to spare his fellow-citizens the guilt of innocent blood? But, if all these motives cannot alter him, and he is not concerned in regard to himself, can he be insensible to the interests of his children? In what a condition does he leave them: and can he forget the father to remember only the philosopher?

Socrates, after having heard him with attention, praised his zeal, and expressed his gratitude; but, before he could give into his opinion, was for examining whether it was just for him to depart out of prison without the consent of the Athenians. The question, therefore, here is, to know whether a man, condemned to die, though unjustly, can, without a crime, escape from justice and the laws. Socrates held it was unjust; and therefore nobly refused to escape from prison. He reverenced the laws of his country, and resolved to obey them in all things, even in his death.

At length the fatal ship returned to Athens, which was, in a manner, the signal for the death of Socrates. The next day all his friends, except Plato, who was sick, repaired to the prison early in the morning. The jailor desired them to wait a little, because the eleven magistrates (who had the direction of the prisons) were at that time signifying to the prisoner, that he was to die the same day. Presently after they entered, and found Socrates, whose chains had been taken off, sitting by Xantippe, his wife, who held one of his children in her arms; as soon as she perceived them, setting up great cries, sobbing, and

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tearing her face and hair, she made the prison resound with her complaints. Oh, my dear Socrates! your friends are come to see you this day for the last time!" He desired she might be taken away; and she was immediately carried home.

Socrates passed the rest of the day with his friends, and discoursed with them with his usual cheerfulness and tranquillity. The subject of conversation was the most important, and adapted to the present conjuncture; that is to say, the immortality of the soul. What gave occasion to this discourse was a question introduced in a manner by chance, Whether a true philosopher ought not to desire, and take pains to die? This proposition, taken too literally, implied an opinion, that a philosopher might kill himself. Socrates shews, that nothing is more unjust than this notion; and that man, appertaining to God, who formed and placed him, with his own hand, in the post he possesses, cannot abandon it, without his permission, nor depart from life, without his order. What is it, then, that can induce a philosopher to entertain this love for death? It can be only the hope of that happiness, which he expects in another life: and that hope can be founded only upon the opinion of the soul's immortality..

Socrates employed the last day of his life in entertaining his friends upon this great and important subject; from which conversation, Plato's admirable dialogue, entitled the Phædon, is wholly taken. He explains to his friends all the arguments for believing

the soul immortal, and refutes all the objections against it, which are very nearly the same as are made at this day.

When Socrates had done speaking, Crito desired him to give him, and the rest of his friends, his last instructions in regard to his children and other affairs, that, by executing them, they might have the consolation of doing him some pleasure. "I shall recommend nothing to you this day," replied Socrates, "more than I have already done, which is to take care of yourselves. You cannot do yourselves a greater service, nor do me and my family a greater pleasure." Crito having asked him afterwards in what manner he thought fit to be buried :-" As "As you please," said Socrates, "if you can lay hold of me, and I escape not out of your hands." At the same time, looking on his friends with a smile, "I can never persuade Crito, that Socrates is he who converses with you, and disposes the several parts of his discourse, for he always imagines that I am what he is going to see dead in a little while; he confounds me with my carcass, and, therefore, asks me how I would be interred." On finishing these words, he rose up, and went to bathe himself in a chamber adjoining. After he came out of the bath, his children were brought to him; for he had three, two very little, and the other grown up. He spoke to them for some time, gave his orders to the women who took care of them, and then dismissed them. Being returned into his chamber, he laid himself down upon his bed.

The servant of the eleven entered at the same instant, and, having informed him that the time for drinking the hemlock was come, (which was at sunset,) the servant was so much afflicted with sorrow, that he turned his back, and fell a weeping. "See," said Socrates, "the good heart of this man: since my imprisonment, he has often come to see me, and to converse with me; he is more worthy than all his fellows; how heartily the poor man weeps for me! This is a remarkable example, and might teach those, in an office of this kind, how they ought to behave to all prisoners, but more especially to persons of merit, when they are so unhappy as to fall into their hands.” The fatal cup was brought. Socrates asked what it was necessary for him to do? "Nothing more," replied the servant, "than, as soon as you have drank off the draught, to walk about till you find your legs grow weary, and afterwards lie down upon your bed." He took the cup, without any emotion, or change in his colour or countenance; and, regarding the man with a steady and assured look--" Well," said he, "what say you of this drink; may one make a libation out of it ?" Upon being told there was only enough for one dose :-" At least," continued he, "we may say our prayers to the gods, as it is our duty, and implore them to make our exit from this world and our last stage happy, which is what I most ardently beg of them." After having spoke these words, he kept silence for some time, and then drank off the whole draught, with an amazing tran

quillity and serenity of aspect, not to be expressed or conceived.

Till then, his friends, with great violence to themselves, had refrained from tears; but, after he had drank the potion, they were no longer their own masters, and wept abundantly. Apollodorus, who had been in tears almost the whole conversation, began then to raise great cries, and to lament with such excessive grief, as pierced the hearts of all that were present. Socrates alone remained unmoved, and even reproved his friends, though with his usual mildness and good nature. "What are you doing?" said he to them: "I wonder at you! Oh! what is become of your virtue? Was it not for this I sent away, the women, that they might not fall into these weaknesses? for I have always heard you say, that we ought to die peaceably, and blessing the gods. Be at ease, I beg you, and shew more constancy and resolution." He then obliged them to restrain their

tears.

In the mean time, he kept walking to and fro, and when he found his legs grow weary, he laid down upon his back, as he had been directed.

The poison then operated more and more. When Socrates found it began to gain upon the heart, uncovering his face, which had been covered, without doubt, to prevent any thing from disturbing him in his last moments," Crito," said he, "we owe a cock to Esculapius; discharge that vow for me, and pray do not forget it." Soon after which, he breathed