Then did his father by and by forethink him of his oath,
And shaking twenty times his head, as one that was full wroth,
Bespake him thus: "Thy words have made me rashly to consent
To that which shortly both of us, I fear me, shall repent.
Oh, that I might retract my grant! My son, I do protest
I would deny thee nothing else save this, thy fond request.
I may dissuade; there lies herein more peril than thou ween, The things the
which thou dost desire of great importance been,
More than thy weakness well can wield, a charge (as well appears)
Of greater weight than may agree with these thy tender years.
Thy state is mortal, weak and frail, the thing thou dost desire
Is such whereto no mortal man is able to aspire.
Yea, foolish boy, thou dost desire (and all for want of wit)
A greater charge than any god could ever have as yet;
For were there any of them all so overseen and blind
To take upon him this my charge, full quickly should he find
That none but I could sit upon the fiery axletree.
No, not even he that rules this waste and endless space we see. . . ."

In this passage from Ovid's Metamorphoses, Phoebus Apollo, the sun god, warns his son Phaeton of the dire consequences of his reckless wish to drive the chariot of the sun. The fatherly concern is palpable, as Phoebus laments his hasty promise and foresees the impending regret they will both endure. He questions the wisdom of Phaeton's "fond request," illustrating the gulf between human limitations and divine capabilities. This dialogue underscores a classic theme in mythology: the dangers of hubris and the folly of overstepping one's natural bounds. By wishing for something beyond mortal reach, Phaeton puts himself in peril, a cautionary tale that reverberates through time. The poetic language, especially Golding's translation, enriches this timeless lesson about ambition and humility, emphasizing that certain pursuits are destined to end in disaster when not approached with respect for their inherent power and complexity.