"
"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!"
"But I have known that since the day of my death, even long before.
And you, unfortunate Elpidias, tell me what caused your death?"
"Oh, with me, it was different, entirely different! You see I got the
dropsy in my abdomen. An expensive physician from Corinth was called
who promised to cure me for two minas, and he was given half that
amount in advance. I am afraid that Larissa in her lack of experience
in such things gave him the other half, too----"
"Then the physician did not keep his promise?"
"That's it."
"And you died from dropsy?"
"Ah, Socrates, believe me, three times it wanted to, vanquish me, and
finally it quenched the flame of my life!"
"Then tell me--did death by dropsy give you great pleasure?"
"Oh, wicked Socrates, don't make sport of me.
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