At length Crito admits that he has no answer to make, and Socrates resolves to submit himself to the will of Providence. CRITO; OR THE DUTY OF A CITIZEN. ------- SOCRATES, CRITO. _Socr._ Why have you come at this hour, Crito? Is it not very early? _Cri._ It is. _Socr._ About what time? _Cri._ Scarce day-break. _Socr._ I wonder how the keeper of the prison came to admit you. _Cri._ He is familiar with me, Socrates, from my having frequently come hither; and he is under some obligations to me. _Socr._ Have you just now come, or some time since? _Cri._ A considerable time since. _Socr._ Why then did you not wake me at once, instead of sitting down by me in silence? _Cri._ By Jupiter, Socrates, I should not myself like to be so long awake and in such affliction. But I have been for some time wondering at you, perceiving how sweetly you slept; and I purposely did not awake you, that you might pass your time as pleasantly as possible. And indeed I have often before throughout your whole life considered you happy in your disposition, but far more so in the present calamity, seeing how easily and meekly you bear it. _Socr._ However, Crito, it would be disconsonant for a man at my time of life to repine because he must needs die. _Cri._ But others, Socrates, at your age have been involved in similar calamities, yet their age has not hindered their repining at their present fortune. _Socr._ So it is. But why did you come so early? _Cri._ Bringing sad tidings, Socrates; not sad to you, as it appears, but to me and all your friends sad and heavy; and which I, I think, shall bear worst of all. _Socr._ What tidings? Has the ship[6] arrived from Delos, on the arrival of which I must die? ----- Footnote 6: See the Phædo, s. 1. ----- _Cri._ It has not yet arrived; but it appears to me that it will come to-day, from what certain persons report who have come from Sunium[7], and left it there. It is clear, therefore, from these messengers, that it will come to-day, and consequently it will be necessary, Socrates, for you to die to-morrow. ----- Footnote 7: A promontory at the southern extremity of Attica. ----- 2. _Socr._ But with good fortune, Crito: and if so it please the gods, so be it. I do not think, however, that it will come to-day. _Cri._ Whence do you form this conjecture? _Socr._ I will tell you. I must die on the day after that on which the ship arrives. _Cri._ So they say[8] who have the control of these things. ----- Footnote 8: The Eleven. ----- _Socr._ I do not think, then, that it will come to-day, but to-morrow. I conjecture this from a dream which I had this very night, not long ago; and you seem very opportunely to have refrained from waking me. _Cri._ But what was this dream?