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236 236 EURIPIDES

The one word more they ventured vms " This grief Befell thee witless of what sorrow means, lese

Close after prosperous fortune : but, reflect ! Thou hast saved soul and body. Dead, thy wife — Living, the love she left. What 's novel here ? Many the man, from whom Death long ago i64o

Loosed the life-partner I "

Then Admetos spoke : Turned on the comfort^ with no tears, this time.

And as the voice of him grew, gathered strength, i648 And groaned on, and persisted to the end. We felt how deep had been descent in gnef, leso

A7id with what change he came up now to light, And left behind such littleness as tears.

" Friends, I account the fortune of my wife

Happier than mine, though it seem otherwise :

For, her indeed no grief will ever touch, less

And she from many a labor pauses now,

Renowned one ! Whereas I, who ought not live,

But do live, by evading destiny,

Sad life am I to lead, I learn at last !

For how shall I bear going in-doors here ? leeo

Accosting whom ? By whom saluted back.

Shall I have joyous entry ? Whither turn ?

Inside, tbe solitude will drive me forth.

When I behold the empty bed — my wife's —

The seat she used to sit upon, the floor lees

Unsprinkled as when dwellers loved the cool,

The children that will clasp my knees about,

Cry for their mother back : these servants too

Moaning for what a guardian they have lost !

Inside my house such circumstance awaits. lero