8 Unit 17: Memorabilia I.2.8-9

In this passage, Xenophon continues to defend Socrates by debunking the third charge his accusers raised. He talks, in particular, about the beneficial effect Socrates’ teaching had on his students.

 

Σωκράτης δὲ ἐπηγγείλατο οὐδενί ποτε τοιοῦτον οὐδέν. ἀλλὰ ἐνόμιζε τοὺς ἑαυτοῦ ἑταίρους τοὺς ἀποδεξαμένους ταῦτα ἑαυτῷ τε καὶ ἀλλήλοις φίλους ἀγαθοὺς ἔσεσθαι. πῶς ἂν οὖν ὁ τοιοῦτος ἀνὴρ διαφθείροι τοὺς νέους; εἰ μὴ ἡ τῆς ἀρετῆς ἐπιμέλεια διαφθορά ἐστιν.

ἐπι + αγγέλλω: to proclaim; (middle) promise
διαφθείρω: to corrupt
εἰ οὐ/μή = unless
ἐπιμέλεια, -ας (ἡ): concern for (+ gen.)
διαφθορά, -ᾶς (ἡ): corruption

 

“ἀλλὰ νὴ Δία,” ὁ κατήγορος ἔφη, “τοὺτους ἐποίει ὑπερορᾶν τοὺς καθεστώτας νόμους, λέγων ὡς ἄφρον εἴη τοὺς μὲν τῆς πόλεως ἄρχοντας ἀπὸ κυάμου καθιστάναι, οὐδεὶς δὲ ἐθέλοι τούτῳ τῷ τρόπῳ ἑλέσθαι δημιουργὸν οὐδ᾽ αὐλητὴν οὐδ᾽ ἄλλους τοιούτους, οἳ ἁμαρτίᾱς ἀκινδυνοτέρας ποιοῦσιν τῶν περὶ τὴν πόλιν ἁμαρτανομένων. τοῖς δὲ τοιούτοις λόγοις ἐπείθεν,” ἔφη, “τοὺς νέους ὑπερορᾶν τὴν καθεστῶσαν πολιτείαν καὶ ἐποίει βιαιοτέρους.”

κατήγορος, -ου (ὁ): accuser
ὑπεροράω: to look down on, despise
ἀπὸ κυάμου = “by lot”
αὐλητής, -οῦ (ὁ): a flute-player
ἀκίνδῡνος, -ον: free from danger[But what degree is this form?]
βίαιος, -α, -ον: violent [But what degree is this form?]

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