"Thy father—if 't is he departs indeed,
His age was ripe at least."
"My father lives,
And she who bore me lives too, Herakles."
"It cannot be thy wife Alkestis gone?"
"Twofold the tale is, I can tell of her."
"Dead dost thou speak of her, or living yet?"
"She is—and is not: hence the pain to me!"
"I learn no whit the more, so dark thy speech!"
"Know'st thou not on what fate she needs must fall?"