ermogenes and
the rest. But amongst those who knew Socrates and recognised what manner
of man he was, all who make virtue and perfection their pursuit still to
this day cease not to lament his loss with bitterest regret, as for one
who helped them in the pursuit of virtue as none else could.

To me, personally, he was what I have myself endeavoured to describe: so
pious and devoutly religious (13) that he would take no step apart
from the will of heaven; so just and upright that he never did even a
trifling injury to any living soul; so self-controlled, so temperate,
that he never at any time chose the sweeter in place of the better; so
sensible, and wise, and prudent that in distinguishing the better from
the worse he never erred; nor had he need of any helper, but for the
knowledge of these matters, his judgment was at once infallible and
self-sufficing. Capable of reasonably setting forth and defining moral
questions, (14) he was also able to test others, and where they erred,
to cross-examine and convict them, and so to impel and guide them in the
path of virtue and noble manhood. With these characteristics, he seemed
to be the very impersonation of human perfection and happiness. (15)

(13) Or, "of such piety and religious devotedness... of such
rectitude... of such sobreity and self-control... of such
sound sense and wisdom..."

(14) Or, "gifted with an ability logically to set forth and to define
moral subtleties."

(15) Or, "I look upon him as at once the best and happiest of men."

Such is our estimate. If the verdict fail to satisfy I would ask those
who disagree with it to place the character of any other side by side
with this delineation, and then pass sentence.

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