ANOTHER JUDGE.
If there be any injustice in condemning Socrates, it is Anitus' business and not mine: I lay it all upon his conscience: besides, it grows late, we lose our time; let us talk no more about it: to death with him.
ANOTHER.
Ay, ay, they say he's a heretic, and an atheist; to death with him.
MELITUS.
Call Socrates.
Blessed be the gods, the plurality of voices is for death; Socrates, the gods by us condemn you to drink hemlock.
SOCRATES.
We are all mortal: nature condemns you also to death in a short time, probably you may meet with a more unhappy end than mine: the distempers which bring on death are much more painful than a cup of hemlock. I thank those amongst my judges who pleaded in favor of innocence; for the rest, they have my pity.
ONE OF THE JUDGES.
Certainly this man deserved a pension from the state, rather than a cup of poison.
ANOTHER JUDGE.
I think so too; but why would he quarrel with a priest of Ceres?
ANOTHER.
After all, it is best to get rid of a philosopher:
