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les! Look in her face; Look; is she like...?
[ADMETUS looks and stands amazed.] Go, and forget in bliss Thy sorrow!
ADMETUS. O ye Gods! What meaneth this? A marvel beyond dreams! The face ... 'tis she; Mine, verily mine! Or doth God mock at me And 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 deceive Thee not; nor wonder thou canst scarce believe.
ADMETUS. And dare I touch her, greet her, as mine own Wife living?
HERACLES. Greet her. Thy desire is won.
ADMETUS (_approaching with awe_), Beloved eyes; beloved form; O thou Gone 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 dead I 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 heard Ere to the Lords of Them Below she pay Due 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 rest Of 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 spell That binds me to my master; forth I fare. < previous next >