THE STRENGTH OF FATE (from "Alcestis")

by: Euripides

N heaven-high musings and many,

Far-seeking and deep debate,

Of strong things find I not any

That is as the strength of Fate.

Help nor healing is told

In soothsayings uttered of old,

In the Thracian runes, the verses

Engraven of Orpheus' pen;

No balm of virtue to save

Apollo aforetime gave,

Who stayeth with tender mercies

The plagues of the children of men.

 

She hath not her habitation

In temples that hands have wrought;

Him that bringeth oblation,

Behold, she heedeth him naught.

Be thou not wroth with us more,

O mistress, than heretofore;

For what God willeth soever,

That thou bringest to be;

Thou breakest in sunder the brand

Far forged in the Iron Land;

Thine heart is cruel, and never

Came pity anigh unto thee.

 

Thee, too, O King, hath she taken

And bound in her tenfold chain;

Yet faint not, neither complain:

The dead thou wilt no awaken

For all thy weeping again.

They perish, whom gods begot;

The night releaseth them not.

Beloved was she that died

And dear shall ever abide,

For this was the queen among women,

Admetus, that lay by thy side.

 

Not as the multitude lowly

Asleep in their sepulchres,

Not as their grave be hers,

But like as the gods held holy,

The worship of wayfarers.

Yea, all that travel the way

Far off shall see it and say,

Lo, erst for her lord she died,

To-day she sitteth enskied;

Hail, lady, be gracious to usward;

That always her honor abide.

• The Age of Euripides - A look at the political and religious atmosphere in which Euripides composed his plays.
• Euripides - A biography and list of related links.
• Euripides - A biographical sketch of the Greek dramatist.
• Euripides (c. 480-406 B.C.) - A biography.
• Euripides and His Tragedies - Biography of the Greek dramatist and analysis of his poetic qualities.
• Euripides: Monologues - A collection of monologues for actors.
• Innovations of Euripides - Technically Euripides seems to have taken as many liberties as were possible at a time when the plays of Sophocles were set up as the inevitable model.
• Purchase books by Euripides