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Wrestled Death

dgl_2
Jun 30th, 2022 (edited)
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  1. HERACLES
  2.  
  3. O heart of me, much-enduring heart, O right arm, now indeed must you show what son was born to Zeus by Alcmena, the Tirynthian, daughter of Electryon! For I must save this dead woman, and bring back Alcestis to this house as a grace to Admetus.
  4.  
  5. I shall watch for Death, the black-robed Lord of the Dead, and I know I shall find him near the tomb, drinking the blood of the sacrifices. If can leap upon him from an ambush, seize him, grasp him in my arms, no power in the world shall tear his bruised sides from me until he has yielded up this woman. If I miss my prey, if he does not come near the bleeding sacrifice, I will go down to Kore and her lord in their sunless dwelling, and I will make my entreaty to them, and I know they will give me Alcestis to bring back to the hands of the host who welcomed me, who did not repulse me from his house, though he was smitten with heavy woe which most nobly he hid from me! Where would be a warmer welcome in Thessaly or in all the dwellings of Hellas?
  6.  
  7. He shall not say he was generous to an ingrate!
  8.  
  9. HERACLES goes out. Presently ADMETUS and his attendants, followed by the CHORUS, return from the burial of ALCESTIS.
  10.  
  11. [...]
  12.  
  13. HERACLES
  14. Put forth your hand and take this woman.
  15.  
  16. ADMETUS turning aside his head
  17. It is held out.
  18.  
  19. HERACLES
  20. As if you were cutting off a Gorgon's head! Do you hold her?
  21.  
  22. ADMETUS
  23. Yes.
  24.  
  25. HERACLES
  26. Then keep her. You shall not deny that the son of Zeus is a grateful guest.
  27. Takes off the veil and shows ALCESTIS.
  28. Look at her, and see if she is not like your wife. And may joy put an end to all your sorrow!
  29.  
  30. ADMETUS drops her hand and starts back
  31. O Gods! What am I to say? Unhoped-for wonder! Do I really look upon my wife? Or I am snared in the mockery of a God?
  32.  
  33. HERACLES
  34. No you look upon your wife indeed.
  35.  
  36. ADMETUS
  37. Beware! May it not be some phantom from the Underworld?
  38.  
  39. HERACLES
  40. Do not think your guest a sorcerer.
  41.  
  42. ADMETUS
  43. But do I indeed look upon the wife I buried?
  44.  
  45. HERACLES
  46. Yes-but I do not wonder at your mistrust.
  47.  
  48. ADMETUS
  49. Can I touch, speak to her, as my living wife?
  50.  
  51. HERACLES
  52. Speak to her-you have all you desired.
  53.  
  54. ADMETUS taking ALCESTIS in his arms
  55. O face and body of the dearest of women! I have you once more, when I thought I should never see you again!
  56.  
  57. HERACLES
  58. You have her-may the envy of the Gods be averted from you!
  59.  
  60. ADMETUS
  61. O noble son of greatest Zeus, fortune be yours, and may your Father guard you! But how did you bring her back from the Underworld to the light of day?
  62.  
  63. HERACLES
  64. By fighting with the spirit who was her master.
  65.  
  66. ADMETUS
  67. Then did you contend with Death?
  68.  
  69. HERACLES
  70. I hid by the tomb and leaped upon him.
  71.  
  72. ADMETUS
  73. But why is she speechless?
  74.  
  75. HERACLES
  76. You may not hear her voice until she is purified from her consecration to the Lower Gods, and until the third dawn has risen. Lead her in.
  77.  
  78. And you, Admetus, show as ever a good man's welcome to your guests.
  79.  
  80. Farewell!
  81.  
  82.  
  83.  
  84.  
  85. - Euripides, Alcestis
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