HER.  I do praise thee, because thou art a faithful friend to thy wife.

ADM.  May I die, when I forsake her, although she is not!

HER.  Receive then this noble woman into thine house.

ADM.  Do not, I beseech thee by thy father Jove.

HER.  And yet you will be acting wrong, if you do not this.

ADM.  Yes, and if I do it, I shall have my heart gnawed with sorrow.

HER.  Be prevailed upon:  perhaps this favor may be proved a duty.

ADM.  Ah! would that you had never borne her off from the contest!

HER.  Yet with me conquering thou’rt victorious too.

ADM.  Thou hast well spoken; but let the woman depart.

HER.  She shall depart, if it is needful; but first see whether it be needful.

ADM.  It is needful, if thou at least dost not mean to make me angry.

HER.  I too have this desire, for I know somewhat.

ADM.  Conquer then.  Thou dost not however do things pleasing to me.

HER.  But some time or other thou wilt praise me; only be persuaded.

ADM.  Lead her in, if I must receive her in my house.

HER.  I will not deliver up the woman into the charge of the servants.

ADM.  But do thou thyself lead her into the house if it seems fit.

HER.  I then will give her into thine hands.

ADM.  I will not touch her; but she is at liberty to enter the house.

HER.  I trust her to thy right hand alone.

ADM.  O king, thou compellest me to do this against my will.

HER.  Dare to stretch out thy hand and touch the stranger.

ADM.  And in truth I stretch it out, as I would to the Gorgon with her severed head.[49]

HER.  Have you her?

ADM.  I have.

HER.  Then keep her fast; and some time or other thou wilt say that the son of Jove is a generous guest.  But look on her, whether she seems aught to resemble thy wife; and being blest leave off from thy grief.

ADM.  O Gods, what shall I say?  An unexpected wonder this!  Do I truly see here my wife, or does the mocking joy of the Deity strike me from my senses?

HER.  It is not so; but thou beholdest here thy wife.

ADM.  Yet see, whether this be not a phantom from the realms beneath.

HER.  Thou hast not made thine host an invoker of spirits.

ADM.  But do I behold my wife, whom I buried?

HER.  Be well assured thou dost; but I wonder not at thy disbelief of thy fortune.

ADM.  May I touch her, may I speak to her as my living wife?[50]

HER.  Speak to her; for thou hast all that thou desirest.

ADM.  O face and person of my dearest wife, have I thee beyond my hopes, when I thought never to see thee more?

HER.  Thou hast:  but take care there be no envy of the Gods.

ADM.  O noble son of the most powerful Jove, mayst thou be blest, and may thy father, who begot thee, protect thee, for thou alone hast restored me!  How didst thou bring her from beneath into this light!