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Plato entertained nearly the same opinion as Pythagoras, lie says, “ that 
all corporeal bodies are inhabited by the soul, and owing to this terrestrial 
body, arise all the gross appetites.” Being perplexed, how to account for this 
union, considering, as he did, the perfect goodness of God, he supposes “ that 
the soul had previously existed, and had, even in a more exalted state, con¬ 
tracted some impurity, and was in consequence confined to do penance in 
some body, or form; and hence, that all bodies are a sort of prison, or house 
of correction.” He compares “ the soul to a pilot governing a vessel, and even 
though a shipwreck should arise, the pilot might escape by swimming, so 
upon death, the soul would escape from the mouldering body, forming no 
more a part of it, than the pilot did of a ship.” He wrote an express treatise 
“ on the immortality of the soul.” 
Socrates, the contemporary with Plato, was among the wise ancients, 
who believed in the immortality of the soul. Having raised an altar to the 
“ unknown God,” he was persecuted by the religious bigots of the times, 
and when pleading before his judges, he says, “ Death is of all things the 
most desirable, being a transmigration out of one state into another, and the 
bettering one’s condition, as the good then live with men of unspotted virtue, 
and elevated minds.” Being condemned to die, he was offered to be rescued 
from prison by his friends. But he thus refused. “ Truly, if I did not 
firmly believe, that I am going to a just God, and to the company of men, 
better than those now living, I were inexcusable for contemning life. But 
I am perfectly assured, that I am going to a Supreme Being, the best of 
masters, and to the fellowship of good men, having no doubt, as I have 
often said, that the soul of man subsists after death, and it is better to live 
with the good in another world, than with so many bad in this.” 
Whilst the executioner was preparing the draught, he kept on discours¬ 
ing on the soul, and was advised not to speak so much, for it would heat 
the blood, and hinder the poison from taking so speedy an effect. But 
such a consideration could have no effect upon Socrates; he went on address¬ 
ing his friends. “ That the good man had no reason to fear death, but 
Take not away the life you cannot give, 
For all things have an equal right to live. 
Kill noxious creatures, where his sin to save; 
This only just prerogative we have: 
But nourish life with vegetable food, 
And shun the sacrilegious taste of blood. 
3 U 
Deydei. 
