The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-06-15
SOCRATES.
by HATTIE T.. $. CRESsY.


The day preceding the death of Socrates,
Critic, his intimate friend entered his cell to
offer him a safe retreat from his dungeon
land his enemies. Socrates laughed at his pro
Iposal, asking Critic if he knew any place out
Of Attica where people did not die. Crlto urged
his friend very seriously. assuring nm that
the jallor was gained, the doors were open, and
offered him all the assistance he needed to find
his way to Thessaly, where he would be safe
| from harm. Socrates expressed the utmost
gratitude for the zeal and sympathy OF his
friend, but could not give in to his opinion as
| he feared it was un Just to depart from prison
without the consent OF the Athenians. They
had placed him there without Il reason, except
to CRAFTY the malice and envy OF a few, yet he
deemed it crime for Il man, however unjust
" condemned, to escape from the laws of his
country, and resolved to obey them, even to
| his death
This argument failed to appease the ar(lor of
| Critic and he pleaded more vthemently than
before. do not" he cried, noble Socrates
sacrifice your valuable life for such whim
for the Ike Of your family and friends, allow
me to unfasten these cruel chains, and take
flight with me. Half Of my fortune is at your
command; you deny me now, my grief will
be lnconSoable" Socrates, though moved by
the entreatieS of Critic persisted in his rcsolu-
ton to perish at the hands of his rulers Critic
left him in a state of despair
Early the following morning all the friends
of the doomed man except Plato, who was ill,
repaired to the prison. Xantippe, his wife, no
sooner beheld him than she began to tear her
face and hair land to utter lamentations which
made the whole prison resound "Oh, my
dear Socrates" she cried, your friends have
come to see you for the last time; to-day you
IL iaf ODDS f,Nr, oh,
by the same revengeful hands, sooner than sur
vive his terrible fate.' Socrates desired she
might be taken away, and she was carried to
her sorrowful home.
Socrates passed the remainder of the day
with his friends, discoursing with his usual
cheerfulness. Their principal topic was the
Immortality of the soul. He explained to his
friends all the arguments for believing the
soul immortal, refuting all the objections
against it. After long discourse upon this
important subject, Critic desired him to give
him and his other friends his last instructions
in regard to his children and other affairs. II
shall recommend nothing to you this day." re-
piled Socrates, more than have already done,
which is to take care of yourselves. You can
not do yourselves greater service, nor me and
my family greater favor"
Critic afterward asked him in what manner
he wished to be buried. GAS you please" said
Socrates, "if you can lay hold of me and not
escape out of your hands. Then rcmarking
to his friend with smile, II can never per
suade Critic that Socrates is he who cOnverses
with you, and disposes the several parts of his
discourse for he always imagines | am what
he is going to see dead, in a little while; he
contoun1s me with my carcass and, therefore,
asks me how would be inferred"
He had three children-one grown up, and
the other two very young-who were then
brought to him, and he spoke to them for the
space of an hour and then babe them final
adieu. Shortly after, the servants of the eleven
magistrates who had charge of the prison en-
tered and informed HIM that the hour for drink
ing the hemlock-the fatal potion which was
to cause his death-was come. The servant
handed him the draught and fell upon his face,
weeping aloud. See" said Socrates, 'the
good heart of this man; since my imprison-
ment he has often come to see me, and how
heartily the poor man wecps for me now"
Socrates took the cup and placed 1t to his
lips, without betraying the least emotion. AID.
dressing the slave, who was convulsed with
grief, he said, What say you of this drink
may one make libatlon out of it?" After
being told there was only one dose, he drank
the whole without murmur. The servant
then told him to walk about until his limbs
grew weary, when he must lie down upon the
bed Many of his friends were around him,
and he alone remained cheerful or tranquil.
After pacing the room for some minutes, he
lay down on the couch, as the servant had adj !
vsed. His friends, realizing more deeply than
ever his near approach to death, gave vent to
the most piteous means; but Socrates, even
though he was struggling with the fatal throes
Of the grim monster, reproved them with mild
ness and good nature. what are you doingy'
hn asked 81 wnp1pr Was If not for
this | sent away the women, that they might
not fall into these weaknesses? For | have
heard we ought to die peaceably and blessing
the gods BE at case, | beg you, and show
more consistency and resolution" Just before
he breathed his last, he remarked to Critic, |
1--WE owe a cock to Esculapius; discharge that
vow for me, and pray do not forget it." Thus
expired the immortal Socrates, in the 10th year
of his age.
Not long after his death, the Athenians, re-
vilwing the noble conduct of the philosopher
WON they, on so slight a preteXt, had con
were led to repent of their injustice.
His praises were on nearly every tongue
T. "oughout the city. Some declared he had
b, N the common father of the republic;" he
taught both young and old. "Hc had no open
school," says our author, like other philosO-
pucrs, no set time for his lessons; he had no
benches prepared, nor ever mounted profes-
sor's chair; he taught in all places and on all
occasions-in walking, in conversation at
meals in the army, and in the midst of the
camp, in the public assemblies of the Senate
or people"
But for twenty years there was a class of
men who were working his destruction. Ar
the comic poet, once introduced a
play upon the stage, in which the philosopher
was ridicuously initiated Afterward Militus
brought the fatal accusation against him, the
result of which we have seen. He accused
him of corrupting the youth of Athens by in
Producing new divnites, and denying the eX-
istence of the gods acknowledged by the re-
public Our historian remarks 1T is GER
tain that, amid so much zeal and superstition
~ thpn rpIunpd in Athens hp ncypr durSt onpn-