One would think that the chorus should rather give the son a severe reprimand for speaking in so brutal a manner to his father. All the rest of the scene is in the same style: _Pheres (to his son)._--Thou speakest against thy father, without his having injured thee. _Admetus._--Oh! I am well aware that you wish to live as long as possible. _Pheres._--And art thou not carrying to the tomb her who died for thee? _Admetus._--Ah! most infamous of men! 'Tis the proof of thy cowardice! _Pheres._--At least, thou canst not say she died for me. _Admetus._--Would to heaven that thou wert in a situation to need my assistance! _Pheres._--Thou wouldst do better to think of marrying several wives, who may die that thy life may be lengthened. After this scene a domestic comes and talks to himself about the arrival of Hercules. "A stranger," says he, "opens the door of his own accord; places himself without more ado at table; is angry because he is not served quick enough; fills his cup every moment with wine, and drinks long draughts of red and of white; constantly singing, or rather howling, bad songs, without giving himself any concern about the king and his wife, for whom we are mourning. He is, doubtless, some cunning rogue, some vagabond, or assassin." It seems somewhat strange that Hercules should be taken for a _cunning rogue_, and no less so that Hercules, the friend of Admetus, should be unknown to the household. It is still more extraordinary that Hercules should be ignorant of Alceste's death, at the very time when they were carrying her to her tomb. Tastes must not be disputed, but such scenes as these would, assuredly, not be tolerated at one of our country fairs. Brumoy, who has given us the _Théâtre des Grecs_ (Greek Theatre), but has not translated Euripides with scrupulous fidelity, does all he can to justify the scene of Admetus and his father: the argument he makes use of is rather singular. First, he says, that "there was nothing offensive to the Greeks in these things which we regard as horrible and indecent, therefore it must be admitted that they were not exactly what we take them to have been, in short, ideas have changed." To this it may be answered that the ideas of polished nations on the respect due from children to their fathers have never changed. He adds, "Who can doubt that in different ages ideas have changed relative to points of morality of still greater importance?" We answer, that there are scarcely any points of greater importance. "A Frenchman," continues he, "is insulted; the pretended good sense of the French obliges him to run the risk of a duel, and to kill or be killed, in order to recover his honor." We answer, that it is not the pretended good sense of the French alone, but of all the nations of Europe without exception. He proceeds: