Axiochus

comminalty, being soon after outcast, hissed at, condemned, and delivered to a miserable death. For where, I pray thee O Axiochus the addressee of this dialogue, (thee I ask that art in office in the commonwealth) died that mighty Miltiades Athenian general? Where that victorious Themistocles Athenian politician? Where that valiant Ephialtes Athenian politician? Where finally these noble kings and glorious Emperors, which not long ago flourished in the commonwealth? As for myself, I could never be brought to bear office in the city: for I never accounted it as a worthy and laudable thing to be in authority together with the madding multitude.
But Theramenes Athenian statesman and Calixenus Athenian politician, of late memory, appointing under them certain magistrates, condemned certain guiltless men to undeserved death, not hearing their causes. Only you and Triptolemus an Athenian official withstood them, of thirty thousand men who were gathered in the assembly.

It is as thou sayest, Socrates, and since that time I have refrained myself from the stage: neither hath any thing ever to me seemed of greater weight than the governing of the commonwealth, and that is well known to them who are in the same office. For thou speakest these things, as having out of some