ATT. Yes, he weeps, holding his dear wife in his hands, and prays her not to leave him, asking impossibilities; for she wastes away, and is consumed by sickness, but fainting a wretched burden in his arms, yet still though but feebly breathing, she fain would glance toward the rays of the sun; as though never again, but now for the last time she is to view the sun's beam and his orb. But I will go and announce your presence, for it is by no means all that are well-wishers to their lords, so as to come kindly to them in their misfortunes; but you of old are friendly to my master. SEMICH. O Jove, what means of escape can there in any way be, and what method to rid us of the fortune which attends my master? SEMICH. Will any appear? or must I cut my locks, and clothe me even now in black array of garments? SEMICH. 'Tis plain, my friends, too plain; but still let us pray to the Gods, for the power of the Gods is mightiest. SEMICH. O Apollo, king of healing, find out some remedy for the evils of Admetus, procure it, O! procure it. For before this also thou didst find _remedy_, and now become our deliverer from death, and stop the murderous Pluto. SEMICH. Alas! alas! woe! woe! O son of Pheres, how didst thou fare when thou wert deprived of thy wife? SEMICH. Alas! alas! these things would even justify self-slaughter, and there is more, than whereat one might thrust one's neck in the suspending noose.[16] SEMICH. For not a dear, but a most dear wife, wilt thou see dead this day. SEMICH. Behold, behold; lo! she doth come from the house, and her husband with her. Cry out, O groan, O land of Pheres, for the most excellent woman, wasting with sickness, _departing_ beneath the earth to the infernal Pluto. Never will I aver that marriage brings more joy than grief, forming my conjectures both from former things, and beholding this fortune of the king; who, when he has lost this most excellent wife, will thenceforward pass a life not worthy to be called life.[17] ALCESTIS, ADMETUS, EUMELUS, CHORUS. ALC. Thou Sun, and thou light of day, and ye heavenly eddies of the fleeting clouds-- ADM. He beholds[18] thee and me, two unhappy creatures, having done nothing to the Gods, for which thou shouldst die. ALC. O earth, and ye roofs of the palace, and thou bridal bed of my native Iolcos. ADM. Lift up thyself, unhappy one, desert me not; but entreat the powerful Gods to pity. ALC. I see--I see the two-oared boat--and the ferryman of the dead, holding his hand on the pole--Charon even now calls me--"Why dost thou delay? haste, thou stoppest us here"--with such words vehement he hastens me. ADM. Ah me! a bitter voyage this thou speakest of! Oh! unhappy one, how do we suffer! ALC. He pulls me, some one pulls me--do you not see?--to the hall of the dead, the winged Pluto, staring from beneath his black eyebrows--What wilt thou do?--let me go--what a journey am I most wretched going!