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234 234 EURIPIDES

/So, to the struggle oj^ strode fferakles. 1573

. . . And presently 1577

Jn came the mourners from the funeral, One after one, until toe hoped the last Would be Alkestis and so end our dream. iseo

Could they have really left Alkestis lone Τ the wayside sepulchre / Home, all save she f And when Admetos felt that it was so. By the stand-still : lohen he lifted head and face From the two hiding hands and peplos" fold, isss

And looked forth, knew the palace, knew the hills. Knew the plains, knew the friendly frequence there. And no Alkestis any more again. Why, the whole woe billow-like broke on him.

" Ο hateful entry, hateful countenance 1590

O' the widowed halls ! " — he moaned. " What was

to be? Go there ? Stay here ? Speak, not speak ? All was

now Mad and impossible alike ; one way And only one was sane and safe — to die : Now he was made aware how dear is death, 1595

How lovable the dead are, how the heart Yearns in us to go hide where they repose. When we find sunbeams do no good to see. Nor earth rests rightly where our footsteps fall. His wife had been to him the very pledge, leoo

Sun should be sun, earth — earth ; the pledge was

robbed. Pact broken, and the world was left no world." He stared at the impossible mad life : Stood, while they urged " Advance — advance ! Go

deep