Stasimon 1
[Choral 2]
and to thy babes, the partners in this sorrow.
265
[Choral]
Hands off! hands off at once! Lay me down, I cannot stand. Hades standeth near; and with its gloom steals night upon my eyes.
Alcestis
O my children, my children, ye have no mother now. Fare ye well, my babes, live on beneath the light!
270
Admetus
Woe is me! this is a message of sorrow to me, worse than aught that death can do.
Steel not thy heart to leave me, I implore, by heaven, by thy babes whom thou wilt make orphans; nay, raise thyself, have courage. For if thou die I can no longer live; my life, my death are in thy hands; thy love is what I worship.
275
