hidden.
- didst
- , the 2d pers. sing. imp. of Do.
- stricken p. p.
- Struck; smitten; wounded; as, the stricken deer.
- hast
- , 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
- homeward a.
- Being in the direction of home; as, the homeward way.
- handmaid n.
- A maid that waits at hand; a female servant or attendant.
- strife n.
- The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
- needs adv.
- Of necessity; necessarily; indispensably; -- often with must, and equivalent to of need. [Orig. gen. of need, used as an adverb. Cf. - wards.]
- prithee interj.
- A corruption of pray thee; as, I prithee; generally used without I.
- thank n.
- A expression of gratitude; an acknowledgment expressive of a sense of favor or kindness received; obligation, claim, or desert, or gratitude; -- now generally used in the plural. [AS. Þanc, Þonc, thanks, favor, thought; akin to OS. thank favor, pleasure, thanks, D. & G. dank thanks, Icel. Þ\'94kk, Dan. tak, Sw. tack, Goth. Þagks thanks; -]
- damsel n.
- A young person, either male or female, of noble or gentle extraction; as, Damsel Pepin; Damsel Richard, Prince of Wales. [OE. damosel, damesel, damisel, damsel, fr. OF. damoisele, damisele, gentlewoman, F. demoiselle young lady; cf. OF. damoisel young nobleman, F. damoiseau; fr. LL]
- fain v. t.
- To be glad ; to wish or desire.
- dishonour n.
- Lack of honor; disgrace; ignominy; shame; reproach. [OE. deshonour, dishonour, OF. deshonor, deshonur, F. déshonneur; pref. des- (L. dis-) + honor, honur, F. honneur, fr. L. honor. See Honor.]
- consciously adv.
- In a conscious manner; with knowledge of one's own mental operations or actions.
- mould n.
- Crumbling, soft, friable earth; esp., earth containing the remains or constituents of organic matter, and suited to the growth of plants; soil. [OE. molde, AS. molde; akin to D. mul, G. mull, mulm, OHG. molt, molta, Icel. mold, Dan. muld, Sw. mull, Goth. mulda, and E. meal flour. See Meal, and cf. Mole a]
- meseems v.
- It seems to me.
- unbidden a.
- Not bidden; not commanded.
- shall v. i.
- To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
- dimly adv.
- In a dim or obscure manner; not brightly or clearly; with imperfect sight.
- indignantly adv.
- In an indignant manner.
- honour n.
- Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor, onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor, honos.]
- boon n.
- A prayer or petition. [OE. bone, boin, a petition, fr. Icel. b; akin to Sw. & Dan. b, AS. b, and perh. to E. ban; but influenced by F. bon good, fr. L. bonus. Ban, Bounty.]
- generous a.
- Of honorable birth or origin; highborn. [F. généreux, fr. L. generous of noble birth, noble, excellent, magnanimous, fr. genus birth, race: cf. It. generoso. See 2d Gender.]
- withal adv.
- With this; with that. [With + all.]
- reluctantly adv.
- In a reluctant manner.
- determinedly adv.
- In a determined manner; with determination.
- desperately adv.
- In a desperate manner; without regard to danger or safety; recklessly; extremely; as, the troops fought desperately.
- comer n.
- One who comes, or who has come; one who has arrived, and is present. All comers, all who come, or offer, to take part in a matter, especially in a contest or controversy.
- perseus n.
- A Grecian legendary hero, son of Jupiter and Danaë, who slew the Gorgon Medusa.
- amazement n.
- The condition of being amazed; bewilderment ; overwhelming wonder, as from surprise, sudden fear, horror, or admiration.
- beware v. t.
- To avoid; to take care of; to have a care for.
- scarce a.
- Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon. [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, for L. excerptus, p. p. of excerpere to pick out, and hence to contract, to shorten; ex (see Ex-) + carpere. See C]
- begrudge v. t.
- To grudge; to envy the possession of.
- sire n.
- A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]
- doorway n.
- The passage of a door; entrance way into a house or a room.
- wondrous adv.
- In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully. [OE. wonders, adv. (later also adj.). See Wonder, n., and cf. -wards.]
- henceforth adv.
- From this time forward; henceforward.
Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.
About this text
Exodos is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Alcestis of Euripides, translated into English rhyming verse by Gilbert Murray, Project Gutenberg ebook #10523, the Gilbert Murray translation; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.
Cite as: Euripides, Exodos, in Alcestis (1915), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #10523, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/euripides-alcestis/exodos.html, id L28809.
Form and metre
Exodos is 274 lines in 85 stanzas. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 86%).
See other poems in iambic pentameter.
Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.
Rhyme words, stanza by stanza
The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.
- 1 -AA leader · moreA · doorA
- 3 -AABBCCDDEEFFGGGHH--IIJJKKLLMMNNOO heracles · boldA · withholdA · friendB · endB · theeC · sheC · thoughD · woeD · browE · nowE · songF · wrongF · painG · afflictionG · againG · takeH · makeH · ta'en · slain · seeI · beI · smallJ · allJ · kingsK · buffetingsK · lifeL · strifeL · castM · lastM · doneN · wonN · trueO · tooO
- 4 -A-BBCCDD-AEE-F--GGHHIIFF-- admetus · theeA · misery · painB · againB · ownC · aloneC · soD · woeD · thessaly · meA · sightE · smiteE · head · maidF · young · wrong · controlledG · holdG · inH · beenH · brideI · dyedI · betrayedF · maidF · her · will
- 6 -AA-- care · hastA · castA · eyes · name
- 8 -AABBCC wise · meseemsA · dreamsA · thingB · springB · howC · nowC
- 10 -AA- on · mightA · nightA · again
- 23 -AA heracles · someA · comeA
- 25 -AA heracles · stayA · dayA
- 35 -AA heracles · friendA · endA
- 48 -AA heracles · standA · handA
- 54 -AA heracles · handA · landA
- 58 --AA- each · her · graceA · faceA · like
- 60 --AA- admetus · this · sheA · meA · surmise
- 65 -AA heracles · deceiveA · believeA
- 68 -AA awe · thouA · nowA
- 70 --AA heracles · high · aboveA · loveA
- 75 -AA heracles · deadA · fledA
- 77 --AA-- heracles · heard · payA · dayA · attendants · home
- 79 AABB- restA · guestA · farewellB · spellB · fare
- 81 -AA heracles · dayA · awayA
- 83 -A-A--BBCC admetus · nameA · coming · proclaimA · thessaly · be · fullB · bullB · mendC · friendC
- 85 ---A--A chorus · mystery · be · fearA · not · thought · hereA
Scansion, line by line
Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.
| Line | Syl. | Stress |
|---|---|---|
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| But see, it is Alcmena's son once more, | 10 | ·········· |
| My lord King, cometh striding to thy door. | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| (Enter HERACLES; his dress is as in the last scene, but shows signs of a struggle. Behind come two Attendants, guiding between them a veiled Woman, who seems like one asleep or unconscious. The Woman remains in the background while HERACLES comes forward.) | 60 | /˘···············/˘····˘/˘/˘·····/˘····˘/··/˘·/˘˘/··/·····/˘ |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Thou art my friend, Admetus; therefore bold | 10 | ·········· |
| And plain I tell my story, and withhold | 10 | ·····/˘·˘/ |
| No secret hurt.--Was I not worthy, friend, | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| To stand beside thee; yea, and to the end | 10 | ··˘/······ |
| Be proven in sorrow if I was true to thee? | 12 | ·/˘·/˘······ |
| And thou didst tell me not a word, while she | 10 | ·········· |
| Lay dead within; but bid me feast, as though | 10 | ·········· |
| Naught but the draping of some stranger's woe | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| Was on thee. So I garlanded my brow | 10 | ·····/˘˘·· |
| And poured the gods drink-offering, and but now | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Filled thy death-stricken house with wine and song. | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Thou hast done me wrong, my brother; a great wrong | 11 | ······/˘··· |
| Thou hast done me. But I will not add more pain | 11 | ··········· |
| In thine affliction. | 5 | ··˘/˘ |
| Why I am here again, | 6 | ····˘/ |
| Returning, thou must hear. I pray thee, take | 10 | ˘/˘······· |
| And keep yon woman for me till I make | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| My homeward way from Thrace, when I have ta'en | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Those four steeds and their bloody master slain. | 10 | ·····/˘/˘· |
| And if--which heaven avert!--I ne'er should see | 10 | ···/˘/···· |
| Hellas again, I leave her here, to be | 10 | ··˘/······ |
| An handmaid in thy house. No labour small | 10 | ·······/·· |
| Was it that brought her to my hand at all. | 10 | ·········· |
| I fell upon a contest certain Kings | 10 | ·····/˘/˘· |
| Had set for all mankind, sore buffetings | 10 | ····//·˘/˘ |
| And meet for strong men, where I staked my life | 10 | ·········· |
| And won this woman. For the easier strife | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| Black steeds were prizes; herds of kine were cast | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| For heavier issues, fists and wrestling; last, | 10 | ·/˘/˘··/˘· |
| This woman.... Lest my work should all seem done | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| For naught, I needs must keep what I have won; | 10 | ·········· |
| So prithee take her in. No theft, but true | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Toil, won her.... Some day thou mayst thank me, too. | 10 | ·········· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| 'Twas in no scorn, no bitterness to thee, | 10 | ·····/˘˘·· |
| I hid my wife's death and my misery. | 10 | ·······/˘˘ |
| Methought it was but added pain on pain | 10 | ˘/···/˘··· |
| If thou shouldst leave me, and roam forth again | 10 | ········˘/ |
| Seeking another's roof. And, for mine own | 10 | /˘˘/˘····· |
| Sorrow, I was content to weep alone. | 10 | /˘··/˘··˘/ |
| But, for this damsel, if it may be so, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| I pray thee, Lord, let some man, not in woe | 10 | ·········· |
| Like mine, take her. Thou hast in Thessaly | 10 | ·········· |
| Abundant friends.... 'Twould wake sad thoughts in me. | 10 | ˘/˘······· |
| How could I have this damsel in my sight | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| And keep mine eyes dry? Prince, why wilt thou smite | 10 | ·········· |
| The smitten? Griefs enough are on my head. | 10 | ·/˘·˘/···· |
| Where in my castle could so young a maid | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Be lodged--her veil and raiment show her young: | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Here, in the men's hall? I should fear some wrong. | 10 | ·········· |
| 'Tis not so easy, Prince, to keep controlled | 10 | ···/˘···˘/ |
| My young men. And thy charge I fain would hold | 10 | ·········· |
| Sacred.--If not, wouldst have me keep her in | 10 | /˘········ |
| The women's chambers ... where my dead hath been? | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| How could I lay this woman where my bride | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Once lay? It were dishonour double-dyed. | 10 | ····˘/˘/˘· |
| These streets would curse the man who so betrayed | 10 | ········˘/ |
| The wife who saved him for some younger maid; | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| The dead herself ... I needs must worship her | 10 | ··˘/···/˘· |
| And keep her will. | 4 | ···· |
| (During the last few lines ADMETUS has been looking at the veiled Woman and, though he does not consciously recognize her, feels a strange emotion overmastering him. He draws back.) | 44 | /˘·········/˘···/˘·····/˘/˘·····˘/˘········· |
| Aye. I must walk with care.... | 6 | ······ |
| O woman, whosoe'er thou art, thou hast | 9 | ·/˘······ |
| The shape of my Alcestis; thou art cast | 10 | ·········· |
| In mould like hers.... Oh, take her from mine eyes! | 10 | ·········· |
| In God's name! | 3 | ··· |
| (HERACLES signs to the Attendants to take ALCESTIS away again. She stays veiled and unnoticing in the background.) | 29 | ·····˘/˘·····˘/˘/··········/· |
| I was fallen, and in this wise | 8 | ··/˘···· |
| Thou wilt make me deeper fall.... Meseems, meseems, | 11 | ····/˘·˘/˘/ |
| There in her face the loved one of my dreams | 10 | ·········· |
| Looked forth.--My heart is made a turbid thing, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Craving I know not what, and my tears spring | 10 | /˘········ |
| Unbidden.--Grief I knew 'twould be; but how | 10 | ·········· |
| Fiery a grief I never knew till now. | 10 | /˘˘···/··· |
| LEADER. | 2 | /˘ |
| Thy fate I praise not. Yet, what gift soe'er | 9 | ········· |
| God giveth, man must steel himself and bear. | 10 | ·/˘···˘/·· |
| HERACLES (drawing ADMETUS on). | 8 | ··/˘···· |
| Would God, I had the power, 'mid all this might | 10 | ·····/···· |
| Of arm, to break the dungeons of the night, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| And free thy wife, and make thee glad again! | 10 | ········˘/ |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Where is such power? I know thy heart were fain; | 10 | ···/······ |
| But so 'tis writ. The dead shall never rise. | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Chafe not the curb, then: suffer and be wise. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Easier to give such counsel than to keep. | 10 | /˘···/˘··· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Who will be happier, shouldst thou always weep? | 10 | ···/˘··/·· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Why, none. Yet some blind longing draws me on... | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| 'Tis natural. Thou didst love her that is gone. | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| 'Tis that hath wrecked, oh more than wrecked, my life. | 10 | ·········· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| 'Tis certain: thou hast lost a faithful wife. | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Till life itself is dead and wearies me. | 10 | ··˘/···/˘· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Thy pain is yet young. Time will soften thee, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| (The veiled Woman begins dimly, as though in a dream, to hear the words spoken.) | 19 | ··/˘˘//˘·········/˘ |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Time? Yes, if time be death. | 6 | ······ |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Nay, wait; and some | 4 | ···· |
| Woman, some new desire of love, will come. | 10 | /˘··˘/···· |
| ADMETUS (indignantly). | 7 | ···˘/˘˘ |
| Peace! | 1 | · |
| How canst thou? Shame upon thee! | 7 | ······· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Thou wilt stay | 3 | ··· |
| Unwed for ever, lonely night and day? | 10 | ˘/·/˘/˘··· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| No other bride in these void arms shall lie. | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| What profit will thy dead wife gain thereby? | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Honour; which finds her wheresoe'er she lies. | 10 | /˘········ |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Most honourable in thee: but scarcely wise! | 11 | ········/˘· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| God curse me, if I betray her in her tomb! | 11 | ·····˘/···· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| So be it!... | 3 | ··· |
| And this good damsel, thou wilt take her home? | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| No, in the name of Zeus, thy father! No! | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| I swear, 'tis not well to reject her so. | 10 | ······˘/·· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| 'Twould tear my heart to accept her. | 8 | ·····˘/· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Grant me, friend, | 3 | ··· |
| This one boon! It may help thee in the end. | 10 | ·········· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Woe's me! | 2 | ·· |
| Would God thou hadst never won those victories! | 11 | ····/˘··/˘˘ |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Thou sharest both the victory and the prize. | 10 | ·/˘··/˘··· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Thou art generous.... But now let her go. | 10 | ··/˘˘····· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| She shall, | 2 | ·· |
| If go she must. Look first, and judge withal. | 10 | ········˘/ |
| (He takes the veil off ALCESTIS.) | 8 | ········ |
| ADMETUS (steadily refusing to look). | 10 | ···/˘˘/˘·· |
| She must.--And thou, forgive me! | 7 | ····˘/· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Friend, there is | 3 | ··· |
| A secret reason why I pray for this. | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| ADMETUS (surprised, then reluctantly yielding). | 11 | ···˘/·˘/˘/˘ |
| I grant thy boon then--though it likes me ill. | 10 | ·········· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| 'Twill like thee later. Now ... but do my will. | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| ADMETUS (beckoning to an Attendant). | 11 | ···/˘˘··˘/˘ |
| Take her; find her some lodging in my hall. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| I will not yield this maid to any thrall. | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Take her thyself and lead her in. | 8 | ··˘/···· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| I stand | 2 | ·· |
| Beside her; take her; lead her to thy hand. | 10 | ˘/········ |
| (He brings the Woman close to ADMETUS, who looks determinedly away. She reaches out her arms.) | 23 | ···/˘·······˘/˘˘/·/˘··· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| I touch her not.--Let her go in! | 8 | ········ |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| I am loth | 3 | ··· |
| To trust her save to thy pledged hand and oath. | 10 | ·········· |
| (He lays his hand on ADMETUS'S shoulder.) | 10 | ········/˘ |
| ADMETUS (desperately). | 7 | ···/˘˘˘ |
| Lord, this is violence ... wrong ... | 7 | ···/˘˘· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Reach forth thine hand | 4 | ···· |
| And touch this comer from a distant land. | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| ADMETUS (holding out his hand without looking). | 12 | ···/˘·····/˘ |
| Like Perseus when he touched the Gorgon, there! | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Thou hast touched her? | 4 | ···· |
| ADMETUS (at last taking her hand). | 9 | ·····/˘·· |
| Touched her?... Yes. | 3 | ··· |
| HERACLES (a hand on the shoulder of each). | 10 | ······/˘·· |
| Then cling to her; | 4 | ···· |
| And say if thou hast found a guest of grace | 10 | ·········· |
| In God's son, Heracles! Look in her face; | 9 | ········· |
| Look; is she like...? | 4 | ···· |
| (ADMETUS looks and stands amazed.) | 9 | ······˘/˘ |
| Go, and forget in bliss | 6 | ··˘/·· |
| Thy sorrow! | 3 | ·/˘ |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| O ye Gods! What meaneth this? | 7 | ····/˘· |
| A marvel beyond dreams! The face ... 'tis she; | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Mine, verily mine! Or doth God mock at me | 11 | ·/˘˘······· |
| And blast my vision with some mad surmise? | 10 | ···/˘···˘/ |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Not so. This is thy wife before thine eyes. | 10 | ·········· |
| ADMETUS (who has recoiled in his amazement). | 12 | ·····˘/··˘/˘ |
| Beware! The dead have phantoms that they send... | 10 | ˘/···/˘··· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Nay; no ghost-raiser hast thou made thy friend. | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| My wife ... she whom I buried? | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| I deceive | 3 | ·˘/ |
| Thee not; nor wonder thou canst scarce believe. | 10 | ···/˘···˘/ |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| And dare I touch her, greet her, as mine own | 10 | ·········· |
| Wife living? | 3 | ·/˘ |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Greet her. Thy desire is won. | 8 | ···˘/˘·· |
| ADMETUS (approaching with awe). | 8 | ···˘/˘·· |
| Beloved eyes; beloved form; O thou | 10 | ˘/˘·˘/˘··· |
| Gone beyond hope, I have thee, I hold thee now? | 11 | ··········· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Thou hast her: may no god begrudge your joy. | 10 | ······˘/·· |
| ADMETUS (turning to HERACLES). | 8 | ···/˘··· |
| O lordly conqueror, Child of Zeus on high, | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| Be blessèd! And may He, thy sire above, | 10 | ······/˘·· |
| Save thee, as thou alone hast saved my love! | 10 | ····˘/···· |
| (He kneels to HERACLES, who raises him.) | 9 | ······/˘· |
| But how ... how didst thou win her to the light? | 10 | ·········· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| I fought for life with Him I needs must fight. | 10 | ·········· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| With Death thou hast fought! But where? | 7 | ······· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| Among his dead | 4 | ···· |
| I lay, and sprang and gripped him as he fled. | 10 | ·········· |
| ADMETUS (in an awed whisper, looking towards ALCESTIS). | 14 | ······/˘/˘···· |
| Why standeth she so still? No sound, no word! | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| She hath dwelt with Death. Her voice may not be heard | 11 | ··········· |
| Ere to the Lords of Them Below she pay | 10 | ·········· |
| Due cleansing, and awake on the third day. | 10 | ·/˘·˘/···· |
| (To the Attendants) | 5 | ··˘/˘ |
| So; guide her home. | 4 | ···· |
| (They lead ALCESTIS to the doorway.) | 9 | ·······/· |
| And thou, King, for the rest | 6 | ······ |
| Of time, be true; be righteous to thy guest, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| As he would have thee be. But now farewell! | 10 | ·········/ |
| My task yet lies before me, and the spell | 10 | ·········· |
| That binds me to my master; forth I fare. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Stay with us this one day! Stay but to share | 10 | ·········· |
| The feast upon our hearth! | 7 | ····/˘· |
| HERACLES. | 2 | ·· |
| The feasting day | 4 | ·/˘· |
| Shall surely come; now I must needs away. | 10 | ·/˘·····˘/ |
| (HERACLES departs.) | 4 | ··˘/ |
| ADMETUS. | 3 | ··· |
| Farewell! All victory attend thy name | 10 | ·/·/˘˘˘/·· |
| And safe home-coming! | 5 | ···/˘ |
| Lo, I make proclaim | 5 | ···˘/ |
| To the Four Nations and all Thessaly; | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| A wondrous happiness hath come to be: | 10 | ·/˘/˘˘···· |
| Therefore pray, dance, give offerings and make full | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Your altars with the life-blood of the Bull! | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| For me ... my heart is changed; my life shall mend | 10 | ·········· |
| Henceforth. For surely Fortune is a friend. | 10 | //·/˘/˘··· |
| (He goes with ALCESTIS into the house.) | 10 | ·········· |
| CHORUS. | 2 | /˘ |
| There be many shapes of mystery; | 9 | ··/˘··/˘˘ |
| And many things God brings to be, | 8 | ·/˘····· |
| Past hope or fear. | 4 | ···· |
| And the end men looked for cometh not, | 10 | ·····˘·/˘· |
| And a path is there where no man thought. | 9 | ········· |
| So hath it fallen here. | 6 | ···/˘· |
The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.