The five days debate at Cicero's house in Tusculum between master and sophister.

SECT. XLI. Socrates.

My Lords,

I AM in great hopes (saith he) that it will turn to my advantage, that I am put to death: For one of the two things must of necessity be, that death either quite takes away all Sense, or is a removal from this, into some other place. Wherefore, whether all Sense be ex∣tinguish'd, and death be like that sleep, which sometimes giveth a most sweet rest, undisturb'd by Dreams; good God? what gain is it to dye? or how many days can be found, preferrible to such a night as the perpetual Duration of the following time shall present? Who then so happy as I? but if, what is said, be true, that death is a removal into those Coasts, which those, who are hence departed, inhabit, that is yet far more happy, when you have pass'd thorough pretended Judges, to come be∣fore real ones, such as are Minos, Rhadamanthus, Aeacus, Triptolemus, and to consort with those who have liv'd justly, and with integrity. Can therefore this Journey seem to you unpleasant? But to confer with Orphaeus, Musaeus, Homer, Hesiod, at what rate would you purchase? For my part, if it were possible, I could be content to dye many times over, if I could find what I now mention. Then what incredible satisfaction would it be to me, when I should accost Palamedes, Ajax, and others, circumvented by the Sentence of cor∣rupt Judges? Furthermore, I would sound the Wisdom of that Monarch, who led the numerous Army against Troy; of Ulysles, and of Sisyphus: nor should I, be∣cause

I made such enquiries, as here I have done, be therefore sentenc'd to dye. You then, my Lords, such as have voted me not guilty, never be afraid of Death; for no evil can befall any good man, either alive or dead; nor are his concerns ever dis-regarded by the Divine Pro∣vidence; neither is this befallen me by blind chance; nor have I any reason to be offended at those by whom I was accus'd, or at those by whom I am condemn'd, save only this, that they intended my harm. These things I thus consider, and judge, that nothing could fall out better. But, saith he, it is time to depart hence, for me, that I may dye; for you, that ye may live; now, whither of these two be better, God above knows, but no man on Earth, I think, can tell.