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.

  1. if thou canst persuade each new wife to die instead of thee; and dost thou then taunt thy friends, who will not do the like, coward as thou art thyself? Hold thy peace; reflect, if thou dost love thy life so well, this love by all is shared; yet if thou wilt speak ill of me,
  2. thyself shalt hear a full and truthful list of thy own crimes.
Chorus
  1. Too long that list both now and heretofore; cease, father, to revile thy son.
Admetus
  1. Say on, for I have said my say; but if it vexes thee to hear the truth, thou shouldst not have sinned against me.
Pheres
  1. My sin had been the deeper, had I died for thee.
Admetus
  1. What! is it all one for young or old to die?
Pheres
  1. To live one life, not twain, is all our due.
Admetus
  1. Outlive then Zeus himself!
Pheres
  1. Dost curse thy parents, though unharmed by them?
Admetus
  1. Yea, for I see thy heart is set on length of days.
Pheres
  1. Is it not to save thyself thou art carrying to the tomb this corpse?
Admetus
  1. A proof of thy cowardice, thou craven heart!
Pheres
  1. At any rate her death was not due to me; this thou canst not say.
Admetus
  1. Ah! mayst thou some day come to need my aid!
Pheres
  1. Woo many wives, that there may be the more to die.
Admetus
  1. That is thy reproach, for thou didst refuse to die.
Pheres
  1. Dear is the light of the sun-god, dear to all.
Admetus
  1. A coward soul is thine, not to be reckoned among men.
Pheres
  1. No laughing now for thee at bearing forth my aged corpse.
Admetus
  1. Thy death will surely be a death of shame, come when it will.