Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/426

396 396 PLATO

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."

AVhen 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, 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 mo- ment, it will be of no avail."

" We will do our best," said Crito ; " and in what way shall we bury you ? " ^

" 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 has 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

1 Crito had been a friend of Socrates from boyhood. He was pre- sent not as a philosophical follower but as his oldest friend.

2 I. e. Do you wish to be cremated or buried ?

3 Rather, this Socrates.