“Mother, said he, this infamy was thrown By Epaphus on you, and me your son. He spoke in public, told it to my face; Nor durst I vindicate the dire disgrace: Even I, the bold, the sensible of wrong, Restrained by shame, was forced to hold my tongue. To hear an open slander, is a curse: But not to find an answer, is a worse. If I am heaven-begot, assert your son By some sure sign; and make my father known, To right my honor, and redeem your own. He said, and, saying, cast his arms about Her neck, and begged her to resolve the doubt.”

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The disaster that befell Phaeton while driving the steeds of Apollo, makes fathers chary of granting all the wishes of children. ↩