_Adm._ Well, if I must receive her, lead her in. _Herc._ Charge servants with her! No, that must not be. _Adm._ Lead her thyself, then, if thy will incline thee. _Herc._ No, to thy hand alone will I commit her. _Adm._ I touch her not; but she hath leave to enter. _Herc._ I shall entrust her only to thy hand. _Adm._ Thou dost constrain me, king, against my will. _Herc._ Venture to stretch thy hand, and touch the stranger's. {1190} _Adm._ I touch her, as I would the headless Gorgon. _Herc._ Hast thou her hand? _Adm._ I have. _Herc._ (_lifting the veil_) Then hold her safe. Hereafter thou wilt say the son of Jove Hath been a generous guest; view now her face, See if she bears resemblance to thy wife, And thus made happy bid farewell to grief. _Adm._ O, Gods, what shall I say? 'Tis marvelous, Exceeding hope. See I my wife indeed? Or doth some god distract me with false joy? _Herc._ In very deed dost thou behold thy wife. {1200} _Adm._ See that it be no phantom from beneath. _Herc._ Make not thy friend one that evokes the shades. _Adm._ And do I see my wife, whom I entomb'd? _Herc._ I marvel not that thou art diffident. _Adm._ I touch her; may I speak to her as living? _Herc._ Speak to her: thou hast all thy heart could wish. _Adm._ Dearest of women, do I see again That face, that person? This exceeds all hope; I never thought that I should see thee more. _Herc._ Thou hast her; may no God be envious of thee. {1210} _Adm._ O be thou blest, thou generous son of Jove! Thy father's might protect thee! Thou alone Hast rais'd her to me; from the realms below How hast thou brought her to the light of life? _Herc._ I fought with him that lords it o'er the shades. _Adm._ Where with the gloomy tyrant didst thou fight? _Herc._ I lay in wait and seized him at the tomb. _Adm._ But wherefore doth my wife thus speechless stand? _Herc._ It is not yet permitted[3] that thou hear Her voice addressing thee, till from the Gods {1220} That rule beneath she be unsanctified With hallow'd rites, and the third morn return. But lead her in; and as thou'rt just in all Besides, Admetus, see thou reverence strangers. Farewell: I go t' achieve the destined toil For the imperial son of Sthenelus. _Adm._ Abide with us, and share my friendly hearth. _Herc._ That time will come again; this demands speed. _Adm._ Success attend thee: safe may'st thou return. Now to my citizens I give in charge, {1230} And to each chief, that for this blest event They institute the dance; let the steer bleed, And the rich altars, as they pay their vows, Breathe incense to the gods; for now I rise