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And freely poured libations to the gods,

E'en in the house of mourning: 'twas not well-
I blame you for't, but will not with reproaches
Add to your grief. Hear why I have returned :—
Receive and keep for me this woman safely,
Till with the Thracian mares I come again,
When I have slain the rude Bistonian king.

But should I meet mischance (which Heaven forbid !)
Accept her as a gift; with toil I won her.

It chanced I came upon a ring was set

For public games, in which, as worth my pains,
I took a part, and she became my prize.
The victors in the lighter games won horses;
Those in the greater, herds of horned cattle;
This woman was the last and noblest prize.
It had been base not to contend for this;
I did, was victor, and commit her now
To your protection; fairly did I win her,

And not by theft; you will perchance, hereafter,

Yourself commend me for the pains I took.

Adm. Neither from slight, nor thinking you no friend,

Did I conceal my wife's unhappy fate ;

But to my grief I had but added grief,

If you had gone to any other host:
To weep my own misfortune was enough.
But for this woman, if it may be so,

('Mong the Phereans you have many friends,)
Commit her to the charge of other man,
That has not suffered in the way I have.
The sight of her would only feed my grief,
Nor could I keep from tears, beholding her.
Make not a sick man worse; I've wo enough :
Where could she lodge? her figure shows her youthful";
In the men's quarters? no! young blood is hot,
Not easy to restrain; could she be there
Unblemished? of your interest 'tis I think.
Or shall she have the chamber of the dead?
Sleep in her bed? I fear a double censure;
Lest any blame me with the injurious thought,
That I have tae'n a youthful paramour,
False to the memory of my best preserver;
Then that of my own conscience, for I owe
The dead (that well deserves it) love like awe.
Lady! whoe'er thou art, thou dost in truth,
In height and shape, resemble my Alcestis-
Now, by the gods, remove her from my sight!
Afflict not further an afflicted man.
Take her away! methinks I see my wife,
When I see her; it stirs my troubled heart;
And see! the fountains of my tears gush out.
Ah, wretch undone! how raw my wound is yet!
How new, how bitter is my taste of wo!

Chor. I cannot praise thy lot; but all must bear,
Whoe'er they be, the measure God appoints.

Her. How gladly would I bring, had I the power, Thy wife from the under-world to thee and light! Adm. I doubt it not: but how can such thing be? It is impossible to raise the dead!

Her. Grieve not too much; endure the stroke with patience. Adm. To preach is easier than to practise it.

Her. Can groaning help you, though you groan for ever? Adm. Ay, 'tis no help; yet I've a liking for't.

Her. Grief for a buried love makes the tear flow.
Adm. She's gone! and I'm undone beyond expression!
Her. You lost a glorious creature.

Adm.

Lost sense of joy, and relish of my life.

And with her

Her. Time will compose the swelling grief yet new.
Adm. "Twill do it, if time be death.

Her.

Will comfort you.

Another wife

Adm.
Her. Will you then live a lonely widower?
Adm. No woman e'er shall be my bed-fellow!
Her. Think you this of advantage to the dead?
Adm. I'm bound to honour her, where'er she be.
Her. Right, right! I say; but you'll be thought a fool.
Adm. That let them call me, but a bridegroom never!
Her. I praise you for your loyalty in love.
Adm. If ever I betray her, may I perish!

Hush, hush! how can you speak so?

Her. Take now this noble dame into the house.
Adm. Pr'ythee, excuse me, by thy father Zeus.
Her. But not to do this is not for thy good.
Adm. And doing it will cut me to the heart.
Her. Do it; you'll not repent it; be persuaded.
Adm. Alas! would you had never won the prize!
Her. Yet in my triumph you participate.
Adm. Thanks for your nobleness; but let her go.
Her. Yes! if it must be so, but look to 't first.
Adm. It must be so, unless you would incense me.
Her. From knowing what I do, I'll run the risk.
Adm. Prevail then, but I like not your proceeding.
Her. Some time or other you will praise me for 't.
Adm. Conduct her in then, if it must be so.
Her. I will not give her over to your servants.
Adm. Then lead her in yourself.

Her.
Into your hands,
And into yours alone, will I commit her.

[To his Attendants.

Adm. I will not touch her-but she may go in.
Her. I trust in you, and in your hands I place her.
Adm. Against my will you force me to this act.
Her. Boldly advance thy hand, and touch the stranger.
Adm. As tho' it were to touch the Gorgon's head!
Her. Hast hold of her.

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Then hold her fast;

Hereafter will you call me generous guest.

But look on her—(he lifts her veil)—and see if she resembles

Thy lost Alcestis-and from sorrow cease.

Adm. Ye gods! what shall I say? a miracle!

Is it my wife I see, my very wife?

Or else do the gods in derision mock me

With a false joy, a pleasant madness only?

Her. It is no false presentment, but your wife.
Adm. Look that it be no phantom from below.
Her. You cannot take me for a necromancer!
Adm. My wife? My buried wife?
Her.

Yes! it is she;

I do not wonder at your unbelief.
Adm. May I touch, speak to her?
Her.

Yes! speak to her;

You have indeed all that you most desired.

Adm. Sweet face and person of my dearest wife! When I did think to see thee never more,

Beyond all hope do I possess thee now?

Her. You do; all envy of the gods keep hence!
Adm. Blest be thou, noble son of highest Zeus,
And may thy father ever watch o'er thee!
For only thou hast raised me up again.
How didst thou bring her up into the light?
Her. I fought a battle with the grisly king
Of them below.

Adm.
Where didst thou fight with Death?
Her. Surprising him, I seized him at the tomb.

Adm. Why is she silent? Wherefore speaks she not?
Her. It is not lawful that you hear her voice
Till the third day, when she by lustral rites
Has been absolved from the infernal powers.
But lead her in; be just, and show respect
To strangers. Now, farewell! I go to achieve
The task set by the son of Sthenelus.

Adm. Remain with us, and be our honoured guest.
Her. Some other time, but now I must proceed.

Adm. Good luck go with thee, and return in safety! [Exit HERCULES. But I command through all the tetrarchy,

That choirs, in memory of this blest event,

Be duly set, and blood of victims flow

To the best gods from whom these blessings come.

Now is my present state flowering with joy,

And my condition better than before.

[Exit ADMETUS, leading ALCESTIs into the Palace.

Chor. Through many a shape, and many a change
The skyey influences range:

The gods oft bring about events,
Our strange unlooked-for accidents;
And what we think shall surely be,
We look for, but we cannot see.
God finds an unexpected way,
And so it has turned out to-day.

Edinburgh: Printed by Ballantyne and Company, Paul's Work.

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ON CATHOLICISM, PROTESTANTISM, AND PHILOSOPHY IN FRANCE.

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WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SOns, 45, george Street,

EDINBURGH:

AND T. CADELL, STRAND, LONDON.

To whom Communications (post paid) may be addressed.

SOLD ALSO BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND CO. EDINBURGH.

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