2–1
PROTESILAUS
Deeply have I drunk, my lord, but my affliction was too strong.
PLUTO
Then be patient; in time, she will join you here; you won’t have to go up there.
PROTESILAUS
I can’t bear to wait, Pluto. You’ve been in love yourself, before now, Pluto, and know what it’s like.
PLUTO
What good will it do you to return to life for a single day, if shortly afterwards you must bewail the same misfortune?
5
PROTESILAUS
I think I’ll be able to persuade her to follow me here, so that soon you’ll have two of us dead instead of one.
PLUTO
All this would be wrong, and has never happened before.
PROTESILAUS
Let me refresh your memory, Pluto. You gave up Eurydice to Orpheus for this very reason, and sent back my kinswoman, Alcestis, Both Alcestis and Protesilaus were descended from Aeolus. 1 as a favour to Heracles.
PLUTO
Do you want that fair bride of yours to see you as you are now—a bare unsightly skull? What sort of a welcome will she give you, if she can’t even recognise you? She’ll be frightened, I’m sure, and run away from you, and you’ll find your long journey up to earth to have been a waste of time.
PERSEPHONE
Then, dear husband, you must put matters right, and instruct Hermes to touch Protesilaus with his wand the moment he’s in the light, and make him the handsome youth he was when he left the bridal chamber.
PLUTO
Well, Hermes, since Persephone agrees, take him up and make him into a bridegroom again. And you, sir, remember you’ve only been given one day.
DIOGENES
Why, Carian, are you so proud, and expect to be honoured above all of us?
