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So, the song sank to prattle in her praise : gss
" Light, from above thee, lady, fall the earth,
Thou only one of womankind to die.
Wife for her husband ! If Admetos take
Anything to him like a second spouse —
Hate from his offspring and from us shall be eeo
His portion, let the king assure himself !
No mind his mother had to hide in earth
Her body for her son's sake, nor his sire
Had heart to save whom he begot, — not they,
The white-haired wretches ! only thou it was, ees
I' the bloom of youth, didst save him and so die !
Might it be mine to chance on such a mate
And partner ! For there 's penury in life
Of such allowance : were she mine at least,
So wonderful a wife, assuredly ero
She would companion me throughout my days
And never once bring sorrow ! "
A great voice — " My hosts here ! "
Oh, the thrill that ran through us I m
Sudden into the midst of sorrow, leapt ess
Along with the gay cheer of that great voice,
Hope, joy, salvation : Herakles was here ! ew
Himself, o' the threshold, sent his voice on first
To herald all that human and divine
/' the weary happy face of him, — half God,
Half man, which made the god-part God the more.
" Hosts mine," he broke upon the sorrow with,
" Inhabitants of this Pheraian soil,
Chance I upon Admetos inside here ? " 697
