Prologue

(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 headOf old, and chafed not at the bondman's bread,Though born in heaven. Aye, Zeus to death had hurledMy son, Asclepios, Healer of the World,Piercing with fire his heart; and in mine ireI slew his Cyclop churls, who forged the fire.Whereat Zeus cast me forth to bear the yokeOf service to a mortal. To this folkI 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 uponAnd clean as mine own heart, King Pheres' son,Admetus. Him I rescued from the grave,Beguiling the Grey Sisters till they gaveA great oath that Admetus should go free,Would he but pay to Them Below in feeAnother living soul. Long did he proveAll that were his, and all that owed him love,But never a soul he found would yield up lifeAnd leave the sunlight for him, save his wife:Who, even now, down the long galleriesIs borne, death-wounded; for this day it isShe needs must pass out of the light and die.And, seeing the stain of death must not come nighMy radiance, I must leave this house I love.But ha! The Headsman of the Pit, aboveEarth's floor, to ravish her! Aye, long and lateHe 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 overtreadThe eternal judgment, and abateAnd spoil the portions of the dead?'Tis not enough for thee to have blockedIn other days Admetus' doomWith craft of magic wine, which mockedThe three grey Sisters of the Tomb;But now once moreI see thee stand at watch, and shakeThat arrow-armèd hand to makeThis 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.

THANATOS.Begone! Too many things not meant for thineThy greed hath conquered; but not all, not all!

APOLLO.I swear, for all thy bitter pride, a fallAwaits thee. One even now comes conqueringTowards this house, sent by a southland kingTo fetch him four wild coursers, of the raceWhich rend men's bodies in the winds of Thrace.This house shall give him welcome good, and heShall wrest this woman from thy worms and thee.So thou shalt give me all, and thereby winBut hatred, not the grace that might have been.(Exit APOLLO.)

THANATOS.Talk on, talk on! Thy threats shall win no brideFrom me.--This woman, whatsoe'er betide,Shall lie in Hades' house. Even at the wordI go to lay upon her hair my sword.For all whose head this grey sword visitethTo death are hallowed and the Lords of death.