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government； or to some other Hellenic or foreign state。 Whereas you； above
all other Athenians； seemed to be so fond of the state； or； in other words；
of us her laws （and who would care about a state which has no laws？）； that
you never stirred out of her； the halt； the blind； the maimed； were not
more stationary in her than you were。 And now you run away and forsake
your agreements。 Not so； Socrates； if you will take our advice； do not
make yourself ridiculous by escaping out of the city。
'For just consider； if you transgress and err in this sort of way； what
good will you do either to yourself or to your friends？ That your friends
will be driven into exile and deprived of citizenship； or will lose their
property； is tolerably certain； and you yourself； if you fly to one of the
neighbouring cities； as； for example； Thebes or Megara； both of which are
well governed； will come to them as an enemy； Socrates； and their
government will be against you； and all patriotic citizens will cast an
evil eye upon you as a subverter of the laws； and you will confirm in the
minds of the judges the justice of their own condemnation of you。 For he
who is a corrupter of the laws is more than likely to be a corrupter of the
young and foolish portion of mankind。 Will you then flee from well…ordered
cities and virtuous men？ and is existence worth having on these terms？ Or
will you go to them without shame； and talk to them； Socrates？ And what
will you say to them？ What you say here about virtue and justice and
institutions and laws being the best things among men？ Would that be
decent of you？ Surely not。 But if you go away from well…governed states
to Crito's friends in Thessaly； where there is great disorder and licence；
they will be charmed to hear the tale of your escape from prison； set off
with ludicrous particulars of the manner in which you were wrapped in a
goatskin or some other disguise； and metamorphosed as the manner is of
runaways； but will there be no one to remind you that in your old age you
were not ashamed to violate the most sacred laws from a miserable desire of
a little more life？ Perhaps not； if you keep them in a good temper； but if
they are out of temper you will hear many degrading things； you will live；
but how？as the flatterer of all men； and the servant of all men； and
doing what？eating and drinking in Thessaly； having gone abroad in order
that you may get a dinner。 And where will be your fine sentiments about
justice and virtue？ Say that you wish to live for the sake of your
childrenyou want to bring them up and educate themwill you take them
into Thessaly and deprive them of Athenian citizenship？ Is this the
benefit which you will confer upon them？ Or are you under the impression
that they will be better cared for and educated here if you are still
alive； although absent from them； for your friends will take care of them？
Do you fancy that if you are an inhabitant of Thessaly they will take care
of them； and if you are an inhabitant of the other world that they will not
take care of them？ Nay； but if they who call themselves friends are good
for anything； they willto be sure they will。
'Listen； then； Socrates； to us who have brought you up。 Think not of life
and children first； and of justice afterwards； but of justice first； that
you may be justified before the princes of the world below。 For neither
will you nor any that belong to you be happier or holier or juster in this
life； or happier in another； if you do as Crito bids。 Now you depart in
innocence； a sufferer and not a doer of evil； a victim； not of the laws；
but of men。 But if you go forth； returning evil for evil； and injury for
injury； breaking the covenants and agreements which you have made with us；
and wronging those whom you ought least of all to wrong； that is to say；
yourself； your friends； your country； and us； we shall be angry with you
while you live； and our brethren； the laws in the world below； will receive
you as an enemy； for they will know that you have done your best to destroy
us。 Listen； then； to us and not to Crito。'
This； dear Crito； is the voice which I seem to hear murmuring in my ears；
like the sound of the flute in the ears of the mystic； that voice； I say；
is humming in my ears； and prevents me from hearing any other。 And I know
that anything more which you may say will be vain。 Yet speak； if you have
anything to say。
CRITO： I have nothing to say； Socrates。
SOCRATES： Leave me then； Crito； to fulfil the will of God； and to follow
whither he leads。
End