[45] “Adeo ut deficerent a visu, ne cernere possem, Scironis alta.”  B.

[46] [Greek:  Kachlazo], a word formed from the noise of the sea—­[Greek:  ho gar echos tou kymatos en tois koilomasi ton petron ginomenos, dokei mimeisthai to kachla, kachla].—­Etym.  Mag.

[47] [Greek:  Trikymiai].  See Blomfield’s Glossary to the Prometheus, 1051.

[48] Musgrave supposes that Hippolytus wound the reins round his body; but on this supposition, not to mention other objections, the comparison with the sailor does not hold so well.  It is more natural to suppose that he leaned back in order to get a purchase:  in this attitude he is made to describe himself in Ov. Met. xv. 519, Et retro lentas tendo resupinus habenas. If there be any doubt of [Greek:  eis toumisthen himasin] being Greek, this objection is obviated by putting a stop after [Greek:  himasin], and making it depend on [Greek:  helkei].

[49] i.e. in Crete.  See Dindorf’s note.  B.

[50] [Greek:  Exorizetai], valde prorumpit, liberat terminos, quibus hactenus septum fuit.  REISKE.

[51] Heath translates [Greek:  anekouphisthen] adtollebam corpus, honoris scilicet gratia.  Compare Iliad, [Greek:  O]. 241. [Greek:  atar asthma kai hidros pauet’, epei min egeire Dios noos aigiochoio], which Pope translates,

  “Jove thinking of his pains, they pass’d away:” 

in which the idea is much more sublime; for there the thought of a Deity effects what the presence of one does here.

[52] Probably meaning Adonis.  See Monk.  B.

* * * * * *

ALCESTIS.

* * * *

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

  APOLLO. 
  DEATH. 
  CHORUS OF PHEROEANS. 
  ATTENDANTS. 
  ALCESTIS. 
  ADMETUS. 
  EUMELUS. 
  HERCULES. 
  PHERES.

* * * * *

THE ARGUMENT.

* * * *

Apollo desired of the Fates that Admetus, who was about to die, might give a substitute to die for him, that so he might live for a term equal to his former life; and Alcestis, his wife, gave herself up, while neither of his parents were willing to die instead of their son.  But not long after the time when this calamity happened, Hercules having arrived, and having learned from a servant what had befallen Alcestis, went to her tomb, and having made Death retire, covers the lady with a robe; and requested Admetus to receive her and keep her for him; and said he had borne her off as a prize in wrestling; but when he would not, he unveiled her, and discovered her whom he was lamenting.

* * * * *

ALCESTIS

* * * *

APOLLO.