Which done he returned and fate to repose himself, not speaking much after that. Then came the Minister of the Eleven, the executioner; and addreffing himself to him, faid, I do not believe, Socrates, that I fhall reprehend that in you, which I am wont to reprehend in others; that they are angry with me, and curfe me, when by command of the magiftrates (whom I am by my office bound to obey) I come and give notice to them, that they must drink the poison. But I know you to be at all times, and chiefly at this, a man both generous, and most mild and civil; the best of all men that ever came into this place; so that I am affured you will not feel displeased with me, but (you know the authors) with them rather. Now therefore, for you know what meffage I come to bring, farewell; and endeavour to fuffer as patiently and as calmly as you can, that which cannot be avoided; then breaking forth into tears he departed: and Socrates, converting his eyes upon him faid, and farewell thou too; we will perform all things. Then turning to us again, how civil is this

man, faith he, all this time of my imprisonment, he came to me willingly, and sometimes talked with me refpectfully, and hath been the best of all that belong to the prison; and now how generously doth he weep for me! But, Crito, let us fpare him, and let fome other bring hither the deadly draught if it be already bruised; if not, let him bruise it. Then faid Crito, I think the fun fhines upon the tops of the mountains and is not yet quite down; and I have seen some delay the drinking of the poison much longer. Nay more, after notice had been given them that they ought to despatch, they have supped and drank largely too, and talked a good while with their friends. Be not then fo hafty; you have yet time enough. Those men of whom you speak, Crito, faith he, did well; for they thought they gained fo much more of life; but I will not follow

* By the Athenian law, no man was to be put to death until after funfet, left the fun, for which they had a fingular veneration, should be displeased at the

their example. For I conceive I shall gain nothing in deferring my draught till it be later in the night; unless it be to expose myself to be derided, for not being defirous, out of too great a love of life, to prolong the short remainder of it. But well, get the poison prepared quickly, and do nothing else till that be despatched. Crito hearing this, beckoned to a boy that was prefent; and the boy going forth and employing himself awhile in bruising the poison, returned with him who was to give it, and who brought it ready bruised in a cup: upon whom Socrates cafting his eyes, faid, be it fo, good man, tell me (for thou art well-skilled in fuch matters) what is to be done? Nothing, faith he, but after you have drank to walk, until a heaviness comes upon your legs and thighs, and then to fit; and this you fhall do. And with that he held forth the cup to Socrates, which he readily receiving, and being perfectly sedate, O Echecrates, without trembling, without change either in the colour or air of his face, but with the fame aspect and countenance, intent and stern (as was ufual to him) look

ing upon the man: what fayeft thou, saith he, may not a man offer fome of this liquor in facrifice? We have bruifed but fo much, Socrates, faith he, as we thought would be fufficient. I understand you, faith he; but yet it is both lawful and our duty to pray to the gods that our tranfmigration from hence to them may be happy and fortunate. Having spoke those words and remained filent, for a minute or two, he eafily and expeditely drank all that was in the cup. Then many

of us endeavoured what we could to contain our tears, but when we beheld him drinking the poison, and immediately after, no man was able longer to refrain from weeping: and while I put force upon myself to supprefs my tears, they flowed down my cheeks drop after drop. So covering my face, I wept in fecret, deploring not his, but my own hard fortune, in the lofs of fo great a friend and fo near a kinfman. But Crito, no longer being able to contend with his grief, and to forbid his tears, rose up before me. And Apollodorus firft breaking out into showers of tears, and then into cries,

howlings and lamentations, left no man from whom he extorted not tears in abundance; Socrates himself only excepted: — who faid, what do ye my friends? truly I fent away the women for no other reason, but left they fhould in this kind offend. For I have heard, that we ought to die with good men's gratulation but recompose yourselves and resume your courage and refolution. Hearing this, we blushed with fhame and fuppreffed our tears. But when he had walked awhile, and told us that his thighs were grown heavy and stupid; he lay down upon his back for fo he who had given him the poison had directed him to do. Who, a little time after, returns, and feeling him, looked upon his legs and feet: then pinching his foot vehemently, he asked him if he felt it? And when he said no, he again pinched his legs; and turning to us, told us, that now Socrates was stiff with cold and touching him, faid he would die fo foon as the poifon came up to his heart; for the parts about his heart were already grown ftiff. Then Socrates, putting afide the garment wherewith he was