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Article AnOAOriA 2QKPAT0YS, ← Page 6 of 8 →
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Anoaoria 2qkpat0ys,
think it is permitted an inferior mind to injure a superior . They may slay me , or drive me into exile , or disgrace me ; and , although they , like many other individuals , may imagine such punishments to be heavy afflictions , I should not . But I should much rather think it an
affliction to do what they now do—endeavour to compass the destruction of an innocent man ! For this reason , Athenians , it is highly necessary for me to make my defence , as you may suppose ; though , after all , it is chiefly on your own account , lest you may he led into error respecting the Deity ' s benevolent intentions towards you when it is too late , and you have condemned me . If you take away my life you will not easily supply lace evidentl
my p , being y—if I may speak it without levity—stationed in the state by the Deity to goad , as it were , a noble horse with the spear and rouse him from the inactivity of his bulk . In truth , the Deity , in my opinion , has appointed me to some such office in the commonwealth that , day by day , I should encounter you every where , and never cease to rouse , and persuade , or censure you , as circumstances may direct . So that , such another you shall not easily find , Athenians . If
my representations have worked any persuasion upon you , I shall be pardoned . But , perhaps , you are angry with me , like one awakened out of sleep , and , not content with chastising me for my officiousness , you would rashl y kill me out of submission to the will of Anytus . When , if you accomplish your purpose , you will slumber away the rest of your days , unless the Deity vouchsafe you some other moial guide and instructor , who shall be equally solicitous for your welfare .
Now , because I happen to be that chosen agent of the Deity , you set your minds against me . For , it does not appear that , although I have neglected the ordinary affairs of humanity , and endured the forgetfulness of my friends so many years , 1 have not always strived to do good to you , going to each person in private , and , like a father or an elder brother , persuading you to love virtue . If , indeed , I had derived any earthly advantage from my zeal for your mental
improvement , and had urged my principles to procure pecuniary emolument , there would be some reason for suspicion ; but , among all my accusers , and throughout the whole of the charges they have so unblushino-l y alleged against me , this one they have not had the effrontery to male , nor can they cite any witness to say I ever sought for or required such emolument . And the best proof I can give of the veracity of what I say is—my poverty !
Nevevtheless , it may perhaps appear to some inconsistent , that I should he going about and busying myself in counselling people in private , and should never have ventured to enter the public senate and assist its members with the benefit of my advice for the good of the commonwealth . But the reason of this arises from a certain inward
repulse , which you have frequently heard me mention . I carry about with me a certain divine and heaven-born energy—as it were a voice within me—which prompts me to do good and to avoid evil ; and this is what Melitus sarcasticall y has inserted in his allegation . It is a feeling I have possessed from childhood , an impulse , which , whenever it operates , 1 am aVw ' ays turned from the thing 1 was about to engage in , though it never impels me . It is this which has prevented me from embarking in political affairs , and the opposition is , I think , discreet ; for you well know , Athenians , had I once attempted to engage in poli-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Anoaoria 2qkpat0ys,
think it is permitted an inferior mind to injure a superior . They may slay me , or drive me into exile , or disgrace me ; and , although they , like many other individuals , may imagine such punishments to be heavy afflictions , I should not . But I should much rather think it an
affliction to do what they now do—endeavour to compass the destruction of an innocent man ! For this reason , Athenians , it is highly necessary for me to make my defence , as you may suppose ; though , after all , it is chiefly on your own account , lest you may he led into error respecting the Deity ' s benevolent intentions towards you when it is too late , and you have condemned me . If you take away my life you will not easily supply lace evidentl
my p , being y—if I may speak it without levity—stationed in the state by the Deity to goad , as it were , a noble horse with the spear and rouse him from the inactivity of his bulk . In truth , the Deity , in my opinion , has appointed me to some such office in the commonwealth that , day by day , I should encounter you every where , and never cease to rouse , and persuade , or censure you , as circumstances may direct . So that , such another you shall not easily find , Athenians . If
my representations have worked any persuasion upon you , I shall be pardoned . But , perhaps , you are angry with me , like one awakened out of sleep , and , not content with chastising me for my officiousness , you would rashl y kill me out of submission to the will of Anytus . When , if you accomplish your purpose , you will slumber away the rest of your days , unless the Deity vouchsafe you some other moial guide and instructor , who shall be equally solicitous for your welfare .
Now , because I happen to be that chosen agent of the Deity , you set your minds against me . For , it does not appear that , although I have neglected the ordinary affairs of humanity , and endured the forgetfulness of my friends so many years , 1 have not always strived to do good to you , going to each person in private , and , like a father or an elder brother , persuading you to love virtue . If , indeed , I had derived any earthly advantage from my zeal for your mental
improvement , and had urged my principles to procure pecuniary emolument , there would be some reason for suspicion ; but , among all my accusers , and throughout the whole of the charges they have so unblushino-l y alleged against me , this one they have not had the effrontery to male , nor can they cite any witness to say I ever sought for or required such emolument . And the best proof I can give of the veracity of what I say is—my poverty !
Nevevtheless , it may perhaps appear to some inconsistent , that I should he going about and busying myself in counselling people in private , and should never have ventured to enter the public senate and assist its members with the benefit of my advice for the good of the commonwealth . But the reason of this arises from a certain inward
repulse , which you have frequently heard me mention . I carry about with me a certain divine and heaven-born energy—as it were a voice within me—which prompts me to do good and to avoid evil ; and this is what Melitus sarcasticall y has inserted in his allegation . It is a feeling I have possessed from childhood , an impulse , which , whenever it operates , 1 am aVw ' ays turned from the thing 1 was about to engage in , though it never impels me . It is this which has prevented me from embarking in political affairs , and the opposition is , I think , discreet ; for you well know , Athenians , had I once attempted to engage in poli-