NURSE.-- Come then! for it is time: give me thy hand! And if the Gods are gracious to this land, Let them work wonders now! (_Exit_ NURSE _leading_ ALCESTIS, _followed by the attendant_ WOMEN.) CHORUS.-- And turning my heart from sadness I shall have done with fear, When the sound of a people’s gladness Grows loud in mine ear. (_The_ WOMEN’S _chorus goes out. Enter the_ MEN’S _Chorus_.) 1ST SEMI-CHORUS.-- Happy is he who knoweth The hour when his soul is blest, Who seeth the Gods in power, And their ways made manifest; Ready of foot, he goeth To the goal which giveth him rest. 2ND SEMI-CHORUS.-- So shall the breed of his race Be as shafts in the hand of a giant, Happy is he, and immortal, Whose quiver is filled with their breath: He, unashaméd of face, Stands to the foeman defiant, Comes undismayed to the portal Dark with the shadow of death. (_Enter_ ADMETUS, _attended_.) CHORUS.-- Therefore with crownéd brows, Thou comest rejoicing, O King; And the Gods have wrought for thy house A marvellous thing. (ADMETUS _stands before the altar, and offers incense_.) ADMETUS.-- First unto thee, Apollo, thanks and praise I render, who hast given me length of days, And life to hold, and joy, that yet on earth Mine eyes see light, which in all hearts makes mirth. (_He offers the incense._) And thou, Persephone, and thou, great Head, Holy and high, upraised amid the dead, Lord of the Dark, to whom all flesh must bow When Fate decrees, glad thanks I render now For my release, and hers. To thee this debt Freely I own. (_Averting his face from the altar, he offers the incense._) And thou great Hera, who of the highest throne Hast share in Heaven, on this once widowed bed Look down with shining eyes, and round it shed Sweet influences, and let the fruitful womb Ripen with sons and daughters. (_He offers the incense._) So shall no doom Sap out the strength and standing of my race, Nor my name be forgotten in this place, Where I am King. (ADMETUS _turns from the altar_.) ATTENDANT.-- My Lord, here comes thy father! ADMETUS.-- Let him go! I need him not. He lived, to be my foe. (_Enter_ PHERES.) PHERES.-- My son, because, this day, blessing shines bright On thee and thine, and to this home gives light In place of darkness, therefore am I come To wish thee joy. For when I saw the sum Of thine affliction, straightway I did repent The wrath I had against thee; yea, and sent To tell thee so. Hast thou no word of peace To offer in return? ADMETUS.-- Yea; henceforth cease To trouble thyself with me, or aught that’s mine! PHERES.-- Hard words: but harder that proud heart of thine. ADMETUS.-- Hard was its need, when sharp tongue bit like steel!