EURIPIDES
Now she has caught your wife in the breakless grip of her
hands.
Take it. You will never bring back, by crying, 985
the dead into the light again.
Even the sons of the gods fade
and go in death's shadow. 990
She was loved when she was with us.
She shall be loved still, now she is dead.
It was the best of all women to whom you were joined in
marriage.
The monument of your wife must not be counted among
the graves 995
of the dead, but it must be given its honors
as gods are, worship of wayfarers.
And as they turn the bend of the road 1000
and see it, men shall say:
"She died for the sake of her husband.
Now she is a blessed spirit.
Hail, majesty, be gracious to us." Thus will men speak in
her presence. 1005
But here is someone who looks like Alcmene's son,
Admetus. He seems on his way to visit you.
(Heracles enters, leading a veiled woman by
the hand.}
Heracles
A man, Admetus, should be allowed to speak his mind
to a friend, instead of keeping his complaints suppressed
inside him. Now, I thought I had the right to stand 1010
beside you and endure what you endured, so prove
my friendship. But you never told me that she, who lay
dead, was your wife, but entertained me in your house
as if your mourning were for some outsider's death.
And so I wreathed my head and poured libations out 1015
to the gods, in your house, though your house had
suffered so.
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