Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/250

220 220 EURIPIDES

So, the song sank to prattle in her praise : gss

" Light, from above thee, lady, fall the earth,

Thou only one of womankind to die.

Wife for her husband ! If Admetos take

Anything to him like a second spouse —

Hate from his offspring and from us shall be eeo

His portion, let the king assure himself !

No mind his mother had to hide in earth

Her body for her son's sake, nor his sire

Had heart to save whom he begot, — not they,

The white-haired wretches ! only thou it was, ees

I' the bloom of youth, didst save him and so die !

Might it be mine to chance on such a mate

And partner ! For there 's penury in life

Of such allowance : were she mine at least,

So wonderful a wife, assuredly ero

She would companion me throughout my days

And never once bring sorrow ! "

A great voice — " My hosts here ! "

Oh, the thrill that ran through us I m

Sudden into the midst of sorrow, leapt ess

Along with the gay cheer of that great voice,

Hope, joy, salvation : Herakles was here ! ew

Himself, o' the threshold, sent his voice on first

To herald all that human and divine

/' the weary happy face of him, — half God,

Half man, which made the god-part God the more.

" Hosts mine," he broke upon the sorrow with,

" Inhabitants of this Pheraian soil,

Chance I upon Admetos inside here ? " 697