Chapter 16 Volume II Chapter Nine

Wealthy Kerry says he is haunted by whistleblowers.Socrates suggested to him that he should hire the poor and law-abiding Ahdemas to defend him; the plan was beneficial to both parties.Ahedemas also helped others, for which he gained fame and rewards. I know that he once heard Crito say that it was difficult for a man to live in Athens.Criton added, "People are suing me right now, not because they tell people I've done harm, but because they think I'd rather pay for it than cause trouble." "Criton, please tell me," said Socrates, "do you keep dogs to keep wolves out of your flock?"

"Of course," replied Criton, "because it is more economical to have dogs than to have none." "Then why not raise a willing and capable man to guard against those who would harm you?" asked Socrates. "I would have liked to have done so, had it not been for the fear that he might harm me in turn," replied Criton. "Why?" asked Socrates, "don't you see that it is easier for a man to please someone like you to benefit himself than to offend you? You know that there are people here who can reconcile It is a very honorable thing for you to make friends!"

After this conversation they found Ahdemas, a very eloquent and capable man, but poor; , he was able to get the loot back from the informer.Therefore, whenever Criton harvested corn, oil, wine, wool, or any other agricultural product, he always gave some of it to Ahdemas, and whenever he made a sacrifice, he always asked Ahdemas Hedamas ate and looked after him in every way.So Ahdemas took Criton's house as his refuge, and he respected Criton very much, and he soon discovered that those who accused Criton had done many wrongdoings, and there were many others. Many enemies.He reported one of them, and according to the facts of the case, this person must be sentenced or fined.Knowing that he was guilty, he tried every means to escape from the hands of Ahdemas, but Ahdemas did not let him go until he withdrew the lawsuit against Criton and compensated him for his losses. .

When Ahdemas succeeded in this and others like it, then, as any shepherd had a good dog, the other shepherds would put their flocks among his flocks. In the same way that many of Crito's friends begged him to allow them to ask Ahedemas to be their guardian as well, in order to have the care of his dog.In this respect Ahedemas was willing to please Criton, and therefore not only Crito himself was safe, but his friends were also safe.If anyone who disagreed with Ahdemas accused him of flattering him by receiving the favor of Criton, Ahdemas would answer him: "Which is shameful? To accept the upright Do you treat him favorably and repay him with kindness, so that you will lose peace with the bad guys, or do you harm the noble and kind people, making them your enemies, and making them your confidantes with the bad guys?"

Henceforth Ahedemas was a friend of Criton and respected by his other friends.