her. For he said that she was a stranger by blood, yet near in
friendship, and that she had dwelt in his house, having been left an
orphan of her father. Nevertheless Hercules would have departed and
found entertainment elsewhere, for he would not be troublesome to his
host. But the King suffered him not. And to the servant that stood by he
said, "Take thou this guest to the guest-chamber; and see that they that
have charge of these matters set abundance of food before him. And take
care that ye shut the doors between the chambers and the palace; for it
is not meet that the guest at his meal should hear the cry of them that
mourn."

And when the old men would know why the King, having so great a trouble
upon him, yet entertained a guest, he made answer.

"Would ye have commended me the more if I had caused him to depart from
this house and this city? For my sorrow had not been one whit the less,
and I had lost the praise of hospitality. And a right worthy host is he
to me if ever I chance to visit the land of Argos."

And now they had finished all things for the burying of Alcestis, when
the old man Pheres, the father of the King, approached, and servants
came with him bearing robes and crowns and other adornments wherewith to
do honour to the dead. And when he was come over against the bier
whereon they had laid the dead woman, he spake to the King, saying, "I
am come to mourn with thee, my son, for thou hast lost a noble wife.
Only thou must endure, though this indeed is a hard thing. But take
these adornments, for it is meet that she should he honoured who died
for thee, and for me also, that I should not go down to the grave
childless." And to the dead he said, "Fare thou well, noble wife, that
hast kept this house from falling. May it be well with thee in the