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Section 45

CRITO. Let that be as you say. But tell me this, Socrates: are you concerned for me and your other friends, fearing that if you escape, the informers will make trouble for us, claiming we stole you away, and we might be forced to forfeit all our property or pay heavy fines, or even suffer something worse? If you fear anything like that, let it go. We are bound to run this risk to save you, and even greater risks if need be. Please, listen to me and do as I ask.

SOCRATES. I am concerned about these things, Crito, and about many others too.

CRITO. Do not fear them! The amount of money required by those who are willing to save you and get you out of here is not even very large. And do you not see how cheap these informers are? We would not need much money to deal with them. My money is at your disposal, and I think there is plenty of it. If, out of concern for me, you think you should not spend my money, there are friends from abroad here ready to spend theirs. Simmias of Thebes has brought enough for this very purpose; Cebes is ready too, and very many others. So, as I say, do not let these fears stop you from saving yourself. And do not let what you said in court trouble you—that if you went into exile you would not know what to do with yourself. In many other places, wherever you go, they will welcome you. If you wish to go to Thessaly, I have friends there who will value you highly and offer you protection, so that no one in Thessaly will harm you. Furthermore, Socrates, it does not seem to me to be just for you to betray yourself when you could be saved. You are rushing to bring upon yourself exactly the sort of things your enemies would wish for, and have already wished for in their attempt to destroy you. Besides this, I think you are also betraying your own sons. You will be leaving them behind and abandoning them when you could bring them up and educate them. As far as you are concerned, they will have whatever fate brings them, and it is likely they will experience the usual fate of orphans when they lose their parents. Either one should not have children at all, or one must suffer the trouble of raising and educating them. But you seem to be choosing the easiest path.