Euripides, Alcestis
David Kovacs, Ed.

Admetus
I was not slighting you or regarding you as an enemy when I concealed from you my wife's unhappy fate. Rather, it would have been pain added to pain [1040] if you had departed for some other friend's house; and it was already enough for me to lament my loss.

As for the woman, if it is possible, my lord, I beg you to ask some other Thessalian, who has not suffered as I have, to keep her. You have many [1045] guest-friends in Pherae. Do not remind me of my troubles. For if I were to see this woman in my house, I could not hold back my tears. Do not put affliction on the already afflicted. I am weighed down enough with disaster. Where in the house could a young woman be kept? [1050] For she is young, as is evident from her clothing and adornment. Shall she stay in the men's quarters? And how, moving among young men, shall she remain untouched? It is not easy, Heracles, to rein in a young man in his prime. In this I am looking out for your interests. [1055] Or shall I keep her in my dead wife's room? How shall I put this woman in her bed? I fear a double reproach: from my people, lest someone should cast in my teeth that betraying the memory of her who saved me I fall into the bed of another woman; [1060] and I must show all care for my dead wife （she deserves my honor）. Woman, whoever you are, know that in shape you are like Alcestis and resemble her in appearance. What agony! Take this woman out of my sight, by the gods, [1065] do not slay again one who is dead! For when I see her I think I see my wife. She makes my heart pound, and tears stream from my eyes. Oh luckless me! It is but now that I taste the full bitterness of this grief!

Chorus-Leader
[1070] I cannot call Fate kind. But one must endure what the god gives, whatever it is.