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第19章

phaedo-第19章

小说: phaedo 字数: 每页4000字

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wave casts them forth…mere homicides by way of Cocytus; parricides and



matricides by Pyriphlegethon…and they are borne to the Acherusian



Lake; and there they lift up their voices and call upon the victims



whom they have slain or wronged; to have pity on them; and to



receive them; and to let them come out of the river into the lake。 And



if they prevail; then they come forth and cease from their troubles;



but if not; they are carried back again into Tartarus and from



thence into the rivers unceasingly; until they obtain mercy from those



whom they have wronged: for that is the sentence inflicted upon them



by their judges。 Those also who are remarkable for having led holy



lives are released from this earthly prison; and go to their pure home



which is above; and dwell in the purer earth; and those who have



duly purified themselves with philosophy live henceforth altogether



without the body; in mansions fairer far than these; which may not



be described; and of which the time would fail me to tell。



  Wherefore; Simmias; seeing all these things; what ought not we to do



in order to obtain virtue and wisdom in this life? Fair is the



prize; and the hope great。



  I do not mean to affirm that the description which I have given of



the soul and her mansions is exactly true…a man of sense ought



hardly to say that。 But I do say that; inasmuch as the soul is shown



to be immortal; he may venture to think; not improperly or unworthily;



that something of the kind is true。 The venture is a glorious one; and



he ought to comfort himself with words like these; which is the reason



why lengthen out the tale。 Wherefore; I say; let a man be of good



cheer about his soul; who has cast away the pleasures and ornaments of



the body as alien to him; and rather hurtful in their effects; and has



followed after the pleasures of knowledge in this life; who has



adorned the soul in her own proper jewels; which are temperance; and



justice; and courage; and nobility; and truth…in these arrayed she



is ready to go on her journey to the world below; when her time comes。



You; Simmias and Cebes; and all other men; will depart at some time or



other。 Me already; as the tragic poet would say; the voice of fate



calls。 Soon I must drink the poison; and I think that I had better



repair to the bath first; in order that the women may not have the



trouble of washing my body after I am dead。



  When he had done speaking; Crito said: And have you any commands for



us; Socrates…anything to say about your children; or any other



matter in which we can serve you?



  Nothing particular; he said: only; as I have always told you; I



would have you look to yourselves; that is a service which you may



always be doing to me and mine as well as to yourselves。 And you



need not make professions; for if you take no thought for



yourselves; and walk not according to the precepts which I have



given you; not now for the first time; the warmth of your



professions will be of no avail。



  We will do our best; said Crito。 But in what way would you have us



bury you?



  In any way that you like; only you must get hold of me; and take



care that I do not walk away from you。 Then he turned to us; and added



with a smile: I cannot make Crito believe that I am the same



Socrates who have been talking and conducting the argument; he fancies



that I am the other Socrates whom he will soon see; a dead body…and he



asks; How shall he bury me? And though I have spoken many words in the



endeavor to show that when I have drunk the poison I shall leave you



and go to the joys of the blessed…these words of mine; with which I



comforted you and myself; have had; I perceive; no effect upon



Crito。 And therefore I want you to be surety for me now; as he was



surety for me at the trial: but let the promise be of another sort;



for he was my surety to the judges that I would remain; but you must



be my surety to him that I shall not remain; but go away and depart;



and then he will suffer less at my death; and not be grieved when he



sees my body being burned or buried。 I would not have him sorrow at my



hard lot; or say at the burial; Thus we lay out Socrates; or; Thus



we follow him to the grave or bury him; for false words are not only



evil in themselves; but they infect the soul with evil。 Be of good



cheer; then; my dear Crito; and say that you are burying my body only;



and do with that as is usual; and as you think best。



  When he had spoken these words; he arose and went into the bath



chamber with Crito; who bade us wait; and we waited; talking and



thinking of the subject of discourse; and also of the greatness of our



sorrow; he was like a father of whom we were being bereaved; and we



were about to pass the rest of our lives as orphans。 When he had taken



the bath his children were brought to him…(he had two young sons and



an elder one); and the women of his family also came; and he talked to



them and gave them a few directions in the presence of Crito; and he



then dismissed them and returned to us。



  Now the hour of sunset was near; for a good deal of time had



passed while he was within。 When he came out; he sat down with us



again after his bath; but not much was said。 Soon the jailer; who



was the servant of the Eleven; entered and stood by him; saying: To



you; Socrates; whom I know to be the noblest and gentlest and best



of all who ever came to this place; I will not impute the angry



feelings of other men; who rage and swear at me when; in obedience



to the authorities; I bid them drink the poison…indeed; I am sure that



you will not be angry with me; for others; as you are aware; and not



I; are the guilty cause。 And so fare you well; and try to bear lightly



what must needs be; you know my errand。 Then bursting into tears he



turned away and went out。



  Socrates looked at him and said: I return your good wishes; and will



do as you bid。 Then; turning to us; he said; How charming the man



is: since I have been in prison he has always been coming to see me;



and at times he would talk to me; and was as good as could be to me;



and now see how generously he sorrows for me。 But we must do as he



says; Crito; let the cup be brought; if the poison is prepared: if



not; let the attendant prepare some。



  Yet; said Crito; the sun is still upon the hilltops; and many a



one has taken the draught late; and after the announcement has been



made to him; he has eaten and drunk; and indulged in sensual delights;



do not hasten then; there is still time。



  Socrates said: Yes; Crito; and they of whom you speak are right in



doing thus; for they think that they will gain by the delay; but I



am right in not doing thus; for I do not think that I should gain



anything by drinking the poison a little later; I should be sparing



and saving a life which is already gone: I could only laugh at



myself for this。 Please then to do as I say; and not to refuse me。



  Crito; when he heard this; made a sign to the servant; and the



servant went in; and remained for some time; and then returned with



the jailer carrying a cup of poison。 Socrates said: You; my good



friend; who are experienced in these matters; shall give me directions



how I am to proceed。 The man answered: You have only to walk about



until your legs are heavy; and then to lie down; and the poison will



act。 At the same time he handed the cup to Socrates; who in the



easiest and gentlest manner; without the least fear or change of color



or feature; looking at the man with all his eyes; Echecrates; as his



manner was; took the cup and said: What do you say about making a



libation out of this cup to any god? May I; or not? The man



answered: We only prepare; Socrates; just so much as we deem enough。 I



understand; he said: yet I may and must pray to the gods t

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