DRIXA: You speak like wisdom itself. Some divinity must inspire you. Instruct us: what must be done? ANITUS: The judges will soon pass here to go to the Tribunal; Melitus is at their head. DRIXA: But that Melitus is a little pedant; an evil man who is your enemy. ANITUS: Yes, but he's even more an enemy of Socrates. He's a hypocritical rogue who maintains the rights of the Areopagus against me. But we will join together when it's a question of ruining those false wise men who are capable of enlightening the people about our conduct. Listen, my dear Drixa, you are devout. DRIXA: Yes, assuredly, my lord. I love money and pleasure with all my heart, but as regards devotion, I will give place to no one. ANITUS: Go take some devout people with you and when the judges pass by, scream out against impiety. TERPANDRE: Will there be something to gain by it? We are ready. ACROS: Yes. But what kind of impiety? ANITUS: All types. You have only to accuse him boldly of not believing in the gods. That's the quickest way. DRIXA: Oh! Let me do it. ANITUS: You will be perfectly seconded. Go under these porticoes; stir up your friends. Meanwhile, I am going to instruct some newsmongers of the controversy, some hack scribblers who often come to dine with me. They are very despicable people, I admit. But, when they are carefully directed, on occasion, they can do harm. All means must be used to make the good cause triumph. Go, my dear friends. Commend yourselves to Ceres. You will shout on my given signal. It's the sure way of gaining hearers, and especially to live happily on earth. (They leave; Nonoti, Chomos and Bertios enter) ANITUS: Tireless, Nonoti, deep Chomos, fastidious Bertios; have you prepared against this evil Socrates the little works I ordered? NONOTI: I have labored, Milord; he won't recover from it. CHOMOS: I have demonstrated the truth against him. He is confounded. BERTIOS: I said only one word in my paper: he is ruined. ANITUS: Take care, Nonoti. I forbade you to be prolix. You are naturally boring; you could try the patience of the court. NONOTI: Milord, I've written only a page. There I prove that the soul is an infused quintessence; that tails are given to animals to shoo flies; that love works miracles, and that consequently Socrates is an enemy of the state who must be exterminated. ANITUS: You couldn't draw a better conclusion. Go bring your accusation to the second judge, who is an excellent philosopher. I will answer for it. You will soon defeat your enemy Socrates. NONOTI: Milord, I am not his enemy. I am only annoyed that he's got too great a reputation, and all that I am doing is for the glory of Ceres, and the good of the country. ANITUS: Go, I tell you. Hurry up. Well, wise Chomos, what have you done? CHOMOS: Milord, not having found anything to reprove in Socrates' writings, I've adroitly accused him of thinking contrary to what he says. I point out the venom in what he says.