EUTHYPHRO: Then some one else has been pros-corrupting his young friends. And of this our ecuting you?
mother the state is to be the judge. Of all our SOCRATES: Yes.
political men he is the only one who seems to EUTHYPHRO: And who is he?
me to begin in the right way, with the cultiva-SOCRATES: A young man who is little known, tion of virtue in youth; like a good husbandman, Euthyphro; and I hardly know him: his name is he makes the young shoots his first care, and Meletus, and he is of the deme of Pitthis. Per-clears away us who are the destroyers of them.
haps you may remember his appearance; he has This is only the first step; he will afterwards at-a beak, and long straight hair, and a beard which tend to the elder branches; and if he goes on as is ill grown.
he has begun, he will be a very great public bene-EUTHYPHRO: No, I do not remember him, factor.
Socrates. But what is the charge which he brings EUTHYPHRO: I hope that he may; but I rather against you?
fear, Socrates, that the opposite will turn out to SOCRATES: What is the charge? Well, a very se-be the truth. My opinion is that in attacking you rious charge, which shows a good deal of char-he is simply aiming a blow at the foundation of acter in the young man, and for which he is cer-the state. But in what way does he say that you tainly not to be despised. He says he knows how corrupt the young?
the youth are corrupted and who are their cor-SOCRATES: He brings a wonderful accusation ruptors. I fancy that he must be a wise man, and against me, which at first hearing excites sur-seeing that I am the reverse of a wise man, he prise: he says that I am a poet or maker of gods, has found me out, and is going to accuse me of and that I invent new gods and deny the exist-11
Euthyphro
ence of old ones; this is the ground of his indict-EUTHYPHRO: I am never likely to try their tem-ment.
per in this way.
EUTHYPHRO: I understand, Socrates; he means SOCRATES: I dare say not, for you are reserved to attack you about the familiar sign which oc-in your behaviour, and seldom impart your wis-casionally, as you say, comes to you. He thinks dom. But I have a benevolent habit of pouring that you are a neologian, and he is going to have out myself to everybody, and would even pay for you up before the court for this. He knows that a listener, and I am afraid that the Athenians such a charge is readily received by the world, may think me too talkative. Now if, as I was say-as I myself know too well; for when I speak in ing, they would only laugh at me, as you say the assembly about divine things, and foretell that they laugh at you, the time might pass gaily the future to them, they laugh at me and think enough in the court; but perhaps they may be in me a madman. Yet every word that I say is true.
earnest, and then what the end will be you sooth-But they are jealous of us all; and we must be sayers only can predict.
brave and go at them.
EUTHYPHRO: I dare say that the affair will end SOCRATES: Their laughter, friend Euthyphro, is in nothing, Socrates, and that you will win your not a matter of much consequence. For a man cause; and I think that I shall win my own.
may be thought wise; but the Athenians, I sus-SOCRATES: And what is your suit, Euthyphro?
pect, do not much trouble themselves about him are you the pursuer or the defendant?
until he begins to impart his wisdom to others, EUTHYPHRO: I am the pursuer.
and then for some reason or other, perhaps, as SOCRATES: Of whom?
you say, from jealousy, they are angry.
EUTHYPHRO: You will think me mad when I tell you.