Methought I saw . . . Paraphrased

It seemed to me that I saw1 my recently married2 wife 3
brought to me like Alcestis4 from the grave,
[the wife of Admetus] whom Hercules5 gave to her joyful husband,
[the wife] who had been rescued from death by force	4
though she was pale and faint.
My wife,6 was like someone7 who had been cleansed after childbirth,8
[like someone] who had been purified
according to the Old [Testament] Law9 and was saved;10
she looked just the same as I believe she will when I see her again,
except that then, in heaven, I shall see all of her truly and fully.	8
[My wife] came, dressed all in white; her body was as pure as her spirit.11
Her face was hidden by a veil,12 but to my imagination it seemed that
love, sweetness, goodness radiated from her whole being
so that no face could have been more delightful.13	12
But O! As she reached out14 to clasp me in her arms,
I woke up from my dream, she disappeared,
and day brought back my darkness.