Plato · Complete work
Stephanus 27a
Stephanus 27a of 125. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
Open the complete readerOriginal Ancient Greek
ἔοικεν γὰρ ὥσπερ αἴνιγμα συντιθέντι διαπειρωμένῳ ἆρα γνώσεται Σωκράτης ὁ σοφὸς δὴ ἐμοῦ χαριεντιζομένου καὶ ἐναντίʼ ἐμαυτῷ λέγοντος, ἢ ἐξαπατήσω αὐτὸν καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους τοὺς ἀκούοντας; οὗτος γὰρ ἐμοὶ φαίνεται τὰ ἐναντία λέγειν αὐτὸς ἑαυτῷ ἐν τῇ γραφῇ ὥσπερ ἂν εἰ εἴποι· ἀδικεῖ Σωκράτης θεοὺς οὐ νομίζων, ἀλλὰ θεοὺς νομίζων. καίτοι τοῦτό ἐστι παίζοντος.συνεπισκέψασθε δή, ὦ ἄνδρες, ᾗ μοι φαίνεται ταῦτα λέγειν· σὺ δὲ ἡμῖν ἀπόκριναι, ὦ Μέλητε. ὑμεῖς δέ, ὅπερ
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.
For he seems to have composed a riddle in order to test me: “Will the wise Socrates discover that I am joking and contradicting myself, or shall I deceive him and everyone else who hears me?” For he seems to me to contradict himself in the indictment, as though he had said: “Socrates does wrong by not believing in gods, but by believing in gods.” Yet that is the work of a man at play.
Consider with me, gentlemen, how he seems to me to be saying this; and you, Meletus, answer us. And you gentlemen, remember what I asked of you at the beginning: do not make an uproar if I conduct my argument in my accustomed manner.
Mouseia
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from all 125 Ancient Greek Stephanus sections.
He seems to be testing me by composing a riddle, as if to say: “Will the wise Socrates notice that I am joking and contradicting myself, or will I deceive him and everyone else listening?” For he seems to me to contradict himself in the indictment, as though he were saying: “Socrates is guilty of not believing in gods, but of believing in gods.” Yet that is the behavior of someone playing games.
Examine with me, gentlemen, how he seems to me to be saying this. And you, Meletus, answer us. As for you, remember what I asked of you at the beginning: