Malfeasance Mismanaged

Malfeasance Mismanaged Based on Plato's Apology By Mickey Gray Dramatis Personae Mediocretes, a philosopher Althea, his pupil Isocrates, a rhetorician Anytos, a senator Meletos, a young man of Athens Lycon, a Judge Athens, Greece. Act I The Arrest of Mediocretes.

Althea: Why sir, I intend to tell the truth. Anytos: What do you mean “tell the truth.” Who's truth, yours? Mediocretes: It's mine, it's yours, it's everybody's. Meletos: I want to know the truth about you. Mediocretes: We hide nothing from you. Anytos: There have been complaints about you. Mediocretes: All we seek is truth. A man of the state such as yourself should know there are no wrongs in that. Meletos: Still, this makes me uneasy.

Scene I The Agora. Althea and Mediocretes.

Althea: I make you uneasy? I make you nervous? Why?

Althea: What does forgiveness mean to you?

Anytos: It is not right.

Mediocretes: Letting go of resentment.

Mediocretes: What isn't? We have done nothing. I have neither said nor done anything wrong.

Althea: Is there anything unforgivable?

Meletos and Anytos look at Althea.

Mediocretes: I suppose if you killed me, it would be unforgivable because I'd be dead, ergo not capable of forgiveness.

Anytos: Could you excuse us?

Althea: Everything else is?

Mediocretes: Why certainly.

Mediocretes: Everything.

Mediocretes walks just out of ear shot of Althea, Meletos and Anytos. There is a silence as the two question Althea.

Althea walks center stage a pool of light surrounds him.

Althea walks out of the conversation with Meletos and Anytos Althea: I want to tell you the truth. I want to turn a light on the soul stops before Mediocretes and shakes his hand. and make manifest that which is virtuous and right in the eyes of Meletos and Anytos turn and face Mediocretes God. Meletos and Anytos enter. Meletos: What's the meaning of this?

Anytos: We need to discuss further. Why don't you try to get some sleep?

They walk off together. Althea re-enters. Althea: What does mercy mean to you?

Anytos: But what of his instructor? Has he not corrupted the boy? Meletos: Is that grounds enough for arrest?

Anytos: We should err on the side of caution and assume it to be Mediocretes: Mercy implies a balance between justice and grace. It so. is the allowance of error and then immediate forgiveness for all transgressions. Exeunt Althea: How is one merciful? Mediocretes: One is most merciful when he appreciates his own humanity. For if ever there was someone to make a mistake. Althea: We all make mistakes. We all do and say things we shouldn't have. Exeunt. Scene II The Parthenon. Meletos and Anytos Meletos: The State must be preserved. Anytos: Obviously. Without order comes chaos. Meletos: Deviance and derision cannot go unchecked. Anytos: If we let the plebeians exercise authority then what becomes of ours? Meletos: A mere mock-up of ministry, no doubt. What makes a good leader? Anytos: Legitimate control exercised judiciously and exactly.

Scene III The Agora. Mediocretes. Mediocretes: An act of malfeasance is never committed intentionally. No man thinks of himself as evil. No ruler enforces a wrong policy. Certainly there are dire consequences to the massive errors in judgment. But more often than not a decision is made and enforced, the consequences are left to be determined and history to be made. Meletos and Anytos enter Meletos: We need to speak to you. Mediocretes: Have I done wrong? Meletos: Not yet. Anytos: What do you do for a living sir? Mediocretes: I ask questions. Anytos: Do you earn a keep asking these questions? Mediocretes: Not but that is given to me.

Meletos: This boy troubles me.

Meletos: We've talked to your disciple, if thats what you call him. His mind has been warped and maligned by your errant reasoning.

Anytos: I agree. He assumes too much.

Mediocretes: I have instructed him in nothing but the truth.

Meletos: Bear in mind he hasn't broken any laws.

Meletos: We know all about you. We've seen the stories of your

famous rhetoric. You are a fool who holds himself in highest regard. made the stronger? Mediocretes: I don't hold myself in any regards. Anytos: Then why is there so much talk of your being the wisest man on earth? Mediocretes: I have said not a word of that. Only the Oracle. Meletos: What is smeared across the headlines is not always true. Anytos: And why would they say such a thing. Certainly you must have done something? Mediocretes: I've asked questions and searched for truth.

Isocrates: Rhetorically speaking a fallacious argument is used to strengthen a weak argument. The flaws are covered by either emotive doublespeak or belligerent threats against those who would attempt to counter the argument. Mediocretes: But, in the face of the truth, none of these fallacious assaults could possibly hold merit. Isocrates: That I suppose is up to the arguer himself. Althea enters. Althea: What engenders the mind of the master today?

Meletos: And in doing this so called search for the truth, you have Mediocretes: The power held by a fallacious argument. corrupted the minds of the innocent. Althea: But no argument would outweigh the truth. Mediocretes: The boy only does as I have instructed him. He speaks the truth, and uncovers mysteries ethereal and ephemeral. Mediocretes: But who's truth? What truth do you speak of when you yourself are not so esteemed as to say some other expert in Anytos: Well bear in mind if he does or says anything controversial the truth. Besides that your youth desires something of or contemptible you will be held accountable. experience, you are naïve to believe this truth of yours. Exeunt Scene IV The House of Isocrates. Mediocretes and Isocrates. Mediocretes: What is a fallacy? Isocrates: An errant way of thinking. Mediocretes: How does one detect such things?

Althea: I cannot advance causal proof for truth without some how transgressing conflict for either the character or nature of it? Mediocretes: Not only that but your truth can be made false. And you could be condemned for it. Althea: But who would do such a thing? Mediocretes: Everyone, were they not instructed to seek truth like yourself.

Isocrates: Words and thoughts, like all other human functions Althea: Well certainly then I should make it a mission to expose the follow certain rhythms, display certain traits, and ultimately repeat truth that you have so graciously bestowed upon me. the same mistakes. A fallacy then is an oft repeated error in the logic and reasoning of discourse. Exeunt Mediocretes: Is it possible that a fallacious argument could be

Althea: The wisest and noblest in our city. Mediocretes. Scene V The Agora. Althea addresses the audience. Althea: My master has instructed me to seek truth. I peel away layers of ambiguity to show a bare essence. At the core of this is the concept of monotheism or simply put one God. There is no god of the State, god of the Earth, no man, woman or son of God. Simply God. Why I tell you this is because if there is only one God, then there should be one universal set of ethics. God does not want you focus on your wealth for it does not bring goodness, but goodness brings wealth and every other blessing, both to the individual and to the state. So it is by looking into ourselves and expressing what is good that we will find happiness and personal wealth. Enter Anytos and Meletos

Anytos: Just as we suspected. Meletos: How old are you? Althea: Seventeen. Anytos: Not even a man and he is rebelling against all that is proper for a boy his age. Meletos: You defy the god of State do you not? Althea: Only in saying that he cannot be contained simply by the word state. Meletos: All the same that is not appropriate discourse for someone your age. That Mediocretes must be stopped. To have a child speak so brashly it boggles my mind.

Meletos: Did you say something about no God of the State?

Anytos: We are taking you to the court house, where by the words you have said will be writ into a warrant for the arrest of Mediocretes who in truth is blaspheming against the state and corrupting the youth. I pity you having lost such a formidable part Anytos: We have here in our city a very strict policy on blasphemy of your life under the tutelage of a clown. As a child you cannot be against the state. held accountable for these actions. So we must eliminate the source of all this controversy once and for all. Althea: Did you just say blasphemy against the state? Why surely there can be blasphemy to only one. Exeunt Althea: Well certainly he is of the state, but he is also of the land, the sea and the sky.

Meletos: What of the numerous others payed homage to on a regular basis? Those who control fate and fortune. And night and day. Althea: They are all one in the same. A breath, a voice a vision all part of one singular entity who's power knows no equal.

Scene VI The House of Mediocretes. Mediocretes and Isocrates. Isocrates: What is Justice? Mediocretes: Giving every man his due.

Anytos: This is Blasphemy for sure. A serious and punishable crime.

Isocrates: But how is such a thing met?

Meletos: Who taught you all these things boy?

Mediocretes: In the city it is decided in a system of laws and enforced by the guardians of the city.

Isocrates: But who's to say that these guardians are just. Mediocretes: It is an unfortunate situation that though the guardians represent justice, they them selves are not just. Isocrates: What do you mean? Mediocretes: Take our fair city, we have in place a new power, begotten of wealth and influence. And it is perilous to those who have not either to refuse to subjugate to their will.

Mediocretes: He is a pupil of mine. His wisdom far exceeds his youth. Anytos: We found him harassing the fine gentlemen of our city with so called words of wisdom that he claims to have learned from you. Mediocretes: I assure you it was nothing of the like.

Isocrates: It is certainly not justice they enforce.

Meletos: Oh really? He openly defied the god of State. It was quite a brash and unrelenting assault on everything we hold to be true in our city.

Mediocretes: That is not necessarily true. For temperance and wisdom flow from one source, education.

Mediocretes: That may be because in truth there is no God of State. Simply God.

Isocrates: So, if these men are educated, then they will be just.

Meletos: I knew it! You are indeed the cause of this boys mischief. You speak the same vile language that he does.

Mediocretes: It has been my mission to educate my fellows, such that they will seek justice. I find much hope in the youth, for there Anytos: Do you realize that blasphemy against the state is a crime lies an untapped source of potential. punishable by death? Isocrates: But, how will it be when these men are not as educated Mediocretes: To question and instruct in a mission ordained by God as you are. is a crime punishable by death? Mediocretes: I imagine that I would need only instruct them in the art and practice so known to me as virtue and truth, and they educated as they are would see that justice can only be met in a narrow margin. For each man deserves only what is afforded to him in the eyes of Justice. Enter Meletos and Anytos. Mediocretes: Good Day sirs! How goes the affairs of state? Anytos: We are ever vigilant in the preservation of autonomy. Meletos: Besides we are wary of all vagrants and idolaters.

Anytos: Any words or actions whose intent is to undermine the official position of the state, more aptly known as sedition, is a crime. Mediocretes: So if I inquire as to the nature of existence and the facets of justice and mercy it is sedition? Meletos: Perhaps we have not been clear. It is not the questioning, but the nature of the questions. And your questions are loaded with contempt and coercion. Mediocretes: Is it coercive to speak the truth?

Mediocretes: Well certainly you will find no such thing here.

Anytos: What you speak is not truth. It is malicious sedition and treasonous corruption.

Meletos: So tell me sir. How do you know this boy, Althea?

Mediocretes: Gentlemen, I assure you, nothing I say or do is meant

maliciously. Meletos: We cannot punish you for intention. That is not what we mean to say. But the result of your teachings, if that is what you call them, is the ruination of the youth of our city. Anytos: How can a city prosper, if at every turn it is being questioned by fools such as yourself? Mediocretes: I am a fool in only one regard, it is that I know nothing of the world of man. I speak simply on spiritual matters.

Exeunt. Scene VII The Parthenon. Meletos, Anytos and Lycon. Lycon: What are his crimes? Meletos: He has openly defied the god of the State and corrupted a youth into performing the same actions.

Anytos: We have very strict laws regarding such matters.

Anytos: We have in custody a boy who dared speak blasphemy in the agora.

Mediocretes: You cannot govern spirit.

Lycon: And what do you seek in the matter?

Meletos: But we can govern men, and spirit is contained in men.

Meletos: More than likely a life's imprisonment.

Mediocretes: Spirit is not containable. It is an ethereal infinite. Something beyond comprehension.

Anytos: The man is seventy years old. He should soon be dead if imprisoned.

Meletos: So says you, but who are we to listen to what you say.

Meletos: Should we then seek death?

Anytos: Your crimes are of a grave nature sir.

Anytos: It is the only penalty we have that will quell any uprising.

Mediocretes: Crimes?

Lycon: But are his crimes of a grave enough nature?

Anytos: Yes, crimes. You are under arrest for sedition. Most malicious and blasphemous sedition.

Anytos: They are unique in subject no doubt, but his history and histrionics should be enough to woo any audience to the consensus that death is the only option.

Meletos: Not only that but corrupting the youth as well. Mediocretes: If the truth is a crime then for sure I am guilty. Anytos: You are to come with us immediately. They bind his hands and begin to escort him off.

Lycon: If it must be. Then upon finding him guilty, we will recommend the punishment be death. Though he has the opportunity to present an alternative to the state's proposal. Anytos: We must be firm in our position on religion. No gods outside that which approved by the State. His open defiance must be reprobated.

Mediocretes: Isocrates, tell all the men of the city who know of my virtue to prepare to speak on my behalf. Meletos: And, by his teachings, the youth of our city has been corrupted into speaking lies and defying the State. Isocrates: I will do all that I can to help you sir.

Lycon: Then let us move forward with your suit. For the charges The Court House. Lycon sits perched high above the stage. listed are grave, and there must be reprobation for the corruption and blasphemy you so charge him with. Lycon: Gentlemen of Athens, the man who stands before you is accused of seditious attacks against the state and corrupting the Exeunt. youth. 501 have been selected as jury for the trial. There are two accusers, one Meletos representative of the poets and scholars charges him of the usage of fallacious and false arguments in a purposeful corruption of the youth. The other Anytos representative of the clergy and the state charges him with sedition and blasphemy against state mandated religious practice. We will hear Meletos speak followed by a rebuttal then Anytos and another rebuttal and Finally Mediocretes the accused will plead his case followed by any others he wishes to speak on his behalf and rebuttals by his accusers. We will then vote. If found guilty the state will recommend a punishment along with the defendant and there will be another vote deciding between the punishments. All who are present here must speak their vote or else it will be assumed that you are in support of the state in the matter being decided. Scene II The Court House. Meletos and Mediocretes

Act II The Apology of Mediocretes. Scene I

Meletos: My father was associated with some of Athens most influential thinkers, Protagoras, Gorgias, Prodicus and Hippias. I have been instructed properly and can speak eloquently on any subject. Contrarily there is a boy by the name of Althea. He has spent his life studying under Mediocretes. A name most commonly associated with the foolish buffoon portrayed in many comedies. How one would think that he who by most scholarly standards is held in such disregard could engender anything but filth and corruption is beyond me. But let us forget for a moment all that we know about him, for sure there are others who tell a different story. The boy openly and blatantly defied the gods, and in doing so claimed to have learned from Mediocretes. This claim is just one of the many that paint a shocking picture of a boy whose mind has been warped. Further more, and I'm sure it wouldn't be difficult to illicit this selfsame information from either of them, they talk of the gods as if they were themselves atheists. They reproach every structure of the religious practice we hold dear to us and worship false spirits who they claim to be God in the singular. And as we all know there are many gods and many sons of gods all of whom play

a vital role in our society. It would be perilous to consider pity for not, to claim certainty on any matter. Therefore to assume yourself this man, for every word he speaks is barbed with a clever jab wise is by virtue of the nature of the argument an act of ignorance. meant to undermine those who he is talking to. He will never give For no man can claim the title of wisdom. So then if these men are you a straight answer, and has by witness used false arguments to ignorant in their wisdom they cannot possibly teach the youth engage the minds of the youth. There is not only Althea but properly. countless who have been tainted by this idolater. Were he alone in his actions, one would be tempted to write him off as a crazy old Meletos: You talk in circles old man, get to the point. man who more than likely is experiencing some form of dementia that causes him to speak in such an absurd manner. But he is Mediocretes: The point is do you not think it is right that we should persistent in his attempt to educate others. I have seen first hand make the youth of our city better. the result of this education on the face of a boy who has lost the opportunity afforded so many others and who speaks in a manner Meletos: Yes, it is. that is tainted and contemptuous. That above all else is why I think this man is guilty of a heinous crime. His occult practices and Mediocretes: Then tell these gentlemen, who is it that makes dubious speech should be grounds enough, but that he has poisoned others into believing what he speaks is truth and caused them better? You have found the one that corrupts them as you say, and you bring me before the court here to accuse me. Say them to speak out inappropriately is what I feel deserves then who it is that makes them better. reprimand, and is why I have brought suit before you. Mediocretes: Allow me sir to ask you a few questions. For as I see it Meletos is silent. there are a few holes in your accusation. Mediocretes: Come say my good man who makes them better? Meletos: Already trying to undermine. But proceed, as it is your right. Meletos: The laws. Mediocretes: You mentioned, in your suit, a list of credentials. Your educational pedigree as it were. I too am familiar with the work of these men, and can say for certain they are wise. It has been said though that I am wiser than all. I have pondered long hours over what that could mean. I asked many of these same men what wisdom means to them. They had a self assured assumption that what they knew and spoke contained some archaic underlaying that ordained their speech as some what elevated above the rest. For certainly they were wise. On the contrary, I know nothing of the matters they speak of and cannot ascertain or quantify what it means to be wise. I instead question others. Upon further questioning of these gentlemen, I found a certain circularity in their arguments. Essentially anything they said was wise because one of the premises or assumptions in any of their arguments was the fact that they themselves are wise. It is certainly not the case that every word a man speaks is wise, for it is somewhat presumptuous in the face of an ethereal infinite of which we know

Mediocretes: That's not what I ask, dear sir. What man makes them better? Meletos: This jury, sir. Mediocretes: What do you mean? The gentlemen of the jury here are able to educate the young and make them better? Meletos: Yes indeed. Mediocretes: All of them or only some? Meletos: All of them. Mediocretes: Excellently said! Quite an abundance of benefactors. Well, what of the people here listening to us, do they make the young better, or not?

Meletos: Yes they do too.

law commands you answer. Is there anyone who wants to be damaged?

Mediocretes: What about the Council men?

Meletos: No certainly.

Meletos: The council men too.

Mediocretes: Very well. You bring me here as one who corrupts the youth and makes them worse. Do you say that I mean to do it, or Mediocretes: Oh indeed, Meletos, is it possible that the plebeians not? corrupt the younger generation? Or do they also make them better, all of them? Meletos: You mean to do it. That is what I said. Meletos: They do. Mediocretes: Then the whole nation of the Athenians, it seems, makes them fine gentlemen, except me. I alone corrupt them. Is that it? Meletos: Yes that is exactly it! Mediocretes: What bad luck for me! You charge me with bad luck. Answer me this: are horses in the same case, do you think? All the men in the world make them better save one. Isn't the truth just the opposite? There are a few who can make them better, namely horse trainers who specialize in raising and breeding horses, but most others are more likely to either abuse or spoil the horse. And isn't that the case with most every other animal. Every other animal except for our young who by your own admission are bettered by all excepting myself. That really is either quite fortunate for them or rather an absurd proposition that holds no merit in an argument.

Mediocretes: Oh my dear boy. So young and so wise. You know that bad men harm those nearest to them and that good men do good. Yet in my case it seems that I am completely ignorant of the fact that if I teach one of my associates to be bad, then certainly I risk having something bad happen to me in return from him. Yet I am intentionally teaching a student to do wrong. No sane man would believe that. Either I do not corrupt, or if I do, I corrupt without meaning to do it. So you are speaking falsely on both counts. Meletos: All you have managed to prove is that you are a vicious arguer who undermines the smallest minutia of an argument and by your so called logic you attempted to make me look like a fool. You are clever sir, but you are still a controversial and your guilt in the matter has yet to be decided. Mediocretes: If I have proven you wrong, how can there be any doubt as to my innocence in the matter? Meletos: The jury will decide that.

Meletos: Are you done yet?

He returns to his seat.

Mediocretes: Not yet! First you must answer this question. Is it better to live among good citizens or bad ones? Answer me, for it is not a very difficult question. Is it not clear that bad people do bad things to those around them?

Scene III The Court House. Anytos and Mediocretes.

Meletos: Certainly. Mediocretes: Then is there anyone who wants to be damaged by his associates, rather than be helped? Answer my good man. The

Anytos: Might I first begin by making example of Meletos' point. Look at the manner in which this so called wise man educated my dear colleague. He used a vile doublespeak that focused on how he spoke as opposed to why. He was abusive and coercive in proving him to admit his wrong.

Mediocretes: He is still wrong, and as I will show them so are you.

them is that what you say?

Lycon (From his perch): Gentlemen, settle down.

Anytos: I do. No mistake about it.

Anytos: See how agitated he gets?

Mediocretes: Do you mean to say I teach them to believe in God and that I do not believe in the gods which the state believes in, Mediocretes: Provocation after provocation, and you expect me not but some other, and this is what you accuse me of, that I believe in to respond. another different god, do you say that I disbelieve in gods all together? Lycon: Really sir, you must wait your turn. The accuser has yet to give a formal address. You will have a chance to rebut Anytos: You do not believe in the gods and their sons, that is what I momentarily. mean to say. Anytos: Formally I am charging the man with blasphemy. He has Mediocretes: Oh you amazing creature, Anytos! What makes you made it some what of a mission in his educational career to instill say that? As you may say then, I don't believe in the god of the sun in others a view on the gods that borders on atheism. Rather than or the moon? accept all the gods and sons of gods, he is insistent on the fact that there is only one god. And by virtue of the nature of this mans Anytos: No, by Zeus, he believes the sun is a rock and the moon wisdom he is some how able to channel and speak for and about made of earth gentlemen. spiritual matters. Here in Athens, we maintain a strict policy. Only privileged men who have been ordained by the state are in contact Mediocretes: What you must think of me? Do you mean to say that with the gods. And in order to pay homage to all the gods and sons I don't believe in any god? of gods, there are standard rituals that we as an enlightened society practice. He insists though that our view is wrong and that Anytos: No you do not. there is only one god. It would seem to me that if there was only Mediocretes: Well, Anytos, no one can believe you, and to my one that you'd just as soon have no god at all. So his speech borders on atheism. We are content with the blessings of the gods mind, in this matter you don't believe your own words. What I think and the heroic sacrifices of the sons of gods. Why on earth would gentlemen, is that this man seems to be an impudent bully, and he anyone believe him when we are so set in our ways. Sir you would has made this this indictment in reckless violence. He has made a do better to reform to standard practice. Perhaps you are wise and riddle to test me: will Mediocretes the so called wise guess that I am jesting and contradict myself? Or shall I deceive him and the that allows some strength in speech, but your view is misguided and you are rather contemptuous in your beliefs. I'm sure that as others who hear it? For he seems to be confused in his indictment, soon as you begin to speak your rebuttal you will certainly prove which may be formally stated as “Mediocretes is a criminal for not believing in gods but believing in God”. Truly this is a game he is my point that you are blasphemer and that you are more like an playing. Now sir allow me to play a game with you in response. It is atheist than a normal citizen who accepts the spiritual practice not very hard, just answer the questions. Is there any man who ordained to us by the gods and their sons. believes in human things, but not in human beings? Is there Mediocretes: Allow me to refer back to the teachings. It is admitted anyone who does not believe in horses but in horsey things? Or does not one believe in pipers, but believes in the things pipers that I did not intentionally corrupt people. It is true that I have passed on a certain knowledge. A knowledge of spiritual matters do? No, there is not my good friend. I will answer those for you. But that I have obtained from God. It is therefore clear that I believe in answer this then, Is there anyone who believes in spiritual things but not in Spirit? God and teach of the spirit. And it is this teaching that corrupts

they were quite persuasive. Yet as for truth, not a word of it was truth. Perhaps most astonishing is the claim that I am a very clever speaker and that you aught not be fooled by me. I will prove them Mediocretes: Now then, you say I believe in spiritual things and wrong in that I don't speak cleverly, don't use ideas decked out in teach them, therefore I believe in them according to your own fine words and fancy phrases; not covered with ornaments. What I words, indeed you even swore to it on the indictment. But if I do speak is truth, and I believe there is justice as well. Though if believe in spiritual things, surely it is right that I believe in Spirit. Is my speech seemed course it is because I am ignorant of the that not right? I will take your silence as agreement. These spirits workings of the court system, so please forgive me as I can only then are either Gods or sons of gods? Yes or No? speak the the truth without the all the fancy and proper terms. Any other man who were in my shoes would perhaps offer a Anytos: Certainly. sentimental story about his family, with the attempt to woo the sympathy of the jury. Not I. I will have no one else speak at my Mediocretes: I believe in spirits then, as you say; then if spirits are defense. I can face death with confidence and as a matter of some kind of gods they serve a utilitarian function and a son of reputation must maintain a steadfast grip. Apart from reputation god, it is a bastard of a nymph or whatnot as they are said to be. gentlemen it does not seem right that I should entreat the judge Who would believe in a son of God if they believed in God? Does and jury for acquittal. The judge does not grant justice as a favor not one believe in horses or asses as the same as the sons of rather he must be temperate in his decision and constantly horses or asses. You must be pulling our legs in making this reflective of the law. And gentlemen I contend that I have broken indictment; perhaps you did not know a true crime to put in; but no law in the eyes of God and can say that any charge of impiety for you to persuade any man with even a grain of sense that that or corruption is false. And I trust you, and God himself, to decide same man can believe in divine things and spiritual things and not what is best for me and for you. in God. That is absolutely impossible. He exits. Anytos: This is indeed blasphemy in some sense. We shall see what the jury decides, Scene V The Court House. Lycon, Isocrates and Mediocretes. Mediocretes: The jury will clearly see that believing in spiritual things means believing in God and if I do, then I cannot be the Lycon: Gentlemen it would be our custom to allow others to speak things you say I am. on the accused's behalf and then allow the prosecution an opportunity the question them, but the accused has requested no Lycon: We will take a moment as Mediocretes prepares his defense.one else speak on his behalf. We will now vote on the matter. All of If there are any of those in support of the defendant be prepared to those who find the accused innocent please say aye. speak before voting. There is a long silence as the votes are tabulated. Mediocretes: That won't be necessary, as it has been made abundantly clear that my accusers know nothing at all. Lycon: Would the defendant please rise. Sir, by the vote of two hundred and twenty to two hundred and eighty nine you have Scene IV been found guilty on both charges. You will be allowed to address The Court House. Mediocretes. the jury once more in order to suggest what you feel your sentence should be. Officially the state proposes death as the punishment Mediocretes: How you felt, gentlemen of Athens, when you heard for this crime. my accusers, I do not know; but I- well, I nearly forgot who I was, Anytos: No there is not.

He returns to his chair perched above the stage leaving Mediocretes alone on stage.

will of God to do such a thing. Therefore I mustn't keep quiet. I must continue to question and instruct and I believe there will always be those who listen to and support me. If I had money, I Mediocretes: You have voted for my condemnation, gentlemen of would propose to pay all I was bound to pay. Perhaps I could offer Athens. I cannot and will not resent you for it, for there were many a mina of silver, or with the help of my colleagues raise a things that attributed to it. I am quite surprised by the number of reasonable sum, say thirty minas. votes, as I had expected it to be a land slide in either direction. Though it seems that if only thirty people had voted in my favor, I Isocrates stands from his position amongst the audience. would have been acquitted. But that is not the case. Well, the man asks that the penalty be death. Good; and what penalty should I Isocrates: If it would please the jury, myself and others would raise propose against this, gentlemen? The proper penalty is clear, a sum of nearly five hundred Drachma. Anything such that this surely. But what? What is it that I should suffer for neglecting the innocent man needn't die. things that most people care about, moneymaking and all the posts and plots and parties which arise in the city. I believe that I Lycon: Accordingly then the sentencing will be either the state am too honest to go after such things and survive. I instead went proposed penalty, death by lethal ingestion, or if I understand the for what it is that I thought would be of use to both you and I. I accused correctly, a fine of five hundred Drachma. Would all who have sought to instruct each and every man to care for himself support the defendants proposed punishment please say aye. above all else, so that he would be good and wise before he dealt with the matters so dear to the state herself. What do I deserve for There is another long silence. such things? Something good if I were to estimate in truth, it would be suitable for me. What would be suitable for a poor benefactor, Lycon: Silence can only mean one thing. Would the defendant who craves to have leisure for your encouragement? Nothing, please rise? Sir though there was a much smaller margin in gentlemen, is so suitable as that such a man should boarded for determining your guilt, it seems as though the same cannot be free at the town hall. For this man makes you happy such that you said for sentencing. Therefore I, Lycon, as an arbiter of justice do are not in want of food, but I am, since my work has no financial hereby sentence Mediocretes to death by lethal ingestion for the retainer. If I must estimate a penalty that is just, it would be free crimes of corruption and blasphemy. He will be allowed one final board at the town hall. Perhaps you think in saying this, much like address. my lack of appeal for pity, I am merely showing off. This is not so gentlemen. I am convinced that I never wronged anyone, but I cannot convince you of that as we have only conversed this short Scene VI while. Were our statutes such that a trial of life or death be spread The Court House. Mediocretes. over many days, I am sure I could convince you of it. So, since it is the case that I have not harmed anyone, it would surely make Mediocretes: It is a shame this could not have waited a few years. sense that I would propose nothing to harm myself. I will not give For now instead of nature claiming my life, as she does so many, sentence against myself and say that I am worthy of something you here have condemned me to death. The blame for my passing bad. Why should I? For fear of suffering the states proposed will now no longer be natural but placed squarely on your penalty? Should I then propose things I know to be bad? Prison? A shoulders. For as I predict there will be countless numbers of fine? I have no money to pay, so perhaps banishment? It would put subsequent generations who speak nothing but good things about an end to the abusive things you accuse me of. But as I am me. For those of you who voted for my acquittal let me assure you seventy years old that would not be practical. Perhaps you may that as I proceed towards death, every action leading to it has ask if I could merely isolate myself and lead a quiet life? This would been reflected upon in direct spiritual communion with God, and as be the hardest thing to answer, for I feel it would be against the I have had no distinct objection from my greater moral sense,

which is usually activated in the face of a choice where bad might beget good, then all of my actions and the consequences are just and perhaps fated. Is it then God's will that I die at your hands? But let us consider the possibilities granted us by death. Either we sleep a sleep so deep that no dream shakes us or we are awakened to some spiritual afterlife in which our good deeds are blessed and our bad ones condemned. Neither of those sounds particularly bad, for it is the deepest sleep which gives us the most rest, or in the other case I feel that if God has plans for me after my natural life then surely I am blessed to receive them. But members of the jury, you can know this, no truly bad thing happens to a good man. So my death is not a punishment. But it was the intent of those who brought suit to punish me. And that I think deserves blame in them. If I could ask one thing of you, it would be to treat my children as I have treated you. If you do that, then perhaps true justice can be met between you and I. Now though it is time to go, I to die, and you to live; but which of us goes to a better thing is unknown to all but God.