Malfeasance Mismanaged

Based on Plato's Apology Althea: Why sir, I intend to tell the truth.
By Mickey Gray
Anytos: What do you mean “tell the truth.” Who's truth, yours?
Dramatis Personae
Mediocretes, a philosopher Mediocretes: It's mine, it's yours, it's everybody's.
Althea, his pupil
Isocrates, a rhetorician Meletos: I want to know the truth about you.
Anytos, a senator
Meletos, a young man of Athens Mediocretes: We hide nothing from you.
Lycon, a Judge
Anytos: There have been complaints about you.
Athens, Greece.
Mediocretes: All we seek is truth. A man of the state such as
Act I yourself should know there are no wrongs in that.
The Arrest of Mediocretes.
Meletos: Still, this makes me uneasy.
Scene I
The Agora. Althea and Mediocretes. Althea: I make you uneasy? I make you nervous? Why?

Althea: What does forgiveness mean to you? Anytos: It is not right.

Mediocretes: Letting go of resentment. Mediocretes: What isn't? We have done nothing. I have neither said
nor done anything wrong.
Althea: Is there anything unforgivable?
Meletos and Anytos look at Althea.
Mediocretes: I suppose if you killed me, it would be unforgivable
because I'd be dead, ergo not capable of forgiveness. Anytos: Could you excuse us?

Althea: Everything else is? Mediocretes: Why certainly.

Mediocretes: Everything. Mediocretes walks just out of ear shot of Althea, Meletos and
Anytos. There is a silence as the two question Althea.
Althea walks center stage a pool of light surrounds him.
Althea walks out of the conversation with Meletos and Anytos
Althea: I want to tell you the truth. I want to turn a light on the soul stops before Mediocretes and shakes his hand.
and make manifest that which is virtuous and right in the eyes of
God. Meletos and Anytos turn and face Mediocretes

Meletos and Anytos enter. Anytos: We need to discuss further. Why don't you try to get some
sleep?
Meletos: What's the meaning of this?
They walk off together.
Althea re-enters.
Althea: What does mercy mean to you?
Mediocretes: Mercy implies a balance between justice and grace. It so.
is the allowance of error and then immediate forgiveness for all
transgressions.
Althea: How is one merciful?
Mediocretes: One is most merciful when he appreciates his own
humanity. For if ever there was someone to make a mistake.
Althea: We all make mistakes. We all do and say things we
shouldn't have.
Exeunt.
Scene II
The Parthenon. Meletos and Anytos
Meletos: The State must be preserved.
Anytos: Obviously. Without order comes chaos.
Meletos: Deviance and derision cannot go unchecked.
Anytos: If we let the plebeians exercise authority then what
becomes of ours?
Meletos: A mere mock-up of ministry, no doubt. What makes a
good leader?
Anytos: Legitimate control exercised judiciously and exactly.
Meletos: This boy troubles me.
Anytos: I agree. He assumes too much.
Meletos: Bear in mind he hasn't broken any laws.
Anytos: But what of his instructor? Has he not corrupted the boy?
Meletos: Is that grounds enough for arrest?
Anytos: We should err on the side of caution and assume it to be
Exeunt
Scene III
The Agora. Mediocretes.
Mediocretes: An act of malfeasance is never committed
intentionally. No man thinks of himself as evil. No ruler enforces a
wrong policy. Certainly there are dire consequences to the massive
errors in judgment. But more often than not a decision is made and
enforced, the consequences are left to be determined and history
to be made.
Meletos and Anytos enter
Meletos: We need to speak to you.
Mediocretes: Have I done wrong?
Meletos: Not yet.
Anytos: What do you do for a living sir?
Mediocretes: I ask questions.
Anytos: Do you earn a keep asking these questions?
Mediocretes: Not but that is given to me.
Meletos: We've talked to your disciple, if thats what you call him.
His mind has been warped and maligned by your errant reasoning.
Mediocretes: I have instructed him in nothing but the truth.
Meletos: We know all about you. We've seen the stories of your
famous rhetoric. You are a fool who holds himself in highest regard. made the stronger?

Mediocretes: I don't hold myself in any regards. Isocrates: Rhetorically speaking a fallacious argument is used to
strengthen a weak argument. The flaws are covered by either
Anytos: Then why is there so much talk of your being the wisest emotive doublespeak or belligerent threats against those who
man on earth? would attempt to counter the argument.

Mediocretes: I have said not a word of that. Only the Oracle.
Meletos: What is smeared across the headlines is not always true.
Anytos: And why would they say such a thing. Certainly you must
have done something?
Mediocretes: But, in the face of the truth, none of these fallacious
assaults could possibly hold merit.
Isocrates: That I suppose is up to the arguer himself.
Althea enters.

Mediocretes: I've asked questions and searched for truth. Althea: What engenders the mind of the master today?

Meletos: And in doing this so called search for the truth, you have Mediocretes: The power held by a fallacious argument.
corrupted the minds of the innocent.
Althea: But no argument would outweigh the truth.
Mediocretes: The boy only does as I have instructed him. He
speaks the truth, and uncovers mysteries ethereal and ephemeral. Mediocretes: But who's truth? What truth do you speak of when
you yourself are not so esteemed as to say some other expert in
Anytos: Well bear in mind if he does or says anything controversial the truth. Besides that your youth desires something of
or contemptible you will be held accountable. experience, you are naïve to believe this truth of yours.

Exeunt Althea: I cannot advance causal proof for truth without some how
transgressing conflict for either the character or nature of it?
Scene IV
The House of Isocrates. Mediocretes and Isocrates. Mediocretes: Not only that but your truth can be made false. And
you could be condemned for it.
Mediocretes: What is a fallacy?
Althea: But who would do such a thing?
Isocrates: An errant way of thinking.
Mediocretes: Everyone, were they not instructed to seek truth like
Mediocretes: How does one detect such things? yourself.

Isocrates: Words and thoughts, like all other human functions Althea: Well certainly then I should make it a mission to expose the
follow certain rhythms, display certain traits, and ultimately repeat truth that you have so graciously bestowed upon me.
the same mistakes. A fallacy then is an oft repeated error in the
logic and reasoning of discourse. Exeunt

Mediocretes: Is it possible that a fallacious argument could be

 Althea: The wisest and noblest in our city. Mediocretes.

Scene V Anytos: Just as we suspected.

The Agora. Althea addresses the audience.
Meletos: How old are you?
Althea: My master has instructed me to seek truth. I peel away
layers of ambiguity to show a bare essence. At the core of this is Althea: Seventeen.
the concept of monotheism or simply put one God. There is no god
of the State, god of the Earth, no man, woman or son of God. Anytos: Not even a man and he is rebelling against all that is
Simply God. Why I tell you this is because if there is only one God, proper for a boy his age.
then there should be one universal set of ethics. God does not
want you focus on your wealth for it does not bring goodness, but Meletos: You defy the god of State do you not?
goodness brings wealth and every other blessing, both to the
individual and to the state. So it is by looking into ourselves and Althea: Only in saying that he cannot be contained simply by the
expressing what is good that we will find happiness and personal word state.
wealth.
Meletos: All the same that is not appropriate discourse for
Enter Anytos and Meletos someone your age. That Mediocretes must be stopped. To have a
child speak so brashly it boggles my mind.
Meletos: Did you say something about no God of the State?
Anytos: We are taking you to the court house, where by the words
Althea: Well certainly he is of the state, but he is also of the land,
you have said will be writ into a warrant for the arrest of
the sea and the sky. Mediocretes who in truth is blaspheming against the state and
corrupting the youth. I pity you having lost such a formidable part
Anytos: We have here in our city a very strict policy on blasphemy of your life under the tutelage of a clown. As a child you cannot be
against the state. held accountable for these actions. So we must eliminate the
source of all this controversy once and for all.
Althea: Did you just say blasphemy against the state? Why surely
there can be blasphemy to only one. Exeunt

Meletos: What of the numerous others payed homage to on a Scene VI

regular basis? Those who control fate and fortune. And night and
day.
Althea: They are all one in the same. A breath, a voice a vision all
part of one singular entity who's power knows no equal.
The House of Mediocretes. Mediocretes and Isocrates.
Isocrates: What is Justice?
Mediocretes: Giving every man his due.

Anytos: This is Blasphemy for sure. A serious and punishable Isocrates: But how is such a thing met?
crime.
Mediocretes: In the city it is decided in a system of laws and
Meletos: Who taught you all these things boy? enforced by the guardians of the city.
Isocrates: But who's to say that these guardians are just.
Mediocretes: It is an unfortunate situation that though the
guardians represent justice, they them selves are not just.
Isocrates: What do you mean?
Mediocretes: Take our fair city, we have in place a new power,
begotten of wealth and influence. And it is perilous to those who
have not either to refuse to subjugate to their will.
Isocrates: It is certainly not justice they enforce.
Mediocretes: That is not necessarily true. For temperance and
wisdom flow from one source, education.
Isocrates: So, if these men are educated, then they will be just.
Mediocretes: It has been my mission to educate my fellows, such
that they will seek justice. I find much hope in the youth, for there Anytos: Do you realize that blasphemy against the state is a crime
lies an untapped source of potential.
Isocrates: But, how will it be when these men are not as educated Mediocretes: To question and instruct in a mission ordained by God
as you are.
Mediocretes: I imagine that I would need only instruct them in the
art and practice so known to me as virtue and truth, and they
educated as they are would see that justice can only be met in a
narrow margin. For each man deserves only what is afforded to
him in the eyes of Justice.
Enter Meletos and Anytos.
Mediocretes: Good Day sirs! How goes the affairs of state?
Anytos: We are ever vigilant in the preservation of autonomy.
Meletos: Besides we are wary of all vagrants and idolaters.
Mediocretes: Well certainly you will find no such thing here.
Meletos: So tell me sir. How do you know this boy, Althea?
Mediocretes: He is a pupil of mine. His wisdom far exceeds his
youth.
Anytos: We found him harassing the fine gentlemen of our city with
so called words of wisdom that he claims to have learned from you.
Mediocretes: I assure you it was nothing of the like.
Meletos: Oh really? He openly defied the god of State. It was quite
a brash and unrelenting assault on everything we hold to be true in
our city.
Mediocretes: That may be because in truth there is no God of
State. Simply God.
Meletos: I knew it! You are indeed the cause of this boys mischief.
You speak the same vile language that he does.
punishable by death?
is a crime punishable by death?
Anytos: Any words or actions whose intent is to undermine the
official position of the state, more aptly known as sedition, is a
crime.
Mediocretes: So if I inquire as to the nature of existence and the
facets of justice and mercy it is sedition?
Meletos: Perhaps we have not been clear. It is not the questioning,
but the nature of the questions. And your questions are loaded
with contempt and coercion.
Mediocretes: Is it coercive to speak the truth?
Anytos: What you speak is not truth. It is malicious sedition and
treasonous corruption.
Mediocretes: Gentlemen, I assure you, nothing I say or do is meant
maliciously.
Meletos: We cannot punish you for intention. That is not what we
mean to say. But the result of your teachings, if that is what you
call them, is the ruination of the youth of our city.
Anytos: How can a city prosper, if at every turn it is being
questioned by fools such as yourself?
Mediocretes: I am a fool in only one regard, it is that I know
nothing of the world of man. I speak simply on spiritual matters.
Anytos: We have very strict laws regarding such matters.
Mediocretes: You cannot govern spirit.
Meletos: But we can govern men, and spirit is contained in men.
Mediocretes: Spirit is not containable. It is an ethereal infinite.
Something beyond comprehension.
Meletos: So says you, but who are we to listen to what you say.
Anytos: Your crimes are of a grave nature sir.
Mediocretes: Crimes?
Anytos: Yes, crimes. You are under arrest for sedition. Most
malicious and blasphemous sedition.
Meletos: Not only that but corrupting the youth as well.
Mediocretes: If the truth is a crime then for sure I am guilty.
Anytos: You are to come with us immediately.
They bind his hands and begin to escort him off.
Mediocretes: Isocrates, tell all the men of the city who know of my
virtue to prepare to speak on my behalf.
Isocrates: I will do all that I can to help you sir.
Exeunt.
Scene VII
The Parthenon. Meletos, Anytos and Lycon.
Lycon: What are his crimes?
Meletos: He has openly defied the god of the State and corrupted a
youth into performing the same actions.
Anytos: We have in custody a boy who dared speak blasphemy in
the agora.
Lycon: And what do you seek in the matter?
Meletos: More than likely a life's imprisonment.
Anytos: The man is seventy years old. He should soon be dead if
imprisoned.
Meletos: Should we then seek death?
Anytos: It is the only penalty we have that will quell any uprising.
Lycon: But are his crimes of a grave enough nature?
Anytos: They are unique in subject no doubt, but his history and
histrionics should be enough to woo any audience to the
consensus that death is the only option.
Lycon: If it must be. Then upon finding him guilty, we will
recommend the punishment be death. Though he has the
opportunity to present an alternative to the state's proposal.
Anytos: We must be firm in our position on religion. No gods
outside that which approved by the State. His open defiance must
be reprobated.
Meletos: And, by his teachings, the youth of our city has been
corrupted into speaking lies and defying the State.
Lycon: Then let us move forward with your suit. For the charges
listed are grave, and there must be reprobation for the corruption
and blasphemy you so charge him with.
Exeunt.
The Court House. Lycon sits perched high above the stage.
Lycon: Gentlemen of Athens, the man who stands before you is
accused of seditious attacks against the state and corrupting the
youth. 501 have been selected as jury for the trial. There are two
accusers, one Meletos representative of the poets and scholars
charges him of the usage of fallacious and false arguments in a
purposeful corruption of the youth. The other Anytos
representative of the clergy and the state charges him with
sedition and blasphemy against state mandated religious practice.
We will hear Meletos speak followed by a rebuttal then Anytos and
another rebuttal and Finally Mediocretes the accused will plead his
case followed by any others he wishes to speak on his behalf and
rebuttals by his accusers. We will then vote. If found guilty the
state will recommend a punishment along with the defendant and
there will be another vote deciding between the punishments. All
who are present here must speak their vote or else it will be
assumed that you are in support of the state in the matter being
decided.

Scene II
The Court House. Meletos and Mediocretes

Meletos: My father was associated with some of Athens most

influential thinkers, Protagoras, Gorgias, Prodicus and Hippias. I
have been instructed properly and can speak eloquently on any
subject. Contrarily there is a boy by the name of Althea. He has
spent his life studying under Mediocretes. A name most commonly
associated with the foolish buffoon portrayed in many comedies.
How one would think that he who by most scholarly standards is
held in such disregard could engender anything but filth and
corruption is beyond me. But let us forget for a moment all that we
know about him, for sure there are others who tell a different story.
The boy openly and blatantly defied the gods, and in doing so
claimed to have learned from Mediocretes. This claim is just one of
the many that paint a shocking picture of a boy whose mind has
been warped. Further more, and I'm sure it wouldn't be difficult to
illicit this selfsame information from either of them, they talk of the
Act II gods as if they were themselves atheists. They reproach every
The Apology of Mediocretes. structure of the religious practice we hold dear to us and worship
false spirits who they claim to be God in the singular. And as we all
Scene I know there are many gods and many sons of gods all of whom play
a vital role in our society. It would be perilous to consider pity for not, to claim certainty on any matter. Therefore to assume yourself
this man, for every word he speaks is barbed with a clever jab wise is by virtue of the nature of the argument an act of ignorance.
meant to undermine those who he is talking to. He will never give For no man can claim the title of wisdom. So then if these men are
you a straight answer, and has by witness used false arguments to ignorant in their wisdom they cannot possibly teach the youth
engage the minds of the youth. There is not only Althea but properly.
countless who have been tainted by this idolater. Were he alone in
his actions, one would be tempted to write him off as a crazy old Meletos: You talk in circles old man, get to the point.
man who more than likely is experiencing some form of dementia
that causes him to speak in such an absurd manner. But he is Mediocretes: The point is do you not think it is right that we should
persistent in his attempt to educate others. I have seen first hand make the youth of our city better.
the result of this education on the face of a boy who has lost the
opportunity afforded so many others and who speaks in a manner
Meletos: Yes, it is.
that is tainted and contemptuous. That above all else is why I think
this man is guilty of a heinous crime. His occult practices and
dubious speech should be grounds enough, but that he has Mediocretes: Then tell these gentlemen, who is it that makes
poisoned others into believing what he speaks is truth and caused them better? You have found the one that corrupts them as you
them to speak out inappropriately is what I feel deserves say, and you bring me before the court here to accuse me. Say
reprimand, and is why I have brought suit before you. then who it is that makes them better.

Mediocretes: Allow me sir to ask you a few questions. For as I see it Meletos is silent.
there are a few holes in your accusation.
Mediocretes: Come say my good man who makes them better?
Meletos: Already trying to undermine. But proceed, as it is your
right. Meletos: The laws.

Mediocretes: You mentioned, in your suit, a list of credentials. Your
educational pedigree as it were. I too am familiar with the work of
these men, and can say for certain they are wise. It has been said
though that I am wiser than all. I have pondered long hours over
what that could mean. I asked many of these same men what
wisdom means to them. They had a self assured assumption that
what they knew and spoke contained some archaic underlaying
that ordained their speech as some what elevated above the rest.
For certainly they were wise. On the contrary, I know nothing of
the matters they speak of and cannot ascertain or quantify what it
means to be wise. I instead question others. Upon further
questioning of these gentlemen, I found a certain circularity in
their arguments. Essentially anything they said was wise because
one of the premises or assumptions in any of their arguments was
the fact that they themselves are wise. It is certainly not the case
that every word a man speaks is wise, for it is somewhat
presumptuous in the face of an ethereal infinite of which we know
Mediocretes: That's not what I ask, dear sir. What man makes them
better?
Meletos: This jury, sir.
Mediocretes: What do you mean? The gentlemen of the jury here
are able to educate the young and make them better?
Meletos: Yes indeed.
Mediocretes: All of them or only some?
Meletos: All of them.
Mediocretes: Excellently said! Quite an abundance of benefactors.
Well, what of the people here listening to us, do they make the
young better, or not?

Meletos: Yes they do too.
Mediocretes: What about the Council men?
Meletos: The council men too.
Mediocretes: Oh indeed, Meletos, is it possible that the plebeians not?
corrupt the younger generation? Or do they also make them
better, all of them?
Meletos: They do.
Mediocretes: Then the whole nation of the Athenians, it seems,
makes them fine gentlemen, except me. I alone corrupt them. Is
that it?
Meletos: Yes that is exactly it!
Mediocretes: What bad luck for me! You charge me with bad luck.
Answer me this: are horses in the same case, do you think? All the
men in the world make them better save one. Isn't the truth just
the opposite? There are a few who can make them better, namely
horse trainers who specialize in raising and breeding horses, but
most others are more likely to either abuse or spoil the horse. And
isn't that the case with most every other animal. Every other
animal except for our young who by your own admission are
bettered by all excepting myself. That really is either quite
fortunate for them or rather an absurd proposition that holds no
merit in an argument.
Meletos: Are you done yet?
Mediocretes: Not yet! First you must answer this question. Is it
better to live among good citizens or bad ones? Answer me, for it
is not a very difficult question. Is it not clear that bad people do
bad things to those around them?
Meletos: Certainly.
Mediocretes: Then is there anyone who wants to be damaged by
his associates, rather than be helped? Answer my good man. The
law commands you answer. Is there anyone who wants to be
damaged?
Meletos: No certainly.
Mediocretes: Very well. You bring me here as one who corrupts the
youth and makes them worse. Do you say that I mean to do it, or
Meletos: You mean to do it. That is what I said.
Mediocretes: Oh my dear boy. So young and so wise. You know that
bad men harm those nearest to them and that good men do good.
Yet in my case it seems that I am completely ignorant of the fact
that if I teach one of my associates to be bad, then certainly I risk
having something bad happen to me in return from him. Yet I am
intentionally teaching a student to do wrong. No sane man would
believe that. Either I do not corrupt, or if I do, I corrupt without
meaning to do it. So you are speaking falsely on both counts.
Meletos: All you have managed to prove is that you are a vicious
arguer who undermines the smallest minutia of an argument and
by your so called logic you attempted to make me look like a fool.
You are clever sir, but you are still a controversial and your guilt in
the matter has yet to be decided.
Mediocretes: If I have proven you wrong, how can there be any
doubt as to my innocence in the matter?
Meletos: The jury will decide that.
He returns to his seat.
Scene III
The Court House. Anytos and Mediocretes.
Anytos: Might I first begin by making example of Meletos' point.
Look at the manner in which this so called wise man educated my
dear colleague. He used a vile doublespeak that focused on how
he spoke as opposed to why. He was abusive and coercive in
proving him to admit his wrong.
Mediocretes: He is still wrong, and as I will show them so are you. them is that what you say?

Lycon (From his perch): Gentlemen, settle down. Anytos: I do. No mistake about it.

Anytos: See how agitated he gets? Mediocretes: Do you mean to say I teach them to believe in God
and that I do not believe in the gods which the state believes in,
Mediocretes: Provocation after provocation, and you expect me not but some other, and this is what you accuse me of, that I believe in
to respond. another different god, do you say that I disbelieve in gods all
together?
Lycon: Really sir, you must wait your turn. The accuser has yet to
give a formal address. You will have a chance to rebut Anytos: You do not believe in the gods and their sons, that is what I
momentarily. mean to say.

Anytos: Formally I am charging the man with blasphemy. He has Mediocretes: Oh you amazing creature, Anytos! What makes you
made it some what of a mission in his educational career to instill say that? As you may say then, I don't believe in the god of the sun
in others a view on the gods that borders on atheism. Rather than or the moon?
accept all the gods and sons of gods, he is insistent on the fact
that there is only one god. And by virtue of the nature of this mans Anytos: No, by Zeus, he believes the sun is a rock and the moon
wisdom he is some how able to channel and speak for and about made of earth gentlemen.
spiritual matters. Here in Athens, we maintain a strict policy. Only
privileged men who have been ordained by the state are in contact Mediocretes: What you must think of me? Do you mean to say that
with the gods. And in order to pay homage to all the gods and sons I don't believe in any god?
of gods, there are standard rituals that we as an enlightened
society practice. He insists though that our view is wrong and that Anytos: No you do not.
there is only one god. It would seem to me that if there was only
one that you'd just as soon have no god at all. So his speech Mediocretes: Well, Anytos, no one can believe you, and to my
borders on atheism. We are content with the blessings of the gods mind, in this matter you don't believe your own words. What I think
and the heroic sacrifices of the sons of gods. Why on earth would gentlemen, is that this man seems to be an impudent bully, and he
anyone believe him when we are so set in our ways. Sir you would has made this this indictment in reckless violence. He has made a
do better to reform to standard practice. Perhaps you are wise and riddle to test me: will Mediocretes the so called wise guess that I
that allows some strength in speech, but your view is misguided am jesting and contradict myself? Or shall I deceive him and the
and you are rather contemptuous in your beliefs. I'm sure that as others who hear it? For he seems to be confused in his indictment,
soon as you begin to speak your rebuttal you will certainly prove which may be formally stated as “Mediocretes is a criminal for not
my point that you are blasphemer and that you are more like an believing in gods but believing in God”. Truly this is a game he is
atheist than a normal citizen who accepts the spiritual practice playing. Now sir allow me to play a game with you in response. It is
ordained to us by the gods and their sons. not very hard, just answer the questions. Is there any man who
believes in human things, but not in human beings? Is there
Mediocretes: Allow me to refer back to the teachings. It is admitted anyone who does not believe in horses but in horsey things? Or
that I did not intentionally corrupt people. It is true that I have does not one believe in pipers, but believes in the things pipers
passed on a certain knowledge. A knowledge of spiritual matters do? No, there is not my good friend. I will answer those for you. But
that I have obtained from God. It is therefore clear that I believe in answer this then, Is there anyone who believes in spiritual things
God and teach of the spirit. And it is this teaching that corrupts but not in Spirit?
 they were quite persuasive. Yet as for truth, not a word of it was
Anytos: No there is not. truth. Perhaps most astonishing is the claim that I am a very clever
speaker and that you aught not be fooled by me. I will prove them
Mediocretes: Now then, you say I believe in spiritual things and wrong in that I don't speak cleverly, don't use ideas decked out in
teach them, therefore I believe in them according to your own fine words and fancy phrases; not covered with ornaments. What I
words, indeed you even swore to it on the indictment. But if I do speak is truth, and I believe there is justice as well. Though if
believe in spiritual things, surely it is right that I believe in Spirit. Is my speech seemed course it is because I am ignorant of the
that not right? I will take your silence as agreement. These spirits workings of the court system, so please forgive me as I can only
then are either Gods or sons of gods? Yes or No? speak the the truth without the all the fancy and proper terms. Any
other man who were in my shoes would perhaps offer a
Anytos: Certainly. sentimental story about his family, with the attempt to woo the
sympathy of the jury. Not I. I will have no one else speak at my
Mediocretes: I believe in spirits then, as you say; then if spirits are defense. I can face death with confidence and as a matter of
some kind of gods they serve a utilitarian function and a son of reputation must maintain a steadfast grip. Apart from reputation
god, it is a bastard of a nymph or whatnot as they are said to be. gentlemen it does not seem right that I should entreat the judge
Who would believe in a son of God if they believed in God? Does and jury for acquittal. The judge does not grant justice as a favor
not one believe in horses or asses as the same as the sons of rather he must be temperate in his decision and constantly
horses or asses. You must be pulling our legs in making this reflective of the law. And gentlemen I contend that I have broken
indictment; perhaps you did not know a true crime to put in; but no law in the eyes of God and can say that any charge of impiety
for you to persuade any man with even a grain of sense that that or corruption is false. And I trust you, and God himself, to decide
same man can believe in divine things and spiritual things and not what is best for me and for you.
in God. That is absolutely impossible.
He exits.
Anytos: This is indeed blasphemy in some sense. We shall see
what the jury decides, Scene V
The Court House. Lycon, Isocrates and Mediocretes.
Mediocretes: The jury will clearly see that believing in spiritual
things means believing in God and if I do, then I cannot be the Lycon: Gentlemen it would be our custom to allow others to speak
things you say I am. on the accused's behalf and then allow the prosecution an
opportunity the question them, but the accused has requested no
Lycon: We will take a moment as Mediocretes prepares his defense.one else speak on his behalf. We will now vote on the matter. All of
If there are any of those in support of the defendant be prepared to those who find the accused innocent please say aye.
speak before voting.
There is a long silence as the votes are tabulated.
Mediocretes: That won't be necessary, as it has been made
abundantly clear that my accusers know nothing at all. Lycon: Would the defendant please rise. Sir, by the vote of two
hundred and twenty to two hundred and eighty nine you have
Scene IV been found guilty on both charges. You will be allowed to address
The Court House. Mediocretes. the jury once more in order to suggest what you feel your sentence
should be. Officially the state proposes death as the punishment
Mediocretes: How you felt, gentlemen of Athens, when you heard for this crime.
my accusers, I do not know; but I- well, I nearly forgot who I was,
He returns to his chair perched above the stage leaving will of God to do such a thing. Therefore I mustn't keep quiet. I
Mediocretes alone on stage. must continue to question and instruct and I believe there will
always be those who listen to and support me. If I had money, I
Mediocretes: You have voted for my condemnation, gentlemen of would propose to pay all I was bound to pay. Perhaps I could offer
Athens. I cannot and will not resent you for it, for there were many a mina of silver, or with the help of my colleagues raise a
things that attributed to it. I am quite surprised by the number of reasonable sum, say thirty minas.
votes, as I had expected it to be a land slide in either direction.
Though it seems that if only thirty people had voted in my favor, I Isocrates stands from his position amongst the audience.
would have been acquitted. But that is not the case. Well, the man
asks that the penalty be death. Good; and what penalty should I Isocrates: If it would please the jury, myself and others would raise
propose against this, gentlemen? The proper penalty is clear, a sum of nearly five hundred Drachma. Anything such that this
surely. But what? What is it that I should suffer for neglecting the innocent man needn't die.
things that most people care about, moneymaking and all the
posts and plots and parties which arise in the city. I believe that I Lycon: Accordingly then the sentencing will be either the state
am too honest to go after such things and survive. I instead went proposed penalty, death by lethal ingestion, or if I understand the
for what it is that I thought would be of use to both you and I. I accused correctly, a fine of five hundred Drachma. Would all who
have sought to instruct each and every man to care for himself support the defendants proposed punishment please say aye.
above all else, so that he would be good and wise before he dealt
with the matters so dear to the state herself. What do I deserve for There is another long silence.
such things? Something good if I were to estimate in truth, it would
be suitable for me. What would be suitable for a poor benefactor, Lycon: Silence can only mean one thing. Would the defendant
who craves to have leisure for your encouragement? Nothing, please rise? Sir though there was a much smaller margin in
gentlemen, is so suitable as that such a man should boarded for determining your guilt, it seems as though the same cannot be
free at the town hall. For this man makes you happy such that you said for sentencing. Therefore I, Lycon, as an arbiter of justice do
are not in want of food, but I am, since my work has no financial hereby sentence Mediocretes to death by lethal ingestion for the
retainer. If I must estimate a penalty that is just, it would be free crimes of corruption and blasphemy. He will be allowed one final
board at the town hall. Perhaps you think in saying this, much like address.
my lack of appeal for pity, I am merely showing off. This is not so
gentlemen. I am convinced that I never wronged anyone, but I
cannot convince you of that as we have only conversed this short Scene VI
while. Were our statutes such that a trial of life or death be spread The Court House. Mediocretes.
over many days, I am sure I could convince you of it. So, since it is
the case that I have not harmed anyone, it would surely make Mediocretes: It is a shame this could not have waited a few years.
sense that I would propose nothing to harm myself. I will not give For now instead of nature claiming my life, as she does so many,
sentence against myself and say that I am worthy of something you here have condemned me to death. The blame for my passing
bad. Why should I? For fear of suffering the states proposed will now no longer be natural but placed squarely on your
penalty? Should I then propose things I know to be bad? Prison? A shoulders. For as I predict there will be countless numbers of
fine? I have no money to pay, so perhaps banishment? It would put subsequent generations who speak nothing but good things about
an end to the abusive things you accuse me of. But as I am me. For those of you who voted for my acquittal let me assure you
seventy years old that would not be practical. Perhaps you may that as I proceed towards death, every action leading to it has
ask if I could merely isolate myself and lead a quiet life? This would been reflected upon in direct spiritual communion with God, and as
be the hardest thing to answer, for I feel it would be against the I have had no distinct objection from my greater moral sense,
which is usually activated in the face of a choice where bad might
beget good, then all of my actions and the consequences are just
and perhaps fated. Is it then God's will that I die at your hands? But
let us consider the possibilities granted us by death. Either we
sleep a sleep so deep that no dream shakes us or we are
awakened to some spiritual afterlife in which our good deeds are
blessed and our bad ones condemned. Neither of those sounds
particularly bad, for it is the deepest sleep which gives us the most
rest, or in the other case I feel that if God has plans for me after
my natural life then surely I am blessed to receive them. But
members of the jury, you can know this, no truly bad thing
happens to a good man. So my death is not a punishment. But it
was the intent of those who brought suit to punish me. And that I
think deserves blame in them. If I could ask one thing of you, it
would be to treat my children as I have treated you. If you do that,
then perhaps true justice can be met between you and I. Now
though it is time to go, I to die, and you to live; but which of us
goes to a better thing is unknown to all but God.