Pray take notice:When we put our selves
in a way or making our Escape, or going from hence,
or h o w you please to call it, suppose the L a w and
the Republick should present themselves in a Body beforeus,and accostus inthismanner:Socrates,Socrates what are you going to do ?
in a way or making our Escape, or going from hence,
or h o w you please to call it, suppose the L a w and
the Republick should present themselves in a Body beforeus,and accostus inthismanner:Socrates,Socrates what are you going to do ?
Plato - 1701 - Works - a
?
?
?
?
v ?
> '?
-?
Ofinimu
Crit. Very true.
Soc. Atthatratethen,oughtnotwetoesteemthe good Opinions and flight the bad ones ?
. Crit. 'Ay,doubtless. ? >-?
Soc. Are not the good Opinions then those of
wiseMen,andthebadonesthoseofFools? ? \ Crit. ltcannotbeotherwise.
Soc. . Lei'sseethen, how you will answer this: A
Man that makeshisExercises, when hecomesto
have his,Lesson,,whethershall heregardtheCon*
mendation orCensureofwho evercomes first,or
only of him that iseither*a PhysicianoraMaster? . Crit. O f the last to be sure. , . ? > . .
Soc Then he ought to fear the Censure, and va
lue the Commendation of that Man alone;and flight what comes from others. . / ? . . . .
i. Crit. Without'doubt.
Soc. For that Reason, this young Man must nek
ther eat nor drink, nor do any thing, without the OrdersofthatMaster,thatMan ofSense, andheis notjatallto;govern himselfby theCaprices ofothers.
; Crit. . . That's true.
Sec. Let'sfixuponthatthen. Butsupposehedis
obeys this Mastet, and disregards his Applause o? Censure j and suffers himselsto be blinded by the C a ressesand ApplausesoftheignorantMob 3willnot hecometosomeharmbythismeans?
? Xrit. How isitpossibleitshouldheotherwise? . Soc. But what will be the nature of this harm
that will accrue to him thereupon * where will it terminate, and what partofhim willitaffect?
. Crit. His Body without doubt, for by that means hellruinehimself;
' * For they perform those Exercises either for their Healths or else to improve, their Dexterity and Strength: For the first they follow'd the Orders of a Physicianj and for the other,theyw<<e directedbyaMaster. Soc,
? ? yS Crito:Or,Ofwhatweoughttodo.
S o c . V e r y w e l l -, b u t i s n o t t h e C a s e t h e f e m e a l l over? Upon the point ofJusticeor Injustice,Ho nestyorDishonesty,Good orEvil,whichatpresent are the subject or our Dispute, shall-we rather re fer our selves . to the Opinion of the People, than to thatof anexperienc'dwise Man, who justlychal lenges more Respect and Deference from us, than allthe World besides>Andifwedonotactcon formably to the Opinion of this one Man, is it not certain,thatwe shallruineourselves,andentirely losethat which only livesand gains new strength by Justice, and perishes only through Unjustice ? Or, mustwetakeallthatforathingofnoaccount?
Crit. Iam ofyourOpinion.
S? c' Take heed, I intreat you ; if by following h f>>st>". theOpinionsoftheIgnorantwe destroythatwhich
is only preserv'd by Health and wasted by Sickness ; canwesurvivetheCorruptionof that,whether it beourBodyorsomewhatelse>
Crit. That's certain.
Soc. Can one live then after the corruption and destruction of the Body >
Crit. No, to be sure.
Soc. But can one survive the Corruption of that which lives only by Justice, and dies only through Injustice ? Or, is this thing (whatever it be) that hasJustice or Injusticefor itsObject,tobelessVa luedthantheBody?
? Crit. Not at all.
Soc. What, isit much more valuable then > Crit. A great deal more. Soc. ThenmydearCrito,weoughtnottobecon-
hn&our cern'datwhat thePeople fay;butwhatthatlays, ^ t f t j o m w e w h o k n o w s w h a t ' s j u s t a n d w h a t ' s u n j u s t -, a n d t h a t
3 ? r7aloneisnothingelsebuttheTruth. Thusyousee, theTmtb; youestablish'dfalsePrinciplesatfirst,insayingthat
ie. God weoughttopayaDeferencetotheOpinionsofthe whoalone people,uponwhatisjust,good,honest,anditscon-
fiif. "trades. Someperhapswillobject,thatthePeople
is able to put us to death,
? - . Crit,
, llZesZiy
? ? Crito:Or,Ofwhatvpeoughttodo. 55
Crit. T o be sure, they'll start that Objection.
Soc. Tis alsotrue. But thatdoesriotaltertheTolireu
nature of what we were sayings that's still the"***(R)*"* fame. For you must stillremember, that 'tisnotVdiiTdi. Life, but a good Life that w e ought to court.
Crit. That's a certain Truth. Soc. Butisitnotlikewisecertain,that thisgood^ W lfe
Life consists in nothing else but Honesty and Justice ? ? j t ? & ? Crit. Yes. LJWfep
Soc. Now, before we go further,lets examine up on the Principles you've agreed to, whether m y de parture from hence without the permission of the Atheniansisjustorunjust. Ifitbefoundjust,we mustdoourutmosttobring itaboutjbutif'tisun just,wemustlayasidetheDesign. Forastothe Considerations, you alledg'djustnow, ofMoney, Re
putation and Family : These are only the Thoughts
of the baser Mob, who put innocent Persons toAchatdle* death, and would afterwards bring 'em to life ifoftheMot.
'twere possible. But as for us w h o bend our thoughts
another way, allthat wearetomind,iswhether
we do a just thing in giving Money, and lying un
der an Obligation to thole who promote our Es
cape? Or,whetherbothwe and theydo notcom-2^y,
mit apieceofInjusticeinsodoing? Ifthisbeanf0thecom.
unjust thing, we need not reason much upon themiffionof
Point, since*tisbettertoabidehereanddie,thanto*? ,*">$ undergo somewhat more terrible than Death. cS*
( Crit. Youareintherightofthat,Socrates:Let's feethenhow itwillfall. '
: Soc. W e shall go hand in hand in the Enquiry. " If you have any thing of weight to answer, pray do
i t w h e n I h a v e s p o k e n , t h a t s o I m a y c o m p l y -, i f not,prayforbearanyfurtherto pressme togofrom hencewithouttheConsentoftheAthenians. Ishall be infinitely glad, ifyou can persuade me to do it; but Icannotdo itwithoutbeingfirstconvinc'd. Take noticethenwhether my wayofpursuingthisEnqui
ry satisfie you, and do your utmost to make answer to my Questions,
Grin
? ? * f *t.
o u r F o r t u n e b e n e v e r s o g o o d o r b a d ? ? Crit. That*s certain.
Soc. Then we must avoid the least measure of Injustice. :
; Crit. Most certainly.
Soc Since we aretoavoidtheleast degreeofit,
then we ought not to do itto those who are unjust to us, notwithstanding that this People thinks it lawful. .
1 Crit. So I think.
S o c . B u t w h a t ! O u g h t w e t o d o E v i l o r n o t >. Crit. Without doubt we ought not.
Soc. But is it Justice, to repay Evil with Evil,
6a Crito:Or,Ofwhatwewighttodol
Crit. I will.
Difference Soc. Isit;true,thatweoughtnottodoanunjust
^J5*' thingtoanyMan? Or,isitlawfulinanymeasure ? BiUHrtji! -t0dout0oneownen weareforbidtodoittoano- stifithedo-ther? Gr,isitnotabsolutely true, thatallmanner
*<<ginjusticeof Injustice isneither good nor honest, as we were uanjMw. fayingbutnow >Or,infine,arealltheseSentiments
which we formerly entertain'd, vanifh'd in a few days? Andisitpossible,Crito,that thoseof years, our most serious Conferences, should resemble those ofChildren,and we atthe fame time not be sensible
injusticeitthat'tisso? Oughtwe hot rathertostandtowhat /w*k/<>>"we^6 said,asbeingacertainTruth,thatallIn-
jtfefriLJustice is scandalous and fetal to the PeriOn that krmitj commitsit-,letMenfaywhattheywill,andlet
toiT^i pwft13111^0theOpinionofthePeople,orisitun-
fertyu. just?
? Crit. 'Tishighly unjust.
Soc: Then there's no difference between doing Evil and being Unjust ?
' Crit. sown it.
Soc. Then weought nottodotheleastEvilor
InjusticetoanyMan,lethim do by usashewill. But take heed, Crito, that by thisConcession you do not speakagainstyourownSentiments. ForIknow Very well, there are few that will go this length :
And 'tisimpossibleFor those who vary in theirSen- "? ; ments
? ? iwer ?
Crito: Or,Ofwhatm oughttodo] 6x
timents upon this Points to agree well together. Nay,-onthecontrary;,thecontempt ofpneanother'sSocrates
Opinions, leads 'em to a reciprocal contempt of one 2 ^ * ^ anothersPersons. Considerwellthen,ifyouareof^J^
t h e . l a m e O p i n i o n w i t h m e -, a n d . l e t u s g r o u n d o u r T n x h ^ t t m Reasonipgs upon this Principle, That we. ought not <<? <*? *
to d o Evil for Evil, or treat those unjustly w h o are J S * * * ^ . unjuix10us. Formypart,Ineverdid,norneverrqw&Ji' will entertainany other Principle. Tellme then/orEviL if you have chang'd your Mind* ifnot, give ear to
what follows.
Crit. Igiveear. t . ? . >>.
Soc. Wellj a M a n that has rnade a just Proiflisej
ought he to keep it or to break it >
Crit. He ought to keep it.
Soc. If I go from hence then, without the Con- itisa>ifi-
sentofthe Athenians,shallnotIinjure'somePeo-UeWrcS
pie,and especiallythose who do not deserve itt^jj? " Or, shall we inthis follow what we thinkequallyStat('e
just to every Body >
Crit. I cannot answer you, for Ido not under
standyou.
Soc.
Pray take notice:When we put our selves
in a way or making our Escape, or going from hence,
or h o w you please to call it, suppose the L a w and
the Republick should present themselves in a Body beforeus,and accostus inthismanner:Socrates,Socrates what are you going to do ? to put in execution what *j? *^Jc"
you now design,werewhbl/ytoruinetheLawsanda? j,^
the State : Do you think a City cansubsist when Ju- Statespcak- slicehas not only lostitsforce,butislikewiseper-iaSt0*"*?
verted, overturned, and trampled under foot bypri
vate Persons ? What Answer could we make to
such and many otherQuestions? For,whatisit,7*^^**r
that an Orator cannot fay upon the overturning oiZt^js^JO
that Law, which. provides that Sentences once pro-tramp4c>>n-
nounc'd shall not beinfring'd>Shallwe answer,^M^*-'
that the Republick hasjudg'd amiss, and passed- f ^ an unjust Sentence upon us? Shall that be our An-"e AWS'
Crit
? ? $i Crito:Or,Ofwhatweoughttodo.
Crit. Ay, without any/scruple, Socrates.
Soc. What will theirLaws fay then ? Socrates, it itnot true, thatyouagreedwithus tosubmityour
self to apublick Trial? And ifwe should seem to Kj? e/>>tet? -be surpris'd at such Language, they'll continue per- onofthat hapS. Be not surprised, Socrates, but make answer,
for you yourself us'd to insist upon Question and A n swer. Tellthen whatoccasionyou havetocomplain
oftheRepublicsandofus? thatyou aresoeagerup
ondestroyingit? *Are notwe theAuthorsofyour
Birth? Isnotitbyourmeansthatyourleathermar
ried her who broughtyouforth ? What fault can you findwith the Taws we establishedasto Marriage?
Nothingatall,shouldIanswer. Astothenourish ing andbringing upofChildren, andthemanner of your Education, are not the Tawsjufl that we enabled
upon that Head, by which we oblig'dyour father to bring you up to Mufick and the Exercises ? Very just,I'dlay. Sinceyouwereborn,broughtup,and educated under our Influence, durst you maintain that you are not our Nurse-Child,and subject: as well as your Father ? And if you are, do you think to have equal Power with us, as if it were lawful foi:
youtoinflictuponusallthatweenjoynyoutoun dergo ? But since you cannot lay claim to any such
Right against your Father or your Master, so as to r e p a y E v i l f o r E v i l , I n j u r y f o r I n j u r y ? , h o w c a n y o u
think to obtain that Privilege against your Country and the Laws, in so much that ifwe endeavour to put you to death, you'll counter-act us, by endea vouring to prevent us, and to ruine your Country and its Laws ? Can you callsuch an Action'just, you that are an inseparable follower of true Ver-
rteRegard tue ? Are you ignorant that your Country is more weoughttoconsiderable,andmore worthy ofRespectandVene-
ctZtry "'""ration before God and Man, than your Father, M o ther, and all your Relations together ? That you
*ThisisanadmirablewayofmakingouttheObligation ofallMentoobeytheLawsoftheirCountry,byVirtueof the Treaty made between 'em.
ought
? ? Cfito:Or,Ofvehatrseoitghtt&do. . 6j
ought to honour your Country, yield to it,and hu mour it more than an angry Father ? That you must either reclaim it by your Counsel, or obey itsIn junctions, and suffer without grumbling all that it imposes upon you ? If it orders you to be whipp'd or laid in Irons, if it sends you to the Wars, there to spend your Blood, you ought to do it without d e m u r r i n g -, y o u m u s t n o t s h a k e o f f t h e Y o a k , n o r flinchorquityourPost* butintheArmy, inPrison, and every where else, ought equally to obey the OrdersofyourCountry,or elseassistitwith whol- somCounsel. For,ifofferingViolencetoaFather oraMother isapiece ofgrandImpiety, toputa forceupon one'sCountry isamuch greater. What shallweanswer toallthis,Crito? Shallwe acknow ledgetheTruthofwhattheLawsadvance?
Crit. Howcanweavoidit?
Soc. Do you lee then, Socrates, continue they, what reason we have to brand your Enterprise a- gainst usas unjust? Of usyou holdyour Birth, yourMaintenance,yourEducation;infine,we have doneyoualltheGoodwearecapableof,aswellas to the other Citizens. Indeed, we do not fail to make publickProclamation,that'tislawfulforeve ry private Man, ifhe does not find his Account in, the Laws and Customs of our Republick, aftera mature examination, to retire with all his Effects whither he pleases. And if any of you carmot comply with our Customs, and desires to remove and live elsewhere, not one ofus shall hinder him, hemaygowherehepleases. Butontheotherhand, if any one of you continues to live here, after he has confider'd our way of administring Justice, and
t h e P o l i c y o b s e r v ' d i n t h e S t a t e -, t h e n w e f a y h e i s in effect oblig'd to obey all our Commands, and we maintainthathisDisobedienceisunjustona three fold account, for not obeying thole to which he o w e s his Birth, for trampling under foot thole that
educated him, and for violating his Faith after he engag'd to obey us, and not taking the Pains to
make
? ? 'fail
Crito: Ot,,Ofwhatmoiigktfod&
makeRemonstrances tous,ifwehappentodoan unjust thing. For riot-withstanding that we only propose things without using any Violence to pro cureObedience,andgive. everyMan hischoiceei ther to, obey us or reclaim us by his -Counsel and Remonstrances, yet he does neither the one nor the Other. 4ndwe maintain^Socrates,thatifyou ex^ ecute what you are now about, you will stand charg'd with, all these Crimes, and that in a much higher degree than if another,private Man had com mitted. thefameInjustice* IfIask'd'em. therea son, without ,doubt they'd stop my Mouth by tel lingme that1submittedmy selfinadistinguishing manner to all these Conditions j and we, continue they, have great Evidence that -you were always p l e a s ' d w i t h u s a n d t h e R e p u b l i c k -, f o r , i f t h i s C i t y had not been more agreeable to you than any other, you jiad never continued in it, no more than the other Athenians. None of the Shows could, eves tempt you to go out of the City, except once that; youwenttoseethe*GamesattheIsthmus:You never went any where else, excepting your Military
Expeditions, and never undertook a Voyage, as o<
thersarewonttodo. YouneverhadtheCuriosity i. e. Soiu x. 0vifit0therCities,oreno,uire,afterotherLaws,as tofifim beingalwayscontentedwithusandourRepublick:
You always made a distinguishing choice ofus,and on alloccasions testified that you submitted with all yourHearttoliveaccordingtoourMaxims. Be sides, your having had Children in this City is an
vorifhthtAinfallibleEvidencethatyoulik'difc Infine,inthis
sentene'd verylastjunctureyoumighthavebeensentene'dto himself to Banishment ifyou would, and might then have done hZAthT'withtheConsentoftheRepublick,whatyounow
nians bad attempt without their Permission. But you were tonfirm'dit. so stately, so unconcern'd at Death, that in your own Terms youpreferr'd Death to Banishment. But
* These Games were celebrated at the Isthmus of Corinth to the Honour of "Heftme every three Years, after they were re^ eeiv'd by Theftm,
you
? ? Crito:Or,Ofwhatweoughttodo. 6?
now youhavenoregardtothesefineWords,you
are not further concern'd for the Laws, since you mi >><<*?
aregoingtooverturn'em;Youdojustwhat apiti-Mhe*s, fulslavewould offertodo,by endeavouringtomake c? >>firmal/e
your Escape, contrary to the Laws of the Treaty l}*1^"*
you have fign'd, by which you oblig'd your selfto tjy>>t"jb
liveaccording toourRules. Prayanswerus^didmJtyfat-;
notwe layrightinaffirmingthatyouagreedtothis/<<*>>'>><<>>f
Treaty, and submitted your self to these Terms, '%Jj"? l notonlyinWordsbutinDeeds? Whatshallwesayitemt
toallthis,Crito? Andwhatcanwedoelsebutac knowledge that'tisso>
Gif. H o w can w e avoid % Socrates?
Soil W h a t else then, continue they, is this Action of yours, but a violation of that Treaty and all its Terms ? That Treaty that you Were not made to sign eitherby force or surprise, nor without time to think on't : For you had the whole course of your 70 Years to have remov'd in, ifyou had been dis satisfied with us, or unconvinc'd of the Justice of our Proposals. You neither pitch'd upon Lacedemon hor Greet, notwithstanding that you always cry'd up their Laws ; nor any of the Other Grecian Ci tiesorstrangeCountries. Youhavebeenlessout Of Athens than the Lame and the Blind, which is an invincible Proof that the City pleas'd you in a distinguishing manner, and consequently that w e did, ' since a City can never be agreeable if its Laws are notsuch. Andyetatthistimeyoucounter-actthe Treaty. But,ifyou'lltakeourAdvice,Socrates^ We would have you to stand to your Treaty, and not expose your self to be ridicul'd by the Citizens, bystealingoutftomhence. Prayconsiderwhatad vantage can redeund either to you or your Friends, by persisting in that goodly Design. Your Friends Will infallibly be either expos'd to Danger, or ba* nifh'd their Country, or have their Estates forfeited. And as for your self, if you retire to any neigh
bouring City, such as Thebes or Megara, which are admirably well govein'd,-you'll there be look'd Ee upon
? ? 66
Crito : Or, O s what toe ought to <fe
uponasanEnemy. . AUthathaveanylovefortheir Country, will look upon you as a Corrupter of the Laws. Besides,you'lliortifieinthemthegoodOpi nion they have of your Judges, and move 'em to approve the Sentence given against you: For a Cor> rupteroftheLawwillatanytimepalsfora De- baucheroftheYouthand ofthevulgarPeople. What, will you keep out of these well-govern'd Cities, and these AssembliesofjustMen? But,praywillyou have enoughto live. uponinthatCondition? Or,
will you have the face to go and live with them > And pray what willyou fay to 'em,Socrqtes? Will you preach to them, as you did here, that Ver- tue, Justice, the Laws, and Ordinances, ought to be reverenc'd by Men >Do not you think,that this will found very ridiculous in their Ears ? You ought tothinkso. Butperhapsyou'llquicklyleavethese well-govern'd Cities, and go to * Tbeffaly to Critd$ Friends, where there is left Order and more Licen tiousness ? , and doubtless in that Country they'll . take,a singular Pleasure in hearing you relate inwhat Equipage you made your Escape from this Prison, that is cover'd with some old Rags, or a Beasts Skin, or diiguis'd some other way, as Fugitives are wonttobe. EveryBodywillfay,ThisoldFellow, that has scarce any time to live, had such a strong Passion for living, that he did not stand to purchase his Life by trampling under foot the most sacred Laws. SuchStorieswillbebandy'daboutofyou, atatimewhenyouoffendnoMan5but uponthe least occasion of Complaint, they'll tease you with
a thousand other Reproaches, unworthy of you. You'll spend your time in sneaking and insinuating your selfinto the Favour of all Men, one after ano ther, and owning an equal subjection to 'em all. For, what can you do ? Will you feast perpetually
*Tbeffalywas theCountrywhere Licentiousness and De bauchery reign'd. And accordingly Xenoflxin observes that 'twas there that Critic was ruin'd.
Ib
? ? ? ritb: Or,Ofwhattt>eoughttodo. 6f
inThejsaly,asifthegood Cheerhad drawnyouthi ther ? But what will become then of all your fine Discourses upon Justiceand Vertue? Besides, ifyou design to preserve your Life for the sake of your Children ; that cannot be in order to bring 'em up inThejsaly^ as ifyou could do 'em no other Ser vice but make them strangers. Or, if you design to leave 'em here, do you imagine that during your Lifethey'llbe betterbrought up here,inyourab sence, under the Care of your Friends ? But will not your Friends take the fame Care of 'em after your death, that they'd do in your absence ? You ought to be persuaded, that all those who call themselves your Friends, will at all times do them all the Service they can. To conclude, Socrates^
submit your self to our Reasons, follow the Advice
of those who brought you up ; and do not put
your Children, your Life, or any thing whatsoever^
intheBalancewith Justice$totheend, thatwhen
you arrive before the Tribunal of P/uto, you may beabletoclearyourselfbeforeyourJudges. For7l'e&***j
do not you deceive your selfj if you perform what *"^> you now design , you'll neither better your own c7mes'frahi Cause nor that of your Pasty ; you will neitherMia, enlarge itsJustice nor Sanctity, either here or in
the Regions below. But, if you die bravely, you
Owe your death. totheInjustice,notoftheLaws, butofMen-,whereasifyoumakeyourEscape,by repulsing so shamefully, the Injustice ofyour Ene
mies, by violating at once both your own Faith
and our Treaty , and injuring so many innocent Persons, as your self, your Friends, and your Coun try together with us ; we will still be your Ene mies as long as you live. And when you are dead, our Sisters,the Laws inthe other World, will certainly afford you no joyful reception , as knowing that you endeavoured to ruine us. Where fore do not prefer Crito's Councel to ours.
B? 2 Ms-
? ? $8 Grito:Or,Oftobatm^ughttodok
Methinks,my dearCrito,IhearwhatIhavenow spoke, just as * the Priests of Cybele fansie they hear the Cornets and Flutes : And the found of these Words makes so strongan impressioninmyEars, thatitstopsmefromhearinganythingelse. These are the Sentiments I like* and all you can fay to takemeoffofthem,willbetonopurpose. How ever, if you think to succeed, I do not hinder you tospeak. '
Crh. 1havenothingtosay,Sotrates.
Soc. Then be easie, and let us bravely run this Course, since G o d calls and Conducts us to it.
* Socrates means that all these Truths make no flightIm- preslion upon him, but pierce him , and inspire him with an Arbour, or rather a holy Fury, that flops his Ears from hearinganythingtothecontrary. ThefoundoftheCor netsand Flutes ofthePriestsofCybeleinsoir'dthe Audience withFury,andwhyshouldthesoundofDivineTruthsfall short of the fame Vertue, and leave their Hearers in a luke warm indifferency? ThisTemper ofSocratesjustifiesandex plains what Diogenes said of him ; when some Body ask'd Dhgenes, what he flicught of Socrates? He answer'd. That In w a s a m o d M a n ? , f o r S o c r a t e s s h e w ' d a n i n c r e d i b l e W a r m t h i n pursuing whatever he took to be just.
THE
? ? THE
INTRODUCTION TO
PH? D0N. '
SOcrates inhisApologyandinhisG7/0 teachesus, howweoughttoformourLives;andherehe
instructs us how to die, and what Thoughts to en tertain at 'the hour of death. By explaining his own Views and Designs, which were the Springs of all his Actions, he furnishes us with a Proof of the m o s t i m p o r t a n t o f all T r u t h s , a n d o f t h a t w h i c h o u g h t to regulate our Life. For the Immortality of the Soul is a Point of such importance that itincludes all the Truths of Religion, and all the Motives that
oughttoexciteanddirectus. SothatourfirstDu ty is to satisfie ourselves in this Point : Self-Love, and meer human Interest ought to spur us up to understand it* not to speak, that there is not a more fatalConditionthantobe ignorantofthenatureof Death, which appears as terrible as unavoidable : ForaccordingtotheNotionwehaveofit,wemiy draw Consequences directly opposite, for managing the Conduct of our Lives and the Choice of our Pleasures.
Socrates spends the last day of his Life in discour sing with his Friends upon this great Subject : He unfolds all the Reasons that require the belief or the Immortality of the Soul,and refutes alltheOb jections they mov'd to the contrary, which are the veryfamethataremadeuseofatthisday. Hesi. - monstrates the Hope they ought to have of a hap
Ee3 pier
69
? ? 7P
the fatrodu? lhn to Phedon. ' ,
pier Life ; and lays before them, all that this blefc fed Hope requires, to make itsolid and lasting, t<j prevent their being deluded by a vain Hope, and aP ter all meeting with the Punishment allotted to the Wicked, instead of the Rewards provided for the Good.
This Conference was occasion'd by a Truth that was casually started, viz. That a true Philosopher ought to desire to die, and to endeavour it. This Position taken literally, seem'd to insinuate that a Philosopher might lay. violent Hands oh himself. But Socrates makes it out, that there's nothing more unjust; and that, for so much as Man is God's Creature and Property, he ought not not to remove
outofthisLifewithouthisOrders. What should
it be then that made the Philosopher have such a *n could iove for Death * ? What is the Ground of this
L"? 'ftLH? Pe-? Here we are Presented w"n the Grounds cftixgood assigns by a -Heathen Philosopher, viz. M a n is born
thingshe to know the Truth, but he can never attain to a existed in perfect Knowledge of it in this Life, by reason that
TM r
hisBody isan Obstacle;Perfect Knowledgeisre-
ierv'diortheLifetocome. ThentheSoulmust be Immortal , since after death it operates and knows. As for Man's being born for'the Know
ledge of Truth, that cannot be call'd in question, since he was born to know God,
From thence itfollows, that a true Philosopher hatesand contemnsthisBody,whichstandsinthe way of his Union to God, that he wishes to b& rid of it, and looks upon Death as a Passage to a better Life. This solid Hope gives Being to that true Temperance and Valour which is the Lot of true Philosophers;forotherMen areonly valiant through Fear, and temperate through Intemperance j theirVertueisonlyaSlavetoVice,? ? <? ' ? ? ?
They object to Socrates, That the Soul is nothing butaVapour,that vanishesand disperses itselfat death. SocratescombatsthatOpinionwithanAr
gument that has a great deal of strength in his ? . . ? . Mouth,
? ? The Introduction tq Phedoiu 71
Mouth, but becomes much stronger when supported by the true Religion, which alone can set it in its full Light. "The Argument is this : In Nature, contraries produce their contraries. <So that Death being an Operation of Nature, ought to produce Life,thatbeingitscontrary. AndbyConsequence theDeadmustbebornagain;theSoulthenisnot dead, since it must revive the Body.
Before we proceed further, 'tisfit to take notice of an Error, that is couch'd under this Principle, which only the Christian Religion can at once dis coverandrefute. 'Tis,thatSocratesandallother Philosophers are infinitely,mistaken in making Death anaturalthing. There'snothingmorefalse. Death issofar frombeingNatural,thatNatureabhorsit,
and it was far from the Design ofGod in the state in
whichManwas firstcreated. Forhecreatedhim
Holy, Innocent, and by consequence Immortal ; ' t w a s o n l y S i n t h a t b r o u g h t D e a t h i n t o t h e W o r l d ? ,
but this fatal League betwixt Sin and Death could not triumph over the Designs of God, who had created Man for Immortality : He knew how to ftatch the Victory out of their Hands, by bringing Man toLifeagain,evenintheShadesandHor rorsofDeathitself. ThusshalltheDeadrevive at the Resurrection, pursuant to the Doctrine os the Christians,which teaches that Death must give uptholewhomithasiwallow'ddown. Sothat the Principle that Socrates did not fully compre hend, isanunshaken Truth,which bearstheMarks of the ancient Tradition that the Heathens had al- ter'dand corrupted.
The third Argument alledg'd by Socrates^s a Proof o f t h e I m m o r t a l i t y o f t h e S o u l , is t h a t o f R e m e m brance5which. likewise bears theMarks of that ancientTradition corrupted bytheHeathens. To find out the Truth couch'd under this Argument, I advance the following Conjectures.
It seems the Philosophers grounded this Opinion of Remembrance upon some Texts of the Prophets Ee4 that
? ? ya
Ike Introduction to Phedonu
thatthey did notwell understand, such asthatof Jeremiah,BeforeIfornfdtheeinthe BellyIknew thee.
Crit. Very true.
Soc. Atthatratethen,oughtnotwetoesteemthe good Opinions and flight the bad ones ?
. Crit. 'Ay,doubtless. ? >-?
Soc. Are not the good Opinions then those of
wiseMen,andthebadonesthoseofFools? ? \ Crit. ltcannotbeotherwise.
Soc. . Lei'sseethen, how you will answer this: A
Man that makeshisExercises, when hecomesto
have his,Lesson,,whethershall heregardtheCon*
mendation orCensureofwho evercomes first,or
only of him that iseither*a PhysicianoraMaster? . Crit. O f the last to be sure. , . ? > . .
Soc Then he ought to fear the Censure, and va
lue the Commendation of that Man alone;and flight what comes from others. . / ? . . . .
i. Crit. Without'doubt.
Soc. For that Reason, this young Man must nek
ther eat nor drink, nor do any thing, without the OrdersofthatMaster,thatMan ofSense, andheis notjatallto;govern himselfby theCaprices ofothers.
; Crit. . . That's true.
Sec. Let'sfixuponthatthen. Butsupposehedis
obeys this Mastet, and disregards his Applause o? Censure j and suffers himselsto be blinded by the C a ressesand ApplausesoftheignorantMob 3willnot hecometosomeharmbythismeans?
? Xrit. How isitpossibleitshouldheotherwise? . Soc. But what will be the nature of this harm
that will accrue to him thereupon * where will it terminate, and what partofhim willitaffect?
. Crit. His Body without doubt, for by that means hellruinehimself;
' * For they perform those Exercises either for their Healths or else to improve, their Dexterity and Strength: For the first they follow'd the Orders of a Physicianj and for the other,theyw<<e directedbyaMaster. Soc,
? ? yS Crito:Or,Ofwhatweoughttodo.
S o c . V e r y w e l l -, b u t i s n o t t h e C a s e t h e f e m e a l l over? Upon the point ofJusticeor Injustice,Ho nestyorDishonesty,Good orEvil,whichatpresent are the subject or our Dispute, shall-we rather re fer our selves . to the Opinion of the People, than to thatof anexperienc'dwise Man, who justlychal lenges more Respect and Deference from us, than allthe World besides>Andifwedonotactcon formably to the Opinion of this one Man, is it not certain,thatwe shallruineourselves,andentirely losethat which only livesand gains new strength by Justice, and perishes only through Unjustice ? Or, mustwetakeallthatforathingofnoaccount?
Crit. Iam ofyourOpinion.
S? c' Take heed, I intreat you ; if by following h f>>st>". theOpinionsoftheIgnorantwe destroythatwhich
is only preserv'd by Health and wasted by Sickness ; canwesurvivetheCorruptionof that,whether it beourBodyorsomewhatelse>
Crit. That's certain.
Soc. Can one live then after the corruption and destruction of the Body >
Crit. No, to be sure.
Soc. But can one survive the Corruption of that which lives only by Justice, and dies only through Injustice ? Or, is this thing (whatever it be) that hasJustice or Injusticefor itsObject,tobelessVa luedthantheBody?
? Crit. Not at all.
Soc. What, isit much more valuable then > Crit. A great deal more. Soc. ThenmydearCrito,weoughtnottobecon-
hn&our cern'datwhat thePeople fay;butwhatthatlays, ^ t f t j o m w e w h o k n o w s w h a t ' s j u s t a n d w h a t ' s u n j u s t -, a n d t h a t
3 ? r7aloneisnothingelsebuttheTruth. Thusyousee, theTmtb; youestablish'dfalsePrinciplesatfirst,insayingthat
ie. God weoughttopayaDeferencetotheOpinionsofthe whoalone people,uponwhatisjust,good,honest,anditscon-
fiif. "trades. Someperhapswillobject,thatthePeople
is able to put us to death,
? - . Crit,
, llZesZiy
? ? Crito:Or,Ofwhatvpeoughttodo. 55
Crit. T o be sure, they'll start that Objection.
Soc. Tis alsotrue. But thatdoesriotaltertheTolireu
nature of what we were sayings that's still the"***(R)*"* fame. For you must stillremember, that 'tisnotVdiiTdi. Life, but a good Life that w e ought to court.
Crit. That's a certain Truth. Soc. Butisitnotlikewisecertain,that thisgood^ W lfe
Life consists in nothing else but Honesty and Justice ? ? j t ? & ? Crit. Yes. LJWfep
Soc. Now, before we go further,lets examine up on the Principles you've agreed to, whether m y de parture from hence without the permission of the Atheniansisjustorunjust. Ifitbefoundjust,we mustdoourutmosttobring itaboutjbutif'tisun just,wemustlayasidetheDesign. Forastothe Considerations, you alledg'djustnow, ofMoney, Re
putation and Family : These are only the Thoughts
of the baser Mob, who put innocent Persons toAchatdle* death, and would afterwards bring 'em to life ifoftheMot.
'twere possible. But as for us w h o bend our thoughts
another way, allthat wearetomind,iswhether
we do a just thing in giving Money, and lying un
der an Obligation to thole who promote our Es
cape? Or,whetherbothwe and theydo notcom-2^y,
mit apieceofInjusticeinsodoing? Ifthisbeanf0thecom.
unjust thing, we need not reason much upon themiffionof
Point, since*tisbettertoabidehereanddie,thanto*? ,*">$ undergo somewhat more terrible than Death. cS*
( Crit. Youareintherightofthat,Socrates:Let's feethenhow itwillfall. '
: Soc. W e shall go hand in hand in the Enquiry. " If you have any thing of weight to answer, pray do
i t w h e n I h a v e s p o k e n , t h a t s o I m a y c o m p l y -, i f not,prayforbearanyfurtherto pressme togofrom hencewithouttheConsentoftheAthenians. Ishall be infinitely glad, ifyou can persuade me to do it; but Icannotdo itwithoutbeingfirstconvinc'd. Take noticethenwhether my wayofpursuingthisEnqui
ry satisfie you, and do your utmost to make answer to my Questions,
Grin
? ? * f *t.
o u r F o r t u n e b e n e v e r s o g o o d o r b a d ? ? Crit. That*s certain.
Soc. Then we must avoid the least measure of Injustice. :
; Crit. Most certainly.
Soc Since we aretoavoidtheleast degreeofit,
then we ought not to do itto those who are unjust to us, notwithstanding that this People thinks it lawful. .
1 Crit. So I think.
S o c . B u t w h a t ! O u g h t w e t o d o E v i l o r n o t >. Crit. Without doubt we ought not.
Soc. But is it Justice, to repay Evil with Evil,
6a Crito:Or,Ofwhatwewighttodol
Crit. I will.
Difference Soc. Isit;true,thatweoughtnottodoanunjust
^J5*' thingtoanyMan? Or,isitlawfulinanymeasure ? BiUHrtji! -t0dout0oneownen weareforbidtodoittoano- stifithedo-ther? Gr,isitnotabsolutely true, thatallmanner
*<<ginjusticeof Injustice isneither good nor honest, as we were uanjMw. fayingbutnow >Or,infine,arealltheseSentiments
which we formerly entertain'd, vanifh'd in a few days? Andisitpossible,Crito,that thoseof years, our most serious Conferences, should resemble those ofChildren,and we atthe fame time not be sensible
injusticeitthat'tisso? Oughtwe hot rathertostandtowhat /w*k/<>>"we^6 said,asbeingacertainTruth,thatallIn-
jtfefriLJustice is scandalous and fetal to the PeriOn that krmitj commitsit-,letMenfaywhattheywill,andlet
toiT^i pwft13111^0theOpinionofthePeople,orisitun-
fertyu. just?
? Crit. 'Tishighly unjust.
Soc: Then there's no difference between doing Evil and being Unjust ?
' Crit. sown it.
Soc. Then weought nottodotheleastEvilor
InjusticetoanyMan,lethim do by usashewill. But take heed, Crito, that by thisConcession you do not speakagainstyourownSentiments. ForIknow Very well, there are few that will go this length :
And 'tisimpossibleFor those who vary in theirSen- "? ; ments
? ? iwer ?
Crito: Or,Ofwhatm oughttodo] 6x
timents upon this Points to agree well together. Nay,-onthecontrary;,thecontempt ofpneanother'sSocrates
Opinions, leads 'em to a reciprocal contempt of one 2 ^ * ^ anothersPersons. Considerwellthen,ifyouareof^J^
t h e . l a m e O p i n i o n w i t h m e -, a n d . l e t u s g r o u n d o u r T n x h ^ t t m Reasonipgs upon this Principle, That we. ought not <<? <*? *
to d o Evil for Evil, or treat those unjustly w h o are J S * * * ^ . unjuix10us. Formypart,Ineverdid,norneverrqw&Ji' will entertainany other Principle. Tellme then/orEviL if you have chang'd your Mind* ifnot, give ear to
what follows.
Crit. Igiveear. t . ? . >>.
Soc. Wellj a M a n that has rnade a just Proiflisej
ought he to keep it or to break it >
Crit. He ought to keep it.
Soc. If I go from hence then, without the Con- itisa>ifi-
sentofthe Athenians,shallnotIinjure'somePeo-UeWrcS
pie,and especiallythose who do not deserve itt^jj? " Or, shall we inthis follow what we thinkequallyStat('e
just to every Body >
Crit. I cannot answer you, for Ido not under
standyou.
Soc.
Pray take notice:When we put our selves
in a way or making our Escape, or going from hence,
or h o w you please to call it, suppose the L a w and
the Republick should present themselves in a Body beforeus,and accostus inthismanner:Socrates,Socrates what are you going to do ? to put in execution what *j? *^Jc"
you now design,werewhbl/ytoruinetheLawsanda? j,^
the State : Do you think a City cansubsist when Ju- Statespcak- slicehas not only lostitsforce,butislikewiseper-iaSt0*"*?
verted, overturned, and trampled under foot bypri
vate Persons ? What Answer could we make to
such and many otherQuestions? For,whatisit,7*^^**r
that an Orator cannot fay upon the overturning oiZt^js^JO
that Law, which. provides that Sentences once pro-tramp4c>>n-
nounc'd shall not beinfring'd>Shallwe answer,^M^*-'
that the Republick hasjudg'd amiss, and passed- f ^ an unjust Sentence upon us? Shall that be our An-"e AWS'
Crit
? ? $i Crito:Or,Ofwhatweoughttodo.
Crit. Ay, without any/scruple, Socrates.
Soc. What will theirLaws fay then ? Socrates, it itnot true, thatyouagreedwithus tosubmityour
self to apublick Trial? And ifwe should seem to Kj? e/>>tet? -be surpris'd at such Language, they'll continue per- onofthat hapS. Be not surprised, Socrates, but make answer,
for you yourself us'd to insist upon Question and A n swer. Tellthen whatoccasionyou havetocomplain
oftheRepublicsandofus? thatyou aresoeagerup
ondestroyingit? *Are notwe theAuthorsofyour
Birth? Isnotitbyourmeansthatyourleathermar
ried her who broughtyouforth ? What fault can you findwith the Taws we establishedasto Marriage?
Nothingatall,shouldIanswer. Astothenourish ing andbringing upofChildren, andthemanner of your Education, are not the Tawsjufl that we enabled
upon that Head, by which we oblig'dyour father to bring you up to Mufick and the Exercises ? Very just,I'dlay. Sinceyouwereborn,broughtup,and educated under our Influence, durst you maintain that you are not our Nurse-Child,and subject: as well as your Father ? And if you are, do you think to have equal Power with us, as if it were lawful foi:
youtoinflictuponusallthatweenjoynyoutoun dergo ? But since you cannot lay claim to any such
Right against your Father or your Master, so as to r e p a y E v i l f o r E v i l , I n j u r y f o r I n j u r y ? , h o w c a n y o u
think to obtain that Privilege against your Country and the Laws, in so much that ifwe endeavour to put you to death, you'll counter-act us, by endea vouring to prevent us, and to ruine your Country and its Laws ? Can you callsuch an Action'just, you that are an inseparable follower of true Ver-
rteRegard tue ? Are you ignorant that your Country is more weoughttoconsiderable,andmore worthy ofRespectandVene-
ctZtry "'""ration before God and Man, than your Father, M o ther, and all your Relations together ? That you
*ThisisanadmirablewayofmakingouttheObligation ofallMentoobeytheLawsoftheirCountry,byVirtueof the Treaty made between 'em.
ought
? ? Cfito:Or,Ofvehatrseoitghtt&do. . 6j
ought to honour your Country, yield to it,and hu mour it more than an angry Father ? That you must either reclaim it by your Counsel, or obey itsIn junctions, and suffer without grumbling all that it imposes upon you ? If it orders you to be whipp'd or laid in Irons, if it sends you to the Wars, there to spend your Blood, you ought to do it without d e m u r r i n g -, y o u m u s t n o t s h a k e o f f t h e Y o a k , n o r flinchorquityourPost* butintheArmy, inPrison, and every where else, ought equally to obey the OrdersofyourCountry,or elseassistitwith whol- somCounsel. For,ifofferingViolencetoaFather oraMother isapiece ofgrandImpiety, toputa forceupon one'sCountry isamuch greater. What shallweanswer toallthis,Crito? Shallwe acknow ledgetheTruthofwhattheLawsadvance?
Crit. Howcanweavoidit?
Soc. Do you lee then, Socrates, continue they, what reason we have to brand your Enterprise a- gainst usas unjust? Of usyou holdyour Birth, yourMaintenance,yourEducation;infine,we have doneyoualltheGoodwearecapableof,aswellas to the other Citizens. Indeed, we do not fail to make publickProclamation,that'tislawfulforeve ry private Man, ifhe does not find his Account in, the Laws and Customs of our Republick, aftera mature examination, to retire with all his Effects whither he pleases. And if any of you carmot comply with our Customs, and desires to remove and live elsewhere, not one ofus shall hinder him, hemaygowherehepleases. Butontheotherhand, if any one of you continues to live here, after he has confider'd our way of administring Justice, and
t h e P o l i c y o b s e r v ' d i n t h e S t a t e -, t h e n w e f a y h e i s in effect oblig'd to obey all our Commands, and we maintainthathisDisobedienceisunjustona three fold account, for not obeying thole to which he o w e s his Birth, for trampling under foot thole that
educated him, and for violating his Faith after he engag'd to obey us, and not taking the Pains to
make
? ? 'fail
Crito: Ot,,Ofwhatmoiigktfod&
makeRemonstrances tous,ifwehappentodoan unjust thing. For riot-withstanding that we only propose things without using any Violence to pro cureObedience,andgive. everyMan hischoiceei ther to, obey us or reclaim us by his -Counsel and Remonstrances, yet he does neither the one nor the Other. 4ndwe maintain^Socrates,thatifyou ex^ ecute what you are now about, you will stand charg'd with, all these Crimes, and that in a much higher degree than if another,private Man had com mitted. thefameInjustice* IfIask'd'em. therea son, without ,doubt they'd stop my Mouth by tel lingme that1submittedmy selfinadistinguishing manner to all these Conditions j and we, continue they, have great Evidence that -you were always p l e a s ' d w i t h u s a n d t h e R e p u b l i c k -, f o r , i f t h i s C i t y had not been more agreeable to you than any other, you jiad never continued in it, no more than the other Athenians. None of the Shows could, eves tempt you to go out of the City, except once that; youwenttoseethe*GamesattheIsthmus:You never went any where else, excepting your Military
Expeditions, and never undertook a Voyage, as o<
thersarewonttodo. YouneverhadtheCuriosity i. e. Soiu x. 0vifit0therCities,oreno,uire,afterotherLaws,as tofifim beingalwayscontentedwithusandourRepublick:
You always made a distinguishing choice ofus,and on alloccasions testified that you submitted with all yourHearttoliveaccordingtoourMaxims. Be sides, your having had Children in this City is an
vorifhthtAinfallibleEvidencethatyoulik'difc Infine,inthis
sentene'd verylastjunctureyoumighthavebeensentene'dto himself to Banishment ifyou would, and might then have done hZAthT'withtheConsentoftheRepublick,whatyounow
nians bad attempt without their Permission. But you were tonfirm'dit. so stately, so unconcern'd at Death, that in your own Terms youpreferr'd Death to Banishment. But
* These Games were celebrated at the Isthmus of Corinth to the Honour of "Heftme every three Years, after they were re^ eeiv'd by Theftm,
you
? ? Crito:Or,Ofwhatweoughttodo. 6?
now youhavenoregardtothesefineWords,you
are not further concern'd for the Laws, since you mi >><<*?
aregoingtooverturn'em;Youdojustwhat apiti-Mhe*s, fulslavewould offertodo,by endeavouringtomake c? >>firmal/e
your Escape, contrary to the Laws of the Treaty l}*1^"*
you have fign'd, by which you oblig'd your selfto tjy>>t"jb
liveaccording toourRules. Prayanswerus^didmJtyfat-;
notwe layrightinaffirmingthatyouagreedtothis/<<*>>'>><<>>f
Treaty, and submitted your self to these Terms, '%Jj"? l notonlyinWordsbutinDeeds? Whatshallwesayitemt
toallthis,Crito? Andwhatcanwedoelsebutac knowledge that'tisso>
Gif. H o w can w e avoid % Socrates?
Soil W h a t else then, continue they, is this Action of yours, but a violation of that Treaty and all its Terms ? That Treaty that you Were not made to sign eitherby force or surprise, nor without time to think on't : For you had the whole course of your 70 Years to have remov'd in, ifyou had been dis satisfied with us, or unconvinc'd of the Justice of our Proposals. You neither pitch'd upon Lacedemon hor Greet, notwithstanding that you always cry'd up their Laws ; nor any of the Other Grecian Ci tiesorstrangeCountries. Youhavebeenlessout Of Athens than the Lame and the Blind, which is an invincible Proof that the City pleas'd you in a distinguishing manner, and consequently that w e did, ' since a City can never be agreeable if its Laws are notsuch. Andyetatthistimeyoucounter-actthe Treaty. But,ifyou'lltakeourAdvice,Socrates^ We would have you to stand to your Treaty, and not expose your self to be ridicul'd by the Citizens, bystealingoutftomhence. Prayconsiderwhatad vantage can redeund either to you or your Friends, by persisting in that goodly Design. Your Friends Will infallibly be either expos'd to Danger, or ba* nifh'd their Country, or have their Estates forfeited. And as for your self, if you retire to any neigh
bouring City, such as Thebes or Megara, which are admirably well govein'd,-you'll there be look'd Ee upon
? ? 66
Crito : Or, O s what toe ought to <fe
uponasanEnemy. . AUthathaveanylovefortheir Country, will look upon you as a Corrupter of the Laws. Besides,you'lliortifieinthemthegoodOpi nion they have of your Judges, and move 'em to approve the Sentence given against you: For a Cor> rupteroftheLawwillatanytimepalsfora De- baucheroftheYouthand ofthevulgarPeople. What, will you keep out of these well-govern'd Cities, and these AssembliesofjustMen? But,praywillyou have enoughto live. uponinthatCondition? Or,
will you have the face to go and live with them > And pray what willyou fay to 'em,Socrqtes? Will you preach to them, as you did here, that Ver- tue, Justice, the Laws, and Ordinances, ought to be reverenc'd by Men >Do not you think,that this will found very ridiculous in their Ears ? You ought tothinkso. Butperhapsyou'llquicklyleavethese well-govern'd Cities, and go to * Tbeffaly to Critd$ Friends, where there is left Order and more Licen tiousness ? , and doubtless in that Country they'll . take,a singular Pleasure in hearing you relate inwhat Equipage you made your Escape from this Prison, that is cover'd with some old Rags, or a Beasts Skin, or diiguis'd some other way, as Fugitives are wonttobe. EveryBodywillfay,ThisoldFellow, that has scarce any time to live, had such a strong Passion for living, that he did not stand to purchase his Life by trampling under foot the most sacred Laws. SuchStorieswillbebandy'daboutofyou, atatimewhenyouoffendnoMan5but uponthe least occasion of Complaint, they'll tease you with
a thousand other Reproaches, unworthy of you. You'll spend your time in sneaking and insinuating your selfinto the Favour of all Men, one after ano ther, and owning an equal subjection to 'em all. For, what can you do ? Will you feast perpetually
*Tbeffalywas theCountrywhere Licentiousness and De bauchery reign'd. And accordingly Xenoflxin observes that 'twas there that Critic was ruin'd.
Ib
? ? ? ritb: Or,Ofwhattt>eoughttodo. 6f
inThejsaly,asifthegood Cheerhad drawnyouthi ther ? But what will become then of all your fine Discourses upon Justiceand Vertue? Besides, ifyou design to preserve your Life for the sake of your Children ; that cannot be in order to bring 'em up inThejsaly^ as ifyou could do 'em no other Ser vice but make them strangers. Or, if you design to leave 'em here, do you imagine that during your Lifethey'llbe betterbrought up here,inyourab sence, under the Care of your Friends ? But will not your Friends take the fame Care of 'em after your death, that they'd do in your absence ? You ought to be persuaded, that all those who call themselves your Friends, will at all times do them all the Service they can. To conclude, Socrates^
submit your self to our Reasons, follow the Advice
of those who brought you up ; and do not put
your Children, your Life, or any thing whatsoever^
intheBalancewith Justice$totheend, thatwhen
you arrive before the Tribunal of P/uto, you may beabletoclearyourselfbeforeyourJudges. For7l'e&***j
do not you deceive your selfj if you perform what *"^> you now design , you'll neither better your own c7mes'frahi Cause nor that of your Pasty ; you will neitherMia, enlarge itsJustice nor Sanctity, either here or in
the Regions below. But, if you die bravely, you
Owe your death. totheInjustice,notoftheLaws, butofMen-,whereasifyoumakeyourEscape,by repulsing so shamefully, the Injustice ofyour Ene
mies, by violating at once both your own Faith
and our Treaty , and injuring so many innocent Persons, as your self, your Friends, and your Coun try together with us ; we will still be your Ene mies as long as you live. And when you are dead, our Sisters,the Laws inthe other World, will certainly afford you no joyful reception , as knowing that you endeavoured to ruine us. Where fore do not prefer Crito's Councel to ours.
B? 2 Ms-
? ? $8 Grito:Or,Oftobatm^ughttodok
Methinks,my dearCrito,IhearwhatIhavenow spoke, just as * the Priests of Cybele fansie they hear the Cornets and Flutes : And the found of these Words makes so strongan impressioninmyEars, thatitstopsmefromhearinganythingelse. These are the Sentiments I like* and all you can fay to takemeoffofthem,willbetonopurpose. How ever, if you think to succeed, I do not hinder you tospeak. '
Crh. 1havenothingtosay,Sotrates.
Soc. Then be easie, and let us bravely run this Course, since G o d calls and Conducts us to it.
* Socrates means that all these Truths make no flightIm- preslion upon him, but pierce him , and inspire him with an Arbour, or rather a holy Fury, that flops his Ears from hearinganythingtothecontrary. ThefoundoftheCor netsand Flutes ofthePriestsofCybeleinsoir'dthe Audience withFury,andwhyshouldthesoundofDivineTruthsfall short of the fame Vertue, and leave their Hearers in a luke warm indifferency? ThisTemper ofSocratesjustifiesandex plains what Diogenes said of him ; when some Body ask'd Dhgenes, what he flicught of Socrates? He answer'd. That In w a s a m o d M a n ? , f o r S o c r a t e s s h e w ' d a n i n c r e d i b l e W a r m t h i n pursuing whatever he took to be just.
THE
? ? THE
INTRODUCTION TO
PH? D0N. '
SOcrates inhisApologyandinhisG7/0 teachesus, howweoughttoformourLives;andherehe
instructs us how to die, and what Thoughts to en tertain at 'the hour of death. By explaining his own Views and Designs, which were the Springs of all his Actions, he furnishes us with a Proof of the m o s t i m p o r t a n t o f all T r u t h s , a n d o f t h a t w h i c h o u g h t to regulate our Life. For the Immortality of the Soul is a Point of such importance that itincludes all the Truths of Religion, and all the Motives that
oughttoexciteanddirectus. SothatourfirstDu ty is to satisfie ourselves in this Point : Self-Love, and meer human Interest ought to spur us up to understand it* not to speak, that there is not a more fatalConditionthantobe ignorantofthenatureof Death, which appears as terrible as unavoidable : ForaccordingtotheNotionwehaveofit,wemiy draw Consequences directly opposite, for managing the Conduct of our Lives and the Choice of our Pleasures.
Socrates spends the last day of his Life in discour sing with his Friends upon this great Subject : He unfolds all the Reasons that require the belief or the Immortality of the Soul,and refutes alltheOb jections they mov'd to the contrary, which are the veryfamethataremadeuseofatthisday. Hesi. - monstrates the Hope they ought to have of a hap
Ee3 pier
69
? ? 7P
the fatrodu? lhn to Phedon. ' ,
pier Life ; and lays before them, all that this blefc fed Hope requires, to make itsolid and lasting, t<j prevent their being deluded by a vain Hope, and aP ter all meeting with the Punishment allotted to the Wicked, instead of the Rewards provided for the Good.
This Conference was occasion'd by a Truth that was casually started, viz. That a true Philosopher ought to desire to die, and to endeavour it. This Position taken literally, seem'd to insinuate that a Philosopher might lay. violent Hands oh himself. But Socrates makes it out, that there's nothing more unjust; and that, for so much as Man is God's Creature and Property, he ought not not to remove
outofthisLifewithouthisOrders. What should
it be then that made the Philosopher have such a *n could iove for Death * ? What is the Ground of this
L"? 'ftLH? Pe-? Here we are Presented w"n the Grounds cftixgood assigns by a -Heathen Philosopher, viz. M a n is born
thingshe to know the Truth, but he can never attain to a existed in perfect Knowledge of it in this Life, by reason that
TM r
hisBody isan Obstacle;Perfect Knowledgeisre-
ierv'diortheLifetocome. ThentheSoulmust be Immortal , since after death it operates and knows. As for Man's being born for'the Know
ledge of Truth, that cannot be call'd in question, since he was born to know God,
From thence itfollows, that a true Philosopher hatesand contemnsthisBody,whichstandsinthe way of his Union to God, that he wishes to b& rid of it, and looks upon Death as a Passage to a better Life. This solid Hope gives Being to that true Temperance and Valour which is the Lot of true Philosophers;forotherMen areonly valiant through Fear, and temperate through Intemperance j theirVertueisonlyaSlavetoVice,? ? <? ' ? ? ?
They object to Socrates, That the Soul is nothing butaVapour,that vanishesand disperses itselfat death. SocratescombatsthatOpinionwithanAr
gument that has a great deal of strength in his ? . . ? . Mouth,
? ? The Introduction tq Phedoiu 71
Mouth, but becomes much stronger when supported by the true Religion, which alone can set it in its full Light. "The Argument is this : In Nature, contraries produce their contraries. <So that Death being an Operation of Nature, ought to produce Life,thatbeingitscontrary. AndbyConsequence theDeadmustbebornagain;theSoulthenisnot dead, since it must revive the Body.
Before we proceed further, 'tisfit to take notice of an Error, that is couch'd under this Principle, which only the Christian Religion can at once dis coverandrefute. 'Tis,thatSocratesandallother Philosophers are infinitely,mistaken in making Death anaturalthing. There'snothingmorefalse. Death issofar frombeingNatural,thatNatureabhorsit,
and it was far from the Design ofGod in the state in
whichManwas firstcreated. Forhecreatedhim
Holy, Innocent, and by consequence Immortal ; ' t w a s o n l y S i n t h a t b r o u g h t D e a t h i n t o t h e W o r l d ? ,
but this fatal League betwixt Sin and Death could not triumph over the Designs of God, who had created Man for Immortality : He knew how to ftatch the Victory out of their Hands, by bringing Man toLifeagain,evenintheShadesandHor rorsofDeathitself. ThusshalltheDeadrevive at the Resurrection, pursuant to the Doctrine os the Christians,which teaches that Death must give uptholewhomithasiwallow'ddown. Sothat the Principle that Socrates did not fully compre hend, isanunshaken Truth,which bearstheMarks of the ancient Tradition that the Heathens had al- ter'dand corrupted.
The third Argument alledg'd by Socrates^s a Proof o f t h e I m m o r t a l i t y o f t h e S o u l , is t h a t o f R e m e m brance5which. likewise bears theMarks of that ancientTradition corrupted bytheHeathens. To find out the Truth couch'd under this Argument, I advance the following Conjectures.
It seems the Philosophers grounded this Opinion of Remembrance upon some Texts of the Prophets Ee4 that
? ? ya
Ike Introduction to Phedonu
thatthey did notwell understand, such asthatof Jeremiah,BeforeIfornfdtheeinthe BellyIknew thee.
