My son, do you think you are pursuing some hireling Lydian or Phrygian with your taunts? Do you know I am a Thessalian, a free man lawfully begotten by a Thessalian father? You are over-insolent, and you shall not leave thus, after wounding me with your boyish insults. I indeed begot you, and bred you up to be lord of this land, but I am not bound to die for you. It is not a law of our ancestors or of Hellas that the fathers should die for the children!
You were born to live your own life, whether miserable or fortunate;and what is due to you from me you have. You rule over many men, and Ishall leave you many wide fields even as received them from my own father. How, then, have I wronged you? Of what have I robbed you? Do not die for me, any more than I die for you. You love to look upon the light of day-do you think your father hates it? I tell myself that we are a long time underground and that life is short, but sweet.
But you-you strove shamelessly not to die, and you are alive, you shirked your fate by killing her! And you call me a coward, you, the worst of cowards, surpassed by a woman who died for you, pretty boy? And now you insult those who should be dear to you, when they refuse to die for a coward like you!
Be silent! Learn that if you love your life, so do others. If you utter insults, you shall hear many, and true ones too!
LEADER
These insults and those that went before suffice. Old man, cease to revile your son.
ADMETUS (to PHERES)
Speak on! I shall refute you. If the truth wounds you when you hear it you should not have wronged me.
PHERES
I should have wronged you far more if I had died for you.
ADMETUS
It is the same then to die an old man and in the flower of life?
PHERES
We should live one life, not two.
ADMETUS
May you live longer than God!
PHERES
Do you curse your parents when they have done you no wrong?
ADMETUS
I see you are in love with long life.
PHERES
But you are not carrying her dead body in place of your own?
ADMETUS