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After an interval of some months or years, and at Phlius, a town of Peloponnesus, the taleof the last hours of Socrates is narrated to Echecrates and other Phliasians by Phaedo the'beloved disciple.' The Dialogue necessarily takes the form of a narrative, because Socrateshas to be described acting as well as speaking. The minutest particulars of the event areinteresting to distant friends, and the narrator has an equal interest in them.During the voyage of the sacred ship to and from Delos, which has occupied thirty days, the execution of Socrates has been deferred. (Compare Xen. Mem.) The time has beenpassed by him in conversation with a select company of disciples. But now the holy seasonis over, and the disciples meet earlier than usual in order that they may converse withSocrates for the last time. Those who were present, and those who might have beenexpected to be present, are mentioned by name. There are Simmias and Cebes (Crito), twodisciples of Philolaus whom Socrates 'by his enchantments has attracted from Thebes'(Mem.), Crito the aged friend, the attendant of the prison, who is as good as a friend-thesetake part in the conversation. There are present also, Hermogenes, from whom Xenophonderived his information about the trial of Socrates (Mem.), the 'madman' Apollodorus(Symp.), Euclid and Terpsion from Megara (compare Theaet.), Ctesippus, Antisthenes, Menexenus, and some other less-known members of the Socratic circle, all of whom aresilent auditors. Aristippus, Cleombrotus, and Plato are noted as absent. Almost as soon asthe friends of Socrates enter the prison Xanthippe and her children are sent home in thecare of one of Crito's servants. Socrates himself has just been released from chains, and isled by this circumstance to make the natural remark that 'pleasure follows pain.' (Observethat Plato is preparing the way for his doctrine of the alternation of opposites.) 'Aesopwould have represented them in a fable as a two-headed creature of the gods

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