Let him live whom I loved, then hate on, all the same!


The Fates. And what if we granted—law-flouter, use-trampler—

His life at the suit of an upstart? Judge, thou—

Of joy were it fuller, of span because ampler?

For love's sake, not hate's, end Admetus—ay, now—

Not a gray hair on head, nor a wrinkle on brow!

For, boy, 't is illusion: from thee comes a glimmer

Transforming to beauty life blank at the best.

Withdraw—and how looks life at worst, when to shimmer