“And the master of these steeds, whose son is he?”

“He is son of Ares, lord of the land of Thrace.”

“Now this is a strange fate and a hard that maketh me fight ever with the sons of Ares, with Lycaon first, and with Cycnus next, and now with this King Diomed.  But none shall ever see the son of Alcmena trembling before an enemy.”

And now King Admetus came forth from the palace.  And when the two had greeted one another, Hercules would fain know why the King had shaven his hair as one that mourned for the dead.  And the King answered that he was about to bury that day one that was dear to him.

And when Hercules inquired yet further who this might be, the King said that his children were well, and his father also, and his mother.  But of his wife he answered so that Hercules understood not that he spake of her.  For he said that she was a stranger by blood, yet near in friendship, and that she had dwelt in his house, having been left an orphan of her father.  Nevertheless Hercules would have departed and found entertainment elsewhere, for he would not be troublesome to his host.  But the King suffered him not.  And to the servant that stood by he said, “Take thou this guest to the guest-chamber; and see that they that have charge of these matters set abundance of food before him.  And take care that ye shut the doors between the chambers and the palace; for it is not meet that the guest at his meal should hear the cry of them that mourn.”

And when the old men would know why the King, having so great a trouble upon him, yet entertained a guest, he made answer.

“Would ye have commended me the more if I had caused him to depart from this house and this city?  For my sorrow had not been one whit the less, and I had lost the praise of hospitality.  And a right worthy host is he to me if ever I chance to visit the land of Argos.”

And now they had finished all things for the burying of Alcestis, when the old man Pheres, the father of the King, approached, and servants came with him bearing robes and crowns and other adornments wherewith to do honour to the dead.  And when he was come over against the bier whereon they had laid the dead woman, he spake to the King, saying, “I am come to mourn with thee, my son, for thou hast lost a noble wife.  Only thou must endure, though this indeed is a hard thing.  But take these adornments, for it is meet that she should he honoured who died for thee, and for me also, that I should not go down to the grave childless.”  And to the dead he said, “Fare thou well, noble wife, that hast kept this house from falling.  May it be well with thee in the dwellings of the dead!”