What an extraordinary statement! Why do you think so,
Meletus? Do you mean that I do not believe in the god-head
of the sun or moon, like other men?
I assure you, judges, that he does not: for he says that
the sun is stone, and the moon earth.
[Sidenote: Meletus has confounded Socrates with Anaxagoras; and he has
contradicted himself in the indictment.]
Friend Meletus, you think that you are accusing Anaxagoras:
and you have but a bad opinion of the judges, if you
fancy them illiterate to such a degree as not to know that
these doctrines are found in the books of Anaxagoras the
Clazomenian, which are full of them. And so, forsooth, the
youth are said to be taught them by Socrates, when there
are not unfrequently exhibitions of them at the theatre[16]
(price of admission one drachma at the most); and they
might pay their money, and laugh at Socrates if he pretends
to father these extraordinary views. And so, Meletus, you
really think that I do not believe in any god?
[Sidenote: _Meletus is again checkmated by Socrates._]