The Qualified Superlatives
“Gaze at the Sun” is a song which the dying Alcestis sings; it is based on some lines from the play Alcestis by Euripides. The words to this song are below:
The sun and light of the day, and all the clouds that fly:
The ferryman bids me leave my house, my hearth, my land;
Pheres says that he can count the days remaining as far too few;
The sun and light of the day are fading by degree;
For the moment, you may find two versions of the song “Gaze at the Sun” at Macidol here and here.
these I must farewell, and the turning wheel of the sky.
This time was mine for living, my life had barely begun—
still I gaze at the sun.
I feel Thanatos’ dark frown, now I can hardly stand;
heaviness comes over me; my thread of life now spun—
still I gaze at the sun.
his time down there will be all too long, sunlight is sweet for him too.
darkness creeps over mine eyes, for death is close to me.
Charon calls more urgently: he says my time is done—
still I gaze at the sun.