380 PLATO
away, and lose either the whole or a great part of our property ; or that even a worse evil may hapi)en to us ? Now, if you fear on our account, he at ease ; for in order to save you, we ought surely to run this, or even a greater risk ; be persuaded, then, and do as I say.
Socrates. Yes, Crito, that is one fear which you mention, but by no means the only one.
Crito. Fear not — there are persons who are will- ing to get you out of prison at no great cost ; and as for the informers, they are far from being exorbitant in their demands — a little money will satisfy them. My means, which are certainly ample, are at your ser- vice, and if you have a scruple about spending all mine, here are strangers who will give you the use of theirs ; and one of them, Simmias the Theban, has brought a large sum of money for this very purpose ; and Cebes and many others are prepared to spend their money in helping you to escape. I say, there- fore, do not hesitate on our account, and do not say, as you did in the Court, that you will have a difficulty in knowing what to do with yourself anywhere else. For men will love you in other places to which you may go, and not in Athens only ; there are friends of mine in Thessaly, if you like to go to them, who will value and protect you, and no Thessalian will give you any trouble. Nor can I think that you are at all justified, Socrates, in betraying your own life when you might be saved ; in acting thus you are playing into the hands of your enemies, who are hurrying on your destruction. And further I should say that you are deserting your own children ; for you might bring them up and educate them ; instead of which you ^o away and leave them, and they will have to take their
