Epeisodion 3
Heracles
Heaven avert calamity from thy children!
Admetus
The children I have begotten are alive within my house.
515
Heracles
Thy father maybe is gone; well, he was ripe to go.
Admetus
No, Heracles, he lives; my mother too.
Heracles
It cannot be thy wife is dead, thy Alcestis?
Admetus
I can a twofold tale tell about her.
Heracles
Dost mean that she is dead, or living still?
520
Admetus
She lives, yet lives no more; that is my grief.
Heracles
I am no wiser yet; thy words are riddles to me.
Admetus
Knowest thou not the doom she must undergo?
Heracles
I know she did submit to die in thy stead.
Admetus
How then is she still alive, if so she promised?
525
Heracles
Ah! weep not thy wife before the day, put that off till then.
Admetus
The doomed is dead; the dead no more exists.
Heracles
Men count to be and not to be something apart.
Admetus
Thy verdict this, O Heracles, mine another.
Heracles
Why weepest then? which of thy dear ones is the dead?
530
Admetus
’Tis a woman; I spoke of a woman just now.
Heracles
A stranger, or one of thine own kin?
Admetus
A stranger, yet in another sense related to my house.
Heracles
How then came she by her death in house of thine?
Admetus
Her father dead, she lived here as an orphan.
535
Heracles
Ah! would I had found thee free from grief, Admetus!
Admetus
With what intent dost thou devise this speech?
Heracles
I will seek some other friendly hearth.
Admetus
Never, O prince! Heaven forefend such dire disgrace!
Heracles
A guest is a burden to sorrowing friends, if come he should.
540
Admetus
The dead are dead. Come in.
Heracles
To feast in a friend’s house of sorrow is shameful.
Admetus
The guest chambers lie apart, whereto we will conduct thee.
