Pagina 669 van 1391

Tell me then, O thou heir of the argument, what did Simonides

say, and according to you truly say, about justice?

He said that the repayment of a debt is just, and in saying so he

appears to me to be right.

I should be sorry to doubt the word of such a wise and inspired

man, but his meaning, though probably clear to you, is the

reverse of clear to me. For he certainly does not mean, as we

were just now saying, that I ought to return a deposit of arms or

of anything else to one who asks for it when he is not in his

right senses; and yet a deposit cannot be denied to be a debt.

True.

Then when the person who asks me is not in his right mind I am by

no means to make the return?

Certainly not.

When Simonides said that the repayment of a debt was justice, he

did not mean to include that case?

Certainly not; for he thinks that a friend ought always to do

good to a friend and never evil.