Page 63 - STOLEN LEGACY By George G. M. James

"My fortune is at your disposal, and I think that it is sufficient, and if you have any feeling about
making use of my money, there are strangers in Athens, whom you know, ready to use theirs,
and one of them, Simmias of Thebes, who actually brought enough for the purpose. And Cebes
and many others, are ready too.

"And therefore, I repeat, do not shrink from saving yourself, on that ground. And do not let what.
you said in court (that if you went into exile, you would not know what to do with yourself),
stand in your way: for there are many places for you to go to, where you will be welcomed.

"If you choose to go to Thessaly, I have friends there who will make much of you, and shelter
you from any annoyance from the people of Thessaly.

"Consider then, Socrates; or rather the time for consideration is past; we must resolve, and there
is only one plan possible. Everything must be done tonight. If we delay any longer, we are lost.
"O, Socrates, I implore you not to refuse to listen to me." (Plato's Crito C. 3–5).

(e) Phaedo's account of the final scene just before the death of Socrates.

In answer to another question from Echecrates, Phaedo replied: I will try to tell you the whole
story:

"On the previous days, I and the others had always met in the morning at the court, where the
trial was held, which was close to the prison; and then we would go in to Socrates.

"We used to wait each morning until the prison was opened, conversing; for it was not opened
early. When it was opened we used to go in to Socrates, and we generally spent the whole day
with him. But on that morning we met earlier than usual, for the evening before we had learnt, on
leaving the prison, that the ship had arrived from Delos. So we arranged to be at the usual place
as early as possible. When we reached the prison, the porter, who generally let us in came out to
us and bade us wait a little, and not to go in until he himself summoned us; for the 'Eleven' were
releasing Socrates from his fetters and giving him directions for his death.

"In no great while he returned and bade us enter. So we went in and found Socrates just released.
When Xanthippe saw us, she wailed aloud, and cried in her woman's way: 'This is the last time:
Socrates, that you will talk with your friends, or they with you.' And Socrates glanced at Crito
and said, 'Crito, let her be taken home'. So some of Crito's servants led her away; weeping
bitterly and beating her breasts. And it was about sunset, and the servant of the Eleven after
bidding Socrates farewell, gave him the instructions as to how to take the poison, and then
handed it to him. Socrates took the cup, and drank the poison cheerfully, and then walked about
until his legs felt heavy.

62

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