Alcestis (1123-1160)

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?

No, no; ’tis thy own wife thou seest here.

Beware it be not a phantom from that nether world.

No necromancer was this guest whom thou didst welcome.

Do I behold my wife, her whom I buried?

Be well assured thereof; still I marvel not thou dost distrust thy luck.

May I touch her, may I speak to her as my living wife?

Speak to her. For thou hast all thy heart’s desire.

O form and features of my well-loved wife! past all hope I hold thee, never expecting to see thee again.

So thou dost; may no jealous god rise against thee!

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?

By encountering the god[*] who had her in his power.

Where didst thou engage with Death? tell me this.

Just by the tomb I from my ambush sprang and caught him in my grip.

But why thus speechless stands my wife?

’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.

Abide with us and be our welcome guest.

Another time; now must I use all haste.

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.