Plato · Complete work
Stephanus 17b
Stephanus 17b of 125. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
Open the complete readerOriginal Ancient Greek
ὡς δεινοῦ ὄντος λέγειν. τὸ γὰρ μὴ αἰσχυνθῆναι ὅτι αὐτίκα ὑπʼ ἐμοῦ ἐξελεγχθήσονται ἔργῳ, ἐπειδὰν μηδʼ ὁπωστιοῦν φαίνωμαι δεινὸς λέγειν, τοῦτό μοι ἔδοξεν αὐτῶν ἀναισχυντότατον εἶναι, εἰ μὴ ἄρα δεινὸν καλοῦσιν οὗτοι λέγειν τὸν τἀληθῆ λέγοντα· εἰ μὲν γὰρ τοῦτο λέγουσιν, ὁμολογοίην ἂν ἔγωγε οὐ κατὰ τούτους εἶναι ῥήτωρ. οὗτοι μὲν οὖν, ὥσπερ ἐγὼ λέγω, ἤ τι ἢ οὐδὲν ἀληθὲς εἰρήκασιν, ὑμεῖς δέ μου ἀκούσεσθε πᾶσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν—οὐ μέντοι μὰ Δία, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, κεκαλλιεπημένους γε λόγους, ὥσπερ οἱ τούτων,
Mouseia
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the complete Ancient Greek text across all 125 Stephanus sections for fidelity, philosophical precision, Socratic voice, legal clarity, and structure.
since I am a formidable speaker. Their utter lack of shame in knowing that I would at once refute them by the facts, when I proved myself not in the least a formidable speaker—this seemed to me the most shameless thing about them, unless, perhaps, by a formidable speaker they mean one who speaks the truth. For if that is what they mean, I would admit that I am an orator, though not after their fashion. They, then, as I say, have spoken little or no truth; but from me you shall hear the whole truth—not, by Zeus, men of Athens, speeches adorned with elegant phrases, like theirs,
Mouseia
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from all 125 Ancient Greek Stephanus sections.
because I am a formidable speaker. Their not being ashamed that they would immediately be exposed by me in practice, as soon as I proved to be not the least bit formidable at speaking, seemed to me the most shameless thing about them—unless, perhaps, they call anyone who tells the truth a formidable speaker. For if that is what they mean, I would agree that I am an orator, though not in their sense. They, then, as I say, have said little or nothing true, but from me you will hear the whole truth—not, by Zeus, men of Athens, in speeches adorned with elegant language like theirs,