236 BRAMBLES AND BAY LEAVES. 



Melitus, together with Anitus and Lycon, stood forth to criminate 

 him ; they roused np the public feeling against him and his disciples, 

 and brought their false charges before the five hundred judges. He 

 was accused of corrupting the youth of Athens, of making innovations 

 in the religion of the Greeks, and of ridiculing the gods. In his 

 defence he modestly said, that what little knowledge he possessed was 

 applied to the service of the Athenians ; it was his wish to make his 

 fellow citizens happy, and it was a duty which he performed at the 

 special command of the gods, "Whose authority," said he, emphati- 

 cally to his judges, " I regard more than yours." Such language, 

 uttered with the firmness of innocence, and the dignity of virtue, and 

 by a man who was accused of a capital crime, astonished and irritated 

 the tribunal. Socrates was condemned ; and when he was condemned, 

 according to the Athenian Laws, to pass sentence on himself, he said, 

 " For my attempts to teach the Athenian youth justice and modera- 

 tion, and render the rest of my countrymen more happy, let me be 

 maintained at the public expense the remaining years of my life in 

 the Prytaneum ; an honour, Athenians ! which I deserve more than 

 the victors of the Olympic games. They make their countrymen 

 more happy in appearance, but I have made you so in reality." This 

 exasperated the judges in the highest degree ; and he was condemned 

 to drink hemlock. He received the sentence with tranquility, for his 

 whole life had been spent in learning to die. Before he left the 

 tribunal, he recommended to their care his defenceless children, and 

 said that to die was a pleasure, since he was going to hold converse 

 with the greatest heroes of antiquity. 



The solemn celebration of the Delian festivals prevented his execu- 

 tion for thirty days, during which time he was confined in prison, and 

 loaded with irons. He disregarded the intercession of his friends ; 

 and when it was in his power, he refused to escape from the prison. 

 When the hour to drink the poison arrived, the executioner presented 

 him the cup, with tears in his eyes. Socrates received it with com- 

 posure, and after making a libation to the gods, raised it to his lips, 

 while breathing a prayer ; — tears gushed from every eye, and the 

 prison resounded with lamentations. He said, *' My friends, I sent 

 away the women that I might not behold such weakness ; resume 

 your courage, the man who renounces pleasure has laboured to adorn 

 his soul. Death should be accompanied by good omens." So saying, 



