A double blame: my citizens would scorn me As light and faithless to the kindest wife That died for me, if to her bed I took Another blooming bride; and to the dead Behoves me pay the highest reverence Due to her merit. And thou, lady, know, Whoe'er thou art, that form, that shape, that air Resembles my Alcestis! By the Gods, Remove her from my sight! it is too much, I cannot bear it; when I look on her, Methinks I see my wife; this wounds my heart And calls the tears fresh gushing from my eyes. This is the bitterness of grief indeed! _Chor._ I cannot praise thy fortune; but behoves thee To bear with firmness what the gods assign. _Herc._ O that from Jove I had the pow'r to bring Back from the mansions of the dead thy wife To heav'n's fair light, that grace achieving for thee! _Adm._ I know thy friendly will; but how can this Be done? The dead return not to this light. _Herc._ Check then thy swelling griefs; with reason rule them. _Adm._ How easy to advise, but hard to bear! _Herc._ What should it profit should'st thou always groan? _Adm._ I know it; but I am in love with grief. _Herc._ Love to the dead calls forth the ceaseless tear. _Adm._ O, I am wretched more than words can speak. _Herc._ A good wife hast thou lost, who can gainsay it? _Adm._ Never can life be pleasant to me more. _Herc._ Thy sorrow now is new; time will abate it. _Adm._ Time say'st thou? Yes, the time that brings me death. _Herc._ Some young and lovely bride will bid it cease. _Adm._ No more: What say'st thou? Never could I think-- _Herc._ Will thou still lead a lonely widow'd life? _Adm._ Never shall other women share my bed. _Herc._ And think'st thou this will aught avail the dead? _Adm._ This honor is her due, where'er she be. _Herc._ This hath my praise, though near allied to frenzy. _Adm._ Praise me or not, I ne'er will wed again. _Herc._ I praise thee that thou'rt faithful to thy wife. _Adm._ Though dead, if I betray her, may I die! _Herc._ Well, take this noble lady to thy house. {1170} _Adm._ No, by thy father Jove, let me entreat thee. _Herc._ Not to do this would be the greatest wrong. _Adm._ To do it would with anguish rend my heart. _Herc._ Let me prevail; this grace may find its meed. _Adm._ O that thou never had'st receiv'd this prize! _Herc._ Yet in my victory thou art victor with me. _Adm._ 'Tis nobly said: yet let this woman go. _Herc._ If she must go, she shall! but must she go? _Adm._ She must, if I incur not thy displeasure. _Herc._ There is a cause that prompts my earnestness. {1180} _Adm._ Thou hast prevailed, but much against my will. _Herc._ The time will come when thou wilt thank me for it.