Should you refolve to acquit me for the future, I fhould not hesitate to make anfwer, Athenians, I honor and love you; but I fhall choose rather to obey God than you; and to my latest breath shall never renounce my philofophy, nor ceafe to exhort and reprove you according to my cuftom. I am reproached with abject fear and meannefs of fpirit, for being fo bufy in imparting my advice to every one in private, and for having always avoided to be present in your affemblies, to give my counfels to my country. I think I have fufficiently proved my courage and fortitude, both in the field, where I have borne arms with you, and in the Senate, when I alone, upon more than one occafion, oppofed the violent and cruel orders of the thirty tyrants. What is it then that has prevented me from appearing in your affemblies? It is that demon, that voice divine, which you have so often heard me mention, and Melitus has taken fo much pains to ridicule.

That fpirit has attached itself to me from my infancy: it is a voice, which I never hear, but when it would prevent me from perfifting in fomething I have refolved; for it never exhorts me to undertake any thing. It is the fame being that has always oppofed me, when I would have intermeddled in the affairs of the republic; and that with the greateft reafon; for I fhould have been amongst the dead long ago, had I been concerned in the measures of the ftate, without effecting any thing to the advantage of myfelf, or our country.

Do not take it ill, I befeech you, if I fpeak my thoughts without disguife, and with truth and freedom. Every man who would generoufly oppofe a whole people, either amongst us or elsewhere, and who inflexibly applies himfelf to prevent the violation of the laws, and the practice of iniquity in a government, will never do fo long with impunity. It is abfolutely neceffary for him, who would contend for juftice, if he has any thoughts of living, to remain in a private station, and never to have any fhare in public affairs.

For the rest, Athenians, if, in the extreme danger I now am, I do not imitate the behaviour of thofe, who, upon lefs emergencies, have implored and fupplicated their judges with tears, and have brought forth their children, relations, and friends, it is not through pride or obftinacy, or any contempt for you; but folely for your honor, and for that of the whole city. At my age, and with the reputation, true or falfe, which I have, would it be confiftent for me, after all the leffons I have given upon the contempt of death, to be afraid of it myself, and to belie in my last action all the principles and fentiments of my paft life?

:

But without fpeaking of my fame, which I should extremely injure by fuch a conduct, I do not think it allowable to entreat a judge, nor to be abfolved by fupplications he ought to be perfuaded and convinced. The judge does not fit upon the bench to fhow favour by violating the laws; but to do juftice in conforming to them. He does not fwear to difcharge with impunity whom he pleafes; but to do juftice where it is due. We ought not therefore to accuftom you to perjury, nor you to fuffer yourfelves to be accuftomed to it; for in fo doing, both the one and the other of us equally injure juftice and religion, and both are

criminals.

Do not therefore expect from me, Athenians, that I fhould have recourfe to means which I believe neither honeft nor lawful; efpecially upon this occafion, wherein I am accufed of impiety by Melitus. For, if I fhould influence you by my prayers, and thereby induce you to violate your oaths, it would be undeniably evident, that I teach you not to believe in the gods; and even in defending and juftifying myself, thould furnish my adverfàries with arms against me, and prove that I believe no divinity. But I am very far from fuch wicked thoughts. I am more convinced of the existence of God than my accufers; and fo convinced, that I abandon myself to God and you, that you may judge of me as you fhall think it beft.

Landford. Gways; and I's'pofe are strangers; but

ENTLEMEN, you all come different

may be, you'd like to cut and come again upon a roast turkey with good trimmings.

Trufty. With all my heart. I'd play knife and fork even with a cut-throat over fuch a fupper: and I dare fay, you'll find none of us cowards or bankrupts in that bufinefs.

Up fart HECTOR, HAMBURGH, and SIMON.

All three. [To Trufty.] Do you call me names, Sir? Trufty. Gentlemen, I meant no personalities. Hector. [Puts his hand to his favord.] But you called me a coward, you rafcal.

Hamb. [Takes off his coat.] You called me a bankrupt, you knave.

Simon. [Doubles his fift] You called me cut-throat, you villain.

Truly. I told you all, I meant no perfonalities; but [To Hector.] pray what are you?

Hector. Afoldier, to your forrow. Fear and tremble.
Trufty. [To Hamburgh.] Pray what are you?
Hamb. A merchant.

Trufty. [To Simon.] And what are you.
Simon. A banker.

Trufty. Then if you are fuch as foldiers, merchants, and bankers ought to be, I could not mean you; otherwife you may take the words, cut-throat, bankrupt, and coward, and divide 'em among you. And as to knave, rascal, and villain, I return them to the right

owners.

Hector. Gentlemen, ftand by. I'll fight for you all, [Draws and turns to Trufty.] I challenge you to fight

me.

Land. Poh! challenge him to eat with you; the fupper's waiting.

Hector. [To Landlord.] Don't interfere, Sir; here's ferious work; blood will be fpilt.

Trufty. Well, fpill your own then: I have no notion of having my veins pricked.

Hector. Choofe your mode of fighting inftantly, or fall beneath this fword, which has drank the blood of thoufands.

Trufty. Well, if I must fight, my mode will be to ufe that fword five minutes upon your body; then you fhall use it upon me as long, and fo we will take turns. Hector. You inflame my choler. Trufty. Then unpin your collar. Hector. I fhall burst with rage.

for

Trufty. Then we shall have one less at table.
Hector. [Brandishes his fword.]

your exit?

Trusty. I am.

Hector. Now he is gone to arm

ply, to meet this valorous fword.

Are you prepared

[Exit.

himself with panoGuard me, ye pow

ers! who, in the day of battle, 'mid clashing swords and all the thunder of my father Mars, have been my fhield and buckler. Now I am ready for him: why does he not return?

Land. He's gone to fupper. This is an eating houfe, not a fighting houfe. Sheath your fword.

Hector. [Sheaths.] There, fword, smother thy rage till fome dauntlefs adversary fhall call thee out: then feek his heart and make report of victory.

[Exeuut omnes,

Interval five minutes.

Enter PRUSTY and LANDLORD.

Land. I take that officer-looking man to be Colonel Home, one of the braveft men in the army.

Trufty. Colonel Home and he are very different characters. That wretch was but an enfign, and was cafhiered for cowardice.

Land. Is that poffible? Why he told me himself that he had alone furprised a whole regiment and cut them in pieces; and that all the army stood in awe of him.

Trufty. Well you may depend on what I tell you; and the one that fits next to him is a bankrupt, who has been guilty of every thameful practice to defraud his creditors; and the other is a bafe pawn-broker, who has got all the property of this bankrupt in his hands for concealment.

Land. You surprise me! Why that bankrupt, as you call him, was juft now telling the other, how he was afraid the late ftorms at fea might affect his fhipping; and the other was offering to infure them.

Enter HECTOR, HAMBURGH, and SIMON.

Hector. [To Trufty.] Since my wrath is a little abated, I am perfuaded you meant no offence; but look ye, Sir, if any man was feriously to dispute my courage, you fee my fword!

Trufty. I fee it.

Hector. And don't you fear it?

Trufty. No; nor its owner. [Hector offers to draw.] Forbear, or "I will tell a tale will make it blufh."

[Hector Sneaks off.

Hamb. [To Trusty.] I am not difpofed, Sir, to believe that you meant me by any expreffion you made, as to coward and cut-throat: they certainly don't belong to me. And as to bankrupt, the four winds can give the lie to fuch a charge.

Trufty. They could give but windy teftimony in your favour.