[45] “Adeo ut deficerent a visu, ne cernere
possem, Scironis alta.” B.
[46] [Greek: Kachlazo], a word formed from the
noise of the sea—[Greek: ho gar echos
tou kymatos en tois koilomasi ton petron ginomenos,
dokei mimeisthai to kachla, kachla].—Etym.
Mag.
[47] [Greek: Trikymiai]. See Blomfield’s
Glossary to the Prometheus, 1051.
[48] Musgrave supposes that Hippolytus 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.
* * * *
*
* * * *
APOLLO.
