ALCESTIS 229
Did things stop there But, modest by no means,
He took what entertainment lay to hand,
Knowing of our misfortune, — did we fail 1290
In aught of the fit service, urged us serve
Just as a guest expects ! And in his hands
Taking the ivied goblet, drinks and drinks
The unmixed product of black mother-earth,
Until the blaze o' the wine went round about 1300
And warmed him : then he crowns with myrtle sprigs
His head, and howls discordance — twofold lay
Was thereupon for us to listen to —
This fellow singing, namely, nor restrained
A jot by sympathy with sorrows here — 1305
While we o' the household mourned our mistress —
mourned, That is to say, in silence — never showed The eyes, which we kept wetting, to the guest — For there Admetos was imperative. And so, here am I helping make at home lao
A guest, some fellow ripe for wickedness, Robber or pirate, while she goes her way Out of our house : and neither was it mine To follow in procession, nor stretch forth Hand, wave my lady dear a last farewell, ms
Lamenting who to me and all of us Domestics was a mother : myriad harms She used to ward away from every one. And mollify her husband's ireful mood. I ask then, do I justly hate or no 1320
This guest, this interloper on our grief ? "
/SO, he stood petting up his puny hate, 1395
Parent-icise, proud of the ill-favored hahe. ^ot long ! A great hand, careful lest it crush,
