alcestis-第7节
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Be no more counted as a tomb；
But revered as the Gods；
And greeted by all who pass by！
The wanderer shall turn from his path；
Saying： 'She died for her lord；
A blessed spirit she is now。
Hail； O sacred lady； be our friend！'
Thus shall men speak of her。
（ADMETUS is still crouched on the Palace steps； when
HERACLES enters from the side； leading a veiled woman。）
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
But see！ The son of Alcmena； as I think； comes to your house。
（ADMETUS uncovers his head； and faces the newcomer。）
HERACLES
Admetus； a man should speak freely to his friends； and not keep
reproaches silent in his heart。 Since I was near you in your
misfortune； should have wished to show myself your friend。 But you did
not tell me the dead body was your wife's； and you took me into your
house as if you were in mourning only for a stranger。 And I put a
garland of flowers upon my head； and poured wine…offerings to the
Gods； when your house was filled with lamentation。 I blame you； yes； I
blame you for this…but I will not upbraid you in your misfortune。
Why I turned back and am here； I shall tell you。 Take and keep
this woman for me until I have slain the King of the Bistones and
return here with the horses of Thrace。 If ill happens to me…may I
return safely！…I give her to you to serve in your house。
With much striving I won her to my hands。 On my way I found public
games； worthy of athletes； and I have brought back this woman whom I
won as the prize of victory。 The winners of the easy tests had horses；
heads of cattle were given to those who won in boxing and wrestling。
Then came a woman as a prize。 Since I was present； it would have
been shameful for me to miss this glorious gain。 Therefore； as I said；
you must take care of this woman； whom I bring to you； not as one
stolen but as the prize of my efforts。 Perhaps in time you will
approve of what I do。
ADMETUS
Not from disdain； nor to treat you as a foe； did I conceal my
wife's fate from you。 But if you had turned aside to another man's
hearth； one more grief had been added to my sorrow。 It was enough that
I should weep my woe。
This woman…O King； I beg it may be thus…enjoin some other
Thessalian； one who is not in sorrow； to guard her。 In Pherae there
are many to welcome you。 Do not remind me of my grief。 Seeing her in
my house； I could not restrain my tears。 Add not a further anguish
to my pain； for what I suffer is too great。 And then…where could I
harbour a young woman in my house？ For she is young…I see by her
clothes and jewels。 Could she live with the men under my roof？ How；
then； could she remain chaste； if she moved to and fro among the young
men？ Heracles； it is not easy to restrain the young。。。。I am thinking
of your interests。。。。Must I take her to my dead wife's room？ How could
I endure her to enter that bed？ I fear a double reproach…from my
people； who would accuse me of betraying my saviour to slip into
another woman's bed； and from my dead wife； who deserves my respect；
for which I must take care。
O woman； whosoever you may be； you have the form of Alcestis；
and your body is like hers。
Ah！ By all the Gods； take her from my sight！ Do not insult a
broken man。 When I look upon her…she seems my wife…my heart is torn
asunder…tears flow from my eyes。 Miserable creature that I am； now
taste the bitterness of my sorrow。
LEADER
I do not praise this meeting； but； whatever happens； we must
accept the gifts of the Gods。
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。
Farewell！ I go to fulfil the task set me by the King； the son of
Sthenelus。
ADMETUS
Stay with us； and share our hearth。
HERACLES
That may be hereafter； but now I must be gone in haste。
（HERACLES departs。）
ADMETUS （gazing after him）
Good fortune to you； and come back here！ （To the CHORUS） In all
the city and in the four quarters of Thessaly let there be choruses to
rejoice at this good fortune； and let the altars smoke with the
flesh of oxen in sacrifice！ To…day we have changed the past for a
better life。 I am happy。
（He leads ALCESTIS into the Palace。）
CHORUS （singing）
Spirits have many shapes；
Many strange things are
