Alcestis Part 4

I have given to thee my youth--not more nor less, But all--though I was full of happiness.

Thy father and mother both--'tis strange to tell-- Had failed thee, though for them the deed was well, The years were ripe, to die and save their son, The one child of the house: for hope was none, If thou shouldst pa.s.s away, of other heirs.

So thou and I had lived through the long years, Both. Thou hadst not lain sobbing here alone For a dead wife and orphan babes.... 'Tis done Now, and some G.o.d hath wrought out all his will.

Howbeit I now will ask thee to fulfill One great return-gift--not so great withal As I have given, for life is more than all; But just and due, as thine own heart will tell.

For thou hast loved our little ones as well As I have.... Keep them to be masters here In my old house; and bring no stepmother Upon them. She might hate them. She might be Some baser woman, not a queen like me, And strike them with her hand. For mercy, spare Our little ones that wrong. It is my prayer....

They come into a house: they are all strife And hate to any child of the dead wife....

Better a serpent than a stepmother!

A boy is safe. He has his father there To guard him. But a little girl! (_Taking the_ LITTLE GIRL _to her_) What good And gentle care will guide thy maidenhood?

What woman wilt thou find at father's side?

One evil word from her, just when the tide Of youth is full, would wreck thy hope of love.

And no more mother near, to stand above Thy marriage-bed, nor comfort thee pain-tossed In travail, when one needs a mother most!

Seeing I must die.... 'Tis here, across my way, Not for the morrow, not for the third day, But now--Death, and to lie with things that were.

Farewell. G.o.d keep you happy.--Husband dear, Remember that I failed thee not; and you, My children, that your mother loved you true.

LEADER.

Take comfort. Ere thy lord can speak, I swear, If truth is in him, he will grant thy prayer.

ADMETUS.

He will, he will! Oh, never fear for me.

Mine hast thou been, and mine shalt ever be, Living and dead, thou only. None in wide h.e.l.las but thou shalt be Admetus' bride.

No race so high, no face so magic-sweet Shall ever from this purpose turn my feet.

And children ... if G.o.d grant me joy of these, 'Tis all I ask; of thee no joy nor ease He gave me. And thy mourning I will bear Not one year of my life but every year, While life shall last.... My mother I will know No more. My father shall be held my foe.

They brought the words of love but not the deed, While thou hast given thine all, and in my need Saved me. What can I do but weep alone, Alone alway, when such a wife is gone?...

An end shall be of revel, and an end Of crowns and song and mirth of friend with friend, Wherewith my house was glad. I ne'er again Will touch the lute nor ease my heart from pain With pipes of Afric. All the joys I knew, And joys were many, thou hast broken in two.

Oh, I will find some artist wondrous wise Shall mould for me thy shape, thine hair, thine eyes, And lay it in thy bed; and I will lie Close, and reach out mine arms to thee, and cry Thy name into the night, and wait and hear My own heart breathe: "Thy love, thy love is near."

A cold delight; yet it might ease the sum Of sorrow.... And good dreams of thee will come Like balm. 'Tis sweet, even in a dream, to gaze On a dear face, the moment that it stays.

O G.o.d, if Orpheus' voice were mine, to sing To Death's high Virgin and the Virgin's King, Till their hearts failed them, down would I my path Cleave, and naught stay me, not the Hound of Wrath, Not the grey oarsman of the ghostly tide, Till back to sunlight I had borne my bride.

But now, wife, wait for me till I shall come Where thou art, and prepare our second home.

These ministers in that same cedar sweet Where thou art laid will lay me, feet to feet, And head to head, oh, not in death from thee Divided, who alone art true to me!

LEADER.

This life-long sorrow thou hast sworn, I too, Thy friend, will bear with thee. It is her due.

ALCESTIS.

Children, ye heard his promise? He will wed No other woman nor forget the dead.

ADMETUS.

Again I promise. So it shall be done.

ALCESTIS (_giving the children into his arms one after the other_).

On that oath take my daughter: and my son.

ADMETUS.

Dear hand that gives, I accept both gift and vow.

ALCESTIS.

Thou, in my place, must be their mother now.

ADMETUS.

Else were they motherless--I needs must try.

ALCESTIS.

My babes, I ought to live, and lo, I die.

ADMETUS.

And how can I, forlorn of thee, live on?

ALCESTIS.

Time healeth; and the dead are dead and gone.

ADMETUS.

Oh, take me with thee to the dark below, Me also!

ALCESTIS.

'Tis enough that one should go.

ADMETUS.

O Fate, to have cheated me of one so true!

ALCESTIS (_her strength failing_).

There comes a darkness: a great burden, too.

ADMETUS.

I am lost if thou wilt leave me.... Wife! Mine own!

ALCESTIS.

I am not thy wife; I am nothing. All is gone.

ADMETUS.

Thy babes! Thou wilt not leave them.--Raise thine eye.

ALCESTIS.

I am sorry.... But good-bye, children; good-bye.

ADMETUS.

Look at them! Wake and look at them!

ALCESTIS.

I must go.

ADMETUS.

What? Dying!

ALCESTIS.

Farewell, husband! [_She dies._]

ADMETUS (_with a cry_).

Ah!... Woe, woe!