SOURCE: "The Character of Socrates," in Two Unpublished Essays, Lamson, Wolffe & Co., 1895, pp. 1-39.

In the following excerpt, Emerson discusses the "uncommon and admirable" character of Socrates and acknowledges the debt owed by "modern improvement" to the wisdom of Socrates. Emerson explores the moral background of Socrates's age and discusses Socrates's moral philosophy, noting that the philosopher sought to reform the "abuses of morals and virtue which had become a national calamity." Because the date of composition of this essay is not known, Ernerson's death date has been used to date the essay.

          Guide my way
 Through fair Lyceum's walk, the green
  retreats
 Of Academus, and the thymy vale
 Where, oft enchanted with Socratic sounds,
 Ilissus pure devolved his tuneful stream
 In gentler murmurs. From the blooming store
 Of these auspicious fields, may I unblamed
 Transplant some living blossoms to adorn
 My native clime.

The philosophy of the...