THE TRUE POLITICIAN 375
if I do not know that in the Athenian State any man may suffer anything. And if I am brought to trial and incur the dangers of which you speak, he will be a villain who brings me to trial — of that I am very sure, for no good man would accuse the innocent. Nor shall I be surprised if I am put to death. Shall I tell you why I anticipate this ?
Callicles. By all means.
Socrates. I think that I am the only, or almost the only, Athenian living who practices the true art of politics ; I am the only politician of my time. Now, seeing that when I speak, my words are not uttered with any view of gaining favor, and that I look to what is best and not to what is most pleasant, having no mind to use those arts and graces which you re- commend, I shall have nothing to say in the justice court. And you might argue with me, as I was argu- ing with Polus ; I shall be tried just as a physician would be tried in a court of little boys at the indict- ment of the cook. Vhat would he reply under such circumstances, if some one were to accuse him, say- ing, " Ο my boys, many evil things has this man done to you : he is the death of you, especially of the younger ones among you, cutting, and burning, and starving, and suffocating you, until you know not what to do ; he gives you the bitterest potions, and compels you to hunger and thirst. How unlike the variety of meats and sweets on which I feasted you ! " What do you suppose that the physician would be able to reply when he found himself in such a pre- dicament ? If he told the truth he could only say, " All these evil things, my boys, I did for your health." And then would there not just be a clamor among a jury like that ? How they would cry out !
