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223 ALCESTIS 223

As, " Look where comes the lord o' the land, him- self, Admetos, from the palace ! " the]/ outbroke In some surprise, as well as much relief. WTiat had induced the king to waive his right ^m

And luxury of woe in loneliness f

Out he came quietly ; the hair was dipt.

And the garh sable ; else no outward sign

Of sorrow as he came and faced his friend. -m

" Hail, child of Zeus, and sprung from Perseus ^ too I " The salutation ran without a fault. 787

" And thou, Admetos, King of Thessaly ! "

" Would, as thou wishest me, the grace might fall ! But my good-wisher, that thou art, I know." 790

" What 's here ? these shorn locks, this sad show of thee ? "

" I must inter a certain corpse to-day."

" Now, from thy children God avert mischance ! "

" They live, my children ; all are in the house I "

" Thy father — if 't is he departs indeed, 796

His age was ripe at least."

" My father lives, ' And she who bore me lives too, Herakles."

" It cannot be thy wife Alkestis gone ? "

" Two-fold the tale is, I can tell of her."

" Dead dost thou speak of her, or living yet ? " 8OO

" She is — and is not : hence the pain to me 1 "

^ Alcmene, the mother of Heracles, was the granddaughter of Per- seus.