gorgias   

refute that statement?

Soc. Then I shall be very grateful to the child, and equally

grateful to you if you will refute me and deliver me from my

foolishness. And I hope that refute me you will, and not weary of

doing good to a friend.

Pol. Yes, Socrates, and I need not go far or appeal to antiquity;

events which happened only a few days ago are enough to refute you,

and to prove that many men who do wrong are happy.

Soc. What events?

Pol. You see, I presume, that Archelaus the son of Perdiccas is

now the ruler of Macedonia?

Soc. At any rate I hear that he is.

Pol. And do you think that he is happy or miserable?

Soc. I cannot say, Polus, for I have never had any acquaintance with

him.

Pol. And cannot you tell at once, and without having an acquaintance

with him, whether a man is happy?

Soc. Most certainly not.

Pol. Then clearly, Socrates, you would say that you did not even

know whether the great king was a happy man?

Soc. And I should speak the truth; for I do not know how he stands

in the matter of education and justice.

Pol. What! and does all happiness consist in this?

Soc. Yes, indeed, Polus, that is my doctrine; the men and women

who are gentle and good are also happy, as I maintain, and the

unjust and evil are miserable.

Pol. Then, according to your doctrine, the said Archelaus is

miserable?

Soc. Yes, my friend, if he is wicked.

Pol. That he is wicked I cannot deny; for he had no title at all

to the throne which he now occupies, he being only the son of a

woman who was the slave of Alcetas the brother of Perdiccas; he