Why didst thou restrain
When myself I had cast
Down into her grave, with the noblest to lie peace-lulled at the last?
Not one soul, but two 900
Had been Hades' prey,
Souls utterly true
Together for aye,
Which together o'er waves of the underworld mere had passed this day.
Chorus.
Of my kin was there one,
And the life's light failed
In his halls of a son,
One meet to be wailed,
His only belovèd: howbeit the manhood within him prevailed;
And the ills heaven-sent
As a man did he bear,
Though by this was he bent
Unto silvered hair,
Far on in life's path, without son for his remnant of weakness to care. 910
Admetus.
O, how can I tread
Thy threshold, fair home?
How shelter mine head
'Neath thy roof, now the doom
Of the Gods' dice changeth?—ah me, what change upon all things is come!
