Part 2 (2/2)

At length Crito admits that he has no answer to make, and Socrates resolves to submit himself to the will of Providence.

CRITO; OR, THE DUTY OF A CITIZEN.

SOCRATES, CRITO.

_Socr._ Why have you come at this hour, Crito? Is it not very early?

_Cri._ It is.

_Socr._ About what time?

_Cri._ Scarce day-break.

_Socr._ I wonder how the keeper of the prison came to admit you.

_Cri._ He is familiar with me, Socrates, from my having frequently come hither; and he is under some obligations to me.

_Socr._ Have you just now come, or some time since?

_Cri._ A considerable time since.

_Socr._ Why, then, did you not wake me at once, instead of sitting down by me in silence?

_Cri._ By Jupiter! Socrates, I should not myself like to be so long awake, and in such affliction. But I have been for some time wondering at you, perceiving how sweetly you slept; and I purposely did not awake you, that you might pa.s.s your time as pleasantly as possible. And, indeed, I have often before throughout your whole life considered you happy in your disposition, but far more so in the present calamity, seeing how easily and meekly you bear it.

_Socr._ However, Crito, it would be disconsonant for a man at my time of life to repine because he must needs die.

_Cri._ But others, Socrates, at your age have been involved in similar calamities, yet their age has not hindered their repining at their present fortune.

_Socr._ So it is. But why did you come so early?

_Cri._ Bringing sad tidings, Socrates, not sad to you, as it appears, but to me, and all your friends, sad and heavy, and which I, I think, shall bear worst of all.

_Socr._ What tidings? Has the s.h.i.+p[6] arrived from Delos, on the arrival of which I must die?

_Cri._ It has not yet arrived, but it appears to me that it will come to-day, from what certain persons report who have come from Sunium,[7]

and left it there. It is clear, therefore, from these messengers, that it will come to day, and consequently it will be necessary, Socrates, for you to die to-morrow.

2. _Socr._ But with good fortune, Crito, and if so it please the G.o.ds, so be it. I do not think, however, that it will come to day.

_Cri._ Whence do you form this conjecture?

_Socr._ I will tell you. I must die on the day after that on which the s.h.i.+p arrives.

_Cri._ So they say[8] who have the control of these things.

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