The Last Day

Phaedo of Elis meets Echecrates of Phlius. Echecrates has heard rumors — that Socrates died by poison, that his friends were there, that much was said — but no full account has reached Phlius. No Athenian traveler has passed through. He asks Phaedo, who was there, to tell him everything as exactly as he can remember. Phaedo says he has nothing else to do, and will try to satisfy him. Being reminded of Socrates, he says, is always the greatest pleasure — whether he is the one speaking about him or someone else is.

He begins with the delay. Echecrates had also wondered why, after being condemned, Socrates was not put to death at once. Phaedo explains: the sacred ship to Delos had been garlanded the day before the trial. During the ship's voyage — the annual pilgrimage Theseus had established — Athens was not allowed to be polluted by public execution. The voyage stretched out with contrary winds. So Socrates lay in prison for the weeks it took the ship to go to Delos and return.

Phaedo names the friends who were in the cell: Apollodorus, already weeping; Cebes and Simmias, who had come up from Thebes; Crito with his watchful, practical presence; and others. He describes the feeling he had that day — strange to name, because grief and pleasure do not usually share the same space. Being near Socrates, who was unafraid, produced a compound he had never felt before. The story begins.