Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/232

202 202 EURIPIDES

Accepting the slaves' table thankfully I " Then told ^ how Zeus had been the cause of all, Raising: the wrath in him which took revenue And slew those forgers of the thunderbolt is

Wherewith Zeus blazed the life from out the breast Of Phoibos' son Asklepios (I surmise, Because he brought the dead to life again) And so, for punishment, must needs go slave, God as he was, with a mere mortal lord : 20

— Told how he came to King Admetos' land, And played the ministrant, was herdsman there. Warding all harm away from him and his Till now ; " For, holy as I am," said he, " The lord I chanced upon was holy too : 25

ΛVhence I deceived the Moirai,^ drew from death My master, this same son of Plieres, — ay. The Goddesses conceded him escape From Hades, when the fated day should fall, Could he exchange lives, find some friendly one so Ready, for his sake, to content the grave. But trying all in turn, the friendly list, Why, he found no one, none who loved so much. Nor father, nor the aged mother's self That bore him, no, not any save his wife, ss

Willing to die instead of him and watch Never a sunrise nor a sunset more : And she is even now within the house. Upborne by pitying hands, the feeble frame Gasping its last of life out ; since to-day 40

Destiny is accomplished, and she dies. And I, lest here pollution light on me. Leave, as ye witness, all my wonted joy In this dear dwelling. Ay, — for here comes Death 1 The Fates. ^ Verses 13-23 axe a paraphrase.