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Article THE DEFENCE OF SOCRATES. Page 1 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Defence Of Socrates.
THE DEFENCE OF SOCRATES .
AlIOAOriA SQKPATOYS , OR ,
[ Concluded from page 301 , 10 . 13 . )
BUT if any man says , that he ever learnt or heard of me anything in secret which no other person was permitted to hear , lie must be conscious that he asserts not the truth . Why several men for a long period were delighted to pass their time with me in these philosophic occupations , you have been told , Athenians , I have concealed nothing from you . The reason is , they enjoyed a peculiar pleasure in the discussions which took place betiveen me and the self-styled philosophers ,
and in viewing the manner in ivhich I exhibited their superficial conceit . For this sort of exposure is not pleasant to such as are puffed up ivith their little knowledge . But the ability , as I say , to do this , and to interpret the responses of the oracle , dreams , and other signs , by which fate hath decreed mankind to be warned , was imposed upon me by the Deity . What I am further about to say is equally true , Athenians , and , if not , easily to be refuted . If then , I do in truth , corrupt those who are
my juniors , and have always done so , it is but fair , since some of them are grown older , they should be made to understand that I never premeditatingly designed any mischief to them when youths , that now they should rise up and join my adversaries . But they themselves were unwilling that any of those relations with whom they residedtheir fathers , and uncles , and others , with whom they were connected by relationship , who , if their children had suffered wrong , must equally have been injured ; they were not anxious , it appears , if they really
were corrupted , to remember it just now , and avail themselves of the present opportunity to reap vengeance of me . I behold many of them before me : first , indeed , comes Criton , my cotemporary and fellowcitizen , the father of Critobulus ; next Lysanias Spheltius , the father of iEschinies ; then Antiphon , the Cephisian , the father of Epiganis . The rest who became their brethren in this association are Nicostratus , the son of Zotidie , the brother of Theotidus , though Theotidus has finished his careerand could not be citedand Paralusthe son of Demodocus ;
, , , whose brother is Theages . Then , again , there is Adimantus , the son of Aristones , whose brother is Piato ; and iEantidorusj the brother of Apollodorus ; and many others whom I could name , one at least of whom it behoved Melitus , according to his own showing , to have produced as a witness to the correctness of his assertions . But , if there be any concealed testimony of that nature , let it now be adduced , and no longer withheld .
The fact is , Athenians , you ivill find , upon strict examination , that the thing contradicts itself . Every one of those persons whom I am charged with corrupting , are immediately ready to assist me with their evidence against the gravimen of those allegations ; me , who am maliciously represented to be the cause of mischief to them and their connexions by Melitus and Anytus . Surely , those ivho were corrupted by my instructions have most cause to cry out ? But even their old rela-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Defence Of Socrates.
THE DEFENCE OF SOCRATES .
AlIOAOriA SQKPATOYS , OR ,
[ Concluded from page 301 , 10 . 13 . )
BUT if any man says , that he ever learnt or heard of me anything in secret which no other person was permitted to hear , lie must be conscious that he asserts not the truth . Why several men for a long period were delighted to pass their time with me in these philosophic occupations , you have been told , Athenians , I have concealed nothing from you . The reason is , they enjoyed a peculiar pleasure in the discussions which took place betiveen me and the self-styled philosophers ,
and in viewing the manner in ivhich I exhibited their superficial conceit . For this sort of exposure is not pleasant to such as are puffed up ivith their little knowledge . But the ability , as I say , to do this , and to interpret the responses of the oracle , dreams , and other signs , by which fate hath decreed mankind to be warned , was imposed upon me by the Deity . What I am further about to say is equally true , Athenians , and , if not , easily to be refuted . If then , I do in truth , corrupt those who are
my juniors , and have always done so , it is but fair , since some of them are grown older , they should be made to understand that I never premeditatingly designed any mischief to them when youths , that now they should rise up and join my adversaries . But they themselves were unwilling that any of those relations with whom they residedtheir fathers , and uncles , and others , with whom they were connected by relationship , who , if their children had suffered wrong , must equally have been injured ; they were not anxious , it appears , if they really
were corrupted , to remember it just now , and avail themselves of the present opportunity to reap vengeance of me . I behold many of them before me : first , indeed , comes Criton , my cotemporary and fellowcitizen , the father of Critobulus ; next Lysanias Spheltius , the father of iEschinies ; then Antiphon , the Cephisian , the father of Epiganis . The rest who became their brethren in this association are Nicostratus , the son of Zotidie , the brother of Theotidus , though Theotidus has finished his careerand could not be citedand Paralusthe son of Demodocus ;
, , , whose brother is Theages . Then , again , there is Adimantus , the son of Aristones , whose brother is Piato ; and iEantidorusj the brother of Apollodorus ; and many others whom I could name , one at least of whom it behoved Melitus , according to his own showing , to have produced as a witness to the correctness of his assertions . But , if there be any concealed testimony of that nature , let it now be adduced , and no longer withheld .
The fact is , Athenians , you ivill find , upon strict examination , that the thing contradicts itself . Every one of those persons whom I am charged with corrupting , are immediately ready to assist me with their evidence against the gravimen of those allegations ; me , who am maliciously represented to be the cause of mischief to them and their connexions by Melitus and Anytus . Surely , those ivho were corrupted by my instructions have most cause to cry out ? But even their old rela-