HERE IT IS TOLD OF THE PHILOSOPHER SOCRATES, AND HOW HE ANSWERED THE
GREEKS
Socrates was a noble Roman philosopher [112], and in his days the
Greeks sent a great and noble embassy to the Romans.
The purpose of their embassy was to adduce arguments to free themselves
of the tribute they paid to the Romans. And the Sultan gave them these
instructions: go and make use of arguments, and if necessary, use
money.
The ambassadors reached Rome.
The purpose of their embassy was set forth in the Roman Council.
The Roman Council decided that the reply to the Greeks’ question should
be made by the philosopher Socrates; it being decided without any
further conditions that Rome would stand by whatever Socrates answered.
The ambassadors went to Socrates’ dwelling, very far from Rome, to set
their arguments before him.
They arrived at his house, which was quite unpretending. They found him
picking parsley. They caught sight of him from a distance. He was a man
of simple appearance. They conversed with one another, and considered
the above-mentioned facts. And they said to one another: this man will
be an easy bargain for us, for he seemed to them to be poor rather than
rich.
They arrived and said: may God save you, O man of great wisdom, for so
you must be since the Romans have entrusted so weighty a matter as this
to you.
They showed him the decision of Rome, and said to him: we shall set our
reasonable arguments, which are many, before you. Your own sense will
ensure our rights. And know that we obey a rich master: you will take
these perperi [113] which are many, and yet for our lord are nothing,
though to you they may be very useful.
And Socrates answered the ambassadors, and said: first you will dine,
and then we will attend to your business.
They accepted the invitation and dined very poorly without leaving a
morsel.
After dinner, Socrates spoke to the ambassadors and said: gentlemen,
what is better, one thing or two things? The ambassadors replied: two.
And he said: now go to the Romans with your persons, for if the city of
Rome has the persons of the Greeks, it will have their persons and
their goods. And if I took the gold, the Romans would lose their trust
in me.
Then the ambassadors left the philosopher, full of shame, and obeyed
the Romans.