Euripides, Alcestis
David Kovacs, Ed.

Pheres
[675] Son, whom do you imagine you are berating with insults, some Lydian or Phrygian slave of yours, bought with money? Do you not know that I am a freeborn Thessalian, legitimately begotten of a Thessalian father? You go too far in insult, and since you hurl [680] brash words at me, you will not get off with impunity.

I begot you and raised you to be the master of this house, but I am not obliged to die for you. I did not inherit this as a family custom, fathers dying for sons, nor as a Greek custom either. [685] For you are happy or unhappy for yourself alone. What you should in justice have received from me you have: you rule over many subjects, and I shall leave to you many acres of land, for I received the same from my father. What injustice have I done you? Of what am I robbing you? [690] Do not die on my behalf, and I shall not die on yours. You enjoy looking on the light. Do you think your father does not? Truly I regard the time below as long and life as short but sweet for all that. At all events you have shamelessly striven to avoid death, [695] and you live beyond your fated day by killing her. Can you then reproach me for cowardice when you, consummate coward, have been bested by a woman, who died to save you, her fine young husband? You have cleverly found out a way never to die [700] by persuading each wife in turn to die on your behalf. Can you then cast in the teeth of your kin that they do not wish to do this when you yourself are so craven? Hold your tongue! Consider that if you love life, so do all men. If you continue to insult me, [705] you shall hear reproaches many and true.

Chorus-Leader
Too many reproaches have been uttered, now and previously. Old sir, stop reviling your son.