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205 ALCESTIS 205

Cruel above the measure, thou shalt clutch

No life here ! Such a man do I perceive

Advancing to the house of Pheres now,

Sent by Eurustheus ^ to bring out of Thrace,

The winter world, a chariot with its steeds I 120

He indeed, when Admetos proves the host,

And he the guest, at the house here, — he it is

Shall bring to bear such force, and from thy hands

Rescue this woman. Grace no whit to me

Will that prove, since thou dost thy deed the same, 125

And earnest too my hate, and all for nought ! "

But how should Death or stay or understand ?

Doubtless, he only felt the hour was come,

And the sword free ; for he hut flung some taunt —

" Having talked much, thou wilt not gain the more ! iso

This woman, then, descends to Hades' hall

Now that I rush on her, begin the rites

O' the sword ; for sacred, to us Gods below.

That head whose hair this sword shall sanctify ! " ^

And, in the fire-flash of the appalling sv:ord, 135

The uprush and the outhurst, the onslaught

Of Deatli s portentous passage through the door,

Apollon stood a pitying moment-space :

I caught one last gold gaze tqwn the night

bearing the world noio : and the God was gone, i4o

And mortals left to deal toith misery.

As in came stealing sloio, ηοτο this, nowj that

Old sojourner throughout the country-side,^ ο

Servants grown friends to those unhappy here:

^ King^ of Tiryns, who imposed on Heracles the twelve " labors." Cf. p. 192 f. The next line refers to the eighth labor. Cf. line 736. ^ A lock of hair was cut from the victim before sacrifice. 3 This marks the entrance of the chorus.