Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/425

395 THE DEATH OF SOCRATES 395

THE DEATH OF SOCRATES

From the Phaedo, pp. 115-118.

Scene. — The Prison.

The story is supposed to be told by Socrates's young friend Phaedo, his " beloved disciple," to Echecrates and a company of philosophers in Phlius.

" Wherefore,^ Simmias, seeing all these things, what ought not we to do that we may obtain virtue and wisdom in this life ? Fair is the prize, and the hope great !

" 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. AVherefore, I say, let a man be of good cheer about his soul, who having cast away the plea- sures 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 no- bility, 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 a

^ Socrates is just concluding his discussion of the immortality of the soul.