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Plato: Phaedo
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(114d) τὸ μὲν οὖν ταῦτα διισχυρίσασθαι οὕτως ἔχειν ὡς ἐγὼ διελήλυθα, οὐ πρέπει νοῦν ἔχοντι ἀνδρί·  ὅτι μέντοι ἢ ταῦτ᾽ ἐστὶν ἢ τοιαῦτ᾽ ἄττα περὶ τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν καὶ τὰς οἰκήσεις, ἐπείπερ ἀθάνατόν γε ἡ ψυχὴ φαίνεται οὖσα, τοῦτο καὶ πρέπειν μοι δοκεῖ καὶ ἄξιον κινδυνεῦσαι οἰομένῳ οὕτως ἔχειν--καλὸς γὰρ ὁ κίνδυνος--  καὶ χρὴ τὰ τοιαῦτα ὥσπερ ἐπᾴδειν ἑαυτῷ, διὸ δὴ ἔγωγε καὶ πάλαι μηκύνω τὸν μῦθον.  ἀλλὰ τούτων δὴ ἕνεκα θαρρεῖν χρὴ περὶ τῇ ἑαυτοῦ ψυχῇ (114e) ἄνδρα ὅστις ἐν τῷ βίῳ τὰς μὲν ἄλλας ἡδονὰς τὰς περὶ τὸ σῶμα καὶ τοὺς κόσμους εἴασε χαίρειν, ὡς ἀλλοτρίους τε ὄντας, καὶ πλέον θάτερον ἡγησάμενος ἀπεργάζεσθαι,  τὰς δὲ περὶ τὸ μανθάνειν ἐσπούδασέ τε καὶ κοσμήσας τὴν ψυχὴν οὐκ ἀλλοτρίῳ ἀλλὰ τῷ αὐτῆς κόσμῳ, σωφροσύνῃ τε καὶ (115a) δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ ἀνδρείᾳ καὶ ἐλευθερίᾳ καὶ ἀληθείᾳ,  οὕτω περιμένει τὴν εἰς Ἅιδου πορείαν [ὡς πορευσόμενος ὅταν ἡ εἱμαρμένη καλῇ].  ὑμεῖς μὲν οὖν, ἔφη, ὦ Σιμμία τε καὶ Κέβης καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι, εἰς αὖθις ἔν τινι χρόνῳ ἕκαστοι πορεύσεσθε·  ἐμὲ δὲ νῦν ἤδη καλεῖ, φαίη ἂν ἀνὴρ τραγικός, ἡ εἱμαρμένη, καὶ σχεδόν τί μοι ὥρα τραπέσθαι πρὸς τὸ λουτρόν·  δοκεῖ γὰρ δὴ βέλτιον εἶναι λουσάμενον πιεῖν τὸ φάρμακον καὶ μὴ πράγματα ταῖς γυναιξὶ παρέχειν νεκρὸν λούειν. 
Igitur ista hesitare itatenus prout ego executus sum, non convenit mentem habenti viro;  quoniam uti que vel hec sunt vel talia quedam circa animas nostras et habitaciones, quando quidem immortale certe anima videtur esse, istud eciam decet, michi videtur, et dignum labore indagari rata sic se habere - bonus quippe labor,-  et oportet talia quasi incantare sibi ipsi, idcirco egomet et dudum produco sermonem.  Immo ista propter confidere decet de sui anima virum qui in vita alias voluptates que circa corpus necnon adornaciones permisit valere velut alienas existentes, et magis alterum arbitratus opere complere,  atque circa addiscendum sategit quidem et exornans animam non alieno, verum sui ipsius ornatu sobrietateque et iusticia et fortitudine et libertate atque veritate,  ita maneat in Avernum iter quasi gressurus cum fatum vocaverit.  Vos vero” infit “O Simmia et Cebes atque ceteri, in deinceps in quodam tempore singuli migrabitis;  ‘me nempe iam vocat’ dicat uti que vir tragicus ‘parca,’ et ferme michi hora converti ad lavacrum.  Videtur namque iam pocius esse lotum bibere farmacum et non vexacionem mulieribus dare mortuum lavare.” 
Haec igitur eo se pacto prorsus habere quo ego dis(32)posui, non decet virum sanae mentis asserere,  esse tamen vel haec vel talia quaedam circa (33) animos nostros eorumque habitationes, quandoquidem animus ipse immortalis apparet, (34) et decere mihi videtur et dignum quasi periclitantes ista existimare. Honestum enim peri(35)culum est  oportetque haec quasi carmina quaedam magorum ritu mentibus nostris infun(36)dere. Quamobrem ipse iam diu protraho fabulam.  Sed horum gratia bonam spem de ani(37)mo suo habere debet, quicunque voluptatibus ornamentisque corporis neglectis tanquam (38) alienis, ad diversumque declinantibus,  voluptates quae in discendo percipiuntur studio(39)se sectatus fuerit animumque non alieno, sed suo decoraverit ornamento, temperantia, iusti(40)tia, fortitudine, libertate, veritate,  sic ex hac vita migrationem expectans tanquam cum fa(41)tum vocaverit migraturus.  Vos quidem, o Simmia et Cebes alijque praesentes, in posterum (42) quodam in tempore singuli transmigrabitis.  'Me vero nunc', ut tragicus aliquis diceret, 'iam (43) vocat fatum'. Ac ferme tempus est ut ad lavandum divertam.  Praestat enim ut puto post la(44)vacrum venenum bibere, ne in lavando cadavere molestiam mulieribus praebeamus.” 
A man of sense ought not to say, nor will I be very confident, that the description which I have given of the soul and her mansions is exactly true.  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 I lengthen out the tale.  Wherefore, I say, let a man be of good cheer about his soul, who having cast away the pleasures and ornaments of the body as alien to him and working harm rather than good,  has sought after the pleasures of knowledge; and has arrayed the soul, not in some foreign attire, but in her own proper jewels, temperance, and justice, and courage, and nobility, and truth  --in these adorned she is ready to go on her journey to the world below, when her hour 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. 
(115b) ταῦτα δὴ εἰπόντος αὐτοῦ ὁ Κρίτων, εἶεν, ἔφη, ὦ Σώκρατες·  τί δὲ τούτοις ἢ ἐμοὶ ἐπιστέλλεις ἢ περὶ τῶν παίδων ἢ περὶ ἄλλου του, ὅτι ἄν σοι ποιοῦντες ἡμεῖς ἐν χάριτι μάλιστα ποιοῖμεν; 
Hec autem inquiente ipso, Criton “Esto” ait, “O Socrate;  quid vero istis vel michi mandas seu de pueris sive de aliquo alio quodcumque tibi facientes nos in gracia maxime agamus?” 
Cum (45) haec dixisset Socrates, Crito sic inquit. “Dic age, o Socrates,  quidnam his aut mihi mandas (46) agendum, vel erga filios tuos vel circa caetera? Quidve agendo maxime tibi gratum feceri(47)mus?” 
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? 
ἅπερ ἀεὶ λέγω, ἔφη, ὦ Κρίτων, οὐδὲν καινότερον·  ὅτι ὑμῶν αὐτῶν ἐπιμελούμενοι ὑμεῖς καὶ ἐμοὶ καὶ τοῖς ἐμοῖς καὶ ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς ἐν χάριτι ποιήσετε ἅττ᾽ ἂν ποιῆτε, κἂν μὴ νῦν ὁμολογήσητε·  ἐὰν δὲ ὑμῶν [μὲν] αὐτῶν ἀμελῆτε καὶ μὴ ᾽θέλητε ὥσπερ κατ᾽ ἴχνη κατὰ τὰ νῦν τε εἰρημένα καὶ τὰ ἐν τῷ ἔμπροσθεν χρόνῳ ζῆν, οὐδὲ ἐὰν πολλὰ ὁμολογήσητε (115c) ἐν τῷ παρόντι καὶ σφόδρα, οὐδὲν πλέον ποιήσετε. 
“Que utique semper” inquit “dico, O Crito, nichil recencius;  quoniam vestrum ipsorum curam habentes vos et michi et meis, atque vobis ipsis in gracia facietis quecumque egeritis, et si nequaquam nunc fateamini;  si vero vestrum ipsorum curam contempseritis et nolueritis tamquam ad vestigia secundum modo dicta et que in priori tempore vitam duccre, neque si multum fassi fueritis et impresenciarum atque validius nichilo magis facietis.” 
“Nihil equidem”, inquit, “novi praecipio, sed quod semper vobis praedico,  videlicet si ve(48)tri curam habebitis, et mihi et vobis ipsis grata evadent quaecunque feceritis etiam si nunc (49) verbis non concedatis.  At vero si vos ipsos neglexeritis nolentes secundum ea quae nunc (50) ex superiori tempore dicta sunt, quasi per vestigia vitam dirigere, nihil prorsus proficietis, (51) etsi multa nobis nunc disputantibus concedatis.” 
Nothing particular, Crito, he replied:  only, as I have always told you, take care of yourselves; that is a service which you may be ever rendering to me and mine and to all of us, whether you promise to do so or not.  But if you have no thought for yourselves, and care not to walk according to the rule which I have prescribed for you, not now for the first time, however much you may profess or promise at the moment, it will be of no avail. 
ταῦτα μὲν τοίνυν προθυμησόμεθα, ἔφη, οὕτω ποιεῖν· θάπτωμεν δέ σε τίνα τρόπον; 
“Ista quidem ex animo studebimus” ait “ita facere; sepeliemus te quonam modo?” 
“Ista quidem”, ait Crito, “curae nobis erunt. Sed (52) quemadmodum sepeliri te iubes?” 
We will do our best, said Crito: And in what way shall we bury you? 
ὅπως ἄν, ἔφη, βούλησθε, ἐάνπερ γε λάβητέ με καὶ μὴ ἐκφύγω ὑμᾶς.  γελάσας δὲ ἅμα ἡσυχῇ καὶ πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἀποβλέψας εἶπεν·  οὐ πείθω, ὦ ἄνδρες, Κρίτωνα, ὡς ἐγώ εἰμι οὗτος Σωκράτης, ὁ νυνὶ διαλεγόμενος καὶ διατάττων ἕκαστον τῶν λεγομένων,  ἀλλ᾽ οἴεταί με ἐκεῖνον εἶναι (115d) ὃν ὄψεται ὀλίγον ὕστερον νεκρόν, καὶ ἐρωτᾷ δὴ πῶς με θάπτῃ.  ὅτι δὲ ἐγὼ πάλαι πολὺν λόγον πεποίημαι, ὡς, ἐπειδὰν πίω τὸ φάρμακον, οὐκέτι ὑμῖν παραμενῶ, ἀλλ᾽ οἰχήσομαι ἀπιὼν εἰς μακάρων δή τινας εὐδαιμονίας,  ταῦτά μοι δοκῶ αὐτῷ ἄλλως λέγειν, παραμυθούμενος ἅμα μὲν ὑμᾶς, ἅμα δ᾽ ἐμαυτόν.  ἐγγυήσασθε οὖν με πρὸς Κρίτωνα, ἔφη, τὴν ἐναντίαν ἐγγύην ἢ ἣν οὗτος πρὸς τοὺς δικαστὰς ἠγγυᾶτο.  οὗτος μὲν γὰρ ἦ μὴν παραμενεῖν·  ὑμεῖς δὲ ἦ μὴν μὴ παραμενεῖν ἐγγυήσασθε ἐπειδὰν ἀποθάνω, ἀλλὰ οἰχήσεσθαι (115e) ἀπιόντα,  ἵνα Κρίτων ῥᾷον φέρῃ, καὶ μὴ ὁρῶν μου τὸ σῶμα ἢ καόμενον ἢ κατορυττόμενον ἀγανακτῇ ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ ὡς δεινὰ πάσχοντος, μηδὲ λέγῃ ἐν τῇ ταφῇ ὡς ἢ προτίθεται Σωκράτη ἢ ἐκφέρει ἢ κατορύττει.  εὖ γὰρ ἴσθι, ἦ δ᾽ ὅς, ὦ ἄριστε Κρίτων, τὸ μὴ καλῶς λέγειν οὐ μόνον εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο πλημμελές, ἀλλὰ καὶ κακόν τι ἐμποιεῖ ταῖς ψυχαῖς.  ἀλλὰ θαρρεῖν τε χρὴ καὶ φάναι τοὐμὸν σῶμα θάπτειν, καὶ θάπτειν (116a) οὕτως ὅπως ἄν σοι φίλον ᾖ καὶ μάλιστα ἡγῇ νόμιμον εἶναι. 
“Proutcumque” dixit “volueritis, si quidem comprehenderitis me et non effugero vos.”  FEDO. Ridensque pariter quiete et ad nos respiciens dixit:  “Haut persuadeo’ inquit, “O viri, Critona quoniam ego sum hic Socrates qui nunc disputo et digero unumquodque eorum que dicta sunt,  atqui suspicatur me aillum esse quem videbitis paulo posterius mortuum, atque percunctatur quonam modo me sepeliat.  Nam et ego pridem plurimum sermonem feci, quoniam, ex quo bibero farmacum, non iam vos prestolabor, verum deportabor migrans in beatorum quasdam felicitates;  ista michi videor ipsi aliter dicere consolatus quidem vos pariterque me ipsum.  Fideiubete igitur me erga Critona” inquit “contraria fideiussione quam qua iste erga iudices fideiubebat.  Hic enim certe permanere,  vos vero certe non permanere fideiubete ut obiero, immo deportari abeuntem,  quatinus Crito facile ferat et ne conspiciens mei corpus seu crematum seu defossum indignetur pro me quasi gravia paciente, neque dicat in sepultura quoniam aut proponitur Socrates vel effertur sive defoditur.  Bene enim nosti” ait ille, “O optime Crito, quod non bene dicitur, non solum in hoc ipsum delictum, immo eciam malum quid infert animabus.  Verum confidereque oportet et dicere meum corpus sepelire, et sepelire sic quomodocumque tibi amicum fuerit et maxime arbitreris legitimum esse.” 
“Vtcunque”, inquit, “libet”, si tamen me apprehendetis, ac nisi (53) ego vos effugero.”  Et simul subridens et ad nos conversus,  “non persuadeo”, inquit Critoni, (519, 1) “me esse hunc Socratem qui nunc disputo et singula dicta dispono.  Sed opinatur me illud (2) esse quod paulo post videbit cadaver. Itaque interrogat quemadmodum me sepeliat.  Quod (3) autem iamdiu plurimis verbis contendo, postquam venenum bibero, haud ulterius apud (4) vos me esse futurum, sed ad beatorum profecturum felicitates,  hoc quidem mihi videor (5) frustra Critoni dixisse consolans vos simul atque meipsum.  Fideiubete igitur pro me Cri(6)toni contraria quadam fideiussione quam ipse iudicibus fideiussit.  Ille enim me iudicio (7) sistere,  vos autem me non sistere cum obiero fideiubere, sed abiturum,  ut Crito obitum fa(8)cilius meum ferat, neve meum corpus vel cremari cernens vel sepeliri, me deploret quasi (9) dira patientem. Neque dicat in funere proponi Socratem aut efferri aut sub terram con(10)di.  Certum id habeto, optime Crito, quod maledictum est non solum in hoc ipso delin(11)quere, verumetiam animis nonnihil officere.  At enim considere oportet atque dicere cor(12)pus sepeliri meum atque ita sepeliri ut tibi placebit, maximeque iustum esse censebis.” 
In any way that you like; but you must get hold of me, and take care that I do not run 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 endeavour 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 was comforting you and myself,  have had, as I perceive, no effect upon Crito.  And therefore I want you to be surety for me to him now, as at the trial he was surety to the judges for me:  but let the promise be of another sort;  for he was surety for me to the judges that I would remain, 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 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 whatever is usual, and what you think best. 
ταῦτ᾽ εἰπὼν ἐκεῖνος μὲν ἀνίστατο εἰς οἴκημά τι ὡς λουσόμενος, καὶ ὁ Κρίτων εἵπετο αὐτῷ, ἡμᾶς δ᾽ ἐκέλευε περιμένειν.  περιεμένομεν οὖν πρὸς ἡμᾶς αὐτοὺς διαλεγόμενοι περὶ τῶν εἰρημένων καὶ ἀνασκοποῦντες,  τοτὲ δ᾽ αὖ περὶ τῆς συμφορᾶς διεξιόντες ὅση ἡμῖν γεγονυῖα εἴη,  ἀτεχνῶς ἡγούμενοι ὥσπερ πατρὸς στερηθέντες διάξειν ὀρφανοὶ τὸν ἔπειτα βίον.  ἐπειδὴ (116b) δὲ ἐλούσατο καὶ ἠνέχθη παρ᾽ αὐτὸν τὰ παιδία  --δύο γὰρ αὐτῷ ὑεῖς σμικροὶ ἦσαν, εἷς δὲ μέγας--  καὶ αἱ οἰκεῖαι γυναῖκες ἀφίκοντο ἐκεῖναι, ἐναντίον τοῦ Κρίτωνος διαλεχθείς τε καὶ ἐπιστείλας ἅττα ἐβούλετο, τὰς μὲν γυναῖκας καὶ τὰ παιδία ἀπιέναι ἐκέλευσεν, αὐτὸς δὲ ἧκε παρ᾽ ἡμᾶς. 
Hec dicens ille surrexit in habitaculum quoddam ut lavandus et Crito sequebatur eum nosque precepit operiri.  Prestolabamur igitur ad nos ipsos disputantes de eis que dicta sunt et intencionem adhibentes,  tandem iterum de iactura pertractantes quanta nobis facta fuerit,  mirabiliter iudicantes tamquam a patre privati victum ire orphani in deinceps.  Ubi autem lotus est et admissi ad eum pueri  - duo namque filii parvuli erant unusque magnus -  et proprie uxores veniebant, ille, adversus Critona collocutusque et iniungens que volebat, mulieres ac pueros abire precepit ipseque venit versus nos. 
His (13) dictis surrexit intravitque cubiculum quoddam quasi lavaturus. Crito autem secutus est. (14) Nos vero exspectare iussit.  Expectabamus ergo de his quae dicta erant inter nos colloquen(15)tes rursusque considerantes.  Praeterea conquerebamur fortunam nostram,  qui tanquam (16) parente orbati reliquum vitae tempus orphani futuri essemus.  Cum Socrates lotus esset, (17) delati sunt ad eum pueri sui.  Duos enim filios habebat parvulos, unum vero iam gran(18)dem.  Venerunt et mulieres domesticae. Ad eas Socrates cum praesente Critone verba fe(19)cisset et quae volebat mandavisset, mulieres quidem et pueros abire iussit, ipse vero ad nos (20) redijt, 
When he had spoken these words, he arose and went into a chamber to bathe; Crito followed him and told us to wait.  So we remained behind, 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; then he dismissed them and returned to us. 
καὶ ἦν ἤδη ἐγγὺς ἡλίου δυσμῶν·  χρόνον γὰρ πολὺν διέτριψεν ἔνδον.  ἐλθὼν δ᾽ ἐκαθέζετο λελουμένος καὶ οὐ πολλὰ ἄττα μετὰ ταῦτα διελέχθη,  καὶ ἧκεν ὁ τῶν ἕνδεκα ὑπηρέτης καὶ στὰς (116c) παρ᾽ αὐτόν,  ὦ Σώκρατες, ἔφη, οὐ καταγνώσομαί γε σοῦ ὅπερ ἄλλων καταγιγνώσκω, ὅτι μοι χαλεπαίνουσι καὶ καταρῶνται ἐπειδὰν αὐτοῖς παραγγείλω πίνειν τὸ φάρμακον ἀναγκαζόντων τῶν ἀρχόντων.  σὲ δὲ ἐγὼ καὶ ἄλλως ἔγνωκα ἐν τούτῳ τῷ χρόνῳ γενναιότατον καὶ πρᾳότατον καὶ ἄριστον ἄνδρα ὄντα τῶν πώποτε δεῦρο ἀφικομένων,  καὶ δὴ καὶ νῦν εὖ οἶδ᾽ ὅτι οὐκ ἐμοὶ χαλεπαίνεις, γιγνώσκεις γὰρ τοὺς αἰτίους, ἀλλὰ ἐκείνοις.  νῦν οὖν, οἶσθα γὰρ ἃ ἦλθον (116d) ἀγγέλλων, χαῖρέ τε καὶ πειρῶ ὡς ῥᾷστα φέρειν τὰ ἀναγκαῖα.  καὶ ἅμα δακρύσας μεταστρεφόμενος ἀπῄει. 
Et erat iam prope solis occasum;  tempus enim multum moratus est intus.  Veniensque sedebat lotus et non multa aliqua post hec disputavit,  et venit undecim minister, et stans iuxta eum:  “O Socrate” inquit, “nequaquam condempnabo te cuius alios condempno, quoniam michi molesti sunt quociens ipsis annuncio bibere farmacum compellentibus principibus.  Te autem ego et aliter cognovi in hoc tempore generasissimumque et mansuetissimus atque optimum virum existentem umquam huc veniencium,  et nunc quidem bene novi quoniam neutiquam michi indignaris - cognoscis enim eos qui causa sunt - immo istis.  Modo - nosti quippe que veni nuncians - vale et experire quam facillime ferre inevitabilia.”  Et simul lacrimatus retroversus abiit. 
iam circiter solis occasum,  permultum enim temporis spatium intus fuerat commo(21)ratus.  Cum vero ad nos venisset lotus, consedit. Nec multa post haec locutus erat,  cum ve(22)nit Vndecimvirorum lictor. Qui illi adstans,  “o Socrates”, inquit, “non arbitror eam in te no(23)vitatem me deprehensurum quam deprehendere in caeteris soleo. Illi enim indignantur (24) mihi atque execrantur quando illis denuncio venenum esse bibendum, ita magistratibus (25) compellentibus.  Te vero cognovi praesertim in hoc tempore generosissimum mansue(26)tissimumque et optimum virum omnium qui unquam hunc in locum devenerunt,  et nunc (27) equidem certe scio te mihi haud infestum fore, sed illis penes quos rei huius causam esse (28) cognoscis.  Nunc ego scis quem tibi nuncium afferam. Vale atque annitere quae necessa(29)ria sunt pro viribus facile ferre”,  et simul his dictis abibat lachrymans. 
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 to blame.  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. 
καὶ ὁ Σωκράτης ἀναβλέψας πρὸς αὐτόν, καὶ σύ, ἔφη, χαῖρε, καὶ ἡμεῖς ταῦτα ποιήσομεν.  καὶ ἅμα πρὸς ἡμᾶς, ὡς ἀστεῖος, ἔφη, ὁ ἄνθρωπος·  καὶ παρὰ πάντα μοι τὸν χρόνον προσῄει καὶ διελέγετο ἐνίοτε καὶ ἦν ἀνδρῶν λῷστος, καὶ νῦν ὡς γενναίως με ἀποδακρύει.  ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε δή, ὦ Κρίτων, πειθώμεθα αὐτῷ, καὶ ἐνεγκάτω τις τὸ φάρμακον, εἰ τέτριπται·  εἰ δὲ μή, τριψάτω ὁ ἄνθρωπος. 
Atque Socrates respiciens in ipsum “Et tu” inquit “vale et nos hec agemus.”  Et simul ad nos “Quam elegans” inquit “homo;  et per universum tempus michi aderat et disputabat interdum et erat virorum facetissimus, et nunc quam generose me lamentatur.  Immo age, O Crito, persuadeamus ipsi, et afferat quis farmacum, si tritum est;  si vera minime, terat homo.” 
Socrates autem in (30) eum respiciens, “et tu”, inquit, “vale, et nos id faciemus.”  Simulque ad nos conversus, “Quam ur(31)banus est homo hic”, inquit.  “Neque solum in hoc, sed in superiori etiam tempore me salu(32)tabat colloquebaturque nonnunquam fuitque semper virorum optimus. Et nunc quam in(33)genue me deplorat?  Sed age, o Crito, illi pareamus, ac si iam tritum est venenum, aliquis (34) huc afferat.  Si nondum est tritum, conterat ille.” 
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 to me as could be, and now see how generously he sorrows on my account.  We must do as he says, Crito; and therefore let the cup be brought, if the poison is prepared:  if not, let the attendant prepare some. 
(116e) καὶ ὁ Κρίτων, ἀλλ᾽ οἶμαι, ἔφη, ἔγωγε, ὦ Σώκρατες, ἔτι ἥλιον εἶναι ἐπὶ τοῖς ὄρεσιν καὶ οὔπω δεδυκέναι.  καὶ ἅμα ἐγὼ οἶδα καὶ ἄλλους πάνυ ὀψὲ πίνοντας, ἐπειδὰν παραγγελθῇ αὐτοῖς,  δειπνήσαντάς τε καὶ πιόντας εὖ μάλα, καὶ συγγενομένους γ᾽ ἐνίους ὧν ἂν τύχωσιν ἐπιθυμοῦντες.  ἀλλὰ μηδὲν ἐπείγου· ἔτι γὰρ ἐγχωρεῖ. 
“At reor” infit “ego quidem, O Socrate, adhuc solem esse super montes necdum introiisse.  Et pariter ego vidi et multos omnino sero bibentes, ubi nunciatum est illis,  cenantesque et bibentes bene valde, et assistentes aliquos quorum fuerunt desiderabiles.  Verum nequaquam insta; adhuc enim licet.” 
“At reor equidem,” inquit Crito, “o Socrates, (35) nondum solem reliquisse montes nec occidisse.  Et novi alios postquam id sibi nunciatum (36) est valde sero bibere illud consuevisse,  largiter coenatos atque potos, interdum vero etiam il(37)lorum potitos quorum amore afficiebantur.  Quamobrem ne adeo festines, adhuc enim su(38)perest tempus.” 
Yet, said Crito, the sun is still upon the hill-tops,  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 hurry--there is time enough. 
καὶ ὁ Σωκράτης, εἰκότως γε, ἔφη, ὦ Κρίτων, ἐκεῖνοί τε ταῦτα ποιοῦσιν, οὓς σὺ λέγεις  --οἴονται γὰρ κερδαίνειν ταῦτα ποιήσαντες--  καὶ ἔγωγε ταῦτα εἰκότως οὐ ποιήσω·  οὐδὲν γὰρ (117a) οἶμαι κερδανεῖν ὀλίγον ὕστερον πιὼν  ἄλλο γε ἢ γέλωτα ὀφλήσειν παρ᾽ ἐμαυτῷ, γλιχόμενος τοῦ ζῆν καὶ φειδόμενος οὐδενὸς ἔτι ἐνόντος.  ἀλλ᾽ ἴθι, ἔφη, πείθου καὶ μὴ ἄλλως ποίει. 
“Convenienter quoque” inquit, “O Crito, illi hec faciunt quos tu dicis  - existimant enim lucrari hec agentes,-  et ego quidem ista convenienter non agam;  nichil quippe reor lucri facere paulo posterius migrans,  aliud quidem quam risum debere apud me ipsum, gliscens vivere et parcens nulli amplius superstanti.  Sed i” inquit, “persuade neque aliter facias.” 
Tunc Socrates, “merito,” inquit, “o Crito, illi ista faciunt.  Putant enim haec faci(39)entes lucrari.  Atque ego merito ista non faciam.  Nihil enim me lucraturum spero si paulo po(40)sterius venenum bibero,  nisi ut mihi ipsi sim ridiculus tanquam vitae cupidus atque parcus (41) eius rei servator, cuius nihil iam amplius mihi adest.  Sed age iam mihi obtempera, nec ali(42)ter facias.” 
Socrates said: Yes, Crito, and they of whom you speak are right in so acting,  for they think that they will be gainers by the delay;  but I am right in not following their example,  for I do not think that I should gain anything by drinking the poison a little later;  I should only be ridiculous in my own eyes for sparing and saving a life which is already forfeit.  Please then to do as I say, and not to refuse me. 
καὶ ὁ Κρίτων ἀκούσας ἔνευσε τῷ παιδὶ πλησίον ἑστῶτι.  καὶ ὁ παῖς ἐξελθὼν καὶ συχνὸν χρόνον διατρίψας ἧκεν ἄγων τὸν μέλλοντα δώσειν τὸ φάρμακον, ἐν κύλικι φέροντα τετριμμένον.  ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Σωκράτης τὸν ἄνθρωπον, εἶεν, ἔφη, ὦ βέλτιστε, σὺ γὰρ τούτων ἐπιστήμων, τί χρὴ ποιεῖν; 
Et Crito audiens innuit puero prope stanti;  atque puer egrediens et continuo tempore intus moratus venit ducens eum qui debuit dare farmacum, in calice ferentem tritum.  Intuitusque Socrates hominem: “Esto” inquit, “O potissime; tu enim horum gnarus dic quid oportet facere.” 
Crito vero his auditis annuit puero, qui longe non aberat.  Ille vero egressus et ali(43)quantulum commoratus redijt, eum qui venenum daturus erat secum ducens. Attulit autem (44) in calice id attritum.  Hunc aspiciens Socrates, “Cedo,” inquit, “bone vir, tu enim harum rerum (45) peritiam habes, quid me facere oportet?” 
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.  Socrates said: You, my good friend, who are experienced in these matters, shall give me directions how I am to proceed. 
οὐδὲν ἄλλο, ἔφη, ἢ πιόντα περιιέναι, ἕως ἄν σου βάρος (117b) ἐν τοῖς σκέλεσι γένηται, ἔπειτα κατακεῖσθαι·  καὶ οὕτως αὐτὸ ποιήσει. 
“Nichil aliud” ait “quam bibentem deambulare usque quo tui gravedo in cruribus fiat, dehinc recubare;  et ita ipsum efficiet.” 
“Nihil”, inquit, “aliud quam post potionem deambulare (46) quoad gravari tibi sentias crura, postea vero iacere,  atque ita tu facies.” 
The man answered: You have only to walk about until your legs are heavy, and then to lie down,  and the poison will act. 
καὶ ἅμα ὤρεξε τὴν κύλικα τῷ Σωκράτει.  καὶ ὃς λαβὼν καὶ μάλα ἵλεως, ὦ Ἐχέκρατες, οὐδὲν τρέσας οὐδὲ διαφθείρας οὔτε τοῦ χρώματος οὔτε τοῦ προσώπου, ἀλλ᾽ ὥσπερ εἰώθει ταυρηδὸν ὑποβλέψας πρὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον,  τί λέγεις, ἔφη, περὶ τοῦδε τοῦ πώματος πρὸς τὸ ἀποσπεῖσαί τινι;  ἔξεστιν ἢ οὔ; 
Et una porrexit calicem Socrati.  Et ille recipiens et valde propicius, O Echecrate, nichil tremens neque vicians neque corporis neque coloris neque vultus, immo velut consueverat tauratim respiciens in hominem  “Quid ais” inquit “de hoc poculo ad hauriendum alicui?  Sufficit necne?” 
Haec dicens porrexit (47) calicem Socrati.  Socrates vero hilariter admodum, o Echecrates, accepit, nihil omnino com(48)motus neque colore neque vultu mutato. Sed quemadmodum consueverat taurine illum aspi(49)ciens,  “quid ais?” inquit. “Licetne ex hoc poculo nonnihil spargendo sacrificare?”  [see previous] 
At the same time he handed the cup to Socrates,  who in the easiest and gentlest manner, without the least fear or change of colour 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? 
τοσοῦτον, ἔφη, ὦ Σώκρατες, τρίβομεν ὅσον οἰόμεθα μέτριον εἶναι πιεῖν. 
“Tantum” infit, “O Socrate, terimus quantum existimamus ad mensuram esse bibere.” 
“Tantum,” in(50)quit, “o Socrates, contrivimus, quantum satis fore putavimus.” 
The man answered: We only prepare, Socrates, just so much as we deem enough. 
(117c) μανθάνω, ἦ δ᾽ ὅς·  ἀλλ᾽ εὔχεσθαί γέ που τοῖς θεοῖς ἔξεστί τε καὶ χρή, τὴν μετοίκησιν τὴν ἐνθένδε ἐκεῖσε εὐτυχῆ γενέσθαι·  ἃ δὴ καὶ ἐγὼ εὔχομαί τε καὶ γένοιτο ταύτῃ.  καὶ ἅμ᾽ εἰπὼν ταῦτα ἐπισχόμενος καὶ μάλα εὐχερῶς καὶ εὐκόλως ἐξέπιεν.  καὶ ἡμῶν οἱ πολλοὶ τέως μὲν ἐπιεικῶς οἷοί τε ἦσαν κατέχειν τὸ μὴ δακρύειν,  ὡς δὲ εἴδομεν πίνοντά τε καὶ πεπωκότα, οὐκέτι, ἀλλ᾽ ἐμοῦ γε βίᾳ καὶ αὐτοῦ ἀστακτὶ ἐχώρει τὰ δάκρυα,  ὥστε ἐγκαλυψάμενος ἀπέκλαον ἐμαυτόν--οὐ γὰρ δὴ ἐκεῖνόν γε, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἐμαυτοῦ τύχην, οἵου ἀνδρὸς (117d) ἑταίρου ἐστερημένος εἴην.  ὁ δὲ Κρίτων ἔτι πρότερος ἐμοῦ, ἐπειδὴ οὐχ οἷός τ᾽ ἦν κατέχειν τὰ δάκρυα, ἐξανέστη.  Ἀπολλόδωρος δὲ καὶ ἐν τῷ ἔμπροσθεν χρόνῳ οὐδὲν ἐπαύετο δακρύων, καὶ δὴ καὶ τότε ἀναβρυχησάμενος κλάων καὶ ἀγανακτῶν οὐδένα ὅντινα οὐ κατέκλασε τῶν παρόντων πλήν γε αὐτοῦ Σωκράτους.  ἐκεῖνος δέ, --οἷα, ἔφη, ποιεῖτε, ὦ θαυμάσιοι.  ἐγὼ μέντοι οὐχ ἥκιστα τούτου ἕνεκα τὰς γυναῖκας ἀπέπεμψα, ἵνα μὴ (117e) τοιαῦτα πλημμελοῖεν·  καὶ γὰρ ἀκήκοα ὅτι ἐν εὐφημίᾳ χρὴ τελευτᾶν.  ἀλλ᾽ ἡσυχίαν τε ἄγετε καὶ καρτερεῖτε. 
“Disco” inquit ille;  “verum orare deos licet expeditque et decet transmigracionem istinc quidem istuc fortunatam fieri;  que quidem et ego ora et fiat ita.”  Et pariter dicens ista sustinens valde hilariter et facile ebibit.  Et nostrum plurimi tam mansuete potentes erant tenere ut non lacrimarentur;  ut vera vidimus bibentemque et lapsum nondum, verum ego quidem ipse vim et violenciam michi inferens sine lacrimarum eciam stilla permansi,  qua de re velatus deflebam me ipsum, non enim illum, atqui mei ipsius casum, quali viro privatus fuerim.  Ceterum Crito iam prior me, quoniam impos erat tenere lacrimas, exsurrexit.  Apollodorus vera in priori tempore non quiescebat lacrimari, et utique tunc rugiens flens et indignans nullum quempiam non deflevit presencium preter ipsum Socratem.  Ille autem “Que” inquit “agitis, O mirabiles?  Ego siquidem non incassum huius causa mulieres hinc dimisi, neve talia delinquerent;  et enim e audivi quoniam in bona voce decet defungi;  verum silencium agite et sustinete.’ 
“Intelligo”, inquit.  “Sed et licet et (51) oportet orare deos ut felix sit transmigratio nostra.  Quod equidem obsecro, atque utinam (52) ita fiat.”  Et simul his dictis admovens facile admodum alacriterque ebibit.  Plerique nostrum eo (53) usque retinere quodammodo lachrymas potueramus.  At postquam et bibentem vidimus (521, 1) et bibisse, ulterius non potuimus, sed me quidem dolor adeo superabat ut lachrymae largi(2)ter iam mihi profluerent.  Quapropter me protegens deplorabam non illum quidem, sed (3) fortunam meam, qui tali amico orbatus essem.  Crito autem etiam prius cum lachrymas ne(4)quiret continere, surrexerat.  Sed Apollodorus nec in superiori quidem tempore unquam (5) lachrymare cessaverat. Tunc vero praecipue vociferans seque ipsum afflictans neminem re(6)liquit praesentium, cuius vicem non deploraret praeter unius Socratis vicem.  Ille vero haec (7) animadvertens, “Quidnam,” inquit, “o viri mirabiles, agitis?  Atqui ego maxime hanc ob cau(8)sam mulieres abegeram ne talia facerent.  Audiveram enim cum gratulatione et applausum esse (9) ex hac vita migrandum.  Quiescite igitur atque tolerate.” 
I understand, he said:  but I may and must ask the gods to prosper my journey from this to the other world  --even so--and so be it according to my prayer.  Then raising 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, not for him, but at the thought of my own calamity in having to part from such a friend.  Nor was I the first; for Crito, when he found himself unable to restrain his tears, had got up, and I followed;  and at that moment, Apollodorus, who had been weeping all the time, broke out in a loud and passionate 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 might not misbehave in this way,  for I have been told that a man should die in peace.  Be quiet, then, and have patience. 
καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀκούσαντες ᾐσχύνθημέν τε καὶ ἐπέσχομεν τοῦ δακρύειν.  ὁ δὲ περιελθών, ἐπειδή οἱ βαρύνεσθαι ἔφη τὰ σκέλη, κατεκλίνη ὕπτιος  --οὕτω γὰρ ἐκέλευεν ὁ ἄνθρωπος--  καὶ ἅμα ἐφαπτόμενος αὐτοῦ οὗτος ὁ δοὺς τὸ φάρμακον,  διαλιπὼν χρόνον ἐπεσκόπει τοὺς πόδας καὶ τὰ σκέλη, κἄπειτα σφόδρα πιέσας αὐτοῦ τὸν πόδα ἤρετο εἰ αἰσθάνοιτο, (118a) ὁ δ᾽ οὐκ ἔφη.  καὶ μετὰ τοῦτο αὖθις τὰς κνήμας· καὶ ἐπανιὼν οὕτως ἡμῖν ἐπεδείκνυτο ὅτι ψύχοιτό τε καὶ πήγνυτο.  καὶ αὐτὸς ἥπτετο καὶ εἶπεν ὅτι, ἐπειδὰν πρὸς τῇ καρδίᾳ γένηται αὐτῷ, τότε οἰχήσεται. 
Et nos audientes erubuimus quoque et continuimus a lacrimatu.  Hic veto deambulans, quia sibi gravari dixit crura, reclinatus est supinus  - sic enim preceperat homo;-  et simul tangens ipsum is qui dedit farmacum,  intermittens tempus consideravit pedes et crura, et deinde valde apprehendens ipsius pedes interrogabat utrum sentiret; hic vero “Minime” inquit;  et post hoc iterum tibias; et ascendens ita nobis ipsis ostendebat quoniam algebatque et congelabatur,  et ipse tangebat et dicebat: “Ex quo in corde fiet sibi, tunc asportabitur.” 
Nos vero haec audientes erubui(10)mus destitimusque a lachrymis.  Sed ipse cum inter deambulandum crura iam gravari sen(11)tiret, iacuit resupinus  – sic enim qui venenum praebuit iusserat.  Qui paulo post eum tan(12)gens  pedes et crura consideravit. Deinde gravius conprimens pedem eius, quasivit an senti(13)ret. Negavit Socrates.  Ille rursus pressit tibias paulatimque manu ascendens ostendit nobis (14) frigere eas atque rigere.  Et ipse attigit rursus aitque "cum ad cor pervenerit, tunc esse decessu(15)rum." 
When we heard his words we were ashamed, and refrained our tears;  and he walked about until, as he said, his legs began to fail, and then he lay on his back,  according to the directions,  and the man who gave him the poison now and then looked at his feet and legs;  and after a while he pressed his foot hard, and asked him if he could feel; and he said, No;  and then his leg, and so upwards and upwards, and showed us that he was cold and stiff.  And he felt them himself, and said: When the poison reaches the heart, that will be the end. 
ἤδη οὖν σχεδόν τι αὐτοῦ ἦν τὰ περὶ τὸ ἦτρον ψυχόμενα, καὶ ἐκκαλυψάμενος--ἐνεκεκάλυπτο γάρ--εἶπεν--ὃ δὴ τελευταῖον ἐφθέγξατο--  --ὦ Κρίτων, ἔφη, τῷ Ἀσκληπιῷ ὀφείλομεν ἀλεκτρυόνα·  ἀλλὰ ἀπόδοτε καὶ μὴ ἀμελήσητε. 
Iam ergo fere quid ipsius erant que circa animam congelata, et discoopertus - velatus enim erat - inquit (quod extremum protulit):  “O Crito” infit, “Asclepio debemus gallum;  immo reddite neque negligite.” 
Iam igitur friguerant ei praecordia, cum detegens, erat enim veste coopertus, dixit, (16) quae vox illi extrema fuit.  “O Crito, Aesculapio gallum debemus,  quem reddite, neque ne(17)gligatis.” 
He was beginning to grow cold about the groin, when he uncovered his face, for he had covered himself up, and said--they were his last words--he said:  Crito, I owe a cock to Asclepius;  will you remember to pay the debt? 
ἀλλὰ ταῦτα, ἔφη, ἔσται, ὁ Κρίτων·  ἀλλ᾽ ὅρα εἴ τι ἄλλο λέγεις. 
“Verum hec” ait “erunt” Crito;  “sed vide si quid aliud dicis.” 
“Fiet”, inquit Crito, “quod iubes.  Sed vide num quid aliud velis.” 
The debt shall be paid, said Crito;  is there anything else? 
ταῦτα ἐρομένου αὐτοῦ οὐδὲν ἔτι ἀπεκρίνατο,  ἀλλ᾽ ὀλίγον χρόνον διαλιπὼν ἐκινήθη τε καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐξεκάλυψεν αὐτόν, καὶ ὃς τὰ ὄμματα ἔστησεν·  ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Κρίτων συνέλαβε τὸ στόμα καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς. 
Hec sciscitante nil amplius respondit,  immo modicum tempus intermittens movit se quidem et homo reve1avit eum, et qui lumina statuit;  intuitusque Crito comprehendit os et oculos. 
Haec interroganti (18) nihil ultra respondit.  Sed cum parvo tempore interquievisset commotus est. Et minister de(19)texit eum atque ipse lumina fixit.  Quod cum Crito cerneret, ora oculosque composuit. 
There was no answer to this question;  but in a minute or two a movement was heard, and the attendants uncovered him; his eyes were set,  and Crito closed his eyes and mouth. 
ἥδε ἡ τελευτή, ὦ Ἐχέκρατες, τοῦ ἑταίρου ἡμῖν ἐγένετο, ἀνδρός, ὡς ἡμεῖς φαῖμεν ἄν, τῶν τότε ὧν ἐπειράθημεν ἀρίστου καὶ ἄλλως φρονιμωτάτου καὶ δικαιοτάτου. 
Hic vero finis, O Echecrate, amici nobis fuit, viri, ut nos asserimus, eorum qui tunc quorum experienciam habuimus optimi et aliter prudentissimi atque iustissimi. 
Hic fi(20)nis fuit amici nostri, o Echecrates, viri nostro quidem iudicio, omnium quos expertisu(21)mus optimi et apprime sapientissimi atque iustissimi. 
Such was the end, Echecrates, of our friend; concerning whom I may truly say, that of all the men of his time whom I have known, he was the wisest and justest and best. 
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