wound the reins round his body; but
on this supposition, not to mention other objections, the comparison with
the sailor does not hold so well. It is more natural to suppose that he
leaned back in order to get a purchase: in this attitude he is made to
describe himself in Ov. _Met._ xv. 519, _Et retro lentas tendo resupinus
habenas._ If there be any doubt of [Greek: eis toumisthen himasin] being
Greek, this objection is obviated by putting a stop after [Greek: himasin],
and making it depend on [Greek: helkei].

[49] i.e. in Crete. See Dindorf's note. B.

[50] [Greek: Exorizetai], _valde prorumpit, liberat terminos, quibus
hactenus septum fuit_. REISKE.

[51] Heath translates [Greek: anekouphisthen] _adtollebam corpus_, honoris
scilicet gratia. Compare Iliad, [Greek: O]. 241. [Greek: atar asthma kai
hidros pauet', epei min egeire Dios noos aigiochoio], which Pope
translates,

"Jove thinking of his pains, they pass'd away:"

in which the idea is much more sublime; for there the thought of a Deity
effects what the presence of one does here.

[52] Probably meaning Adonis. See Monk. B.

* * * * * *

ALCESTIS.

* * * *

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

APOLLO.
DEATH.
CHORUS OF PHEROEANS.
ATTENDANTS.
ALCESTIS.
ADMETUS.
EUMELUS.
HERCULES.
PHERES.

* * * * *

THE ARGUMENT.

* * * *

Apollo desired of the Fates that Admetus, who was about to die, might give
a substitute to die for him, that so he might live for a term equal to his
former life; and Alcestis, his wife, gave herself up, while neither of his
parents were willing to die instead of their son. But not long after the
time when this calamity happened, Hercules having arrived, and having
learned from a servant what had befallen Alcestis, went to her tomb, and
having made Death retire, covers the lady with a robe; and requested
Admetus to receive her and keep her for him; and said he had borne her off
as a prize in wrestling; but when he would not, he unveiled her, and
discovered her whom he was lamenting.

* * * * *

ALCESTIS

* * * *

APOLLO.

O mansions of Admetus, wherein I endured to acquiesce in the slave's
table,[1] though a God; for Jove was the cause, by slaying my son
AEsculapius, hurling the lightning against his breast: whereat enraged, I
slay the