| But, setting aside the question of public
opinion, there seems to be something
wrong in asking a favor of a judge, and
thus procuring an acquittal, instead of
informing and convincing him. For his
duty is, not to make a present of
justice, but to give judgment; and he
has sworn that he will judge according
to the laws, and not according to his
own good and pleasure; and we ought
not to encourage you, nor should you
allow yourselves to be encouraged, in
this habit of perjury, there can be no
piety in that. Do not then require me to
do what I consider dishonorable and
impious and wrong, especially now,
when I am being tried for impiety on
the indictment of Meletus. For if, O
men of Athens, by force of persuasion
and entreaty I could overpower your
oaths, then I should be teaching you to
believe that there are no gods, and in
defending should simply convict
myself of the charge of not believing in
them. But that is not so, far otherwise.
For I do believe that there are gods,
and in a sense higher than that in which
any of my accusers believe in them.
And to you and to God I commit my
cause, to be determined by you as is
best for you and me. | Student name:
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