Perhaps some of you think that in
saying this, as in what I said about
lamenting and imploring, I am speaking
in a spirit of bravado; but that is not the
case. The truth is rather that I am
convinced that I never intentionally
wronged anyone; but I cannot
convince you of this, for we have
conversed with each other only a little
while. I believe if you had a law, as
some other people have, that capital
cases should not be decided in one
day, but only after several days, you
would be convinced; but now it is not
easy to rid you of great prejudices in a
short time. Since, then, I am convinced
that I never wronged any one, I am
certainly not going to wrong myself,
and to say of myself that I deserve
anything bad, and to propose any
penalty of that sort for myself. Why
should I? Through fear of the penalty
that Meletus proposes, about which I
say that I do not know whether it is a
good thing or an evil? Shall I choose
instead of that something which I know
to be an evil? What penalty shall I
propose? Imprisonment? And why
should I live in prison a slave to those
who may be in authority? Or shall I
propose a fine, with imprisonment until
it is paid? But that is the same as what I
said just now, for I have no money to
pay with. Shall I then propose exile as
my penalty? Perhaps you would accept
that. I must indeed be possessed by a
great love of life if I am so irrational as
not to know that if you, who are my
fellow citizens, could not endure my
conversation and my words, but found
them too irksome and disagreeable, so
that you are now seeking to be rid of
them, others will not be willing to
endure them. No, men of Athens, they
certainly will not. A fine life I should
lead if I went away at my time of life,
wandering from city to city and always
being driven out! For well I know that
wherever I go, the young men will listen
to my talk, as they do here; and if I
drive them away, they will themselves
persuade their elders to drive me out,
and if I do not drive them away, their
fathers and relatives will drive me out
for their sakes. | Student name:
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