gorgias   

Pol. What do you mean? If a man is detected in an unjust attempt

to make himself a tyrant, and when detected is racked, mutilated,

has his eyes burned out, and after having had all sorts of great

injuries inflicted on him, and having seen his wife and children

suffer the like, is at last impaled or tarred and burned alive, will

he be happier than if he escape and become a tyrant, and continue

all through life doing what he likes and holding the reins of

government, the envy and admiration both of citizens and strangers? Is

that the paradox which, as you say, cannot be refuted?

Soc. There again, noble Polus, you are raising hobgoblins instead of

refuting me; just now you were calling witnesses against me. But

please to refresh my memory a little; did you say-"in an unjust

attempt to make himself a tyrant"?

Pol. Yes, I did.

Soc. Then I say that neither of them will be happier than the

other-neither he who unjustly acquires a tyranny, nor he who suffers

in the attempt, for of two miserables one cannot be the happier, but

that he who escapes and becomes a tyrant is the more miserable of

the two. Do you laugh, Polus? Well, this is a new kind of

refutation-when any one says anything, instead of refuting him to

laugh at him.

Pol. But do you not think, Socrates, that you have been sufficiently

refuted, when you say that which no human being will allow? Ask the

company.

Soc. O Polus, I am not a public man, and only last year, when my

tribe were serving as Prytanes, and it became my duty as their

president to take the votes, there was a laugh at me, because I was

unable to take them. And as I failed then, you must not ask me to

count the suffrages of the company now; but if, as I was saying, you

have no better argument than numbers, let me have a turn, and do you

make trial of the sort of proof which, as I think, is required; for

I shall produce one witness only of the truth of my words, and he is