Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 3.djvu/70

42 STATESMEN AND SAGES the weight of the allusion fall upon themselves, first enacted that no one should teach in Athens the art of reasoning. Although Socrates never had professed that art, yet it was easy to discover that he was aimed at ; and that it was in- tended thus to deprive him of the liberty of conversing as usual, on moral sub- jects, with those who resorted to him. That he might have a precise explanation of this law, he went to the two authors of it ; but as he embarrassed them by the subtlety of his questions, they plainly told him that they prohibited him from entering into conversation with young people. But, seeing Socrates' reputation was so great that to attack him and serve him with an indictment would have drawn upon them public odium, it was thought necessary to begin by discrediting him in the view of the public. This was attempted by the comedy of Aristophanes entitled " The Clouds," in which Socrates was represented as teaching the art of making that which is just appear unjust. The comedy having had its effect, by the ridicule which it threw upon Soc- rates, Melitus brought a capital accusation against him, in which he alleged ; first, that he did not honor those as gods, who were acknowledged such at Athens, and that he was introducing new ones ; secondly, that he corrupted the youth ; that is to say, that he taught them not to respect their parents, or the magistrates. The accuser required that for these two crimes he should be con- demned to death. Enraged as the tyrants were (and especially Critias and Charicles) against Socrates, it is certain that they would have been very reluctant to condemn him, had he availed himself in the least of the favorable circumstances in his case. But the intrepidity and resolution with which he heard the accusation, refusing even to pay any fine, as that would have been to avow himself in some degree culpable ; and especially the firmness with which he addressed the judges when called upon to state the punishment which he thought he deserved, enraged them against him. For, with confidence in his integrity, he answered them, " That he thought he deserved to be maintained at the public expense during the rest of his life." This whetted afresh the resentment of the thirty tyrants, who caused him now to be condemned to death. Lysias, a very eloquent philosopher, had composed an apologetical oration that Socrates might avail himself of -it, and pronounce it before the judges, when called to appear before them. Socrates having heard it, acknowledged it to be a very good one, but returned it, saying that it did not suit him. " But why," re- plied Lysias, " will it not suit you, since you think it a good one ?" " Oh, my friend ! " returned Socrates, " may there not be shoes and different articles of dress very good in themselves, and yet not suitable for me ? " The fact is, though the oration was very fine and energetic, yet the manner in which it was conducted, did not suit the uprightness and candor of Socrates. Now condemned to death, Socrates was put into prison, where some days after, he died by drinking the poison hemlock. For this was the instrument of death,