Alcestis
al-ses tis, in Greek legend, the wife of Admetus, king of Thessaly. Admetus was mortally ill, but, at the request of Apollo, the Fates agreed to spare his life if some one would die in his stead. Admetus was overjoyed, as he had many friends. He found none willing to die, however, until Alcestis offered to make the sacrifice. She was at the point of death, when her life was saved by the intervention of Hercules. Alcestis furnishes the subject and title for one of the plays of Euripides, a melodrama, rather than a tragedy. Browning gives the full story of this play in Balaustion's Adventure, where he speaks of it as
That strangest, saddest, sweetest song of his, Alcestis.
Other quotations are:
What kind of creature should the woman prove That has surpassed Alcestis?
When King Admetus went his rounds, poor soul.
A-begging somebody to be so brave
As die for one afraid to die himself--
Thou, friend? Thou, love? Father or mother, then!
None of you? What, Alcestis must Death catch?
O best of wives, one woman in the world!
When King Admetus went his rounds, poor soul.
A-begging somebody to be so brave
As die for one afraid to die himself--
Thou, friend? Thou, love? Father or mother, then!
None of you? What, Alcestis must Death catch?
O best of wives, one woman in the world!
See Euripides
Volume I · Aiton’s Encyclopedia