Send the sennex to the scaffold Eyes wide and wan Though he’s barely through the gates I’ll bet his tongue is wet, his brow is drenched
Yet he says brimming with glee “I am the gadfly tickling the herd Of the ignorant and uninitiated Let them hear me and be disturbed
The truth was never meant for men It is poison to their ears, their minds and spirits Show them what they’re lacking and they’ll want it Be it to their furthering or detriment”
Someone gag him, The old man’s voice Brings me naught Save a turning stomach
Gods above his words are strong His mood is bright his tone is fearless
“Tell me aristoi what’s there to fear? Words are empty without action And all I’ve done is speak my mind If just for that I am condemned
Then gladly I’ll wag my tongue in freedom I would rather die than bight the yoke of censorship and vindication. Though in silver you find strength, mine comes from the mandate of the people And only the wealthy can be bought.”
Tell me Sophos, have you hope? “Hope is alive where there is discourse, As sparks bring fire, knowledge brings light. This is the life that I have chosen, And if it ends, well then that’s life. You demand cast off my morals and expect that I find sleep? Let’s end now this dull quarrel, I’ll take hemlock Before I submit to you, oh gilded statues of corruption”
This man has fluttered his lips enough Let him be bound, may he be silenced Let the ideals die with the man.
“You know as I do that’s ne’er occurred, And as I fade so grows my strength. Tomorrow the people will flatten your gates. We know there’s more to life, We know this garden’s growing Soon our ivy will swallow your gods of gold.
So now we go our separate ways You to life and I to death, But who amongst us truly has the better lot? Only time and truth may say.”