Dialogue

 1 Menex|     overthrowing the paradox of Socrates, or merely following the
 2 Menex| description of the relations of Socrates and Alcibiades. Like the
 3 Menex|  self-convicted by the words of Socrates. For the disparaging manner
 4 Menex| attributed to contemporaries of Socrates and Plato. (1) In the entire
 5 Menex|         oral discourses both of Socrates and Plato may have formed
 6 Menex|       grandiloquent orations on Socrates, who does not recover after
 7 Menex|       them for preparation. But Socrates points out that they had
 8 Menex|       much more difficult task. Socrates himself has turned rhetorician,
 9 Menex|      The ironical assumption of Socrates, that he must be a good
10 Menex|        we say that the offer of Socrates to dance naked out of love
11 Menex|     which Phaedrus uses towards Socrates. Nor is there any real vulgarity
12 Menex|     vulgarity in the fear which Socrates expresses that he will get
13 Menex|        from an imperious woman. Socrates is not to be taken seriously
14 Menex|      the picture of the Silenus Socrates, are problems which no critical
15 Menex|      imitated may be uncertain. Socrates, when he departs from his
16 Menex|      violating the character of Socrates, Plato, who knows so well
17 Menex| Phaedrus is to be attributed to Socrates. The address of the dead
18 Menex|        PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE: Socrates and Menexenus.~SOCRATES:
19 Menex|         Socrates and Menexenus.~SOCRATES: Whence come you, Menexenus?
20 Menex|      the Agora?~MENEXENUS: Yes, Socrates; I have been at the Council.~
21 Menex|       have been at the Council.~SOCRATES: And what might you be doing
22 Menex|     care of us.~MENEXENUS: Yes, Socrates, I shall be ready to hold
23 Menex|         to be a public funeral?~SOCRATES: Yes, I know. And whom did
24 Menex|         or Dion will be chosen.~SOCRATES: O Menexenus! Death in battle
25 Menex|        fun of the rhetoricians, Socrates; this time, however, I am
26 Menex|  compelled almost to improvise.~SOCRATES: But why, my friend, should
27 Menex|    MENEXENUS: Do you think not, Socrates?~SOCRATES: Certainly ‘not.’~
28 Menex|        you think not, Socrates?~SOCRATES: Certainly ‘not.’~MENEXENUS:
29 Menex|     Council were to choose you?~SOCRATES: That I should be able to
30 Menex|  suppose that you mean Aspasia.~SOCRATES: Yes, I do; and besides
31 Menex|        say if you had to speak?~SOCRATES: Of my own wit, most likely
32 Menex|     remember what Aspasia said?~SOCRATES: I ought to be able, for
33 Menex|         rehearse what she said?~SOCRATES: Because I am afraid that
34 Menex|         speech.~MENEXENUS: Nay, Socrates, let us have the speech,
35 Menex|        that you will oblige me.~SOCRATES: But I am afraid that you
36 Menex|       MENEXENUS: Far otherwise, Socrates; let us by all means have
37 Menex|      all means have the speech.~SOCRATES: Truly I have such a disposition
38 Menex|     Milesian.~MENEXENUS: Truly, Socrates, I marvel that Aspasia,
39 Menex|         she must be a rare one.~SOCRATES: Well, if you are incredulous,
40 Menex|         have often met Aspasia, Socrates, and know what she is like.~
41 Menex|      and know what she is like.~SOCRATES: Well, and do you not admire
42 Menex|         speech?~MENEXENUS: Yes, Socrates, I am very grateful to her
43 Menex|        to you who have told me.~SOCRATES: Very good. But you must
44 Menex|         I will keep the secret.~SOCRATES: Then I will keep my promise.~