Too scanty 'twas to die for you,
The merest Greek could that.
The living, Sweet, is costlier－
I offer even that－
The Dying, is a trifle, past, 5
But living, this include
The dying multifold－without
The Respite to be dead.
The merest Greek could that.
The living, Sweet, is costlier－
I offer even that－
The Dying, is a trifle, past, 5
But living, this include
The dying multifold－without
The Respite to be dead.
(F.1023/J.1013)
[1] you:: the Greece.
[1, 2] die, merest Greek:: Socrates chose death to honor his belief.
[3] living, costlier:: to live, escape from Athens, would cost more.
[4] I:: Socrates.
[5] Dying, trifle:: to cease life (dying) is a relief, passed quickly.
[6, 7] living, dying multifold:: living has various desires (dying).
[8] The Respite, dead:: having a ceaseless trifling life without a moment of leisure to do nothing.
I would answer too with Aristotle, when asked why he left Athens, "I would not have the Athenians to sin twice against philosophy, nor would I that our honourable worthies should run the second time upon the same rock or danger of ruin." ─ Fifth-Monarchy-Man (1867)