Alcestis Part 13

Reach forth thine hand And touch this comer from a distant land.

ADMETUS (_holding out his hand without looking_).

Like Perseus when he touched the Gorgon, there!

HERACLES.

Thou hast touched her?

ADMETUS (_at last taking her hand_).

Touched her?... Yes.

HERACLES (_a hand on the shoulder of each_).

Then cling to her; And say if thou hast found a guest of grace In G.o.d's son, Heracles! Look in her face; Look; is she like...?

[ADMETUS _looks and stands amazed_.]

Go, and forget in bliss Thy sorrow!

ADMETUS.

O ye G.o.ds! What meaneth this?

A marvel beyond dreams! The face ... 'tis she; Mine, verily mine! Or doth G.o.d mock at me And blast my vision with some mad surmise?

HERACLES.

Not so. This is thy wife before thine eyes.

ADMETUS (_who has recoiled in his amazement_).

Beware! The dead have phantoms that they send...

HERACLES.

Nay; no ghost-raiser hast thou made thy friend.

ADMETUS.

My wife ... she whom I buried?

HERACLES.

I deceive Thee not; nor wonder thou canst scarce believe.

ADMETUS.

And dare I touch her, greet her, as mine own Wife living?

HERACLES.

Greet her. Thy desire is won.

ADMETUS (_approaching with awe_), Beloved eyes; beloved form; O thou Gone beyond hope, I have thee, I hold thee now?

HERACLES.

Thou hast her: may no G.o.d begrudge your joy.

ADMETUS (_turning to_ HERACLES).

O lordly conqueror, Child of Zeus on high, Be blessed! And may He, thy sire above, Save thee, as thou alone hast saved my love!

[_He kneels to_ HERACLES, _who raises him_.]

But how ... how didst thou win her to the light?

HERACLES.

I fought for life with Him I needs must fight.

ADMETUS.

With Death thou hast fought! But where?

HERACLES.

Among his dead I lay, and sprang and gripped him as he fled.

ADMETUS (_in an awed whisper, looking towards_ ALCESTIS).

Why standeth she so still? No sound, no word!

HERACLES.

She hath dwelt with Death. Her voice may not be heard Ere to the Lords of Them Below she pay Due cleansing, and awake on the third day.

(_To the Attendants_) So; guide her home.

[_They lead_ ALCESTIS _to the doorway_.]

And thou, King, for the rest Of time, be true; be righteous to thy guest, As he would have thee be. But now farewell!

My task yet lies before me, and the spell That binds me to my master; forth I fare.

ADMETUS.

Stay with us this one day! Stay but to share The feast upon our hearth!

HERACLES.

The feasting day Shall surely come; now I must needs away.

[HERACLES _departs_.]

ADMETUS.

Farewell! All victory attend thy name And safe home-coming!

Lo, I make proclaim To the Four Nations and all Thessaly; A wondrous happiness hath come to be: Therefore pray, dance, give offerings and make full Your altars with the life-blood of the Bull!

For me ... my heart is changed; my life shall mend Henceforth. For surely Fortune is a friend.

[_He goes with_ ALCESTIS _into the house_.]

CHORUS.

There be many shapes of mystery; And many things G.o.d brings to be, Past hope or fear.

And the end men looked for cometh not, And a path is there where no man thought.

So hath it fallen here.

NOTES