Upon this Socrates replied, “These men whom you mention, Crito, do these things with good reason, for they think they shall gain by so doing; and I, too, with good reason, shall not do so; for I think I shall gain nothing by drinking a little later, except to become ridiculous to myself, in being so fond of life, and sparing of it, when none any longer remains.  Go then,” he said, “obey, and do not resist.”

152.  Crito, having heard this, nodded to the boy that stood near.  And the boy, having gone out and staid for some time, came, bringing with him the man that was to administer the poison, who brought it ready pounded in a cup.  And Socrates, on seeing the man, said, “Well, my good friend, as you are skilled in these matters, what must I do?”

“Nothing else,” he replied, “than, when you have drunk it, walk about until there is a heaviness in your legs; then lie down:  thus it will do its purpose.”  And at the same time he held out the cup to Socrates.  And he having received it very cheerfully, Echecrates neither trembling, nor changing at all in color or countenance, but, as he was wont, looking steadfastly at the man, said, “What say you of this potion, with respect to making a libation to any one, is it lawful or not?”

“We only pound so much, Socrates,” he said, “as we think sufficient to drink.”

153.  “I understand you,” he said; “but it is certainly both lawful and right to pray to the gods, that my departure hence thither may be happy; which, therefore, I pray, and so may it be.”  And as he said this, he drank it off readily and calmly.  Thus far, most of us were with difficulty able to restrain ourselves from weeping; but when we saw him drinking, and having finished the draught, we could do so no longer; but, in spite of myself, the tears came in full torrent, so that, covering my face, I wept for myself; for I did not weep for him, but for my own fortune, in being deprived of such a friend.  But Crito, even before me, when he could not restrain his tears, had risen up. 154.  But Apollodorus, even before this, had not ceased weeping; and then, bursting into an agony of grief, weeping and lamenting, he pierced the heart of every one present, except Socrates himself.  But he said, “What are you doing, my admirable friends?  I, indeed, for this reason chiefly, sent away the women, that they might not commit any folly of this kind.  For I have heard that it is right to die with good omens.  Be quiet, therefore, and bear up.”

When we heard this, we were ashamed, and restrained our tears.  But he, having walked about, when he said that his legs were growing heavy, lay down on his back; for the man had so directed him.  And, at the same time, he who gave the poison taking hold of him, after a short interval, examined his feet and legs; and then, having pressed his foot hard, he asked if he felt it:  he said that he did not.  And after this he pressed his thighs; and, thus going higher, he showed us that he was growing cold and stiff.  Then Socrates touched himself, and said that when the poison reached his heart he should then depart. 155.  But now the parts around the lower belly were almost cold; when, uncovering himself, for he had been covered over, he said (and they were his last words), “Crito, we owe a cock to Aesculapius; pay it, therefore; and do not neglect it.”