one, and there was no hope, when thou wert dead, that they could have other children.[20] And I should have lived, and thou, the rest of our time.  And thou wouldst not be groaning deprived of thy wife, and wouldst not have to bring up thy children orphans.  But these things indeed, some one of the Gods hath brought to pass, that they should be thus.  Be it so—­but do thou remember to give me a return for this; for never shall I ask thee for an equal one, (for nothing is more precious than life,) but just, as thou wilt say:  for thou lovest not these children less than I do, if thou art right-minded; them bring up lords over my house, and bring not in second marriage a step-mother over these children, who, being a worse woman than me, through envy will stretch out her hand against thine and my children.  Do not this then, I beseech thee; for a step-mother that is in second marriage is enemy to the children of the former marriage, no milder than a viper.  And my boy indeed has his father, a great tower of defense; but thou, O my child, how wilt thou be, brought up during thy virgin years?  Having what consort of thy father’s? I fear, lest casting some evil obloquy on thee, she destroys thy marriage in the bloom of youth.[21] For neither will thy mother ever preside over thy nuptials, nor strengthen thee being present, my daughter, at thy travails, where nothing is more kind than a mother.  For I needs must die, and this evil comes upon me not to-morrow, nor on the third day of the month, but immediately shall I be numbered among those that are no more.  Farewell, and may you be happy; and thou indeed, my husband, mayst boast, that thou hadst a most excellent wife, and you, my children, that you were born of a most excellent mother.

CHOR.  Be of good cheer; for I fear not to answer for him:  he will do this, if he be not bereft of his senses.

ADM.  These things shall be so, they shall be, fear not:  since I, when alive also, possessed thee alone, and when thou art dead, thou shalt be my only wife, and no Thessalian bride shall address me in the place of thee:  there is not woman who shall, either of so noble a sire, nor otherwise most exquisite in beauty.  But my children are enough; of these I pray the Gods that I may have the enjoyment; for thee we do not enjoy.  But I shall not have this grief for thee for a year, but as long as my life endures, O lady, abhorring her indeed that brought me forth, and hating my father; for they were in word, not in deed, my friends.  But thou, giving what was dearest to thee for my life, hast rescued me.  Have I not then reason to groan deprived of such a wife?  But I will put an end to the feasts, and the meetings of those that drink together, and garland and song, which wont to dwell in my house.  For neither can I any more touch the lyre, nor lift up my heart to sing to the Libyan flute; for thou hast taken away my joy of life.  But by the cunning hand of artists imaged thy figure shall be lain on