[2] The tournament became a jousting bout. [↑]
LXI
Here it is told of the philosopher Socrates, and how he answered the Greeks
Socrates was a noble Roman philosopher[1], and in his days the Greeks sent a great and noble embassy to the Romans.
The purpose of their embassy was to adduce arguments to free themselves of the tribute they paid to the Romans. And the Sultan gave them these instructions: go and make use of arguments, and if necessary, use money.
The ambassadors reached Rome.
The purpose of their embassy was set forth in the Roman Council. [[142]]
The Roman Council decided that the reply to the Greeks’ question should be made by the philosopher Socrates; it being decided without any further conditions that Rome would stand by whatever Socrates answered.
The ambassadors went to Socrates’ dwelling, very far from Rome, to set their arguments before him.