Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ahoaoria 2qkpatoy2, Or , The Defence Of Socrates.
say : all ! Indeed ! by Juno , you speak flatteringly , and they ought all to feel themselves highly indebted to you for conferring upon them so important a privilege . But how ? Do these young men , AVIIO are but disciples themselves , teach others as Avell as themselves to become better men ? Just so , you say . What , and the Senators too ? Yes , the Senators also . Oil !
Truly , Melitus , alloAv me to ask , if the citizens , Avhen they harangue the people in their assemblies , do not corrupt the youth ; or do they altogether render them better men ? No ; they rather benefit them . I'faith , then , Athenians , it appears , that all , except your humble servant , make the young men eminent and good . I alone corrupt them ! Do you realty mean so , Melitus ? Yes , I seriously assert it . You have , indeed , accused me of a high crime , to compass my
destruction . But , IIOAV , A \ "ith respect to horses , lvould it appear reasonable or probable to you , that all men should improve them in their breed , except one poor solitary individual , AA'I IO corrupted them ? or , rather , is not the reverse infinitely more probable , that there should be one individual capable , of improving them ; and , that many such properly qualified persons , would be scarce ? Pray , do the multitude at large , Avho ought to be acquainted Avith , and
accustomed to , horses , corrupt them ? Do they not ; and is not vour argument , Melitus , as applicable to horses , and all other animals , as to men ? Yes , in truth , it is , hoAvever you and Anytus may deny or confess it . For there Avould be much happiness in store for young men , if one person alone in the communit y could harm them , aud all the rest profit them . But , Melitus , I Avill satisfactorily prove , that you hax ^ e at no period of your life troubled yourself about the Avelfare of the youth of the State ; and you shall openl y expose your ignorance and culpable negligence in the very matters respecting which you have dragged me before this tribunal .
By Jupiter , Melitus , I conjure you to inform us , xvhether it be best to take up our abode among a Society of virtuous or vicious citizens ? AnsAver me , my good fellow ; for I ask nothing hard of you . Do not the Avicked ahA'ays do mischief to those AVIIO are constantl y associated with them ; but the virtuous eA-er do good ? Most certainly . Who then is lvilling to be misled rather than be corrected b y his friends ? Ansiver me , thou virtuous man ! For the Law enjoins thee to reply . Is there ,
then , I repeat , any one who is willing to be led into error ? T
of mental darkness as to have yet to learn that , if I should render an injury to any of my friends , I mi ght run the risk of receiving a reprisal from him . And , so , according to what you say , I . should commit such an insane act intentionally : ay ? Melitus , I am not convinced by the force of your reasoning ; neither can I entertain such an opinion of any man . Therefore , I either do not corrupt the youth of theState , or I do it unintentionall y ! So that in either case your position is false , and your argument upon it consequently falls
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ahoaoria 2qkpatoy2, Or , The Defence Of Socrates.
say : all ! Indeed ! by Juno , you speak flatteringly , and they ought all to feel themselves highly indebted to you for conferring upon them so important a privilege . But how ? Do these young men , AVIIO are but disciples themselves , teach others as Avell as themselves to become better men ? Just so , you say . What , and the Senators too ? Yes , the Senators also . Oil !
Truly , Melitus , alloAv me to ask , if the citizens , Avhen they harangue the people in their assemblies , do not corrupt the youth ; or do they altogether render them better men ? No ; they rather benefit them . I'faith , then , Athenians , it appears , that all , except your humble servant , make the young men eminent and good . I alone corrupt them ! Do you realty mean so , Melitus ? Yes , I seriously assert it . You have , indeed , accused me of a high crime , to compass my
destruction . But , IIOAV , A \ "ith respect to horses , lvould it appear reasonable or probable to you , that all men should improve them in their breed , except one poor solitary individual , AA'I IO corrupted them ? or , rather , is not the reverse infinitely more probable , that there should be one individual capable , of improving them ; and , that many such properly qualified persons , would be scarce ? Pray , do the multitude at large , Avho ought to be acquainted Avith , and
accustomed to , horses , corrupt them ? Do they not ; and is not vour argument , Melitus , as applicable to horses , and all other animals , as to men ? Yes , in truth , it is , hoAvever you and Anytus may deny or confess it . For there Avould be much happiness in store for young men , if one person alone in the communit y could harm them , aud all the rest profit them . But , Melitus , I Avill satisfactorily prove , that you hax ^ e at no period of your life troubled yourself about the Avelfare of the youth of the State ; and you shall openl y expose your ignorance and culpable negligence in the very matters respecting which you have dragged me before this tribunal .
By Jupiter , Melitus , I conjure you to inform us , xvhether it be best to take up our abode among a Society of virtuous or vicious citizens ? AnsAver me , my good fellow ; for I ask nothing hard of you . Do not the Avicked ahA'ays do mischief to those AVIIO are constantl y associated with them ; but the virtuous eA-er do good ? Most certainly . Who then is lvilling to be misled rather than be corrected b y his friends ? Ansiver me , thou virtuous man ! For the Law enjoins thee to reply . Is there ,
then , I repeat , any one who is willing to be led into error ? T
of mental darkness as to have yet to learn that , if I should render an injury to any of my friends , I mi ght run the risk of receiving a reprisal from him . And , so , according to what you say , I . should commit such an insane act intentionally : ay ? Melitus , I am not convinced by the force of your reasoning ; neither can I entertain such an opinion of any man . Therefore , I either do not corrupt the youth of theState , or I do it unintentionall y ! So that in either case your position is false , and your argument upon it consequently falls