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Alcestis the queen where she lies on a bier in the temple of the gods。〃
Then the servant told Heracles the story of how Alcestis had taken her
husband's place； going in his stead with Death。 Heracles thought upon the
sorrow of his friend； and of the great sacrifice that his wife was making for
him。 How noble it was of Admetus to bring him into his house and give
entertainment to him while such sorrow was upon him。 And then Heracles
felt that another labor was before him。
〃I have dragged up from the Underworld；〃 he thought； 〃the hound that
guards those whom Death brings down into the realm of the god of the
Underworld。 Why should I not strive with Death？ And what a noble thing
it would be to bring back this faithful woman to her house and to her
husband！ This is a labor that has not been laid upon me； and it is a labor I
will undertake。〃 So Heracles said to himself。
He left the palace of Admetus and he went to the temple of the gods。
He stood inside the temple and he saw the bier on which Alcestis was laid。
He looked upon the queen。 Death had not touched her yet； although she
lay so still and so silent。 Heracles would watch beside her and strive with
Death for her。
Heracles watched and Death came。 When Death entered the temple
Heracles laid hands upon him。 Death had never been gripped by mortal
hands and he strode on as if that grip meant nothing to him。 But then he
had to grip Heracles。 In Death's grip there was a strength beyond strength。
And upon Heracles a dreadful sense of loss came as Death laid hands upon
him a sense of the loss of light and the loss of breath and the loss of
movement。 But Heracles struggled with Death although his breath went
and his strength seemed to go from him。 He held that stony body to him；
and the cold of that body went through him； and its stoniness seemed to
turn his bones to stone； but still Heracles strove with him； and at last he
overthrew him and he held Death down upon the ground。
〃Now you are held by me； Death；〃 cried Heracles。 〃You are held by
me； and the god of the Underworld will bemade angry because you
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cannot go about his businesseither this business or any other business。
You are held by me； Death； and you will not be let go unless you promise
to go forth from this temple without bringing one with you。〃 And Death；
knowing that Heracles could hold him there； and that the business of the
god of the Underworld would be left undone if he were held； promised
that he would leave the temple without bringing one with him。 Then
Heracles took his grip off Death； and that stony shape went from the
temple。
Soon a flush came into the face of Alcestis as Heracles watched over
her。 Soon she arose from the bier on which she had been laid。 She called
out to Admetus； and Heracles went to her and spoke to her； telling her that
he would bring her back to her husband's house。
III
Admetus left the chamber where his wife had lain and stood before the
door of his palace。 Dawn was coming； and as he looked toward the temple
he saw Heracles coming to the palace。 A woman came with him。 She was
veiled； and Admetus could not see her features。
〃Admetus；〃 Heracles said； when he came before him； 〃Admetus； there
is something I would have you do for me。 Here is a woman whom I am
bringing back to her husband。 I won her from an enemy。 Will you not take
her into your house while I am away on a journey？〃
〃You cannot ask me to do this； Heracles；〃 said Admetus。 〃No woman
may come into the house where Alcestis； only yesterday； had her life。〃
〃For my sake take her into your house；〃 said Heracles。 〃Come now；
Admetus； take this woman by the hand。〃
A pang came to Admetus as he looked at the woman who stood beside
Heracles and saw that she was the same stature as his lost wife。 He
thought that he could not bear to take her hand。 But Heracles pleaded with
him； and he took her by the hand。
〃Now take her across your threshold； Admetus；〃 said Heracles。
Hardly could Admetus bear to do thishardly could he bear to think of
a strange woman being in his house and his own wife gone with Death。
But Heracles pleaded with him； and by the hand he held he drew the
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woman across his threshold。
〃Now raise her veil； Admetus；〃 said Heracles。
〃This I cannot do；〃 said Admetus。 〃I have had pangs enough。 How can
I look upon a woman's face and remind myself that I cannot look upon
Alcestis's face ever again？〃
〃Raise her veil； Admetus；〃 said Heracles。 Then Admetus raised the veil
of the woman he had taken across the threshold of his house。 He saw the
face of Alcestis。 He looked again upon his wife brought back from the grip
of Death by Heracles； the son of Zeus。 And then a deeper joy than he had
ever known came to Admetus。 Once more his wife was with him； and
Admetus the friend of Apollo and the friend of Heracles had all that he
cared to have。
VI。 HOW ORPHEUS THE MINSTREL WENT DOWN TO THE
WORLD OF THE DEAD
Many were the minstrels who； in the early days； went through the
world； telling to men the stories of the gods； telling of their wars and their
births。 Of all these minstrels none was so famous as Orpheus who had
gone with the Argonauts； none could tell truer things about the gods； for
he himself was half divine。
But a great grief came to Orpheus； a grief that stopped his singing and
his playing upon the lyre。 His young wife Eurydice was taken from him。
One day； walking in the garden； she was bitten on the heel by a serpent；
and straightway she went down to the world of the dead。
Then everything in this world was dark and bitter for the minstrel
Orpheus； sleep would not come to him； and for him food had no taste。
Then Orpheus said： 〃I will do that which no mortal has ever done before； I
will do that which even the immortals might shrink from doing： I will go
down into the world of the dead； and I will bring back to the living and to
the light my bride Eurydice。〃
Then Orpheus went on his way to the valley of Acherusia which goes
down； down into the world of the dead。 He would never have found his
way to that valley if the trees had not shown him the way。 For as he went
along Orpheus played upon his lyre and sang； and the trees heard his song
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and they were moved by his grief； and with their arms and their heads they
showed him the way to the deep； deep valley of Acherusia。
Down； down by winding paths through that deepest and most shadowy
of all valleys Orpheus went。 He came at last to the great gate that opens
upon the world of the dead。 And the silent guards who keep watch there
for the rulers of the dead were affrighted when they saw a living being；
and they would not let Orpheus approach the gate。
But the minstrel； knowing the reason for their fear； said： 〃I am not
Heracles come again to drag up from the world of the dead your three…
headed dog Cerberus。 I am Orpheus； and all that my hands can do is to
make music upon my lyre。〃
And then he took the lyre in his hands and played upon it。 As he
played； the silent watchers gathered around him； leaving the gate
unguarded。 And as he played the rulers of the dead came forth； Aidoneus
and Persephone； and listened to the words of the living man。
〃The cause of my coming through the dark and fearful ways；〃 sang
Orpheus； 〃is to strive to gain a fairer fate for Eurydice； my bride。 All that
is above must come down to you at last； O rulers of the most lasting world。
But before her time has Eurydice been brought here。 I have desired
strength to endure her loss； but I cannot endure it。 And I come before you；
Aidoneus and Persephone； brought here by Love。〃
When Orpheus said the name of Love； Pe