ALCESTIS 223
As, " Look where comes the lord o' the land, him- self, Admetos, from the palace ! " the]/ outbroke In some surprise, as well as much relief. WTiat had induced the king to waive his right ^m
And luxury of woe in loneliness f
Out he came quietly ; the hair was dipt.
And the garh sable ; else no outward sign
Of sorrow as he came and faced his friend. -m
" Hail, child of Zeus, and sprung from Perseus ^ too I " The salutation ran without a fault. 787
" And thou, Admetos, King of Thessaly ! "
" Would, as thou wishest me, the grace might fall ! But my good-wisher, that thou art, I know." 790
" What 's here ? these shorn locks, this sad show of thee ? "
" I must inter a certain corpse to-day."
" Now, from thy children God avert mischance ! "
" They live, my children ; all are in the house I "
" Thy father — if 't is he departs indeed, 796
His age was ripe at least."
" My father lives, ' And she who bore me lives too, Herakles."
" It cannot be thy wife Alkestis gone ? "
" Two-fold the tale is, I can tell of her."
" Dead dost thou speak of her, or living yet ? " 8OO
" She is — and is not : hence the pain to me 1 "
^ Alcmene, the mother of Heracles, was the granddaughter of Per- seus.
