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217 ALCESTIS 217

" And now at least I say it, and I will accomplish too ! " seo

" Then, for such promise of accomplishment, Take from my hand these children ! "

" Thus I take — Dear gift from the dear hand ! "

" Do thou become Mother, now, to these children in my place ! "

" Great, the necessity I should be so, ses

At least, to these bereaved of thee ! "

" Child — child ! Just when 1 needed most to live, below Am I departing from you both ! "

" Ah me ! And what shall I do, then, left lonely thus ? "

" Time will appease thee : who is dead is naught." 570

" Take me with thee — take, by the Gods below ! "

" We are sufficient, we who die for thee."

" Ο Powers, ye widow me of what a wife ! "

" And truly the dimmed eye draws earthward now ! "

" Wife, if thou leav'st me, I am lost indeed ! " 575

" She once was — now is nothing, thou mayst say."

" Raise thy face, nor forsake thy children thus ! "

" Ah, willingly indeed I leave them not ! But — fare ye well, my children ! "

" Look on them — Look ! "

" I am nothingness."

" What dost thou ? Leav'st . . ," " Farewell ! "