Alcestis
Euripides
Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Translated into English Prose from the Text of Paley. Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906.
- Yet thou too sharest in my victory.
- True; still let this maiden go away.
- Go she shall, if go she must; but first see if this is needful.
- I needs must, else wilt thou be wroth with me.
- I have a reason good to press the matter thus.
- Have thy way then. Yet know well thy deed I disapprove.
- A day will come that thou wilt praise me; only yield.
- (to his servants). Take her in, if I needs must give her welcome in my house.
- To thy servants will I not hand her over.
- Conduct her then thyself within, if so thou thinkest good.
- Nay, but into thy hands shall mine consign her.
- I will not touch her, though she is free to go within my halls.
- To thy hand, and thine alone I her entrust.
- Prince, against my will thou dost constrain me to this deed.
- Boldly stretch out thy hand and touch the stranger maid.
- There, then, I stretch it out as toward the Gorgon’s severed head.[*](Lobeck, whom Nauck follows, to avoid the elision of the final ι of the dative singular, conjectured Γοργόν’ ὡς καρατομῶν as if beheading a Gorgon, i.e. with averted gaze, thus gaining very considerable point. Paley notices the clever suggestion, without however adopting it.)
- Hast hold of her?
- I have.
- (removes the veil). So; keep her safely then, and
- in days to come thou wilt confess the son of Zeus proved himself a noble guest. Look well at her, if haply to thy gaze she have a semblance of thy wife; and now that thou art blest, cease from sorrowing.