alcestis-第5节
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claims to be and is called my mother； bring me forth？ Or was I bred of
a slave's seed and secretly brought to your wife's breast？ You have
proved what you are when it comes to the test； and therefore I am
not your begotten son； or you surpass all men in cowardice； for； being
at the very verge and end of life； you had neither courage nor will to
die for your son。 But this you left to a woman； a stranger； whom alone
I hold as my father and my mother！
Yet it had been a beautiful deed in you to die for your son； and
short indeed was the time left you to live。 She and I would have lived
out our lives； and I should not now be here alone lamenting my misery。
You enjoyed all that a happy man can enjoy…you passed the flower
of your age as a king； and in me your son you had an heir to your
dominion； you would not have died childless； leaving an orphaned house
to be plundered by strangers。 You will not say that you abandoned me
to death because I dishonoured your old age； for above all I was
respectful to you…and this is the gratitude I have from you and my
mother！
Beget more sons； and quickly； to cherish your old age and wrap you
in a shroud when dead and lay your body out in state！ This hand of
mine shall not inter you。 I am dead to you。 I look upon the light of
day because another saved me…I say I am her son； and will cherish
her old age！
Vainly do old men pray for death； regretting their age and the
long span of life。 If death draws near； none wants to die； and age
is no more a burden to him。
LEADER
Admetus！ The present misfortune is enough。 Do not provoke your
father's spirit。
（ADMETUS turns angrily to depart； but PHERES prevents him。）
PHERES
My son； do you think you are pursuing some hireling Lydian or
Phrygian with your taunts？ Do you know I am a Thessalian； a free man
lawfully begotten by a Thessalian father？ You are over…insolent； and
you shall not leave thus； after wounding me with your boyish
insults。 I indeed begot you； and bred you up to be lord of this
land； but I am not bound to die for you。 It is not a law of our
ancestors or of Hellas that the fathers should die for the children！
You were born to live your own life； whether miserable or fortunate；
and what is due to you from me you have。 You rule over many men； and I
shall leave you many wide fields even as received them from my own
father。 How； then； have I wronged you？ Of what have I robbed you？ Do
not die for me； any more than I die for you。 You love to look upon the
light of day…do you think your father hates it？ I tell myself that
we are a long time underground and that life is short； but sweet。
But you…you strove shamelessly not to die； and you are alive；
you shirked your fate by killing her！ And you call me a coward； you；
the worst of cowards； surpassed by a woman who died for you； pretty
boy？ And now you insult those who should be dear to you； when they
refuse to die for a coward like you！
Be silent！ Learn that if you love your life； so do others。 If
you utter insults； you shall hear many； and true ones too！
LEADER
These insults and those that went before suffice。 Old man； cease
to revile your son。
ADMETUS （to PHERES）
Speak on！ I shall refute you。 If the truth wounds you when you
hear it you should not have wronged me。
PHERES
I should have wronged you far more if I had died for you。
ADMETUS
It is the same then to die an old man and in the flower of life？
PHERES
We should live one life； not two。
ADMETUS
May you live longer than God！
PHERES
Do you curse your parents when they have done you no wrong？
ADMETUS
I see you are in love with long life。
PHERES
But you are not carrying her dead body in place of your own？
ADMETUS
It is the proof of your cowardice； O worst of men。
PHERES
You cannot say she died for me！
ADMETUS
Alas！ May you one day need my help。
PHERES
Woo many women； so that more may die for you。
ADMETUS
To your shame be it…you who dared not die。
PHERES
Sweet is the daylight of the Gods； very sweet。
ADMETUS
Your spirit is mean； not a man's。
PHERES
Would you laugh to carry an old man's body to the grave？
ADMETUS
You will die infamous； whenever you die。
PHERES
It will matter little enough to me to hear ill of myself when I am
dead！
ADMETUS
Alas！ Alas！ full of impudence。 is old age！
PHERES
She was not impudent； but foolish；
ADMETUS
Go！ Leave me to bury her body。
PHERES （turning away）
I go。 You； her murderer； will bury her…but soon you must render an
account to her relatives。 Acastus is not a man if he fails to avenge
his sister's blood on you！
（PHERES goes out by the way he entered； followed by his
attendants。 ADMETUS gazes angrily after him。）
ADMETUS
Go with a curse； you； and she who dwells with you！ Grow old； as
you ought； childless though you have a child。 You shall never return
to this house。 And if I could renounce your hearth as my father's by
heralds； I would do it。 But we…since this sorrow must be endured…let
us go； and set her body on the funeral pyre。
（The Procession moves slowly along the stage； and is joined by the
CHORUS。 As they pass； the LEADER salutes the body of ALCESTIS。）
LEADER （chanting）
Alas！ Alas！ You who suffer for your courage； O noblest and best of
women； hail！ May Hermes of the Dead； may Hades； greet you kindly。 If
there are rewards for the dead； may you share them as you sit by the
bride of the Lord of the Dead！
（The Procession has filed out。 A servant in mourning
hurries out from the guests' quarters。）
SERVANT
Many guests from every land； I know； have come to the Palace of
Admetus； and I have set food before them； but never one worse than
this guest have I welcomed to the hearth。
First； though he saw our Lord was in mourning； he entered； and
dared to pass through the gates。 Then； knowing our misfortune； he
did not soberly accept what was offered him； but if anything was not
served to him he ordered us to bring it。 In both hands he took a cup
of ivy…wood； and drank the unmixed wine of the dark grape…mother；
until he was encompassed and heated with the flame of wine。 He crowned
his head with myrtle sprays； howling discordant songs。 There was he
caring nothing for Admetus's misery； and we servants weeping for our
Queen； and yet we hid our tear…laden eyes from the guest； for so
Admetus had commanded。
And now in the Palace I must entertain this stranger； some
villainous thief and brigand； while she； the Queen I mourn； has gone
from the house unfollowed； unsaluted； she who was as a mother to me
and all us servants； for she sheltered us from a myriad troubles by
softening her husband's wrath。
Am I not right； then； to hate this stranger； who came to us in the
midst of sorrow？
（HERACLES comes from the Palace。 He is drunkenly merry； with a
myrtle wreath on his head； and a large cup and wine…skin in his hands。
He staggers a little。）
HERACLES
Hey； you！ Why so solemn and anxious？ A servant should not be
sullen with guests； but greet them with a cheerful heart。
You see before you a man who is your lord's friend； and you
greet him with a gloomy； frowning face； because of your zeal about a
strange woman's death。 Come here； and let me make you a little wiser！
（With drunken gravity） Know the nature of human life？ Don't
think you do。 You couldn't。 Listen to me。 All mortals must die。
Isn't one who knows if he'll be alive to…morrow morning。 Who knows
where Fortune will lead？ Nobody can teach it。 Nobody learn it by
rules。 So； rejoice in what you hear； and learn from me！ Count each day
as it comes as Life…and leave the rest to Fortune。 Above all； honour
the Love Goddess； sweetest of all the Gods to mortal men； a kindly
goddess！ Put all the rest aside。 Trust in what I say； if you think I
speak truth…as I believe。 Get rid of this gloom； rise superior to
Fortune。 Crown yourself with flowers and drink with me； won't you？ I
know the regular clink of the wine…cup will row you from darkness
and gloom to another haven。 Mortals should think mortal thoughts。 To
all solemn and frowning men； life I say is not life； but a disaster。
SERVANT
We know all that； but what we endure here to…day is far indeed
from gladness and laughter。
HERACLES
But the dead woman was a stranger。 Lament not overmuch； then；
for the Lords of this Palace are still alive。
SERVANT
How； alive？ Do you not know the misery of this house？
HERACLES
Your lord did not lie to me？
SERVANT
He goes too far in hospitality！
HERACLES
But why should I suffer for a stranger's death？
SERVANT
It touches this house only too nearly。
HERACLES
Did
