Should you resolve to acquit me for the future, I should not hesitate to make answer, Athenians, I honor and love you; but I shall choose rather to obey God than you; and to my latest breath shall never renounce my philosophy, nor cease to exhort and reprove you according to my custom. I am reproached with abject fear and meanness of spirit, for being so busy in imparting my advice to every one in private, and for having always avoided to be present in your assemblies, to give my counsels to my country. I think I have sufficiently proved my courage and fortitude, both in the field, where I have borne arms with you, and in the Senate, when I alone, upon more than one sion, opposed the violent and cruel orders of the thirty tyrants. What is it then that has prevented me from appearing in your assemblies? It is that demon, that voice divine, which you have so often heard me mention, and Melitus has taken so much pains to ridicule.

OC

That spirit has attached itself to me from my infancy; it is a voice, which I never hear, but when it would prevent me from persisting in something I have resolved; for it never exhorts me to undertake any thing. It is the same being that has always opposed me, when I would have intermeddled in the affairs of the republic; and that with the greatest reason; for I should have been amongst the dead long ago, had I been concerned in the measures of the state, without effecting any thing to the advantage of myself, or our country.

Do not take it ill, I beseech you, if I speak my thoughts without disguise, and with truth and freedom. Every man who would generously oppose a whole people either amongst us or elsewhere, and who inflexibly applies himself to prevent the violation of the laws, and the practice of iniquity in a government, will never do so long with impunity. It is absolutely necessary for him, who would contend for jutice, if he has any thoughts of living, to remain in a private station, and never to have any share in public affairs.

For

For the rest, Athenians, if, in the extreme danger I now am, I do not imitate the behaviour of those, who, upon less emergencies, have implored and supplicated their judges with tears, and have brought forth their children, relations, and friends, it is not through pride or obstinacy, or any contempt for you; but solely for your honor, and for that of the whole city. At my age, and with the reputation, true or false, which I have, would it be consistent for me, after all the lessons I have given upon the contempt of death, to be afraid of it myself, and to belie in my last action all the principles and sentiments of my past life?

But without speaking of my fame, which I should extremely injure by such a conduct, I do not think it allowable to entreat a judge, nor to be absolved by supplications he ought to be persuaded and convinced. The judge does not sit upon the bench to show favour by violating the laws; but to do justice in conforming to them. He does not swear to discharge with impunity whom he pleases; but to do justice where it is due. We ought not therefore to accustom you to perjury, nor you to suffer yourselves to be accustomed to it; for in so doing, both the one and the other of us equally injure justice and religion, and both are criminals.

Do not therefore expect from me, Athenians, that I should have recourse to means which I believe neither honest nor lawful; especially upon this occasion, wherein I am accused of impiety by Melitus. For, if I should influence you by my prayers, and thereby induce you to violate your oaths, it would be undeniably evident, that I teach you not to believe in the gods; and even in defending and justifying myself, should furnish my adversaries with arms against me, and prove that I believe no divinity. But I am very far from such wicked thoughts. I am more convinced of the existence of God than my accusers; and so convinced, that I abandon myself to God and you, that you may judge of me as you shall think it best.

L2

DIALOGUE

DIALOGUE ON COWARDICE AND KNAVERY.

HECTOR,
HAMBURGH,

SIMON,
TRUSTY,

Landlord.

CHARACTERS.

An Officer cashiered for Cowardice.
A fraudulent Bankrupt.

A pawn-Broker.

In Disguise, acquainted with all.

(Sitting together; some with Segars.)

G'

SCENE, A Tavern.
Tavern.

Enter LANDLORD.

ENTLEMEN, you all come different ways; and I s'pose are strangers; but may be, you'd like to cut and come again upon a roast turkey with good trimmings.

Trusty. With all my heart. I'd play knife and fork even with a cut-throat over such a supper: and I dare say, you will find none of us cowards or bankrupts in that business.

Up start HECTOR, HAMBURGH and SIMON. All three. [To Trusty.] Do you call me names, Sir? Trusty. Gentlemen, I meant no personalities. Hector. Puts his hand to his sword.] But you called me a coward, you rascal.

Hamb. Takes off his coat.] You called me a bankrupt, you knave.

Simon. [Doubles his fist.] You called me cut-throat, you villain.

Trusty. I told you all, I meant no personalities; but [To Hector.] pray what are you?

Hector. A soldier, to your sorrow. Fear and tremble. Trusty. [To Hamburgh.] Pray what are you?

Hamb. A merchant.

Trusty. [To Simon.] And what are you?

Simon. A banker.

Truly

Trusty. Then if you are such as soldiers, merchants, and bankers ought to be, I could not mean you; otherwise you may take the words, cut-throat, bankrupt, and coward, and divide 'em among you. And as to knave, rascal, and villain, I return them to the right

owners.

Hector. Gentlemen, stand by. I'll fight for you all. [Draws and turns to Trusty.] I challenge you to fight

me.

Land. Poh! challenge him to eat with you; the supper's waiting.

Hect. [To Landlord.]* Don't interfere, Sir; here's serious work; blood will be spilt.

Trusty. Well, spill your own then: I have no notion of having my veins pricked.

Hector. Choose your mode of fighting instantly, or fall beneath this sword, which has drank the blood of thousands.

Trusty. Well, if I must fight, my mode will be to use that sword five minutes upon your body: then you shall use it upon me as long, and so we will take turns. Hector. You inflame my choler. Trusty. Then unpin your collar. Hector. I shall burst with rage.

for

Trusty. Then we shall have one less at table. Hector. [Brandishes his sword.] Are you prepared your exit?

Trusty. I am.

[Exit.

Hector. Now he is gone to arm himself with panoply, to meet this valorous sword. Guard me, ye powers! who, in the day of battle, 'mid clashing swords and all the thunder of my father Mars, have been my shield and buckler. Now I am ready for him: why does he not return?

Land. He's gone to supper. This is an eating house, not a fighting house. Sheath your sword.

Hector. [Sheaths.] There, sword, smother thy rage till some dauntless adversary shall call thee out: then seek his heart and make report of victory. [Exeunt omnes,

Interval five minutes.

Enter TRUSTY and LANDLORD.

Land. I take that officer-looking man to be Colonel Home, one of the bravest men in the army.

Trusty. Colonel Home and he are very different characters. That wretch was but an ensign, and was cashiered for cowardice.

Land. Is that possible? Why, he told me himself that he had alone surprised a whole regiment and cut them in pieces and that all the army stood in awe of him.

Trusty. Well, you may depend on what I tell you : and the one that sits next to him is a bankrupt, who has been guilty of every shameful practice to defraud his creditors; and the other is a base pawn-broker, who has got all the property of this bankrupt in his hands for concealment.

Land. You surprise me! Why, that bankrupt, as you call him, was just now telling the other, how he was afraid the late storms at sea might affect his shipping; and the other was offering to insure them.

Enter HECTOR, HAMBURGH, and SIMON.

Hector. [To Trusty.] Since my wrath is a little abated, I am persuaded you meant no offence; but look ye, Sir, if any man was seriously to dispute my courage, you see my sword!

Trusty. I see it.

Trusty. No; nor its owner. [Hector offers to draw.] Forbear, or "I will tell a tale will make it blush.”

[Hector sneaks off.

Hamb. To Trusty.] I am not disposed, Sir, to believe that you meant me by any expression you made, as to coward and cut-throat: they certainly don't belong to me. And as to bankrupt, the four winds can give the lie to such a charge.

Trusty. They could give but windy testimony in your favour.

(Hamb.