EURIPIDES
her obligations to the gods who live below 1145
are washed away. Until the third morning comes. So now
take her and lead her inside, and for the rest of time,
Admetus, be just. Treat your guests as they deserve.
And now goodbye. I have my work that I must do,
and go to face the lordly son of Sthenelus. 1150
Admetus
No, stay with us and be the guest of our hearth.
Heracles
There still
will be a time for that, but I must press on now.
Admetus
Success go with you. May you find your way back here.
(Heracles goes.)
I proclaim to all the people of my tetrarchy
that, for these blessed happenings, they shall set up
dances, and the altars smoke with sacrifice offered. 1155
For now we shall make our life again, and it will be
a better one.
I was lucky. That I cannot deny.
(He takes Alcestis by the hand and leads
her inside the house.)
Chorus (going)
Many are the forms of what is unknown.
Much that the gods achieve is surprise. 1160
What we look for does not come to pass;
God finds a way for what none foresaw.
Such was the end of this story.