FAREWELL TO ALCESTIS (from "Alcestis")

by: Euripides

When the life of Admetus could be saved if some one would die in his stead, no one was found willing except his wife, Alcestis.

AUGHTERS of Pelias, with farewell from me,

I' the house of Hades have thy unsunned home!

Let Hades know, the dark-haired deity,--

And he who sits to row and steer alike,

Old corpse-conductor, let him know he bears

Over the Acherontian lake this time,

I' the two-oared boat, the best, --oh, best by far

Of womankind! For thee, Alkestis Queen,

Many a time those haunters of the Muse

Shall sing to thee the seven stringèd mountain-shell,

And glorify in hymns that need no harp,

At Sparta when the cycle comes about,

And that Karneian month wherein the moon

Rises and never sets the whole night through:

So too at splendid and magnificent

Athenai. Such the spread of thy renown,

And such the lay that, dying, thou hast left

Singer and sayer. Oh that I availed

Of my own might to send thee once again

From Hades' hall, Kokutos' stream, by help

O' the oar that dips the river, back to-day!

Light from above thee, lady, fall the earth,

Thou only one of womankind to die,

Wife for her husband! If Admetos take

Any thing to him like a second spouse, --

Hate from his offspring and from us shall be

His portion, let the king assure himself!

No mind his mother had to hide in earth

Her body for her son's sake, nor his sire

Had heart to save whom he begot, -- not they,

The white-haired wretches! Only thou it was,

I' the bloom of youth, didst save him and so die!

Might it be mine to chance on such a mate

And partner! For there's penury in life

Of such allowance: were she mine at least,

So wonderful a wife, assuredly

She would companion me throughout my days

And never once bring sorrow!

• The Age of Euripides - A look at the political and religious atmosphere in which Euripides composed his plays.
• Euripides - A biography and list of related links.
• Euripides - A biographical sketch of the Greek dramatist.
• Euripides (c. 480-406 B.C.) - A biography.
• Euripides and His Tragedies - Biography of the Greek dramatist and analysis of his poetic qualities.
• Euripides: Monologues - A collection of monologues for actors.
• Innovations of Euripides - Technically Euripides seems to have taken as many liberties as were possible at a time when the plays of Sophocles were set up as the inevitable model.
• Purchase books by Euripides