GREEK GOD

ADMETUS AND ALCESTIS

In a small town north of Delphi, and no

far from the sea, there lived a young man named Admetus. She is

the ruler of the city, and hence his king; but his kingdom was very

small so that he could walk around her in half a time

day. He knows the names of every man and woman and child in town, and

everyone loved him because he was so gentle and kind and at the moment

the same as a king.

One day, when it rains and the wind

blowing coldly from the mountains, a beggar came to the door

her house. The man was ragged and dirty and half starving, and

Admetus knew that he must have come from a foreign land, because in his country

no one is hungry themselves. Then the kind king

brought him into the house and fed him; and after the man

taking a bath, he gave her his own warm robe, and asked the servants to make it

the place for her to sleep all night.

In the morning Admetus asked the name of the poor man

that, but he shook his head and did not reply. Then

Admetus asked him about his home and country; and all that

the man will say is: "Make me your slave, sir! Make me

your slave, and let me serve you for a year."

The young king did not need servants

others. But he saw that the poorest slaves in the land were better off

than this guy, so he pityes him. "I'll do what

what you asked for," he said. "I'll give you a home and food

and clothes; and you will serve me and be my slave for one

years."

Little did the stranger know

how to do it, so he was sent to the hill to raise sheep and

goat king. For a whole year he herded cattle, found

the greenest pastures and the freshest water for them, and

driving wolves. Admetus was very kind to him, as he was to

all his servants, and the food and clothes he gave him were

the best in the country. The stranger did not tell

his name or say anything about his relatives or his home.

When one year and one day have passed,

admetus was walking among the hills to see

his sheep. Suddenly the sound of music fell on his ear. Noth

music as the shepherds played, but sweeter and richer

than he'd ever heard before. He looked to see from

where the sound came from. Uh! who sits on the top of the hill, with

the sheep around him listening to his music? Surely it wasn't

the shepherd?

It was a tall and handsome young man, that,

wearing a robe that is lighter and smoother than possible

imposed by any king. His face was as bright as the sun, and his eyes

shining like lightning. On his shoulder was a silver bow, from his belt

hanging a bottle of sharp arrows, and in his hand was a golden lute. Admettus

stand still and wonder. Then the stranger spoke:

"King Admetus" he said, "I

it's the poor beggar you fed-Your slaves to whom you are so

good. I've been serving you, as I agree, for a year,

and now I'm going home. Is there anything I can do to

You?"

"Yes" said Admetus; "say

your name is me."

"My name is Apollo" is

his answer. "Twelve months ago my father, the mighty Jupiter,

kicked me out of his presence and told me to go out without friends and be alone in

upon the earth; and he told me that I should not turn again to

home until I have served one year as someone's.

slave. I came to you, tattered and half starving, and you

feed and clothe me; and I am your slave, and you are good

it was as if I were your son. What should I give you for

reply you?"

"Silver Bow Master," said the king,

"I have everything that everyone wants. I am happy because I have

helping You. I can't ask for anything anymore."

"All right," said

Apollo; "but if the time comes when you need help

me, tell me."

Then the prince

smart walking quickly away, playing sweet music as she

go away; and Admetus gladly returns to his house.

From Admetus's residence it is only a few miles

to Iolcus, a rich city by the sea. King Iolcus was a tyrant

a ruthless man named Pelias, who cares for no one around the world

except for himself. This Pelias has a daughter named

Alcestis, which is beautiful like a rose in June and so soft and kind

so that everyone praised him. Many princes from across the sea came

to seduce Alcestis for his wife; and the noblest youth in the

Greece has tried to win her heart. But there's only one

he will listen, and that is his young neighbor, King Admetus.

So Admetus went before King Pelias

it was rude to ask if he could marry Alcestis.

"No one will have

my daughter," said the old king, "until she proves that she is worthy

being my son-in-law. If you want it, you should come for him with

a chariot drawn by a lion and a horse. If you are

come the other way, she won't be your wife." And Pelias

laughed, and drove the young man out of his palace.

Admetus left with a very strong feeling

sad; for who has ever heard of utilizing lions and

boar together in a car? The bravest man in the world

can't do something like that.

As he walked and saw sheep and goats

eating on a hilltop near his own town, he happened to think of Apollo

and the last words he heard he said: "When you

need my help, tell me."

"I'll tell him," said

Admett.

The next morning he built a

the altar of stone in the open field; and when he had slain

the fattest goat of the flock, he made fire on the altar

and put the goat's thigh in the fire. Then when the smell of meat

the burning one rose into the air, he raised his hand towards the top of the mountain and

calling Apollo.

"if I ever show kindness to the poor and the

depressed, come now and help me. Because I needed it so much, though,

and I remember your promise."

He had just finished speaking when Apollo

the bright one, carrying his bow and arrows, came down and stood in front of him.

"The best king" he said,

"tell me how I can help you."

Then Admetus told me all about

A beautiful Alcestis, and how her father would give it only to

the man who was coming to pick her up in a chariot pulled by a lion and

wild boar.

"Come with me" said Apollo,

"and I'll help you."

Then the two went together into the forest,

The Silver Bow Ruler led the way. Soon they bring out one

the lion came from his den and chased him. The fast-footed Apollo caught

the beast with its mane, and though howling and snapping with

its fierce jaw, the beast did not touch it. Then Admetus

start a boar from the bush. Apollo also chased after him, making

the lion ran beside him like a dog. When he has caught

boar, he went through the forest, leading the two beasts, one with

his right hand, the other with his left; and Admetus followed in

backside.

It was not yet noon when they reached the edge

forest and see the sea and the city of Iolcus not far from it. An

the golden chariot stood by the roadside as if waiting for them, and the lion and

the boar was immediately tied up for it. It was a strange team, and second

the beast tried hard to fight each other; but Apollo

whipping them with whips and taming them until they lose

their violence and ready to handle it. Then Admetus went up to

chariot; and Apollo stood by his side and held the reins and whips, and

drive to Iolcus.

Old King Pelias was stunned when he saw

a beautiful chariot and a great charioteer; and when Admetus again asked

Alcestis is fair, he can't resist. The day has been set for

marriage, and Apollo escorts his team back into the forest and frees the lion

and the boar.

Admetus and Alcestis

married, and everyone in both cities, except the rough old King Pelias, got married,

thrilled. Apollo himself was one of the guests at the wedding, and he

bringing gifts to the young groom; it is a promise from the People

Mighty on the mountaintop that if Admetus ever sick and in danger of death,

he may become healthy again if someone who loves him wants to die

to him.

Admetus and Alcestis live together

happy for a long time, and everyone in their little kingdom

love and bless them. But Admetus fell ill, and,

as she gets worse every day, all hope is that she will recover

gone. Then the people who loved her remembered the wedding gift

which Apollo gave him, and they began to ask who was willing

died replacing.

My mom and dad are old and can

hope to live but only in a short time, and therefore

it was thought that one of them would happily give up life

for their son. But when someone asks them about

that thing, they shook their heads and said that despite this life

in short, they will hold fast to it as long as they can.

Then his brother and sister were asked

will they die for Admetus, but they love themselves

alone is better than their brother, and turn and

leave him. There are people in town who are friends with him and who

they owe him their lives; they will do everything for him, but

this they won't do.

Now while everyone shakes their heads

and said, "It's not me," The beautiful Alcestis went to her room

he called Apollo and asked him to give up his life

saving husband. Then without thinking fear he lay on

his bed and closed his eyes; and a little while later, when

the girls went into their room and found him dead.

At the same time Admetus felt his illness

left him, and he rose up as good and strong as

preceding. Wondering how he could heal so quickly, he

hurry up to find Alcestis and tell her the good news. But when he

going into his room, he saw him lying lifeless on his couch, and he

he knew he had died for her. His sadness is so great

so that he could not speak, and he wished death had taken him

and save the people he loves.

All over the country, every eye is wet with

cries for Alcestis, and the cries of mourners were heard in each

homehouse. Admetus sat by the couch where his young queen lay, and

holding his cold hand. Days passed, and night came, but he

won't leave him. All the dark hours he sat there

alone. Morning came, but he did not want to see the light.

The sun began to rise in the east, and

then Admetus was surprised to feel the hand he was holding more and more

warm. He saw a red tinge appear on Alcestis' pale cheeks.

A moment later the beautiful woman opened

his eyes and sitting, alive and well and happy.

How did Alcestis come back to life?

When he died and left his body,

The Shadow Leader, who knew no mercy, took him, just like him

leading all the others, to the ominous hall of Proserpine, queen

Underworld.

"Who's this coming with

volunteering?" ask the pale-faced queen.

And when he was told how Alcestis, he,

who was so young and beautiful, had given her life to save

the life of her husband, she was moved by pity; and she asked the Leader

A shadow to bring him back to the joy and sunshine of the World

Overhead.

That's how Alcestis became

life; and for many years he and Admetus lived in a small kingdom

they are not far from the sea; and the Almighty is at the top of the mountain

bless them; and, finally, when they are very old, the Leader

The shadow took the two of them away together.