Yet Pheres had already had his share of all that makes life happy: a youth amid royal luxury, a prosperous reign, a son to inherit his state and who ever did him honor. But let him beget him new sons to cherish his age and attend him in death: Admetus's hand shall never do such offices for him. And this is all that comes of old age's longing for death: let death show itself, and the old complaints of life are all silenced! _Cho._ Forbear! Enough the present weight of woe: {710} My son, exasperate not a father's mind. To this long rhesis _Pheres_ answers in a set speech of similar length. Is he a slave to be so rated by his own son? And for what? He has given his son birth and nurture, he has already handed over to him a kingdom and will bequeath him yet more wide lands; all that fathers owe to sons he gives. What new obligation is this for Greece to submit to, that a father should die for his son? It is a joy to thee {730} To view the light of heaven, and dost thou think Thy father joys not in it? Long I deem Our time in death's dark regions: short the space Of life, yet sweet! So thought thy coward heart And struggled not to die: and thou dost live, Passing the bounds of life assign'd by fate, By killing _her_! My mean and abject spirit Dost thou rebuke, O timidest of all, Vanquish'd e'en by a woman, her who gave For thee, her young fair husband, her own life! {740} A fine device that thou mightst never die, Couldst thou persuade--who at the time might be Thy wife--to die for thee! If such a man takes to heaping reproaches on his own kin he shall at least hear the truth told him to his face! _Cho._ Too much of ill already hath been spoken: {750} Forbear, old man, nor thus revile thy son. _Admetus_ says if his father does not like to hear the truth he should not have done the wrong.