Eksodos
Heracles
What! wilt never wed, but preserve thy widowed state?
Admetus
There is no woman living that shall share my couch.
1090
Heracles
Dost think that this will help the dead at all?
Admetus
My reverence she deserves, where’er she is.
Heracles
I praise thee, yes; but still thou bringest on thyself the charge of folly.
Admetus
So that thou never call’st me bridegroom, praise me if thou wilt.
Heracles
I praise thee for thy loyalty to thy wife.
1095
Admetus
Come death! if ever I betray her, dead though she be.
Heracles
Well, take this maiden to the shelter of thy noble house.
Admetus
Spare me, I entreat thee by Zeus, thy sire.
Heracles
Be sure, if thou refuse, ’twill be a sad mistake.
Admetus
If I comply, remorse will gnaw my heart.
1100
Heracles
Yield; for in god’s good time maybe thou wilt give me thanks.
Admetus
Ah! would thou hadst never won her in the games!
Heracles
Yet thou too sharest in my victory.
Admetus
True; still let this maiden go away.
Heracles
Go she shall, if go she must; but first see if this is needful.
1105
Admetus
I needs must, else wilt thou be wroth with me.
Heracles
I have a reason good to press the matter thus.
Admetus
Have thy way then. Yet know well thy deed I disapprove.
Heracles
A day will come that thou wilt praise me; only yield.
Admetus
(to his servants). Take her in, if I needs must give her welcome in my house.
1110
Heracles
To thy servants will I not hand her over.
Admetus
Conduct her then thyself within, if so thou thinkest good.
Heracles
Nay, but into thy hands shall mine consign her.
Admetus
I will not touch her, though she is free to go within my halls.
Heracles
To thy hand, and thine alone I her entrust.
1115
Admetus
Prince, against my will thou dost constrain me to this deed.
Heracles
Boldly stretch out thy hand and touch the stranger maid.
Admetus
There, then, I stretch it out as toward the Gorgon’s severed head.Lobeck, whom Nauck follows, to avoid the elision of the final ι of the dative singular, conjectured Γοργόν’ ὡς καρατομῶν as if beheading a Gorgon, i.e. with averted gaze, thus gaining very considerable point. Paley notices the clever suggestion, without however adopting it.
