My son, do you think you are pursuing so...

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 I shall 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!

Euripides, Alcestis. Trans. Richard Aldington. http://classics.mit.edu/Euripides/alcestis.html