이제 소크라테스는 자신을 고발한 멜리투스(Meletus)를 직접 증인으로 요청해 심문하기 시작합니다. 소크라테스는 만약 자신이 젊은이들을 망치는 주범이라면, 대체 젊은이들을 개선시킬 수 있는 사람(improver)는 누구인지 묻습니다. 멜리투스는 망설이다가 '법(the laws)'라는 엉뚱한 대답을 내놓죠.
Come hither, Meletus, and let me ask a question of you. You think a great deal about the improvement of youth?
Yes, I do.
Tell the judges, then, who is their improver; for you must know, as you have taken the pains to discover their corrupter, and are citing and accusing me before them. Speak, then, and tell the judges who their improver is. Observe, Meletus, that you are silent, and have nothing to say. But is not this rather disgraceful, and a very considerable proof of what I was saying, that you have no interest in the matter? Speak up, friend, and tell us who their improver is.
The laws.
hither: here의 고어
a great deal: 아주 많이
as you have taken ~ , and are citing and accusing me before them: 당신이 젊은이들을 망치는 사람을 찾는 수고를 마다하지 않았고, 그들 앞에서 날 소환하고 기소했기 때문에
물론 소크라테스의 질문은 법과 같은 추상적 계율이 아닌, 구체적인 사람을 물어본 것이었습니다. 멜리투스는 소크라테스의 질문에 끌려다니며 재판관, 원로원 의원, 성직자 등이 모두 그들에게 좋은 영향을 끼치는 사람들이라고 말합니다. 그 말에 따르면 전 아테네에서 젊은이들에게 악영향을 끼치는 이는 소크라테스 단 한 명 뿐이었죠.
But that, my good sir, is not my meaning. I want to know who the person is, who, in the first place, knows the laws.
The judges, Socrates, who are present in court.
What do you mean to say, Meletus, that they are able to instruct and improve youth?
Certainly they are.
What, all of them, or some only and not others?
All of them.
By the goddess Hera, that is good news! There are plenty of improvers, then. And what do you say of the audience,—do they improve them?
Yes, they do.
And the Senators?
Yes, the Senators improve them.
But perhaps the ecclesiasts corrupt them?—or do they too improve them?
They improve them.
Then every Athenian improves and elevates them; all with the exception of myself; and I alone am their corrupter? Is that what you affirm?
That is what I stoutly affirm.
The judges who are present in court: 법정에 있는 재판관들
some only and not others: 일부만 그렇고 나머진 아니다
by the goddess Hera: 헤라 여신의 이름으로
the Senators: 원로원 의원들
ecclesiast: 성직자
all with the exception of myself: 나만 제외하고 모두
stout: 확고한
이 불성실하고 모호한 대답을 통해, 멜리투스는 자신이 실상 젊은이들의 교육에 전혀 관심 가져본 적 없음을 드러냈다고 소크라테스는 말합니다. 소크라테스는 말을 비롯한 동물들의 예를 들죠. 실제로 말을 잘 기를 수 있는 사람 즉 말을 조련하는 전문가보다 그렇지 않은 사람이 훨씬 많고, 다른 모든 가축의 경우가 마찬가지인데, 어떻게 사람만 대다수의 타인이 그에게 좋은 교육자가 될 수 있느냐는 것이었죠.
I am very unfortunate if that is true. But suppose I ask you a question: Would you say that this also holds true in the case of horses? Does one man do them harm and all the world good? Is not the exact opposite of this true? One man is able to do them good, or at least not many;—the trainer of horses, that is to say, does them good, and others who have to do with them rather injure them? Is not that true, Meletus, of horses, or any other animals? Yes, certainly. Whether you and Anytus say yes or no, that is no matter. Happy indeed would be the condition of youth if they had one corrupter only, and all the rest of the world were their improvers. And you, Meletus, have sufficiently shown that you never had a thought about the young: your carelessness is seen in your not caring about matters spoken of in this very indictment.
hold true: 사실이다
Is not the exact opposite of this true?: 정확히 그 반대가 사실이 아닐까요?
that is to say: 말하자면, so to speak
happy indeed would be the condition of youth if: ~라고 한다면, 우리 젊은이들은 참 행복한 상황이겠습니다.
have sufficiently shown that: ~라는 것을 충분히 입증했습니다
your not caring about matters: 당신의 이 문제들에 대한 무관심함
indictment: 기소, 고발
(translated by Benjamin Jowett, http://www.bartleby.com/2/1/1.html)
덧글