Come, come, oh, quick Desire, Kindle within this heart its wonted fire! ALCESTIS.-- My flesh is thine: the life therein my own. ADMETUS.-- To me, thy lover, turn not this heart of stone! Greater my love for thee than e’er before! ALCESTIS.-- Since it is greater, dost thou ask for more? ADMETUS.-- Yea, for I thirst! Let the Gods give thee bliss! ALCESTIS.-- What God in heaven or hell shall grant me this? ADMETUS.-- Ask of Apollo: he that made thee mine! ALCESTIS.-- Of that vine-treading thou hast drunk the wine. ADMETUS.-- Give me to drink again! Come! for I call! ALCESTIS.-- Again thou askest of me, and I give--all. (_Falling back in his arms, she dies._) ADMETUS.-- Now art thou mine! O bride of every sense! (_He bears her to the bed._) Ah, what cold horror’s this? Breath has gone hence! Warmth, touch, sight, hearing! Help! Lo, unto earth Where God sent blessing, a curse hath sprung to birth! Apollo, thy dart hath slain me! (_Enter_ NURSE.) NURSE.-- What means that cry? ADMETUS.-- She is dead! She is dead! Clasping, I felt her die! NURSE.-- Oh, woe is me, my mistress! Oh, my lord! ADMETUS.-- Yea, deep into my breast she thrust a sword, So much she hated me! NURSE.-- Oh, woe, woe, woe! ADMETUS.-- Death won her love, and Life became her foe! (_He covers his face with his robe._) NURSE.-- O Child, is it I that have slain thee? For surely thy heart I read, And saw how thy face was set. But mine were the hands to chain thee To the life that thou wouldst forget, And to bring thee back from the dead. (_While she is speaking, others enter: the_ WOMEN’S CHORUS, _the_ ATTENDANTS, _and two_ CHILDREN. _They stand awe-struck looking on._) NURSE.-- I knew thy heart, Patient and tender; no grief Failed ever to touch thee; no smart, But with thee found relief. But thou hadst a grief unknown: Silently, down to the grave, thou hast borne it alone. ADMETUS.-- Lift up your voices and cry! O women, shall she not wake? CHORUS.-- Wake, mistress, awake! ADMETUS.-- She lived, she rose, she returned from the dead, having died for my sake. CHORUS.-- For his sake! For our sake! ADMETUS.-- Earth had not stained her: her body was sweet, and her form Was fair to the eyes! CHORUS.-- Oh, the eyes, the eyes! ADMETUS.-- She lay on my breast, she was warm To my touch, and the prize Was mine! CHORUS.-- The prize! ah, the prize! ADMETUS.-- Oh, God, have the years to give Naught but this double death, Of the lips that did once so live, And were twice so parted from breath? CHORUS.-- Oh, Lady, awake, return! Put off this showing Of death! Repent of thy going! Oh, Mother, return!