HERACLES Oh, that I might bring your wif...

HERACLES Oh, that I might bring your wife back into the light of day from the dwelling of the Under-Gods, as a gift of grace to you!

ADMETUS I know you would wish this-but to what end? The dead cannot return to the light of day.

HERACLES Do not exaggerate, but bear this with decorum.

ADMETUS Easier to advise than bear the test.

HERACLES How will it aid you to lament for ever?

ADMETUS I know-but my love whirls me away.

HERACLES Love for the dead leads us to tears.

ADMETUS I am overwhelmed beyond words.

HERACLES You have lost a good wife-who denies it?

ADMETUS So that for me there is no more pleasure in life.

HERACLES Time will heal this open wound.

ADMETUS You might say Time, if Time were death!

HERACLES Another woman, a new marriage, shall console you.

ADMETUS Oh, hush! What have you said? A thing unbelievable!

HERACLES What! You will not marry? Your bed will remain widowed?

ADMETUS No other woman shall ever lie at my side.

HERACLES Do you think that avails the dead?

ADMETUS Wherever she may be, I must do her honour.

HERACLES I praise you--but men will call you mad.

ADMETUS Yet never more shall I be called a bridegroom.

HERACLES I praise your faithful love to your wife--

ADMETUS May I die if I betray her even when dead!

HERACLES (offering him the veiled woman's hand.) Receive her then into your noble house.

ADMETUS No, by Zeus who begot you, no!

HERACLES Yet you will do wrong if you do not take her.

ADMETUS If I do it, remorse will tear my heart.

HERACLES Yield--perhaps it will be a good thing for you.

ADMETUS Ah! If only you had not won her in the contest!

HERACLES But I conquered-and you conquered with me.

ADMETUS It is true--but let the woman go hence.

HERACLES She shall go, if she must. But first-ought she to go?

ADMETUS She must--unless it would anger you.

HERACLES There is good reason for my zeal.

ADMETUS You have conquered then-but not for my pleasure.

HERACLES One day you will praise me for it--be persuaded.

ADMETUS (to his attendants) Lead her in, since she must be received in this house.

HERACLES No, I cannot leave such a woman to servants.

ADMETUS Then lead her in yourself, if you wish.

HERACLES I must leave her in your hands.

ADMETUS I must not touch her-let her go into the house.

HERACLES I trust only in your right hand.

ADMETUS O King, you force me to this against my will.

HERACLES Put forth your hand and take this woman.

ADMETUS (turning aside his head) It is held out.

HERACLES As if you were cutting off a Gorgon's head! Do you hold her?

ADMETUS Yes.

HERACLES Then keep her. You shall not deny that the son of Zeus is a grateful guest. (Takes off the veil and shows ALCESTIS.) Look at her, and see if she is not like your wife. And may joy put an end to all your sorrow!

ADMETUS (drops her hand and starts back) O Gods! What am I to say? Unhoped--for wonder! Do I really look upon my wife? Or I am snared in the mockery of a God?

HERACLES No you look upon your wife indeed.

ADMETUS Beware! May it not be some phantom from the Underworld?

HERACLES Do not think your guest a sorcerer.

ADMETUS But do I indeed look upon the wife I buried?

HERACLES Yes--but I do not wonder at your mistrust.

ADMETUS Can I touch, speak to her, as my living wife?

HERACLES Speak to her--you have all you desired.

ADMETUS (taking ALCESTIS in his arms) O face and body of the dearest of women! I have you once more, when I thought I should never see you again!

HERACLES You have her--may the envy of the Gods be averted from you!

ADMETUS O noble son of greatest Zeus, fortune be yours, and may your Father guard you! But how did you bring her back from the Underworld to the light of day?

HERACLES By fighting with the spirit who was her master.

ADMETUS Then did you contend with Death?

HERACLES I hid by the tomb and leaped upon him.

ADMETUS But why is she speechless?

HERACLES You may not hear her voice until she is purified from her consecration to the Lower Gods, and until the third dawn has risen. Lead her in.

And you, Admetus, show as ever a good man's welcome to your guests.

Euripides, Alcestis. Trans. Richard Aldington. http://classics.mit.edu/Euripides/alcestis.html

The full-text of Alcestis from MIT Classics: http://classics.mit.edu/Euripides/alcestis.html