EURIPIDES
Alcestis
I see him there at the oars of his little boat in the lake,
the ferryman of the dead,
Charon, with his hand upon the oar,
and he calls me now: "What keeps you? 255
Hurry, you hold us back." He is urging me on
in angry impatience.
Admetus
The crossing you speak of is a bitter one for me;
ill-starred; it is unfair we should be treated so.
Alcestis
Somebody has me, somebody takes me away, do you see,
don't you see, to the courts 260
of dead men. He frowns from under dark
brows. He has wings. It is Death.
Let me go, what are you doing, let go.
Such is the road
most wretched I have to walk.
Admetus
Sorrow for all who love you, most of all for me
and for the children. All of us share in this grief. 265
Alcestis
Let me go now, let me down,
flat. I have no strength to stand.
Death is close to me.
The darkness creeps over my eyes. O children,
my children, you have no mother now, 270
not any longer. Daylight is yours,
my children. Look on it and be happy.
Admetus
Ah, a bitter word for me to hear,
heavier than any death of my own.
Before the gods, do not be so harsh 275
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