The Apology of Socrates

lates only to the sentence which ought to be passed on him. And in the third and concluding part, with a dignity and fulness of hope worthy even of a Christian, he expresses his belicf that the death to which he is going is only a passage to a better and a happier life.

THE APOLOGY OF SOCRATES. I xnow not, O Athenians, how far you have been influenced by my accusers: for my part, in listening to them I almost forgot myself, so plausible were their arguments: however, so to speak, they have said nothing true.

But of the many false- hoods which they uttered I wondered at one of them espe- cially, that in which they said that you ought to be on your guard lest you should be deceived by me, as being eloquent in kpeech. For that they are not ashamed of being forthwith convicted by me in fact, when I shall shew that I am not by any means eloquent, this seemed to me the most shameless thing in them, unless indeed they call him eloquent who speaks the truth.

For, if they mean this, then I would allow that I am an orator, but not after their fashion: for they, as I affirm, have said nothing true; but from me you shall hear the whole truth. Not indeed, Athenians, arguments highly wrought, as theirs were, with choice phrases and expressions, nor adorned, but you shall hear a speech uttered without premeditation, in such words as first present themselves.

For I am confident that what I say will be just, and let none of you expect other- wise: for surely it would not become my time of life to come before you like a youth with a got up speech. Above all things therefore I beg and implore this of you, O Athenians, if you hear me defending myself in the same language as that in which I am accustomed to speak both in the forum at the counters, where many of you have heard me, and elsewhere, not to be surprised or disturbed on this account.

For the case is this: I now fox the first time come before a court of justice, though more than seventy years old; I am therefore utterly a Stranger to the language here. As, then, if I were really a stranger, you would have pardoned me if I spoke in the lan- guage and the manner in which I had been educated, so now Task this of you as an act of justice, as it appears to me, to 4 THE APOLOGY OF SOCRATES, disregard the manner of my speech, for perhaps it may be somewhat worse, and perhaps better, and to consider this only, and to give your attention to this, whether I speak what is just or not; for this is the virtue of a judge, but of an orator to speak the truth. 2.