And aid this house
unjustly?
Euripides - Alcestis
_Enter from the other side_ THANATOS; _a crouching black-haired and
winged figure, carrying a drawn sword. He starts in revulsion on
seeing_ APOLLO.
THANATOS.
Aha!
Why here? What mak'st thou at the gate,
Thou Thing of Light? Wilt overtread
The eternal judgment, and abate
And spoil the portions of the dead?
'Tis not enough for thee to have blocked
In other days Admetus' doom
With craft of magic wine, which mocked
The three grey Sisters of the Tomb;
But now once more
I see thee stand at watch, and shake
That arrow-armed hand to make
This woman thine, who swore, who swore,
To die now for her husband's sake.
APOLLO.
Fear not.
I bring fair words and seek but what is just.
THANATOS (_sneering_)
And if words help thee not, an arrow must?
APOLLO.
'Tis ever my delight to bear this bow.
THANATOS.
And aid this house unjustly? Aye, 'tis so.
APOLLO.
I love this man, and grieve for his dismay.
THANATOS.
And now wilt rob me of my second prey!
APOLLO.
I never robbed thee, neither then nor now.
THANATOS.
Why is Admetus here then, not below?
APOLLO.
He gave for ransom his own wife, for whom . . .
THANATOS (_interrupting_).
I am come; and straight will bear her to the tomb.
