THE DEATH OF SOCRATES.

The story of the last hours of Socrates has been told, as follows, by Plato, the greatest of his disciples. When Socrates had done speaking, Crito said: "And have you any commands for us,

5 Socrates anything to say about your children, or any other matter in which we can serve you?"

Plato.

walk not according to the precepts which I have given you, not now for the first time, the warmth of your pro20 fessions will be of no avail."

"We will do our best," said Crito.

would you have us bury you?"

"In any way that you like; only you must get hold of me, and take care that I do not walk away from 25 you."

Then he turned to us, and added with a smile: "I can not make Crito believe that I am the same Socrates who has been talking and conducting the argument; he

fancies that I am the other Socrates whom he will soon see, a dead body and he asks how shall he bury me? And though I have spoken many words in the endeavor to show that when I have drunk the poison I shall leave you to go to the joys of the blessed, these words of 5 mine, with which I comforted you and myself, have had, as I perceive, no effect upon Crito. And therefore I want you to be surety for me now, as he was surety for me at the trial: but let the promise be of another sort; for he was my surety to the judges that I would remain, 10 and you must be my surety to him that I shall not remain, but go away and depart; and then he will suffer less at my death, and not be grieved when he sees my body being burned or buried. I would not have him sorrow at my hard lot, or say at the burial Thus we lay 15 out Socrates,' or, Thus we follow him to the grave or bury him;' for false words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil. Be of good cheer then, my dear Crito, and say that you are burning my body only, and do with that as is usual, and as you 20 think best."

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When he had spoken these words, he arose and told us to wait while he went into the bath chamber with Crito; and we waited, talking and thinking of the subject of discourse, and also of the greatness of our sorrow; he was 25 like a father of whom we were being bereaved, and we were about to pass the rest of our lives as orphans. When he had taken the bath, his children were brought to him (he had two young sons and an elder one); and the women of his family also came, and he talked to 30

them and gave them a few directions in the presence of Crito; and he then dismissed them and returned to us.

Now the hour of sunset was near, for a good deal of time had passed while he was within. When he came 5 out, he sat down again with us after his bath, but not much was said. Soon the jailer entered and stood by him, saying: "To you, Socrates, whom I know to be the noblest and gentlest and best of all who ever came to this place, I will not impute the angry feelings of other men, 10 who rage and swear at me, when, in obedience to the authorities, I bid them drink the poison; indeed, I am sure that you will not be angry with me; for others, as you are aware, and not I, are the guilty cause. And so fare you well, and try to bear lightly what must needs be. 15 You know my errand."

Then bursting into tears he turned away and went out. Socrates looked at him and said, "I return your good wishes, and will do as you bid." Then turning to us he said: "How charming the man is! Since I have been in 20 prison he has always been coming to see me, and at times he would talk to me, and was as good as now see how generously he sorrows for me.

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could be, and

But we must do as he says, Crito; let the cup be brought, if the poison is prepared: if not, let the attendant prepare some."

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Yet," said Crito, "the sun is still upon the hilltops, and I know that many a one has taken the draught late, and after the announcement has been made to him, he has eaten and drunk, and enjoyed the society of his beloved; do not hasten then; there is still time!"

Socrates said: "Yes, Crito, and they of whom you

speak are right in doing this, for they think that they will gain by the delay; but I am right in not doing thus, for I do not think that I should gain anything by drinking the poison a little later; I should be sparing and saving a life which is already gone, and could only despise myself 5 for this. Please then to do as I say, and not to refuse

me.

Crito made a sign to the servant who was standing by, and he went out, and having been absent for some time returned with the jailer carrying the cup of poison. 10 Socrates said: "You, my good friend, who are experienced in these matters, shall give me directions how I am to proceed.

The man answered: "You have only to walk about until your legs are heavy, and then to lie down, and the 15 poison will act."

At the same time he handed the cup to Socrates, who in the easiest and gentlest manner, without the least fear or change of color or feature, looking at the man with all his eyes, as his manner was, took the cup and said: 20 "What do you say about making a libation out of this cup to any god? May I, or not?"

The man answered: "We only prepare, Socrates, just so much as we deem enough."

"I understand," he said; "but I may and must ask 25 the gods to prosper, my journey from this to that other world-even so and so be it according to my prayer." Then holding the cup to his lips, quite readily and cheerfully he drank off the poison.

And hitherto most of us had been able to control our 30