This little dialogue is a perfect piece of dialectic, in which granting the ‘common principle’ (49 D), there is no escaping from the conclusion. It is anticipated at the beginning by the dream of Socrates and the parody of Homer. The personification of the Laws, and of their brethren the Laws in the world below, is one of the noblest and boldest figures of speech which occur in Plato. CRITO. _PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE._ SOCRATES. CRITO. SCENE:—The Prison of Socrates. [Sidenote: _Crito._] [Sidenote: Crito appears at break of dawn in the prison of Socrates, whom he finds asleep.] _Socrates._ Why have you come at this hour, Crito? it must be quite early? =Steph.= 43 _Crito._ Yes, certainly. _Soc._ What is the exact time? _Cr._ The dawn is breaking. _Soc._ I wonder that the keeper of the prison would let you in. _Cr._ He knows me, because I often come, Socrates; moreover, I have done him a kindness. _Soc._ And are you only just arrived? _Cr._ No, I came some time ago. _Soc._ Then why did you sit and say nothing, instead of at once awakening me? _Cr._ I should not have liked myself, Socrates, to be in such great trouble and unrest as you are—indeed I should not: I have been watching with amazement your peaceful slumbers; and for that reason I did not awake you, because I wished to minimize the pain. I have always thought you to be of a happy disposition; but never did I see anything like the easy, tranquil manner in which you bear this calamity. _Soc._ Why, Crito, when a man has reached my age he ought not to be repining at the approach of death. _Cr._ And yet other old men find themselves in similar misfortunes, and age does not prevent them from repining. [Sidenote: _The vision of Socrates._] _Soc._ That is true. But you have not told me why you come at this early hour. _Cr._ I come to bring you a message which is sad and painful; not, as I believe, to yourself, but to all of us who are your friends, and saddest of all to me. [Sidenote: The ship from Delos is expected.] _Soc._ What? Has the ship come from Delos, on the arrival of which I am to die? _Cr._ No, the ship has not actually arrived, but she will probably be here to-day, as persons who have come from Sunium tell me that they left her there; and therefore to-morrow, Socrates, will be the last day of your life. _Soc._ Very well, Crito; if such is the will of God, I am willing; but my belief is that there will be a delay of a day. _Cr._ Why do you think so? 44 _Soc._ I will tell you. I am to die on the day after the arrival of the ship. _Cr._ Yes; that is what the authorities say. [Sidenote: A vision of a fair woman who prophesies in the language of Homer that Socrates will die on the third day.]