“Admit, Socrates, you are speaking in envy,” responded Elpidias, pained.  “I am sorry for you, unfortunate Socrates, although, between ourselves, you really deserved your fate.  I myself in the family circle said more than once that an end ought to be put to your impious doings, because—­”

“Stay, friend, I thought you wanted to draw a conclusion, and I fear you are straying from the straight path.  Tell me, my good friend, whither does your wavering thought tend?”

“I wanted to say that in my goodness I am sorry for you.  A month ago I myself spoke against you in the assembly, but truly none of us who shouted so loud wanted such a great ill to befall you.  Believe me, now I am all the sorrier for you, unhappy philosopher!”

“I thank you.  But tell me, my friend, do you perceive a brightness before your eyes?”

“No, on the contrary such darkness lies before me that I must ask myself whether this is not the misty region of Orcus.”

“This way, therefore, is just as dark for you as for me?”

“Quite right.”

“If I am not mistaken, you are even holding on to the folds of my cloak?”

“Also true.”

“Then we are in the same position?  You see your ancestors are not hastening to rejoice in the tale of your pompous burial.  Where is the difference between us, my good friend?”

“But, Socrates, have the gods enveloped your reason in such obscurity that the difference is not clear to you?”

“Friend, if your situation is clearer to you, then give me your hand and lead me, for I swear, by the dog, you let me go ahead in this darkness.”

“Cease your scoffing, Socrates!  Do not make sport, and do not compare yourself, your godless self, with a man who died in his own bed——­“.

“Ah, I believe I am beginning to understand you.  But tell me, Elpidias, do you hope ever again to rejoice in your bed?”

“Oh, I think not.”

“And was there ever a time when you did not sleep in it?”

“Yes.  That was before I bought goods from Agesilaus at half their value.  You see, that Agesilaus is really a deep-dyed rogue——­”

“Ah, never mind about Agesilaus!  Perhaps he is getting them back, from your widow at a quarter their value.  Then wasn’t I right when I said that you were in possession of your bed only part of the time?”

“Yes, you were right.”

“Well, and I, too, was in possession of the bed in which I died part of the time.  Proteus, the good guard of the prison, lent it to me for a period.”

“Oh, if I had known what you were aiming at with your talk, I wouldn’t have answered your wily questions.  By Hercules, such profanation is unheard of—­he compares himself with me!  Why, I could put an end to you with two words, if it came to it——­”

“Say them, Elpidias, without fear.  Words can scarcely be more destructive to me than the hemlock.”

“Well, then, that is just what I wanted to say.  You unfortunate man, you died by the sentence of the court and had to drink hemlock!”