59
Echecrates
Echecrates. Were any foreigners there?
Phaedo
Phaedo. Yes, Simmias of Thebes and Cebes and Phaedonides, and from Megara Euclides and Terpsion.
Echecrates
Echecrates. What? Were Aristippus and Cleombrotus there?
Phaedo
Phaedo. No. They were said to be in Aegina.
Echecrates
Echecrates. Was anyone else there?
10
Phaedo
Phaedo. I think these were about all.
Echecrates
Echecrates. Well then, what was the conversation?
Phaedo
Phaedo. I will try to tell you everything from the beginning. On the previous days I and the others had always been in the habit of visiting Socrates. We used to meet at daybreak in the court where the trial took place, for it was near the prison; and every day we used to wait about, talking with each other, until the prison was opened, for it was not opened early; and when it was opened, we went in to Socrates and passed most of the day with him. On that day we came together earlier; for the day before, when we left the prison in the evening we heard that the ship had arrived from Delos. So we agreed to come to the usual place as early in the morning as possible. And we came, and the jailer who usually answered the door came out and told us to wait and not go in until he told us. For, he said, the eleven are releasing Socrates from his fetters and giving directions how he is to die today.
