And thee, Admetus, the Goddess hath seized in the inevitable grasp of her hand; but bear it, for thou wilt never by weeping bring back on earth the dead from beneath.  Even the sons of the Gods by stealth begotten perish in death.  Dear she was while she was with us, and dear even now when dead.  But thou didst join to thy bed[45] the noblest wife of all women.  Nor let the tomb of thy wife be accounted as the mound over the dead that perish, but let it be honored equally with the Gods, a thing for travelers to adore:[46] and some one, going out of his direct road, shall say thus:  “She in olden time died for her husband, but now she is a blest divinity:  Hail, O adored one, and be propitious!” Such words will be addressed to her.—­And lo! here comes, as it seems, the son of Alcmena to thy house, Admetus.

HERCULES, ADMETUS, CHORUS.

HER.  One should speak freely to a friend, Admetus, and, not in silence keep within our bosoms what we blame.  Now I thought myself worthy as a friend to stand near thy calamities, and to search them out;[47] but thou didst not tell me that it was thy wife’s corse that demanded thy attention; but didst receive me in thy house, as though occupied in grief for one not thine.  And I crowned my head and poured out to the Gods libations in thy house which had suffered this calamity.  And I do blame thee, I blame thee, having met with this treatment! not that I wish to grieve thee in thy miseries.  But wherefore I am come, having turned back again, I will tell thee.  Receive and take care of this woman for me, until I come hither driving the Thracian mares, having slain the king of the Bistonians.  But if I meet with what I pray I may not meet with, (for may I return!) I give thee her as an attendant of thy palace.  But with much toil came she into my hands; for I find some who had proposed a public contest for wrestlers, worthy of my labors, from whence I bear off her, having received her as the prize of my victory; for those who conquered in the lighter exercises had to receive horses, but those again who conquered in the greater, the boxing and the wrestling, cattle, and a woman was added to these; but in me, who happened to be there, it had been base to neglect this glorious gain.  But, as I said, the woman ought to be a care to you, for I am come not having obtained her by stealth, but with labor; but at some time or other thou too wilt perhaps commend me for it.

ADM.  By no means slighting thee, nor considering thee among mine enemies, did I conceal from thee the unhappy fate of my wife; but this had been a grief added to grief, if thou hadst gone to the house of another host:  but it was sufficient for me to weep my own calamity.  But the woman, if it is in any way possible, I beseech thee, O king, bid some one of the Thessalians, who has not suffered what I have, to take care of (but thou hast many friends among the Pheraeans) lest thou remind me of my misfortunes.