Socrates^ Schleiermacher, and Delbrueck. 577 Yet it does not appear why the general assertion that he had ascertained the oracle to be true, would have been less gratify- ing to selfcomplacency than the particular illustrations of it : especially as the order in which they follow one another (states- man, poetSj artisans) exhibits the successive triumphs in a de- creasing series. But to an ordinary reader who is tolerably familiar with the part which Socrates takes in Plato's dialogues, these illustrations will probably appear so characteristic, that they at least shew the learning and judgement of the imitator. After this we are less surprised to find Mr Ast objecting, that Socrates is made to lay claim to wisdom for himself, and ironi- cally to depreciate that of the Sophists (unfortunately I have not an edition which enables me to verify Mr Ast's references, but see p. 20.) to assert that he is a benefactor to the state, and on that account envied and calumniated. Here it is impos- sible, or useless, to refute : we can only express astonishment at the obliquity of the organs which could distort all this into the language of affectation and self-conceit, and must recom- mend every one to read and judge for himself. But it is still more extraordinary to find Mr Ast grounding another argument on the frequent requests which the speaker makes for a patient hearing. The necessity for such requests indicates indeed the vicious constitution of the Athenian courts of justice. But we know that it frequently occurred, and can very easily conceive how it might arise more frequently than usual in a case so sin- gular as that of Socrates. In fact Mr Ast himself remarks that these petitions for silence were grounded on the fact, which is mentioned in the Apology ascribed to Xenophon, that Socrates was often interrupted by impatient murmurs. Yet to deprecate such interruption is a mark of unmanly timidity, by which the rhetorician has betrayed his own incapacity for comprehending that noble intrepidity which he designed to represent. He has contrived to make Socrates at once a covert braggart, and an avowed coward. He does but poorly dissemble his timidity, when he affects to dissuade the people for their own sake, from putting him to death (p. 31. A). Who, says Mr Ast, does not see the rhetorical turn of this passage ? The prayer for mercy disguised in the shape of disinterested advice. The question might perhaps be truly answered, if we should say : Nobody
