It's insulting to the Divinity to pretend
that he had committed with a woman in whatever manner it might be what
we would call amongst men an adultery. That's discouraging to the rest
of men to say that to be a great man, one must be born from the
mysterious coupling with one of your wives or daughters. Miltiades,
Cimon, Themistocles, Arisitides, that you persecuted were perhaps
worth more than Perseus, Herakles and Bacchus. There being no other
way to be the children of this God than by trying to please him, and
by being just. Deserve that title by never rendering iniquitous
judgments.
MELITUS:
What blasphemies and insolence!
ANOTHER JUDGE:
What absurdities! No one knows what he means.
MELITUS:
Socrates, if you always continue to argue, this is not what we need.
Answer briefly and precisely. Did you make fun of the owl of Minerva?
SOCRATES:
Athenian judges, take care of your owls! When you propose ridiculous
things to believe, too many men will choose to believe nothing at all.
They have enough wit to see that your doctrine is impertinent, But
they don't have enough to raise themselves to the true law. They know
how to laugh at your little gods.
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