Page:The trial and death of Socrates (1895).pdf/105

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EUTHYPHRON
9

to indict you in my place, then I could repeat my challenge in court.

Euth. Yes, by Zeus, Socrates, I think I should find out his weak points, if he were to try to indict me. I should have a good deal to say about him in court long before I spoke about myself.

Socr. Yes, my dear friend, and knowing this, I am anxious to become your pupil. I see that Meletus here, and others too, seem not to notice you at all; but he sees through me without difficulty and at once, and prosecutes me for impiety forthwith. Now, therefore, please explain to me what you were so confident just now that you knew. Tell me what are piety impiety with reference to murder and everything else. I suppose that holiness is the same in all actions; and that unholiness is always the opposite of holiness, and like itself, and that, as unholiness,[1] it always has the same essential nature, which will be found in whatever is unholy.

Euth. Certainly, Socrates, I suppose so.

VI. Socr. Tell me, then, what is holiness, and what is unholiness?

Euth. Well, then, I say that holiness meansp rosecuting the wrong doer who has committed

murder or sacrilege, or any other such crime, as I am doing now, whether he be your father or your mother or whoever he be; and I say that unholiness means not prosecuting him. And observe, Socrates, I will give you a clear
  1. Reading ἀνοσιότητα.