Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ahoaoria 2qkpatoy2, Or , The Defence Of Socrates.
AHOAOriA 2 QKPATOY 2 , OR , THE DEFENCE OF SOCRATES .
Con Untied from page 151 . But , on the other hand , perhaps some one may object , and enquire , What is the nature of your offence , Socrates ? Whence lias sprun" up this calumny against you ? If you have clone nothing more than what others do , how has the present rumor and proceeding ori"mated ? unless you have been guiltof practising what is beyond the capacity of
y ordinary persons . . Tell us IIOAV of what it is you have been guilty , that Ave may not act rashl y in condemning you . He who speaks tints to me appears to speak Avith reason , and I shall , therefore , endeavor to shew vvliat it is that has been the cause of my incurring the present calumnious stigma and prosecution . Listen then . Yet , perhaps , after all , I shall be considered by some amongst you to treat the Avhole affair with unbecoming levit y ? Well , Avhatevcr think shall do
you may , I nothing but declare the simple and entire truth ! Bear with me , Athenians , Avhen I tell you , that I have incurred these stigmatising reflections from no other cause but an imaginary belief of my persecutors that I am imbued with some mysterious species of Avisdom ! Truly , now , what kind of Avisdom is that ? Is it natural or super natural ? For , in fact , except some strict distinction be given to it , I run the risk of beiug esteemed a necromancer or some wiseacre in the arts of legerdemain . But , probably , those sagacious individuals Avho have instituted this inquiry , consider me a philosopher of an order above
the human level , or , of some aerial class ; indeed , I am perfectly at a loss to describe it , being really ignorant of such extraordinary knowledge . Ancl , whoever asserts the contrary , asserts a falsehood , ancl utters against me a slander . Still , Athenians , let none lie amazed if I should address any observation to you in a lofty tone ancl elevated style of sentiment . It may have the appearance of arrogance , but Avhatever I say , I am not expressing my OAVII opinion , but the opinion of a person less to be
suspected of partiality . It is unpleasant to descant on oneself , but as respects the question of my Avisdom aud its nature , I must be allowed to adduce the testimony of the far-famed oracle of Del phi . You all know Chterephon . He Avas my companion from a boy , as Avell as the playmate of many of you . He accompanied you in your hasty flight from the cit y on a recent occasion , ancl Avas Avith you on your return . You all knoAVtooAvhat kind of man
, , Climrephon Avas ; of an ardent disposition in any thing he undertook . Well , IIOAV , having gone to Delphi , he AA'as daring enough to consult the oracle ! Ancl what I am about to declare to you , Athenians , let it not startle you . He actually demanded to knoAV , if there ivas any man in existence Aviser than I ! The Pythian Priestess proclaimed this response , "The :.-e is noue Aviscr ! " Clwerephon himself , poor fellow , is dead . But his brother Avill testify to the truth of this statement .
Let me request , then , your serious reflection ' upon the matter I shall urge in pursuing my defence further . I am anxious to inform you how the aspersion on my character , which is the groundwork of the present
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ahoaoria 2qkpatoy2, Or , The Defence Of Socrates.
AHOAOriA 2 QKPATOY 2 , OR , THE DEFENCE OF SOCRATES .
Con Untied from page 151 . But , on the other hand , perhaps some one may object , and enquire , What is the nature of your offence , Socrates ? Whence lias sprun" up this calumny against you ? If you have clone nothing more than what others do , how has the present rumor and proceeding ori"mated ? unless you have been guiltof practising what is beyond the capacity of
y ordinary persons . . Tell us IIOAV of what it is you have been guilty , that Ave may not act rashl y in condemning you . He who speaks tints to me appears to speak Avith reason , and I shall , therefore , endeavor to shew vvliat it is that has been the cause of my incurring the present calumnious stigma and prosecution . Listen then . Yet , perhaps , after all , I shall be considered by some amongst you to treat the Avhole affair with unbecoming levit y ? Well , Avhatevcr think shall do
you may , I nothing but declare the simple and entire truth ! Bear with me , Athenians , Avhen I tell you , that I have incurred these stigmatising reflections from no other cause but an imaginary belief of my persecutors that I am imbued with some mysterious species of Avisdom ! Truly , now , what kind of Avisdom is that ? Is it natural or super natural ? For , in fact , except some strict distinction be given to it , I run the risk of beiug esteemed a necromancer or some wiseacre in the arts of legerdemain . But , probably , those sagacious individuals Avho have instituted this inquiry , consider me a philosopher of an order above
the human level , or , of some aerial class ; indeed , I am perfectly at a loss to describe it , being really ignorant of such extraordinary knowledge . Ancl , whoever asserts the contrary , asserts a falsehood , ancl utters against me a slander . Still , Athenians , let none lie amazed if I should address any observation to you in a lofty tone ancl elevated style of sentiment . It may have the appearance of arrogance , but Avhatever I say , I am not expressing my OAVII opinion , but the opinion of a person less to be
suspected of partiality . It is unpleasant to descant on oneself , but as respects the question of my Avisdom aud its nature , I must be allowed to adduce the testimony of the far-famed oracle of Del phi . You all know Chterephon . He Avas my companion from a boy , as Avell as the playmate of many of you . He accompanied you in your hasty flight from the cit y on a recent occasion , ancl Avas Avith you on your return . You all knoAVtooAvhat kind of man
, , Climrephon Avas ; of an ardent disposition in any thing he undertook . Well , IIOAV , having gone to Delphi , he AA'as daring enough to consult the oracle ! Ancl what I am about to declare to you , Athenians , let it not startle you . He actually demanded to knoAV , if there ivas any man in existence Aviser than I ! The Pythian Priestess proclaimed this response , "The :.-e is noue Aviscr ! " Clwerephon himself , poor fellow , is dead . But his brother Avill testify to the truth of this statement .
Let me request , then , your serious reflection ' upon the matter I shall urge in pursuing my defence further . I am anxious to inform you how the aspersion on my character , which is the groundwork of the present