Dramatis Personae

Apollo

Death

Chorus of Old Men of Pherae

Maid

Alcestis

Attendant

Admetus

Eumelus

Heracles

Pheres

ApolloHalls of Admetus, wherein I steeled my heart to be content with a servant’s board, god though I was. Zeus was to blame; he slew my son Asclepius, piercing his bosom with a thunderbolt; whereat I was enraged and smote his Cyclopes, forgers of the heavenly fire; so my sire in recompense for this forced me to become a slave in a mortal’s home. Then came I to this land and kept a stranger’s flocks, and to this day have been the saviour of this house. For in Pheres’ son I found a man as holy as myself, and him I saved from death by cheating Destiny, for they promised me, those goddesses of fate, that Admetus should escape the impending doom, if he found a substitute for the powers below. So he went through all his list of friends, made trial of each, his father and the aged mother that bare him,Dindorf has good reason for suspecting this line here. but none he found save his wife alone that was willing to die for him and forego the light of life; she now within the house is upheld in his arms, gasping out her life; for to-day is she doomed to die and pass from life to death. But I, for fear pollution overtake me in the house, am leaving the shelter of this roof I love so well, for already I see Death hard by, the priest of souls departed, who is on his way to lead her to the halls of Hades; true to time he comes, watching this day that calls her to her doom.
DeathHa! What dost thou at this house? why is it thou art ranging here, Phoebus? Once again thou wrongest me, circumscribing and limiting the honours of the nether world. Wert thou not content to hinder the death of Admetus, by thy knavish cunning baulking Destiny? but now again hast thou armed thee with thy bow and art keeping guard o’er her, this daughter of Pelias, who undertook, of her free will, to die for her lord and set him free.ApolloNever fear; I have, be sure, justice and fair pleas to urge.DeathWhat has that bow to do, if thou hast justice on thy side?Apollo’Tis my habit ever to carry it.DeathAy, and to help this house more than is right.ApolloThe reason is, I cannot bear a friend’s distress.DeathWilt rob me of this second corpse likewise?ApolloCome! I did not take the other from thee by violence.DeathThen how is it he lives above the earth and not beneath?ApolloHe gave his wife instead, her whom now thou art come to fetch.DeathYea, and I will bear her hence to the nether world.ApolloTake her and go, for I do not suppose I can persuade thee.DeathTo slay my rightful victim? Why, that is my appointed task.ApolloNay, but to lay thy deadly hand on those who soon would die.DeathI see thy drift, thy eager plea.ApolloIs it then possible that Alcestis should attain old age?DeathIt is not possible; I too, methinks, find a pleasure in my rights.ApolloThou canst not anyhow take more than one life.DeathWhen young lives die I reap a higher honour.ApolloShould she die old, a sumptuous funeral will she have.DeathPhoebus, the law thou layest down is all in favour of the rich.