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Section 34

In any case, many of them are present here, whom I can see. First, Crito is here, of my own age and deme, the father of Critobulus here. Then Lysanias the Sphettian, the father of Aeschines here. Also Antiphon of Cephisia, the father of Epigenes. Then there are those whose brothers associated with me: Nicostratus the son of Theozotides, brother of Theodotus (and Theodotus is dead, so he could not have begged his brother to stop); and Paralius the son of Demodocus, whose brother was Theages. And Adeimantus the son of Ariston, whose brother is Plato here; and Aiantodorus, whose brother is Apollodorus here. I could name many others. Meletus ought to have produced at least one of them as a witness during his speech. If he forgot then, let him produce one now—I yield the floor—and let him say if he has any such witness. But you will find it is entirely the opposite, gentlemen. They are all ready to help me, the corrupter, the one who harmed their relatives, as Meletus and Anytus claim. Perhaps the corrupted themselves might have some reason to help me. But the uncorrupted, the older relatives—what reason could they have to help me, other than the right and just reason: that they know Meletus is lying, and I am speaking the truth? Well then, gentlemen. These, and perhaps other similar things, are what I could say in my defense. Perhaps one of you may be angry when he remembers his own case, if he was on trial for a lesser charge than this and begged and entreated the judges with many tears, bringing his children, relatives, and many friends up here to arouse as much pity as possible. Yet I will do none of these things, even though I am running the ultimate risk, as it may seem. Thinking of this, he might become stubborn toward me and, angered by this very fact, cast his vote in anger. If any of you feels this way—I do not expect you do, but if you do—it seems reasonable for me to say: "My friend, I too have a family. I am not born of oak or rock, as Homer says, but of human beings." So I do have a family, and three sons, men of Athens: one is a youth, and two are still boys. Nevertheless, I will not bring any of them here to beg you to acquit me.