Menexenus

Plato · David Horan

Menexenus, are you coming from the Agora, or from where? Yes, from the Agora, Socrates, from the Council Chamber in fact. Why exactly were you at the Council Chamber? Or is it obvious that you think you have completed your philosophic education and intend to turn to more important subjects because you believe that you are now up to the task? My wonderful fellow, are you, at your age, turning your hand to exercising authority over us, your elders, so that your house may keep up its tradition of looking after us? Socrates, if you allow me to assume public office and advise me to do so, I’ll be eager, but not otherwise. On this occasion, I went to the Council Chamber because I found out that the Council was about to select someone to speak over the war dead. You know, of course, that they are about to arrange their funeral rites. Certainly, but whom did they select? No one, they put it off …

Editions (plain text / reader):

• David Horan (this edition) — read
• Benjamin Jowett — read
• R.G. Bury (Loeb, 1929) — read
• Greek text — read
• Spanish — read
• Thomas Taylor (1804) — read

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