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wave casts them forth…mere homicides by way of Cocytus； parricides and
matricides by Pyriphlegethon…and they are borne to the Acherusian
Lake； and there they lift up their voices and call upon the victims
whom they have slain or wronged； to have pity on them； and to
receive them； and to let them come out of the river into the lake。 And
if they prevail； then they come forth and cease from their troubles；
but if not； they are carried back again into Tartarus and from
thence into the rivers unceasingly； until they obtain mercy from those
whom they have wronged： for that is the sentence inflicted upon them
by their judges。 Those also who are remarkable for having led holy
lives are released from this earthly prison； and go to their pure home
which is above； and dwell in the purer earth； and those who have
duly purified themselves with philosophy live henceforth altogether
without the body； in mansions fairer far than these； which may not
be described； and of which the time would fail me to tell。
Wherefore； Simmias； seeing all these things； what ought not we to do
in order to obtain virtue and wisdom in this life？ Fair is the
prize； and the hope great。
I do not mean to affirm that the description which I have given of
the soul and her mansions is exactly true…a man of sense ought
hardly to say that。 But I do say that； inasmuch as the soul is shown
to be immortal； he may venture to think； not improperly or unworthily；
that something of the kind is true。 The venture is a glorious one； and
he ought to comfort himself with words like these； which is the reason
why lengthen out the tale。 Wherefore； I say； let a man be of good
cheer about his soul； who has cast away the pleasures and ornaments of
the body as alien to him； and rather hurtful in their effects； and has
followed after the pleasures of knowledge in this life； who has
adorned the soul in her own proper jewels； which are temperance； and
justice； and courage； and nobility； and truth…in these arrayed she
is ready to go on her journey to the world below； when her time comes。
You； Simmias and Cebes； and all other men； will depart at some time or
other。 Me already； as the tragic poet would say； the voice of fate
calls。 Soon I must drink the poison； and I think that I had better
repair to the bath first； in order that the women may not have the
trouble of washing my body after I am dead。
When he had done speaking； Crito said： And have you any commands for
us； Socrates…anything to say about your children； or any other
matter in which we can serve you？
Nothing particular； he said： only； as I have always told you； I
would have you look to yourselves； that is a service which you may
always be doing to me and mine as well as to yourselves。 And you
need not make professions； for if you take no thought for
yourselves； and walk not according to the precepts which I have
given you； not now for the first time； the warmth of your
professions will be of no avail。
We will do our best； said Crito。 But in what way 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 you。 Then he turned to us； and added
with a smile： I cannot make Crito believe that I am the same
Socrates who have 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
and go to the joys of the blessed…these words of mine； with which I
comforted you and myself； have had； 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； but 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 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 burying my body only；
and do with that as is usual； and as you think best。
When he had spoken these words； he arose and went into the bath
chamber with Crito； who bade us wait； and we waited； talking and
thinking of the subject of discourse； and also of the greatness of our
sorrow； he was 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
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 out； he sat down with us
again after his bath； but not much was said。 Soon the jailer； who
was the servant of the Eleven； 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； 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； 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 prison he has always been coming to see me；
and at times he would talk to me； and was as good as could be to me；
and now see how generously he sorrows for me。 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。
Yet； said Crito； the sun is still upon the hilltops； and many a
one has taken the draught late； and after the announcement has been
made to him； he has eaten and drunk； and indulged in sensual delights；
do not hasten then； there is still time。
Socrates said： Yes； Crito； and they of whom you speak are right in
doing thus； 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： I could only laugh at
myself for this。 Please then to do as I say； and not to refuse me。
Crito； when he heard this； made a sign to the servant； and the
servant went in； and remained for some time； and then returned with
the jailer carrying a cup of poison。 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 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； Echecrates； as his
manner was； took the cup and said： 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： yet I may and must pray to the gods to prosper my
journey from this to that other world…may this； then； which is my
prayer； be granted to me。 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 sorrow； but now when we saw him
drinking； and saw too that he had finished the draught； we could no
longer forbear； and in spite of myself my own tears were flowing fast；
so that I covered my face and wept over myself； for certainly I was
not weeping over him； but at the thought of my own calamity in
having lost such a companion。 Nor was I the first； for Crito； when
he found himself unable to restrain his tears； had got up and moved
away； and I followed； and at that moment。 Apollodorus； who had been
weeping all the time； broke out in a loud cry which made cowards of us
all。 Socrates alone retained his calmness： What is this strange
outcry？ he said。 I sent away the women mainly in order that they mig