Overview
- Female: 0
- Male: 2
Context
Apollo (also called Phoebus) has been working at the palace of Admetus, king of Thessaly. Before the play starts, he tricked the Fates into allowing Admetus to live longer if he could find someone willing to take his place in death. The only person willing to sacrifice herself is Alcestis, his wife. Death arrives, ready to take Alcestis. He confronts Apollo at the doors to the palace, arguing that claiming Alcestis is his right.
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DEATH Ha! Phoebus! You! Before this Palace! Lawlessly would you grasp, abolish the rights of the Lower Gods! Did you not beguile the Fates and snatch Admetus from the grave? Does not that suffice? Now, once again, you have armed your hand with the bow, to guard the daughter of Pelias who must die in her husband's stead!
APOLLO Fear not! I hold for right, and proffer you just words.
DEATH If you hold for right, why then your bow?
APOLLO My custom is ever to carry it.
DEATH Yes! And you use it unjustly to aid this house!
APOLLO I grieve for a friend's woe.
DEATH So you would rob me of a second body?
APOLLO Not by force I won the other.
DEATH Why, then, is he in the world and not below the ground?
APOLLO In his stead he gives his wife-whom you have come to take.
DEATH And shall take-to the Underworld below the earth!
APOLLO Take her, and go! I know not if I can persuade you...
DEATH Not to kill her I must kill? I am appointed to that task.
APOLLO No, no! But to delay death for those about to die.
DEATH I hear your words and guess your wish!
APOLLO May not Alcestis live to old age?
DEATH No! I also prize my rights!
APOLLO Yet at most you win one life.
DEATH They who die young yield me a greater prize.
APOLLO If she dies old, the burial will be richer.
DEATH Phoebus, that argument favours the rich.
APOLLO What! Are you witty unawares?
DEATH The rich would gladly pay to die old.
APOLLO So you will not grant me this favour?
DEATH Not I! You know my nature.
APOLLO Yes! Hateful to men and a horror to the gods!
DEATH You cannot always have more than your due.
APOLLO Yet you shall change, most cruel though you are! For a man comes to the dwelling of Pheres, sent by Eurystheus to fetch a horse-drawn chariot from the harsh-wintered lands of Thrace; and he shall be a guest in the house of Admetus, and by force shall he tear this woman from you. Thus shall you gain no thanks from us, and yet you shall do this thing-and my hatred be upon you
(APOLLO goes out. DEATH gazes after him derisively.)
DEATH Talk all you will, you get no more of me! The woman shall go down to the dwelling of Hades. Now must I go to consecrate her for the sacrifice with this sword; for when once this blade has shorn the victim's hair, then he is sacred to the Lower Gods!
Euripides, Alcestis. Trans. Richard Aldington. http://classics.mit.edu/Euripides/alcestis.html
Links
The full-text of Alcestis from MIT Classics: http://classics.mit.edu/Euripides/alcestis.html
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