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defects which might lead to either conclusion。 The form of the greater
part of the work makes the enquiry difficult； the introduction and the
finale certainly wear the look either of Plato or of an extremely skilful
imitator。 The excellence of the forgery may be fairly adduced as an
argument that it is not a forgery at all。 In this uncertainty the express
testimony of Aristotle； who quotes； in the Rhetoric； the well…known words；
'It is easy to praise the Athenians among the Athenians；' from the Funeral
Oration； may perhaps turn the balance in its favour。 It must be remembered
also that the work was famous in antiquity； and is included in the
Alexandrian catalogues of Platonic writings。
MENEXENUS
by
Plato （see Appendix I above）
Translated by Benjamin Jowett
PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE： Socrates and Menexenus。
SOCRATES： Whence come you； Menexenus？ Are you from the Agora？
MENEXENUS： Yes； Socrates； I have been at the Council。
SOCRATES： And what might you be doing at the Council？ And yet I need
hardly ask； for I see that you； believing yourself to have arrived at the
end of education and of philosophy； and to have had enough of them； are
mounting upwards to things higher still； and； though rather young for the
post； are intending to govern us elder men； like the rest of your family；
which has always provided some one who kindly took care of us。
MENEXENUS： Yes； Socrates； I shall be ready to hold office； if you allow
and advise that I should； but not if you think otherwise。 I went to the
council chamber because I heard that the Council was about to choose some
one who was to speak over the dead。 For you know that there is to be a
public funeral？
SOCRATES： Yes； I know。 And whom did they choose？
MENEXENUS： No one； they delayed the election until tomorrow； but I believe
that either Archinus or Dion will be chosen。
SOCRATES： O Menexenus！ Death in battle is certainly in many respects a
noble thing。 The dead man gets a fine and costly funeral； although he may
have been poor； and an elaborate speech is made over him by a wise man who
has long ago prepared what he has to say； although he who is praised may
not have been good for much。 The speakers praise him for what he has done
and for what he has not donethat is the beauty of themand they steal
away our souls with their embellished words； in every conceivable form they
praise the city； and they praise those who died in war； and all our
ancestors who went before us； and they praise ourselves also who are still
alive； until I feel quite elevated by their laudations； and I stand
listening to their words； Menexenus； and become enchanted by them； and all
in a moment I imagine myself to have become a greater and nobler and finer
man than I was before。 And if； as often happens； there are any foreigners
who accompany me to the speech； I become suddenly conscious of having a
sort of triumph over them； and they seem to experience a corresponding
feeling of admiration at me； and at the greatness of the city； which
appears to them； when they are under the influence of the speaker； more
wonderful than ever。 This consciousness of dignity lasts me more than
three days； and not until the fourth or fifth day do I come to my senses
and know where I am； in the meantime I have been living in the Islands of
the Blest。 Such is the art of our rhetoricians； and in such manner does
the sound of their words keep ringing in my ears。
MENEXENUS： You are always making fun of the rhetoricians； Socrates； this
time； however； I am inclined to think that the speaker who is chosen will
not have much to say； for he has been called upon to speak at a moment's
notice； and he will be compelled almost to improvise。
SOCRATES： But why； my friend； should he not have plenty to say？ Every
rhetorician has speeches ready made； nor is there any difficulty in
improvising that sort of stuff。 Had the orator to praise Athenians among
Peloponnesians； or Peloponnesians among Athenians； he must be a good
rhetorician who could succeed and gain credit。 But there is no difficulty
in a man's winning applause when he is contending for fame among the
persons whom he is praising。
MENEXENUS： Do you think not； Socrates？
SOCRATES： Certainly 'not。'
MENEXENUS： Do you think that you could speak yourself if there should be a
necessity； and if the Council were to choose you？
SOCRATES： That I should be able to speak is no great wonder； Menexenus；
considering that I have an excellent mistress in the art of rhetoric；she
who has made so many good speakers； and one who was the best among all the
HellenesPericles； the son of Xanthippus。
MENEXENUS： And who is she？ I suppose that you mean Aspasia。
SOCRATES： Yes； I do； and besides her I had Connus； the son of Metrobius；
as a master； and he was my master in music； as she was in rhetoric。 No
wonder that a man who has received such an education should be a finished
speaker； even the pupil of very inferior masters； say； for example； one who
had learned music of Lamprus； and rhetoric of Antiphon the Rhamnusian；
might make a figure if he were to praise the Athenians among the Athenians。
MENEXENUS： And what would you be able to say if you had to speak？
SOCRATES： Of my own wit； most likely nothing； but yesterday I heard
Aspasia composing a funeral oration about these very dead。 For she had
been told； as you were saying； that the Athenians were going to choose a
speaker； and she repeated to me the sort of speech which he should deliver；
partly improvising and partly from previous thought； putting together
fragments of the funeral oration which Pericles spoke； but which； as I
believe； she composed。
MENEXENUS： And can you remember what Aspasia said？
SOCRATES： I ought to be able； for she taught me； and she was ready to
strike me because I was always forgetting。
MENEXENUS： Then why will you not rehearse what she said？
SOCRATES： Because I am afraid that my mistress may be angry with me if I
publish her speech。
MENEXENUS： Nay； Socrates； let us have the speech； whether Aspasia's or any
one else's； no matter。 I hope that you will oblige me。
SOCRATES： But I am afraid that you will laugh at me if I continue the
games of youth in old age。
MENEXENUS： Far otherwise； Socrates； let us by all means have the speech。
SOCRATES： Truly I have such a disposition to oblige you； that if you bid
me dance naked I should not like to refuse； since we are alone。 Listen
then： If I remember rightly； she began as follows； with the mention of the
dead： （Thucyd。）
There is a tribute of deeds and of words。 The departed have already had
the first； when going forth on their destined journey they were attended on
their way by the state and by their friends； the tribute of words remains
to be given to them； as is meet and by law ordained。 For noble words are a
memorial and a