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58 but firmly, he defended himself against the groundless charges of his accusers; but when the sentence was pronounced, his equanimity did not forsake him, but he rather exerted himself to console his afflicted friends. These formed a project for his escape, and sent Crito, one of their number, an old and tried friend of Socrates, to inform him of it, and to strive to induce him to comply with their wishes. Early in the morning of the last day but one, Crito came. The good man was still asleep. Crito sat down soflly by his bed, and waited till he awoke. He then informed him of the unanimous request of his friends, urging every motive which the peculiar circumstances of Socrates suggested, especially the care of his family, to persuade him, if possible, to save his life. Socrates permitted his friend to finish, and thanked him for this proof of his affection, but declared that flight was wholly irreconcilable with his principles. Plato's dialogue, recording this conversation, inspires the most profound admiration of Socrates, who adhered to his lofty principles with such unshaken firmness, on the brink of the grave, and who, notwithstanding the injustice of his condemnation, could not be persuaded to violate his duties as a citizen. At length the fatal day dawned, on which he was to drink the poison. His family and friends assembled early, to spend the last hours with him. He talked with them concerning his poem, concerning suicide, and lastly concerning the immortality of the soul. He spent the greater part of the day in these elevated meditations. He spoke with such animation of the hopes inspired by his faith, that his friends already looked upon him as a glorified spirit. The approach of twilight at length admonished him that the appointed hour had arrived. He asked