time of the death of Socrates. He was born of a distinguished family; his rare gift of genius was aided by the most liberal culture, and at the age of twenty he became the devoted follower of Socrates. After the death of Socrates, he and other disciples of the Master went, for safety, to Megara.
Crito, whom Plato represents in dialogue with Socrates immediately before the return of the sacred ship, was a very rich Athenian who was devoted to Socrates, and who himself wrote seventeen philosophical dialogues, which are now lost. He used his wealth in doing good; kept Socrates free from care about means of subsistence, and had made all arrangements for his escape from death, as is shown here in Plato's dialogue of Duty, which bears the name of Crito.
Phædo, who gives his name to the closing dialogue of Immortality, was a philosopher, born of a good family at Elis, who was taken prisoner in war, and brought as a slave to Athens about a year before the death of Socrates. It was as a slave that he first talked with the Master to whom he became devoted. Other disciples of Socrates purchased Phædo's freedom. He was then a beautiful youth scarcely eighteen years old, for he still wore the long hair that it was usual to cut short at eighteen. He was received kindly by the friends of Socrates, and we see how Plato gives him pro-
