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!AdmetusHe sees us both with anguish bowed, albeit guiltless of any crime against the gods, for the which thy death is due.
AlcestisO earth, O sheltering roof, and ye my maiden chambers in my native land Iolcos!AdmetusLift thyself, unhappy wife, forsake me not; entreat the mighty gods to pity us.
AlcestisI see the two-oared skiff, I see it; and Charon, death’s ferryman, his hand upon the boatman’s pole, is calling me e’en now, Why lingerest thou? Hasten. Thou art keeping me.
Thus in his eager haste he hurries me.AdmetusAh me! bitter to me is this voyage thou speakest of. Unhappy wife, what woes are ours!
AlcestisOne draws me, draws me hence, seest thou not? to the courts of death, winged Hades glaring from beneath his dark brows. What wilt thou with me? Unhand me. On what a journey am I setting out, most wretched woman I!AdmetusBitter journey to thy friends, yet most of all to me and to thy babes, the partners in this sorrow.
AlcestisHands off! hands off at once! Lay me down, I cannot stand. Hades standeth near; and with its gloom steals night upon my eyes.O my children, my children, ye have no mother now. Fare ye well, my babes, live on beneath the light!
AdmetusWoe is me! this is a message of sorrow to me, worse than aught that death can do. Steel not thy heart to leave me, I implore, by heaven, by thy babes whom thou wilt make orphans; nay, raise thyself, have courage. For if thou die I can no longer live; my life, my death are in thy hands; thy love is what I worship.