The Double Indictment or Trials by Jury

​Zeus Therefore, I would gladly ask the philosophers, who deem only the gods happy, when they think we have leisure to enjoy nectar and ambrosia, having infinitely many troubles. Look, indeed, because of our lack of leisure, we keep so many stale lawsuits lying there, already ruined by mold and cobwebs, especially those that arise between certain sciences and arts against certain men, some of them being very ancient. But they cry out from all sides and are angry, shouting for justice and blaming me for my slowness, not knowing that it did not happen that the judgments became overdue through neglect, but because of the “happiness” with which they assume we associate. For this is what they call our “leisure.”

​Hermes I myself, Zeus, hearing many such complaints on earth from those who are displeased, did not dare to speak to you. But since you have introduced this discussion, I will indeed speak. They are very angry, father, and complain, and while they do not dare to speak openly, they mutter with their heads bowed, blaming the time; they who should have long ago known their own affairs and each been content with what was decided. Zeus What then, Hermes, do you think? Shall we set a market-day for their lawsuits, or do you want us to announce it for next year? Hermes By no means, but let us propose it now. Zeus Do so. Fly down and herald that there will be a market of lawsuits as follows: all who have brought indictments are to come today to the Areopagus, and there Justice (Dike) is to allot the courts to them according to the value of the assessments from among all the Athenians. And if anyone should think the judgment was unjust, let it be permitted to appeal to me and have the case tried anew, as if it had not been decided at all. And you, daughter, sitting by the Reverend Goddesses, allot the suits and oversee the judges.

​Dike To the earth again, so that, driven out by them, I may flee once more from life, unable to bear Injustice (Adikia) laughing at me? Zeus You must hope for the best; for the philosophers have now entirely persuaded them to prefer you to Injustice, especially the son of Sophroniscus, who praised justice to the skies and declared it to be the greatest of goods. Dike Indeed, those words about me benefited that very man you mention, who, handed over to the Eleven and thrown into prison, drank the hemlock, wretched man, without even having paid the cock to Asclepius; so far did his accusers, who philosophized the opposite concerning Injustice, prevail over him.

​Zeus At that time, the matters of philosophy were still foreign to the majority, and those who philosophized were few, so that naturally the courts inclined toward Anytus and Meletus. But as things are now, do you not see how many cloaks, staffs, and wallets there are? And everywhere a deep beard and a book in the left hand, and all are philosophizing on your behalf, and the walks are full of those meeting one another in troops and phalanxes, and there is no one who does not wish to appear a pupil of virtue. Many indeed, abandoning the trades they had until then, having rushed for the wallet and the cloak, and having tanned their bodies in the sun to an Ethiopian dark, wander about as extemporaneous philosophers from shoemakers or carpenters, praising you and your virtue. So that, according to the proverb, one would sooner fall in a ship and miss a piece of wood than look anywhere with the eye and fail to find a philosopher.

​Dike And yet, Zeus, these men terrify me, quarreling with one another and acting unreasonably in the very things they discourse about me. They say that most of them pretend to embrace me in their words, but in their deeds do not receive me into their houses at all, but would clearly shut me out if ever I should come to their doors; for they have long since entertained Injustice as their guest. Zeus Not all, daughter, are wicked; it is enough if you meet with even some who are good. But go now, so that at least a few cases may be decided today.