What he says is truth."
This provoked Socrates greatly, for he felt his reputation was in
danger; so he said with a frown,
"The world is shallow, like a dish; were it flat the water would all
run over the edges, and we should have no oceans."
Then the people applauded more loudly than before, and cried,
"Socrates is right the is wisest of all."
Pericles, at this, shifted uneasily upon his stool, for he knew he
must dispute the matter boldly or his fame would depart from him.
Therefore he said, with grave deliberation,
"You are wrong, my friends. The world is hollow, like the shell of a
cocoanut, and we are all inside the shell. The sky above us is the
roof, and if you go out upon the ocean you will come to a place, no
matter in which direction you go, where the sky and the water meet. I
know this is true, for I have been to sea."
The people cheered loudly at this, and said,
"Long live Pericles, the wisest of the wise men!"
"I shall hold I am right," protested Sophocles, "until Pericles and
Socrates prove that I am wrong."
"That is fair enough," said the people.
"And I also shall hold myself to be right until they prove me wrong,"
declared Socrates, firmly.
"I know I am right," said Pericles, "for you cannot prove me wrong."
"We can take a boat and sail over the sea," remarked Socrates, "and
when we come to the edge we will know the truth.
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