Alcestis

Acts

• 0
  Act 0

  The complete text of Alcestis. The earliest surviving Euripidean play. Alcestis agrees to die in place of her husband Admetus. Heracles arrives, wrestles Death, and brings her back.

  49 lines
• Prologue

  Apollo explains: he won a favour for Admetus — someone else can die in his place. His wife Alcestis has volunteered. Today is the day.

  60 lines
• Parodos

  The chorus waits at the palace. Has Alcestis already died? They admire her courage — she alone was willing to die for her husband.

  Not yet imported
• First Episode

  Alcestis's last hours. She says farewell to her marriage bed, her children, her home. She asks Admetus never to remarry.

  75 lines
• First Stasimon

  The chorus praises Alcestis as the noblest of wives. Her sacrifice is unparalleled.

  41 lines
• Second Episode

  Alcestis dies in Admetus's arms. Only now does the reality hit him: he will live, but his life will be empty.

  41 lines
• Second Stasimon

  The chorus reflects on necessity — even the gods cannot overrule death.

  Not yet imported
• Third Episode

  Heracles arrives as a guest. Admetus hides the death and welcomes him in, observing the laws of hospitality.

  32 lines
• Third Stasimon

  The chorus admires Admetus's generosity but questions whether concealing the death is wisdom or folly.

  121 lines
• Fourth Episode

  Admetus's father Pheres arrives. A savage argument erupts — each accuses the other of cowardice in letting Alcestis die.

  143 lines
• Heracles Learns the Truth

  A servant reveals the truth to a drunken Heracles. He sobers instantly and resolves to fight Death himself.

  5 lines