EUTHYPHRO holiness and unholiness is so exact that, when the facts are as you say, you are not afraid of doing omething unholy yourself in prosecuting your father EUTHYPHRO. I should be of no use, Socrates, and Euthyphro would be in no way different from other men, if I did not have exact knowledge about all such things admirable euthyphro, is to become your pupil and, before the suit with Meletus comes on, to challenge him and say that I always thought it very important bout divi matters and that and making innovations in matters of religions ince he says I am doing wrong by acting carel have become your pupil. And" Meletus, "I should ay,"if you acknowledge that Euthyphro is wise in ch matters, then believe that I also hold correct opinions, and do not bring me to trial and if you do not acknowledge that, then bring a suit against ather him with corrupting the old, namely, his father and me, which he does by teaching me and by correcting and punishing his father. And if he does not do as I ask and does not release me from the indictment or bring it against you in my stead, I conld say in the court the same things I said in my challenge to him. could I not ntes. if he should I should find his h more a question about him in court than about me. 4. SOCRATES. And I, my dear friend, perceiving this sh to become your pupil; for I know that neither Digitized by Microsoft (R
EUTHYPHRO holiness and unholiness is so exact that, when the facts are as you say, you are not afraid of doing something unholy yourself in prosecuting your father for murder ? EUTHYPHRO. I sliould be of no use, Socrates, and Euthyphro would be in no way different from other men, if I did not have exact knowledge about all such things. SOCRATES. Then the best thing for me, my admirable Euthyphro, is to become your pupil and, before the suit with Meletus comes on, to challenge him and say that I always thought it very important before to know about divine matters and that now, since he says I am doing wrong by acting carelessly and making innovations in matters of religion, I have become your pupil. And " Meletus," I should say, " if you acknowledge that Euthyphro is wise in such matters, then believe that I also hold correct opinions, and do not bring me to trial ; and if you do not acknowledge that, then bring a suit against him, my teacher, rather than against me, and charge him with corrupting the old, namely, his father and me, which he does by teaching me and by correcting and punishing his father." And if he does not do as I ask and does not release me from the indictment or bring it against you in my stead, I could say in the court the same things I said in my challenge to him, could I not ? EUTHYPHRO. By Zeus, Socrates, if he should undertake to indict me, I fancy I should find his weak spot, and it would be much more a question about him in court than about me. SOCRATES. And I, my dear friend, perceiving this, wish to become your pupil ; for I know that neither 17
PLATO oTL Kai axos OU TiS Kai o MEXn Tos ouros oe ue Gote doepeias eypayato. viv oir ALos neye Hou, a vuv 8n aaas elevat Suoxupisou Toiov Tl To EuoeBes is Rival Kal To dopes kai D epl porou Kai Tepl Tv aov; i oi Tai EoTlv Ev Taon pageL To calov auTo auTo, rai TO avodLov aU TOU uEV OCLOU TavTOS EvavTLOD, aUTo 8e air uotoy kai Exou ulay tiva iseav i rav, a Tl Trep av入 an avooiov elr ETer4PaN. lavrAs rou,dΣκ PaTes, 6. z0kPATHs. Eye Sn, Ti is eval To ootov NaL TO aVOGLOU EreTPPAN. AEryG TOLlUD, OTL TO HEV OOLON EOTLv oTeP Eyd vov Tol, T( dstKouvtl i epi vous E5apapravovtl eregLeval, eav Te Atip v ruyXavy e Eav te uirnp Eav TE amos ooTigoUv ETeSLEval avo ton eel, d Eaxpates, OEaoal,ds REy oo epo TEKknpLOV TOU VoloU OTL OUTOS EXeL 8 Kai axons yon eiov, OTL Taira ope as av ein UTo yuyvoueva, un ELTPeTElV TO doeBouvTL un8 av ootlooUv TuYXavn dy autoi yap oi avepa TuyXavouoL DouiSovTes Tov Ala Tav Bedv apLoToy Kal SKalotatou, Kal TOuTon ouoXoyoUoL Tov aiOi aTEpa Siau, oTL TOUS vLeis KaTeTLvEv ouK Ev 6xn,kdk∈ iyov ye au Tow aiTou TaTepa 2κ TEuELI St Repa TolaUTa' Euoi &e xaxealvovoL, OTL TO TaTpi EeSEPXouaL aolxouvTl, Kai OUTOs aite 1 After ibeay BD read Kata Thy avoootnta, which So Digitized by Microsoft e
PLATO cm Kal aXXo9 rrov n<} KOI 6 MeX^ro? OL/TO? ere > C- \ <% * >\f>\ tf * f* ' ouoe ooKi opav, e/te oe ouTft>9 Oea>9 Karel&ev, tocrre acre/Seta? eypd^aro. vvv ovv rrpos o9 Xe7e /^ot, o rO^ 8^ Gacpax; elbevai irolov TC, TO eucr/3e9 (prjs elvac teal TO a<76/9e9 D Trepl <f)6vov KOI irepl rcov dXkwv; rj ov ravrov e&riv ev TTCLcrr) Trpaet TO ocriov avro CLVTW, TO avocnov av rov fJiev ocriov Trawros evavriov, avrb &e aura* ofjLOiov Kal e^ov fiiav nva IBeav l Trav, o TL 7T6/0 CIV fJ,\\7J aVOCTlOV GLVai; ET0T*PriN. ITai/TCO? BtJTTOV, CO ScO/C/?aT9. 6. 2nKPATH2. Ae'76 S?;, ri ^779 etvat TO ocriov /cat TO dvocriov; ET0T*pnN. Aeyu> roLvvv, on TO /z,6i/ ocriov ICTTLV 07T/3 70) lDl/ TTOiCO, TO) dSlKOVVTl T) 7Tpl ^ 7Ty[)t leptoV AcXo7Ta9 ^ T aXXo TCOI/ e^a/^apTavovri eiregievai, lav T Trarrjp a)v E eai^ T /JLijrrjp edv re aXXo9 ocmcrovv, TO Se dvocriov eVet, cu ^toKpares, Oiacrai, ct>9 crot epco TeK^pcov rov vofjiov OTI ouTa>9 6 /tat aXXoi9 rffy SITTOV, OTI ravra oQws av <yijv^va, /ZT e.Tmpireiv TOO creovvn av oaricrovv Tvy%dvr) a>v avrol yap ol av6pu>7roi 6 Tvy%dvovcri vofii^ovre^ rov A la ru>v Oewv dpicrrov Kal biKaiorarov, Kal rovrov 6fjLo\oyovcri rov avrov jrarepa Srjcrai, ori TOU9 uiet9 icarzmvev OVK ev BiKp, KaKeivov ye av rov avrov rrarepa Kr/j.eiv oY erepa roiavra" e'/^ol Se xaXerraivovcriv, on TOO rrarpl crre^ep^o^ai dBiKovvn, Kal OUTC09 auTot 1 After iSt'av BD read ari rV i^otrtoTTjTa, which Schanz brackets. 18
EUTHYPHRO this fellow Meletus, nor anyone else, seems to notice you at all, but he has seen through me so sharply and so easily that he has indicted me for impiety. Now in the name of Zeus, tell me what you just now asserted that you knew so well. What do you say is the nature of piety and impiety, both in relation to murder and to other things? Is not holiness always the same with itself in every action, and, on the other hand, is not unholiness the opposite of all holiness, always the same with itself and whatever is to be unholy possessing some one characteristic EUTHVPIIRO. Certainly, Socrates. RATES. Tell me then, what do you say holiness is, and what unholiness EUTHYPHRO. Well then, I say that holiness is doing what I am doing now, prosecuting the wron doer who commits murder or steals from the temples ng, whether he be your fat or your mother or anyone else, and not prosecuting him is unholy. And, Socrates, see what a sure proof I offer you, a proof I have already given to others that this is established and right and that we ought not to let him who acts impiously go unpunished, no matter who he may be. Men believe that Zeus is the best and most just of the gods, and they ackno Ige that he put his father in bonds because he wickedly devoured his children, and he in turn had mutilated his father for similar reasons; but they are incensed against me because I proceed against my father when he has done wrong, and so they are Digitized by Microsoft(
EUTHVPHRO this fellow Meletus, nor anyone else, seems to notice you at all, but he has seen through me so sharply and so easily that he has indicted me for impiety. Now in the name of Zeus, tell me what you just now asserted that you knew so well. What do you say is the nature of piety and impiety, both in relation to murder and to other things ? Is not holiness always the same with itself in every action, and, on the other hand, is not unholiness the opposite of all holiness, always the same with itself and whatever is to be unholy possessing some one characteristic quality ? EUTHYPHRO. Certainly, Socrates. SOCRATES. Tell me then, what do you say holiness is, and what unholiness? EUTHYPHRO. Well then, I say that holiness is doing what I am doing now, prosecuting the wrongdoer who commits murder or steals from the temples or does any such thing, whether he be your father or your mother or anyone else, and not prosecuting him is unholy. And, Socrates, see what a sure proof I offer you, a proof I have already given to others, that this is established and right and that we ought not to let him who acts impiously go unpunished, no matter who he may be. Men believe that Zeus is the best and most just of the gods, and they acknowledge that he put his father in bonds because he wickedly devoured his children, and he in turn had mutilated his father for similar reasons ; but they are incensed against me because I proceed against my father when he has done wrong, and so they are19
PLATO arTois a Eravria neyouot TePi Te Taw Bedv kai 20KPATHS.Apd ye, EUevpor, TOUT EaTLI oiv∈ ka Tnv ypaφi中eno, OTL Ta TOLauTa ELSav Tis epi Tov Bedw he ym, SuoXepas Tos dro8exoual; &i'a on, dos EoLKe, prnoeL is pe EEauaptavelv. viv oiv el kai aoi taira Euvdoned B Ti Ed eidotL epi TGv TOLOUTOV, (vayxn 8n,s LKE ap xai rje atOl ouoxoyouuev Tepi a AOL ELTTE rposΦnioU, oU s aλ mBas iyer TaUTa OUTS yeyovevaL c ot To入 OL OUK LCc 20KPATHE. Kai oepor apa yei ov eval To OVTL Ew Tois Eois po aana TolaiTa oxid ola hereTo ai Te vo Tav ToLnTav, Kai uo Tav c dryaD av ypadeoy Td Te anna iepa nuiv KaTa 丌erok入ra, Kai 8n Kai Tois ueyd入 ois lava nvaiots o Ter入 OS ALEOTOS TOV TOLOUTOV丌okpa may avayetal eis Tv axpooXu; Taira anb 中 DAEV Eval,, G Eueuopov; ETOT+PAN. Mn uovoy ye, 2akpaTes'aix oTep apU iow, Kai aixa oot Ey@ Toxxd Eavep BouAn, Tepi Tav Eiav dunynoouat, a oi aKouov Ed oLs OTL Ex Xaynoeu 7. 20KPATHz. Oix av Bauudsoiul. dna taita uev uot eis aiBis emi oxoxis 8u e·wuui8e, oep aptt ae pound, etp oadeoTepov eiTrelu d ou aip ue, d ETape, TO poTepow ixavas eoisasas Partnnoavra To orLov, o TL oT ein, aand pe Digitized by Microsoft(R)
PLATO avrois ra evavria \eyovcn, irepl re rwv Se&v irepi fj,ov. 2HKPATH2. *Apa 76, to l&vOvffrpov, rovr ov eVe/ea rr]V ypa^rjv fyevyw, brt ra rocavra v Tt9 rrepl r&v Oewv \eyrj, i a $ij, a>9 eoi/ce, $r}(iei r/? vvv ovv el KOI crol ravra B TW ev el&on Trepl r&v roiovrwv, (ivdyrci) &r}, a eoifce, nal rjfuv ^vy)(wpelv. ri ydp KCLI (frijcro[j,v, 01 ye avrol 6fio\oyov/^ei> Trepl avrcov /j,r)8ev elSevat; a\\d pot etVe TT/)O? <&iMovt crv 0)9 d\rjda)<; fjjel ravra ovrws yeyovevai; ET0Y*pnN. Kat Tt 76 rovrcov Oavfj-aortwrepa, w ^(i>tcpares, a ol TroXXol OVK 'iaacriv. 2HKPATH2. Kat TToXe/ioi/ dpa rjyel <?v elvai TCO ovn ev TOW Oeois 7T/D09 d\\r)\ovs, /cal e^Opas ye Seivas /cal yua^a9 KOL d\\a roiavra 7ro\\a, ola \eyerau re VTTO r&v iroirjrwv, /cal VTTO rwv C dyaO&v ypatyecov rd re d\\a lepd rj/uv KaraTreTroiKL^rai, Kal Br) KO\ rot9 neydXois Hava 6i]valois o 7reVXo9 /jLecrrb? rwv roiovrwv 7roi/a\/jid- rwv dvdyerai els r>]v dtcpoTroKiv; ravra d\.r}0tj elvai, ET0T*pnN. M^ povov ye, w %a>Kpare<>' OTrep apn elrrov, Kal aXXa croi eya) TroXAa, edvirep /3ov\r), rrepl rwv deiwv Birjyija-ofijLai,, a crv dfcovwv ev oZ8 on /c7r\ayrja'ei. 7. 2HKPATH2. Ov/c dv 6avfj,do i fit, . aXXa ravra pev IJLOL els avOis errl 0-^0X779 Stiyyijcrw vvvl Se, OTrep dpn ere rjpo/jLrjv, Treipa) cra<$ea-repov elrrslv. D ov ydp /JL, a) eralpe, ro rrporepov [leaves eSiSa^as epc&rr)cravra ro ocnov, o ri TTOT* 477, aXXa pot 20
EUTHYPHRO inconsistent in what they say about the gods and about ine. SOCRATES. Is not this, Euthyphro, the reason why I am being prosecuted, because when people tell such stories about the gods I find it hard to accept them? And therefore, probably, people will say I am wrong. Now if you, who know so much about such things, accept these tales, I suppose I too must give way. For what am I to say, who confess frankly that I know nothing about them? But tell le, in the name of Zeus, the god of friendship, do EUTHYPHRO. Yes, and still more wonderful th nan these, Socrates, which most people do not know SOCRATES. And so you believe that there was really war between the gods, and fearful enmities by the great artists in our sacred places and especially on the robe which is carried up to the Acropolis at the great Panathenaea for this is covered with such representations. Shall we agree that these things are true, Euthyphro? EUTHYPHRO. Not only these things, Socrates; but as I said just now, I will, if you like, tell you many ther 'th about the gods, which I am amaze you when you hear them y those things at your leisure som e. At present try to tell more clearly what I asked you just now. For, my friend, you did not give me efficient information before, when I as holiness was, but you told me that this was holy Digitized by Microsoft(B
EUTHYPHRO inconsistent in what they say about the gods and about me. SOCRATES. Is not this, Euthyphro, the reason why I am being prosecuted, because when people tell such stories about the gods I find it hard to accept them ? And therefore, probably, people will say I am wrong. Now if you, who know so much about such things, accept these tales, I suppose I too must give way. For what am I to say, who confess frankly that I know nothing about them ? But tell me, in the name of Zeus, the god of friendship, do you really believe these things happened ? EUTHYPHRO. Yes, and still more wonderful things than these, Socrates, which most people do not know. SOCRATES. And so you believe that there was really war between the gods, and fearful enmities and battles and other things of the sort, such as are told of by the poets and represented in varied designs by the great artists in our sacred places and especially on the robe which is carried up to the Acropolis at the great Panathenaea ? for this is covered with such representations. Shall we agree that these things are true, Euthyphro ? EUTHYPHRO. Not only these things, Socrates; but, as I said just now, I will, if you like, tell you many other 'things about the gods, which I am sure will amaze you when you hear them. SOCRATES. I dare say. But you can tell me those things at your leisure some other time. At present try to tell more clearly what I asked you just now. For, my friend, you did not give me sufficient information before, when I asked what holiness was, but you told me that this was holy 21