Page 62 - STOLEN LEGACY By George G. M. James

In the case of the latter, he not only consoled them with the assurance that no evil could come to
a good man either in life or in death; but also expressed to them his idea about immortality.
"Death is either an eternal and dreamless sleep, wherein there is no sensation at all; or it is a
journey to another, and a better world, where are the famous men of old". Whichever alternative
be true, death is not an evil, but a good. His death is willed by the gods, and he is content.
(Plato's Apology Chapters 25–28).

His death was delayed through a state religious ceremonial, and he remained in prison for 30
days. We are told that during this time, he was visited by his friends, who consisted of the inner
circle, and also his wife Xanthippe; that this was the occasion of his discourse concerning the
immortality of the soul; that he could have escaped from death if he wished; because his friends
visited him before day-break and offered to set him free; but that he refused the offer.
Accordingly Socrates drank the hemlock and died. (Plato Phaedo;) (Xenophon Memorabilia IV,
8, 2).

(d) Crito's account:

Crito, on the night before the death of Socrates, while he was in prison, on behalf of the company
of visitors, made a final appeal to him to permit them to secure his escape, and spoke as follows:

"O, my Socrates, I beseech you for the last time to listen to me and save yourself. For to me your
death will be more than a single disaster: not only shall I lose a friend the like of whom I shall
never find again, but many persons, who do not know you and me well, will think that I might
have saved you, if I had been willing to spend money, but that I neglected to do so. And what
character could be more disgraceful than the character of caring more for money than for one's
friends? The world will never believe that we were anxious to save you, but that you yourself
refused to escape.

"Tell me this Socrates. Surely you are not anxious about me and your other friends, and afraid,
lest, if you escape, the informers should say that we stole you away, and get us into trouble, and
involve us in a great deal of expense, or perhaps in the loss of all our property, and it may be,
bring some other punishment upon us besides? If you have any fear of that kind, dismiss it. "For
of course we are bound to run those risks, and still greater risks than those if necessary, in saving
you. So do not, I beseech you, refuse to listen to me." Then Socrates replied: "I am anxious about
that, Crito, and about much besides," and Crito continued the appeal:

"Then have no fear on that score. There are men who, for no very large sum, are ready to bring
you out of prison into safety, and then, you know, these informers are cheaply bought, and there
will be no need to spend much on them.

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Stolen Legacy: Greek Philosophy is Stolen Egyptian Philosophy by George G. M. James
The Journal of Pan African Studies 2009 eBook