phaedo   

and Antisthenes; likewise Ctesippus of the deme of Paeania, Menexenus,

and some others; but Plato, if I am not mistaken, was ill.

Ech. Were there any strangers?

Phaed. Yes, there were; Simmias the Theban, and Cebes, and

Phaedondes; Euclid and Terpison, who came from Megara.

Ech. And was Aristippus there, and Cleombrotus?

Phaed. No, they were said to be in Aegina.

Ech. Anyone else?

Phaed. I think that these were about all.

Ech. And what was the discourse of which you spoke?

Phaed. I will begin at the beginning, and endeavor to repeat the

entire conversation. You must understand that we had been previously

in the habit of assembling early in the morning at the court in

which the trial was held, and which is not far from the prison.

There we remained talking with one another until the opening of the

prison doors (for they were not opened very early), and then went in

and generally passed the day with Socrates. On the last morning the

meeting was earlier than usual; this was owing to our having heard

on the previous evening that the sacred ship had arrived from Delos,

and therefore we agreed to meet very early at the accustomed place. On

our going to the prison, the jailer who answered the door, instead

of admitting us, came out and bade us wait and he would call us.

"For the Eleven," he said, "are now with Socrates; they are taking off

his chains, and giving orders that he is to die to-day." He soon

returned and said that we might come in. On entering we found Socrates

just released from chains, and Xanthippe, whom you know, sitting by

him, and holding his child in her arms. When she saw us she uttered

a cry and said, as women will: "O Socrates, this is the last time that

either you will converse with your friends, or they with you."

Socrates turned to Crito and said: "Crito, let someone take her home."

Some of Crito's people accordingly led her away, crying out and

beating herself. And when she was gone, Socrates, sitting up on the