Quotes from work
Alcestis

EuripidésOriginal title Ἄλκηστις

Alcestis is an Athenian tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright Euripides. It was first produced at the City Dionysia festival in 438 BC. Euripides presented it as the final part of a tetralogy of unconnected plays in the competition of tragedies, for which he won second prize; this arrangement was exceptional, as the fourth part was normally a satyr play. Its ambiguous, tragicomic tone—which may be "cheerfully romantic" or "bitterly ironic"—has earned it the label of a "problem play." Alcestis is, possibly excepting the Rhesus, the oldest surviving work by Euripides, although at the time of its first performance he had been producing plays for 17 years.


Euripidés photo

“No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow.”

Euripidés Alcestis

Source: Alcestis (438 BC), l. 783-4

Euripidés photo

“Dishonour will not trouble me, once I am dead.”

Euripidés Alcestis

Source: Alcestis (438 BC), l. 726

Euripidés photo

“Light be the earth upon you, lightly rest.”

Euripidés Alcestis

Source: Alcestis (438 BC), l. 462

Euripidés photo

“Never say that marriage has more of joy than pain.”

Euripidés Alcestis

Source: Alcestis (438 BC), l. 238

Euripidés photo

“Today's today. Tomorrow we may be
ourselves gone down the drain of Eternity.”

Euripidés Alcestis

Source: Alcestis (438 BC), l. 788

Euripidés photo
Euripidés photo
Euripidés photo
Euripidés photo

“Oh, if I had Orpheus' voice and poetry
with which to move the Dark Maid and her Lord,
I'd call you back, dear love, from the world below.”

Euripidés Alcestis

Source: Alcestis (438 BC), l. 358
Context: Oh, if I had Orpheus' voice and poetry
with which to move the Dark Maid and her Lord,
I'd call you back, dear love, from the world below.
I'd go down there for you. Charon or the grim
King's dog could not prevent me then
from carrying you up into the fields of light.

Euripidés photo

“Time cancels young pain.”

Euripidés Alcestis

Source: Alcestis (438 BC), l. 1085

Similar authors

Euripidés photo
Euripidés116
ancient Athenian playwright -480–-406 BC
Aristophanés photo
Aristophanés56
Athenian playwright of Old Comedy None
Aeschylus photo
Aeschylus119
ancient Athenian playwright None
Solón photo
Solón17
Athenian legislator None
Menander photo
Menander18
Athenian playwright of New Comedy None
Xenophon photo
Xenophon21
ancient Greek historian and philosopher None
Sophocles photo
Sophocles68
ancient Greek tragedian None
Démosthenés photo
Démosthenés11
ancient greek statesman and orator None
Virgil photo
Virgil138
Ancient Roman poet None
Hippocrates photo
Hippocrates33
ancient Greek physician None