Einstein's Tongue
About The Author
Weldon Goree (August 4, 1821 - February 27, 1892) was born in Jura, France (now part of the commune of Lavans-sur-Valouse). In 1835, he became an apprentice luggage maker to prominent households in Paris. Because of his well established reputation in his field, Napoleon III of France appointed Goree as luggage maker to his wife, Empress Eugenie de Montijo. Through his experience with the French aristocracy, he developed expert knowledge of what made a good travelling case.
Meno: The Limerick
by
Weldon Goree
There once was a man from Thessalia
Who asked Socrates, inter alia,
"Is virtue a thing
That is born, like a king,
Or taught, by some teachers who'd fail ya?"
Socrates said, "You love Aristippus
Who, Gorgias-like, sent you to whip us
In wisdom, not horses,
For Gorgias the source is
Of all these damn sophists who trip us.
"And how lucky you are to have Gorgias,
Who gives such a knowing performance!
Whatever you ask
He is up to the task
That man really knows what the score is!
"Alas, here the scene is not pretty
And wisdom has fled from our city
Instead of a fount
It's a positive drought
So I think you must show me some pity.
"Dear Meno, I really can't answer
I don't claim to grasp virtue's manner
I simply don't know
You clever Meno
And I've never met one but a ranter"
"Not one? You remained unpersuaded?
But Gorgias is so accoladed!"
"Again, I don't know
I don't recall, Meno
Or perhaps his style left me abraded
"But as he's not here for debatin'
Take up the position he's taken
If you answer with pluck
I would think it great luck
To be proven, in this case, mistaken
"So tell me in his place, good Meno
If you have the answer, let me know
Repeat what he said
Or speak from your own head
But whatever you do, don't tell me no!"
"Well, virtue for men is quite easy:
To act so the guards should not seize ye;
To protect your own state
And hurt those you hate
And help those whose existinces please ye.
"And virtue for women is other,
And it's different for sister and brother
And free man and slave
Must distinctly behave
Be they uncle, or father, or mother."
"Why Meno, you gave me a treasure
Whose tonnage seems quite beyond measure
But before you retire
Please let me inquire
And I'll go away answered with pleasure.
"I hoped for a small, single reply
But got several clauses with te-kai.
If I asked about bees,
You might answer with ease
'There are many types of Melittidae
"'With distinct honey, stingers, and bumbles'
But then you would be in some trouble
Because what is the same
That gives bee-kind its name?
Your answer's no better than mumbles."