human
The story of Alkestis, or at least the story of Admetus, is a story of cowardice, disloyalty, immorality. The conduct of Admetus was abominable. His wife was indeed noble and virtuous--too good a wife for so shameless a man. I do not believe that the father of Admetus would not have been willing to die for his son if his son had been worthy. I think he would gladly have died for his son had he not been disgusted by the cowardice of Admetus. And how disloyal the subjects of Admetus were! The moment they heard of their king's danger they should have rushed to the palace, and humbly begged that they might be allowed to die in his stead. However cowardly or cruel he might have been, that was their duty. They were his subjects. They lived by his favor. Yet how disloyal they were! A country inhabited by such shameless people must soon have gone to ruin. Of course, as the story says, 'it is sweet to live.' Who does not love life? Who does not dislike to die? But no brave man--no loyal man even--should so much as think about his life when duty requires him to give it.
gpt
But, said Midzuguchi, who had joined us a little too late to hear the beginning of the narration,
human
You do not understand the story, said Yasukochi.
gpt
Filial piety did not exist in Admetus. He wished that his father should have died for him.
human
Ah! exclaimed the apologist in real surprise,--
gpt
Admetus, declared Kawabuchi,
human
But Alkestis, said Iwai,--
gpt
Alkestis was all that is good. For she gave up her children and everything,--even like the Buddha [_Shaka_] himself. Yet she was very young. How true and brave! The beauty of her face might perish like a spring-blossoming, but the beauty of her act should be remembered for a thousand times a thousand years. Eternally her soul will hover in the universe. Formless she is now; but it is the Formless who teach us more kindly than our kindest living teachers,--the souls of all who have done pure, brave, wise deeds.
human
The wife of Admetus, said Kumamoto, inclined to austerity in his judgments,
gpt
Why Western people should think that story beautiful, said Zaitsu,
human
Teacher, we should like another subject for composition,--not _too_ easy.
gpt
How would you like this for a subject, 'What is most difficult to understand?'
human
That, said Kawabuchi,
gpt
In the study of English by Japanese students,--yes, I answered.
human
But I did not mean any special difficulty of that kind. I meant to write your ideas about what is most difficult for all men to understand.
gpt
The universe? queried Yasukochi.
human
That is too large a subject.
gpt
When I was only six years old, said Orito,
human
I used to wander along the seashore, on fine days, and wonder at the greatness of the world. Our home was by the sea. Afterwards I was taught that the problem of the universe will at last pass away, like smoke.