Admetus There, then, I stretch it out as toward the Gorgon’s severed head.
Heracles Hast hold of her?
Admetus I have.
Heracles So; keep her safely then, and in days to come thou wilt confess the son of Zeus proved himself a noble guest. Look well at her, if haply to thy gaze she have a semblance of thy wife; and now that thou art blest, cease from sorrowing.
Admetus Great gods, what shall I say? a marvel past all hope is here! My wife, my own true wife I see, or is some mocking rapture sent by heaven to drive me mad?
Heracles No, no; ’tis thy own wife thou seest here.
Admetus Beware it be not a phantom from that nether world.
Heracles No necromancer was this guest whom thou didst welcome.
Admetus Do I behold my wife, her whom I buried?
Heracles Be well assured thereof; still I marvel not thou dost distrust thy luck.
Admetus May I touch her, may I speak to her as my living wife?
Heracles Speak to her. For thou hast all thy heart’s desire.
Admetus O form and features of my well-loved wife! past all hope I hold thee, never expecting to see thee again.
Heracles So thou dost; may no jealous god rise against thee!
Admetus O noble son of almighty Zeus, good luck to thee! may the father that begat thee hold thee in his keeping; for thou and none else hast raised my fallen fortunes. How didst thou bring her from the world below to this light of day?
Heracles By encountering the god who had her in his power.
Admetus Where didst thou engage with Death? tell me this.
Heracles Just by the tomb I from my ambush sprang and caught him in my grip.
Admetus But why thus speechless stands my wife?
Heracles ’Tis not lawful yet for thee to hear her speak, ere she be purified from the gods below and the third day be come. So lead her in; and hereafter, e’en as now, be just and kind to guests, Admetus. Now farewell! for I must go to perform my appointed task for the lordly son of Sthenelus.
Admetus Abide with us and be our welcome guest.
Heracles Another time; now must I use all haste.
Admetus Good luck to thee! and mayst thou come again! To the citizens and ail my realm I make this proclamation, that they institute dances in honour of the glad event, and make the altars steam with sacrifice, and offer prayers; for now have I moored my bark of life in a happier haven than before, and so will own myself a happy man.
Chorus
Many are the shapes that fortune takes, and oft the gods bring things to pass beyond our expectation. That which we deemed so sure is not fulfilled, while for that we never thought would be, God finds out a way. And such hath been the issue in the present case.
Cite This Text