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as I find in my own case pleasure comes following after the pain in my
leg； which was caused by the chain。〃
Upon this Cebes said： I am very glad indeed； Socrates； that you
mentioned the name of Aesop。 For that reminds me of a question which
has been asked by others； and was asked of me only the day before
yesterday by Evenus the poet； and as he will be sure to ask again； you
may as well tell me what I should say to him； if you would like him to
have an answer。 He wanted to know why you who never before wrote a
line of poetry； now that you are in prison are putting Aesop into
verse； and also composing that hymn in honor of Apollo。
Tell him； Cebes； he replied； that I had no idea of rivalling him
or his poems； which is the truth； for I knew that I could not do that。
But I wanted to see whether I could purge away a scruple which I
felt about certain dreams。 In the course of my life I have often had
intimations in dreams 〃that I should make music。〃 The same dream
came to me sometimes in one form； and sometimes in another； but always
saying the same or nearly the same words： Make and cultivate music；
said the dream。 And hitherto I had imagined that this was only
intended to exhort and encourage me in the study of philosophy；
which has always been the pursuit of my life； and is the noblest and
best of music。 The dream was bidding me to do what I was already
doing； in the same way that the competitor in a race is bidden by
the spectators to run when he is already running。 But I was not
certain of this； as the dream might have meant music in the popular
sense of the word； and being under sentence of death； and the festival
giving me a respite； I thought that I should be safer if I satisfied
the scruple； and； in obedience to the dream； composed a few verses
before I departed。 And first I made a hymn in honor of the god of
the festival； and then considering that a poet； if he is really to
be a poet or maker； should not only put words together but make
stories； and as I have no invention； I took some fables of esop； which
I had ready at hand and knew； and turned them into verse。 Tell
Evenus this； and bid him be of good cheer； that I would have him
come after me if he be a wise man； and not tarry； and that to…day I am
likely to be going； for the Athenians say that I must。
Simmias said： What a message for such a man！ having been a
frequent companion of his； I should say that； as far as I know him； he
will never take your advice unless he is obliged。
Why； said Socrates；…is not Evenus a philosopher？
I think that he is； said Simmias。
Then he； or any man who has the spirit of philosophy； will be
willing to die； though he will not take his own life； for that is held
not to be right。
Here he changed his position； and put his legs off the couch on to
the ground； and during the rest of the conversation he remained
sitting。
Why do you say； inquired Cebes； that a man ought not to take his own
life； but that the philosopher will be ready to follow the dying？
Socrates replied： And have you； Cebes and Simmias； who are
acquainted with Philolaus； never heard him speak of this？
I never understood him； Socrates。
My words； too； are only an echo； but I am very willing to say what I
have heard： and indeed； as I am going to another place； I ought to
be thinking and talking of the nature of the pilgrimage which I am
about to make。 What can I do better in the interval between this and
the setting of the sun？
Then tell me； Socrates； why is suicide held not to be right？ as I
have certainly heard Philolaus affirm when he was staying with us at
Thebes： and there are others who say the same； although none of them
has ever made me understand him。
But do your best； replied Socrates； and the day may come when you
will understand。 I suppose that you wonder why； as most things which
are evil may be accidentally good； this is to be the only exception
（for may not death； too； be better than life in some cases？）； and why；
when a man is better dead； he is not permitted to be his own
benefactor； but must wait for the hand of another。
By Jupiter！ yes； indeed； said Cebes； laughing； and speaking in his
native Doric。
I admit the appearance of inconsistency； replied Socrates； but there
may not be any real inconsistency after all in this。 There is a
doctrine uttered in secret that man is a prisoner who has no right
to open the door of his prison and run away； this is a great mystery
which I do not quite understand。 Yet I； too； believe that the gods are
our guardians； and that we are a possession of theirs。 Do you not
agree？
Yes； I agree to that； said Cebes。
And if one of your own possessions； an ox or an ass； for example
took the liberty of putting himself out of the way when you had
given no intimation of your wish that he should die； would you not
be angry with him； and would you not punish him if you could？
Certainly； replied Cebes。
Then there may be reason in saying that a man should wait； and not
take his own life until God summons him； as he is now summoning me。
Yes； Socrates； said Cebes； there is surely reason in that。 And yet
how can you reconcile this seemingly true belief that God is our
guardian and we his possessions； with that willingness to die which we
were attributing to the philosopher？ That the wisest of men should
be willing to leave this service in which they are ruled by the gods
who are the best of rulers is not reasonable； for surely no wise man
thinks that when set at liberty he can take better care of himself
than the gods take of him。 A fool may perhaps think this…he may
argue that he had better run away from his master； not considering
that his duty is to remain to the end； and not to run away from the
good； and that there is no sense in his running away。 But the wise man
will want to be ever with him who is better than himself。 Now this；
Socrates； is the reverse of what was just now said； for upon this view
the wise man should sorrow and the fool rejoice at passing out of
life。
The earnestness of Cebes seemed to please Socrates。 Here； said he；
turning to us； is a man who is always inquiring； and is not to be
convinced all in a moment； nor by every argument。
And in this case； added Simmias； his objection does appear to me
to have some force。 For what can be the meaning of a truly wise man
wanting to fly away and lightly leave a master who is better than
himself？ And I rather imagine that Cebes is referring to you； he
thinks that you are too ready to leave us； and too ready to leave
the gods who； as you acknowledge； are our good rulers。
Yes； replied Socrates； there is reason in that。 And this
indictment you think that I ought to answer as if I were in court？
That is what we sho