wail for the best of women, as with sickness worn she passes ’neath the earth to Hades, lord below.

ChorusNever, never will I say that marriage brings more joy than grief, as I conjecture by the past and witness these misfortunes of our king, for he when widowed of this noble wife will for the future lead a life that is no life at all.

AlcestisO sun-god, lamp of day! O scudding clouds that dance along the sky!