Stasimon 4
Chorus
But thou to sorrow settest no limit.
890
Chorus
’Tis hard to bear, but still—
Chorus
Thou art not the first to lose—
Chorus
A wife; misfortune takes a different shape for every man she plagues.
[Choral]
O the weary sorrow! O the grief for dear ones dead and gone! Why didst thou hinder me from plung-ing into the gaping grave, there to lay me down and die with her, my peerless bride?
895
Admetus
Then would Hades for that one have gotten these two faithful souls at once, crossing the nether lake together.
900
[Choral 2]
I had a kinsman once, within whose home died
Chorus
his only son, worthy of a father’s tears; yet in spite of that he bore his grief resignedly, childless though he was, his hair already turning grey, himself far on in years, upon
905
life’s downward track.
910
[Choral]
O house of mine, how can I enter thee? how can I live here, now that fortune turns against me? Ah me! How wide the gulf ’twixt then and now!
Admetus
Then with torches cut from Pelion’s pines, with marriage hymns I entered in, holding my dear wife’s hand; and at our back a crowd of friends with cheerful cries, singing the happy lot of my dead wife and me,
915
calling us a noble pair made one, children both of highborn lineage; but now the voice of woe instead of wedding hymns, and robes of black instead of snowy white usher me
920
into my house to my deserted couch.
925
[Choral 2]
Hard upon prosperous fortune came this sorrow to thee, a stranger to adversity; yet hast thou saved thy soul alive.
Chorus
Thy wife is dead and gone; her love she leaves with thee. What new thing is here? Death ere now from many a man hath torn a wife.
930
Admetus
My friends, I count my dead wife’s lot more blest than mine, for all it seems not so; for nevermore can sorrow touch her for ever; all her toil is over, and glorious is her fame. While I, who had no right to live, have passed the bounds of fate
935
only to live a life of misery; I know it now. For how shall I endure to enter this my house? Whom shall I address, by whom be answered back, to findNauck brackets this line as spurious. aught joyful in my entering in? Whither shall I turn? Within, the desolation will drive me forth,
940
whensoe’er I see my widowed couch, the seat whereon she sat, the floor ail dusty in the house, and my babes falling at my knees with piteous tears for their mother, while my servants mourn the good mistress their house hath lost.
945
These are the sorrows in my home, while abroad the marriages among Thessalians and the thronging crowds of women will drive me mad,Or, drive me away. for I can never bear to gaze upon the compeers of my wife. And whoso is my foe will taunt me thus,
950
Behold him living in his shame, a wretch who quailed at death himself, but of his coward heart gave up his wedded wife instead, and escaped from Hades; doth he deem himself a man after that? And he loathes his parents, though himself refused to die. Such ill report shall I to my evils add.
955
What profit, then, my friends, for me to live, in fame and fortune ruined.
960
[Choral 1]
Myself have traced the Muses’ path, have soared amid the stars, have laid my hold on many a theme,
Chorus
and yet have found naught stronger than necessity, no spell inscribed on Thracian tablets written there by Orpheus, the sweet singer,
965
no! nor aught among the simples culled by Phoebus for the toiling race of men, and given to Asclepius’ sons.
970
The only goddess she, whose altar or whose image man cannot approach;
victims she heedeth not. O come not to me, dread goddess, in greater might than heretofore in my career. Even Zeus requires thy aid to bring to pass whatso he wills.
975
