LEADER.
And who hath said that Love shall bring
More joy to man than fear and strife?
I knew his perils from of old,
I know them now, when I behold
The bitter faring of my King,
Whose love is taken, and his life
Left evermore an empty thing.
ALCESTIS.
O Sun, O light of the day that falls!
O running cloud that races along the sky!
ADMETUS.
They look on thee and me, a stricken twain,
Who have wrought no sin that God should have thee slain.
ALCESTIS.
Dear Earth, and House of sheltering walls,
And wedded homes of the land where my fathers lie!
ADMETUS.
Fail not, my hapless one. Be strong, and pray
The o'er-mastering Gods to hate us not alway.
ALCESTIS (faintly, her mind wandering).
A boat two-oared, upon water; I see, I see.
And the Ferryman of the Dead,
His hand that hangs on the pole, his voice that cries;
"Thou lingerest; come. Come quickly, we wait for thee."
He is angry that I am slow; he shakes his head.
ADMETUS.
Alas, a bitter boat-faring for me,
My bride ill-starred.—Oh, this is misery!
ALCESTIS (as before).
Drawing, drawing! 'Tis some one that draweth me …
To the Palaces of the Dead.
So dark. The wings, the eyebrows and ah, the eyes!…
Go back! God's mercy! What seekest thou? Let me be!…
(Recovering) Where am I? Ah, and what paths are these I tread?
ADMETUS.
Grievous for all who love thee, but for me
And my two babes most hard, most solitary.
ALCESTIS.
Hold me not; let me lie.—
I am too weak to stand; and Death is near,
And a slow darkness stealing on my sight.
My little ones, good-bye.
Soon, soon, and mother will be no more here….
Good-bye, two happy children in the light.