Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Defence Of Socrates.
other in pronouncing sentence , but to give his judgment according to the nature of the offence ; and he swears by his oath of office , not to favour even them whom he may deem innocent in his own mmd , but to judge agreeably to the laws . Wherefore , it would neither become me , by any effeminate appeal to your feelings , to induce you to violate your oath , nor you to be guilty of perjury ; we should both be acting irrelioiousl Think notthenAtheniansthat I am capable of acting
y . , , , so , or of doing what is neither virtuous , nor just , nor pious ; and , by Jove especially when I am accused of the crime of impiety by Melitus . For / if I could have influenced you in that manner , and by such supplications induced you to violate your oaths , I should manifestly be teaching you that there were no gods ; and by taking up such a ground of defence , I should plainly have convicted myself of not believing in their existencesince I profanely dared to try and weaken the obligation
, of an oath that is one of the most solemn abjurations of the Deity in testimony of our truth . The reverse is the fact , Athenians ; I do believe in the existence of the gods , as well as any of my accusers , and therefore leave it to you and the Deity to make the decision respecting me accordingly , it being both my concern and yours that the best should be done that the occasion requires . '" * "" ' 1 * s . - » * * ' - "
By no means , Athenians , will I complain at the event which has just occurred , that you have condemned me by your votes , though it casts multiform reflections upon me . What'has happened was not unexpected . I am more surprised a great deal at the number of the ballotstones each party threw into the box . I never thought the majority would have been so small , but , on the contrary , very large . But , it the if thirty votes onlhad fallen on side
appears by scrutiny , more y my , I should have been acquitted . ' And , even as it is , in my own opinion , I have escaped the main accusation of Melitus , and not only escaped it , but this consideration must be evident to all , that if Lycon and Anytus had not risen to accuse me also , he would not have secured a fifth part of the votes , and after all have been fined himself fifty drachmas . And yet the man had the conscience to judge me worthy of death . Well ,
well ; but what is the punishment you will judge me worthy of , Athenians ? Certainly you will sentence me according to the heinousness of my offence . Well , then ; what am I to suffer or pay ? Is it just that I should suffer at all ? because , having acquired some knowledge in my life , I did not keep it secret , but , neglecting those things after which the generality of people seek , such as money , and domestic prosperity , and generalships , and oratorships , and other public offices , or popular conht
spiracies and seditious tumults in the state , things which I thougmyself too virtuous to meddle with and not be polluted , employed my time in communicating my knowledge to others .- Therefore 1 did not engage in what I thought would be of no service , either to you or myself , but I was in the habit of going to every person in private , wherever there appeared an opening for a beneficial improvement , showing what was wisdom , and trying to persuade every one , before they were solicitous about schemes of profit and fortune , first to seek after virtue and wisdom ; and instead of hunting after place , to regard the constitutional
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Defence Of Socrates.
other in pronouncing sentence , but to give his judgment according to the nature of the offence ; and he swears by his oath of office , not to favour even them whom he may deem innocent in his own mmd , but to judge agreeably to the laws . Wherefore , it would neither become me , by any effeminate appeal to your feelings , to induce you to violate your oath , nor you to be guilty of perjury ; we should both be acting irrelioiousl Think notthenAtheniansthat I am capable of acting
y . , , , so , or of doing what is neither virtuous , nor just , nor pious ; and , by Jove especially when I am accused of the crime of impiety by Melitus . For / if I could have influenced you in that manner , and by such supplications induced you to violate your oaths , I should manifestly be teaching you that there were no gods ; and by taking up such a ground of defence , I should plainly have convicted myself of not believing in their existencesince I profanely dared to try and weaken the obligation
, of an oath that is one of the most solemn abjurations of the Deity in testimony of our truth . The reverse is the fact , Athenians ; I do believe in the existence of the gods , as well as any of my accusers , and therefore leave it to you and the Deity to make the decision respecting me accordingly , it being both my concern and yours that the best should be done that the occasion requires . '" * "" ' 1 * s . - » * * ' - "
By no means , Athenians , will I complain at the event which has just occurred , that you have condemned me by your votes , though it casts multiform reflections upon me . What'has happened was not unexpected . I am more surprised a great deal at the number of the ballotstones each party threw into the box . I never thought the majority would have been so small , but , on the contrary , very large . But , it the if thirty votes onlhad fallen on side
appears by scrutiny , more y my , I should have been acquitted . ' And , even as it is , in my own opinion , I have escaped the main accusation of Melitus , and not only escaped it , but this consideration must be evident to all , that if Lycon and Anytus had not risen to accuse me also , he would not have secured a fifth part of the votes , and after all have been fined himself fifty drachmas . And yet the man had the conscience to judge me worthy of death . Well ,
well ; but what is the punishment you will judge me worthy of , Athenians ? Certainly you will sentence me according to the heinousness of my offence . Well , then ; what am I to suffer or pay ? Is it just that I should suffer at all ? because , having acquired some knowledge in my life , I did not keep it secret , but , neglecting those things after which the generality of people seek , such as money , and domestic prosperity , and generalships , and oratorships , and other public offices , or popular conht
spiracies and seditious tumults in the state , things which I thougmyself too virtuous to meddle with and not be polluted , employed my time in communicating my knowledge to others .- Therefore 1 did not engage in what I thought would be of no service , either to you or myself , but I was in the habit of going to every person in private , wherever there appeared an opening for a beneficial improvement , showing what was wisdom , and trying to persuade every one , before they were solicitous about schemes of profit and fortune , first to seek after virtue and wisdom ; and instead of hunting after place , to regard the constitutional