Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-03-12
The Iast HorrI of socrates.

The Last Hours Of Socrates.
In the Ph@dOn Of Plato, We have an &C.
count Of the closing scenes in the life Of Soc.
rates. The treatise in which this narrative
occuTN, was designed 70 prove the immortality
VI the soul. IN writing il the author gave
immortality 70 hid own name. Few things
that have come down from antiquity have
awakened 90 deep an interest OF have PFOdu'
ctd through alf subsequent time 10 profound
Q sensation ~ these conversations of the mas
ter, Tslntedig the PhsD9sD BY the disciple.
Wearc aware that separated from the theme
with which il stands connected and the senti.
ments which the pursuit Of that theme bring
reSh to the recollection, this account Of the
closing exercises Of the life Of Socrates will
use something Of its touching pathOs. The
interest, however, ID such that very much will
still b. found, nOtwith@ anding this isolation,
to repay the attention Of the reader.
:" But, U, Simmias," said Socrates, ut Is me-
essaEy, for the reasons that We have cOnsid-
red, TO leave no stone unturned that we ma!
quire. during life, virtue 9Dd wisdom; .fO'
7e.Iut1at t. The prisT, and tie hope e great.
. insist that il IL just ~ have described, be-
.:oiIleth not man Of intelligence. That, how.
var. either these or SiGaiar views should bt
:kcn respecting our s.'uls aud their habitn.
.inns. the soul ca tainIy appears to be imnor-
,ai, seems to me TO be proper, and worth the
risk to i'm who thinks w. The hazard L.
honorable, and Il Is fitting to ring, ~ it wer' (,
UGH things TO himself You, then, Simmias
,.d Cebcs, and the others, will at zone futur'
me, each Onc depart; but rs 10 myself dcS
.ny, NJ u tragic poet would say, Is calling mt,
AID the tiue is well nigh come when should
bat, IL
battle bcfvre drink the poison, and 30 save
The wOmcn the trouble Of washing the corpse"
How shall We bury you p asked Critic.
As you please" said he, "if you can only
lake me, and do not escape you"
How keen the irOnyl How cutting the re.
luke Eog aNkiRg hOw they should bury him,
instead Of sskfug how they should bury his
'Odyi
LET not Critic" he added, SAY at Eay bu.
Ial, that Socrates is laid. or carried forth, al
'urial" -
After he had bathed, and bis little children
~ere brCHght 10 him-fOr he had two small
Iss,as and one large one-and his female rela.
I tives had arrived, he, having cOnvsTsed with
them in the presence Of Critic, and having CIV
en- them such directions % he chose, com
| handed the lEomon and children to depart,
| md himself came to w.
IL Was nuw near sunset, for he had delayed
long time within. Coming from the bath,
he vat down, and not much more after this
was said. The OGAcer Of the Eleven then came.
and, standing near him, said:
"SOcrates, shall not TcprOach you as I re-
prOach others, because they abuse and curse
ne, when, under the eonstFaint Of rulers,
order them ~ drink the poison. have found
you, indeed, at other times a. we'll 90 n0w,
the nObIcSt and gentleat and best Of all th,
men that ever cama hither, and, moreover,
do even now well know that you do not think
hard Of me, but Of them--i0r you know who
are to blame. Now, therefore-fOr you know
what have come Tn annOunce-farewell: and
try to bear as easily - possible what Is inevi
table" And instantly bursting into tears, b,
turned and went away.
Socrates, looking up to him, said:
"YOu, too, farewelll We shall do % you
direct" At the same time he said to Us -
81 How urbane the man lie hes been accus
toned TO visit me through the whole time, and
mas occasionally entered into conversation
lie was the most agreeable Of men, and how
nObIy he weeps for me! But come, now, Cri
to, let US obey him; and let some one bring
the poison, IL It has been ground, but If not
let the man grind it"
| Upon the mans appearing with the poison
Socrates said:
i "Well, most excellent friend, for you Or.
informed upon these points. what mutt do =
"NOthing slse," said he, " than, after 20,
have drank, to walk about till your legs BE-
cOme heavy, then lie down, and % the poison
will work."
Al the same time be extended the cup I,
Socrates. Socrates having taken iteven veI )
4 cheerfully, not losing either color or cOunte'
nance, bat Is bis custom was, giving Ster'
aide look ct the man, Gaid: tr.
~" What do you say about making libatiOr
Of this cup to some One--laWGdl OF mott"
1--WE grind, Socrates, 10 much IS o think
viii be sQf1cisnt to drink. 9"
IL understand said he; "but surely Il J.
lawful and expedient to pray t. the gods thai
our removal from this world 10 the other may
be happy"
~ do. indeed, pray that that may Be So"
Immediately upOn saving this, holding uIt
cup, he drank with great readiness and ease
For time majority Of ms were barely abs
20 refrain from tears but when We raw him
finish the drausht, w'e cOuld refrain no longer
lndeed, IN spite Of myself the tears flowed mol
IN drops, 70 thaG. covering my Eaes. bSwailsd
mysell not surely for him, but for my OWL
/ lOt Ia 6eing deprived Of such q GFisnd. N
Cht0 ross up 20 70 sooner than myself
ninco L was iuRoaSibls fDr him to refrain from
tsAFA aAPollodoeuA even before this, Neve'
| ceaued 70 weep. and just then rOaring aloud,
| wosSing awd gFiaving,h o broke dOwn the heart
Of every one present but that q Socrates him
sslE Hat 6aeFAtes said: ~ e.,+s:r
",Whhs afe you doine:ny aduifAbse friend
On, this account ehis0ys DsaE aWay the 70
m.an fhnk thaV miRhf nOe make anch G1InG