CHOR. Of Mars, prince[28] of the Thracian target, rich with gold. HER. And this labor, thou talkest of, is one my fate compels me to (for it is ever hard and tends to steeps); if I must join in battle with the children whom Mars begat, first indeed with Lycaon, and again with Cycnus, and I come to this third combat, about to engage with the horses and their master. But none there is, who shall ever see the son of Alcmena fearing the hand of his enemies. CHOR. And lo! hither comes the very man Admetus, lord of this land, from out of the palace. ADMETUS, HERCULES, CHORUS. ADM. Hail! O son of Jove, and of the blood of Perseus. HER. Admetus, hail thou too, king of the Thessalians! ADM. I would I could _receive this salutation;_ but I know that thou art well disposed toward me. HER. Wherefore art thou conspicuous with thy locks shorn for grief? ADM. I am about to bury a certain corse this day. HER. May the God avert calamity from thy children! ADM. My children whom I begat, live in the house. HER. Thy father however is of full age, if he is gone. ADM. Both he lives, and she who bore me, Hercules. HER. Surely your wife Alcestis is not dead? ADM. There are two accounts which I may tell of her. HER. Speakest thou of her as dead or as alive? ADM. She both is, and is no more, and she grieves me. HER. I know nothing more; for thou speakest things obscure. ADM. Knowest thou not the fate which it was doomed for her to meet with? HER. I know that she took upon herself to die for thee. ADM. How then is she any more, if that she promised this? HER. Ah! do not weep for thy wife before the time; wait till this happens. ADM. He that is about to die is dead, and he that is dead is no more. HER. The being and the not being is considered a different thing. ADM. You judge in this way, Hercules, but I in that. HER. Why then dost weep? Who is he of thy friends that is dead? ADM. A woman, a woman we were lately mentioning. HER. A stranger by blood, or any by birth allied to thee? ADM. A stranger; but on other account dear to this house. HER. How then died she in thine house? ADM. Her father dead, she lived an orphan here. HER. Alas! Would that I had found thee, Admetus, not mourning! ADM. As about to do what then, dost thou make use of these words? HER. I will go to some other hearth of those who will receive a guest. ADM. It must not be, O king: let not so great an evil happen! HER. Troublesome is a guest if he come to mourners. ADM. The dead are dead--but go into the house. HER. 'Tis base however to feast with weeping friends. ADM. The guest-chamber, whither we will lead thee, is apart. HER. Let me go, and I will owe you ten thousand thanks.