Part 3 (1/2)

Surely Admetus suffers, even to-day, For this true-hearted love he hath cast away?

MAID.

He weeps; begs her not leave him desolate, And holds her to his heart--too late, too late!

She is sinking now, and there, beneath his eye Fading, the poor cold hand falls languidly, And faint is all her breath. Yet still she fain Would look once on the sunlight--once again And never more. I will go in and tell Thy presence. Few there be, will serve so well My master and stand by him to the end.

But thou hast been from olden days our friend.

[_The_ MAID _goes in_.]

CHORUS.

THIRD ELDER.

O Zeus, What escape and where From the evil thing?

How break the snare That is round our King?

SECOND ELDER.

Ah list!

One cometh?... No.

Let us no more wait; Make dark our raiment And shear this hair.

LEADER.

Aye, friends!

'Tis so, even so.

Yet the G.o.ds are great And may send allayment.

To prayer, to prayer!

ALL (_praying_).

O Paian wise!

Some healing of this home devise, devise!

Find, find.... Oh, long ago when we were blind Thine eyes saw mercy ... find some healing breath!

Again, O Paian, break the chains that bind; Stay the red hand of Death!

LEADER.

Alas!

What shame, what dread, Thou Pheres' son, Shalt be harvested When thy wife is gone!

SECOND ELDER.

Ah me; For a deed less drear Than this thou ruest Men have died for sorrow; Aye, hearts have bled.

THIRD ELDER.

'Tis she; Not as men say dear, But the dearest, truest, Shall lie ere morrow Before thee dead!

ALL.

But lo! Once more!

She and her husband moving to the door!

Cry, cry! And thou, O land of Pherae, hearken!

The bravest of women sinketh, perisheth, Under the green earth, down where the shadows darken, Down to the House of Death!

[_During the last words_ ADMETUS _and_ ALCESTIS _have entered_.

ALCESTIS _is supported by her Handmaids and followed by her two children._]

LEADER.