"She once died for her husband, and now she is a blessed divinity.
Hail, O revered mistress, and grant us favor." Such words will address her in praise.
Chorus: And look, as it seems, the son of Alcmene, Admetus, is making his way to your hearth.
§1008φίλον πρὸς ἄνδρα χρὴ λέγειν ἐλευθέρως, §1009Ἄδμητε, μομφὰς δ’ οὐχ ὑπὸ σπλάγχνοις ἔχειν §1010σιγῶντʼ.
Heracles: To a friendly man, one ought to speak freely, Admetus, and not keep reproaches silent beneath one's heart.
ἐγὼ δὲ σοῖς κακοῖσιν ἠξίουν §1011ἐγγὺς παρεστὼς ἐξετάζεσθαι φίλος· §1012σὺ δ’ οὐκ ἔφραζες σῆς προκείμενον νέκυν §1013γυναικός, ἀλλά μ’ ἐξένιζες ἐν δόμοις. §1014ὡς δὴ θυραίου πήματος σπουδὴν ἔχων.
I deemed myself worthy, standing near your evils, to be proved a friend by standing by; but you did not tell me that the corpse laid out was that of your wife, but instead you entertained me in your house, pretending you were concerned with a stranger's grief.
And I crowned my head and poured libations to the gods in your house, even while it was suffering misfortune.
And indeed I blame you, I blame you for having suffered this, yet I do not wish to grieve you in your troubles.
But the reason for which I have come here, turning back again, I will tell.
γυναῖκα τήνδε μοι σῷσον λαβών, §1021ἕως ἂν ἵππους δεῦρο Θρῃκίας ἄγων §1022ἔλθω, τύραννον Βιστόνων κατακτανών.
Take this woman and keep her safe for me, until I come leading the Thracian horses hither, after slaying the king of the Bistones.
But if I should fare as I pray I may not—for may I return!— I give her to serve in your house.
§1025πολλῷ δὲ μόχθῳ χεῖρας ἦλθεν εἰς ἐμάς· §1026ἀγῶνα γὰρ πάνδημον εὑρίσκω τινὰς §1027τιθέντας, ἀθληταῖσιν ἄξιον πόνον, §1028ὅθεν κομίζω τήνδε νικητήρια §1029λαβών· τὰ μὲν γὰρ κοῦφα τοῖς νικῶσιν ἦν §1030ἵππους ἄγεσθαι, τοῖσι δ’ αὖ τὰ μείζονα §1031νικῶσι, πυγμὴν καὶ πάλην, βουφόρβια· §1032γυνὴ δ’ ἐπ’ αὐτοῖς εἵπετʼ·
She came into my hands through much labor; for I found some people holding a public contest, a struggle worthy of athletes, whence I bring this woman, having received her prize; for to those who won the light contests, horses were given to take away; and again, to those who won the greater ones, boxing and wrestling, herds of oxen; and a woman followed along with them.
ἐντυχόντι δὲ §1033αἰσχρὸν παρεῖναι κέρδος ἦν τόδ’ εὐκλεές.
Having come upon this, it was a shameful thing to pass by this glorious gain.
§1034ἀλλʼ, ὥσπερ εἶπον, σοὶ μέλειν γυναῖκα χρή· §1035οὐ γὰρ κλοπαίαν, ἀλλὰ σὺν πόνῳ λαβὼν §1036ἥκω· χρόνῳ δὲ καὶ σύ μ’ αἰνέσεις ἴσως.
But, as I said, you must care for the woman; for I have come not having stolen her, but having won her with labor; and in time perhaps you too will praise me.
§1037οὔτοι σ’ ἀτίζων οὐδ’ ἐν αἰσχροῖσιν τιθεὶς §1038ἔκρυψ’ ἐμῆς γυναικὸς ἀθλίου τύχας· §1039ἀλλ’ ἄλγος ἄλγει τοῦτ’ ἂν ἦν προσκείμενον, §1040εἴ του πρὸς ἄλλου δώμαθ’ ὡρμήθης ξένου· §1041ἅλις δὲ κλαίειν τοὐμὸν ἦν ἐμοὶ κακόν.
Admetus: Not indeed because I dishonor you, nor because I place you among the shameful, did I hide the wretched fate of my wife; but this would have been grief added to grief, if you had hastened to the house of another host; and it was enough for me to weep for my own misfortune.
§1042γυναῖκα δʼ, εἴ πως ἔστιν, αἰτοῦμαί σʼ, ἄναξ, §1043ἄλλον τιν’ ὅστις μὴ πέπονθεν οἷ’ ἐγὼ §1044σῴζειν ἄνωχθι Θεσσαλῶν· πολλοὶ δέ σοι §1045ξένοι Φεραίων·
But as for the woman, if it is somehow possible, I entreat you, lord, bid some other of the Thessalians to keep her, one who has not suffered what I have; for you have many friends among the Pheraeans.
μή μ’ ἀναμνήσῃς κακῶν.
Do not remind me of my evils.
§1046οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην τήνδ’ ὁρῶν ἐν δώμασιν §1047ἄδακρυς εἶναι· μὴ νοσοῦντί μοι νόσον §1048προσθῇς· ἅλις γὰρ συμφορᾷ βαρύνομαι.
I could not, seeing her in the house, be without tears; do not add a sickness to me who am already sick, for I am burdened enough by my misfortune.
§1049ποῦ καὶ τρέφοιτ’ ἂν δωμάτων νέα γυνή;
And where in the house could a young woman be kept?
§1050νέα γάρ, ὡς ἐσθῆτι καὶ κόσμῳ πρέπει.
For she is young, as is clear from her dress and ornaments.
§1051πότερα κατ’ ἀνδρῶν δῆτ’ ἐνοικήσει στέγην;
Shall she then dwell in the quarters of the men?
And how shall she remain pure, moving about among young men?
τὸν ἡβῶνθʼ, Ἡράκλεις, οὐ ῥᾴδιον §1054εἴργειν· ἐγὼ δὲ σοῦ προμηθίαν ἔχω.
To restrain a young man, Heracles, is not easy; and I am taking thought for you.
§1055ἢ τῆς θανούσης θάλαμον ἐσβήσας τρέφω;
Or shall I keep her, bringing her into the chamber of the deceased?
§1056καὶ πῶς ἐπεσφρῶ τήνδε τῷ κείνης λέχει;
And how shall I introduce her to her bed?
§1057διπλῆν φοβοῦμαι μέμψιν, ἔκ τε δημοτῶν, §1058μή τίς μ’ ἐλέγξῃ τὴν ἐμὴν εὐεργέτιν §1059προδόντ’ ἐν ἄλλης δεμνίοις πίτνειν νέας, §1060καὶ τῆς θανούσης·
I fear a double blame, both from my citizens, lest someone accuse me of having betrayed my benefactress and falling into the bed of another young woman, and also from the deceased; and she is worthy of my reverence.
ἀξία δέ μοι σέβειν· §1061πολλὴν πρόνοιαν δεῖ μ’ ἔχειν.
I must take great care.
σὺ δʼ, ὦ γύναι, §1062ἥτις ποτ’ εἶ σύ, ταὔτ’ ἔχουσ’ Ἀλκήστιδι §1063μορφῆς μέτρ’ ἴσθι· καὶ προσήιξαι δέμας.
But you, O woman, whoever you are, know that you have the same measure of form as Alcestis; and your body resembles hers.
§1064οἴμοι.
Alas!
κόμιζε πρὸς θεῶν ἐξ ὀμμάτων §1065γυναῖκα τήνδε, μή μ’ ἕλῃς ᾑρημένον.
Take this woman, by the gods, out of my sight, lest you destroy me who am already destroyed.
§1066δοκῶ γὰρ αὐτὴν εἰσορῶν γυναῖχ’ ὁρᾶν §1067ἐμήν· θολοῖ δὲ καρδίαν, ἐκ δ’ ὀμμάτων §1068πηγαὶ κατερρώγασιν·
For looking at her I seem to see my own wife; and it troubles my heart, and from my eyes fountains of tears burst forth.
ὦ τλήμων ἐγώ, §1069ὡς ἄρτι πένθους τοῦδε γεύομαι πικροῦ.
O wretched me, how lately I taste this bitter grief.
Chorus: Indeed I cannot speak well of this fortune; but one must endure, whoever you are, the gift of the god.
§1072εἰ γὰρ τοσαύτην δύναμιν εἶχον ὥστε σὴν §1073ἐς φῶς πορεῦσαι νερτέρων ἐκ δωμάτων §1074γυναῖκα καί σοι τήνδε πορσῦναι χάριν.
Heracles: If only I had such power as to bring your wife from the chambers of those below into the light, and to bestow this favor upon you!
§1075σάφ’ οἶδα βούλεσθαί σ’ ἄν.
Admetus: I know well that you would wish it.
ἀλλὰ ποῦ τόδε;
But where is this possible?
§1076οὐκ ἔστι τοὺς θανόντας ἐς φάος μολεῖν.
It is not possible for the dead to come into the light.
§1077μή νυν ὑπέρβαλλʼ, ἀλλ’ ἐναισίμως φέρε.
Heracles: Do not then exceed, but bear it with moderation.
§1078ῥᾷον παραινεῖν ἢ παθόντα καρτερεῖν.
Admetus: It is easier to advise than to endure when suffering.
§1079τί δ’ ἂν προκόπτοις, εἰ θέλοις ἀεὶ στένειν;
Heracles: But what would you gain if you should wish to lament forever?
§1080ἔγνωκα καὐτός, ἀλλ’ ἔρως τις ἐξάγει.
Admetus: I know it myself, but a certain love drives me wild.
§1081τὸ γὰρ φιλῆσαι τὸν θανόντ’ ἄγει δάκρυ.
Heracles: For to love the dead brings tears.
§1082ἀπώλεσέν με, κἄτι μᾶλλον ἢ λέγω.
Admetus: She has destroyed me, and even more than I can say.