Lawyering Unto Death¹

The Sage Bias's Last Argument

(from Diogenes Laertius's Lives of Eminent Philosophers)

THE SAGE AND ADVOCATE BIAS was in court pleading on behalf of a client, despite his great age. After he had finished speaking, he sat down and rested his head upon his grandson. The opposing counsel made his speech, and the judges voted and gave their verdict in favor of the client of Bias, who was found dead in his grandson’s arms when the court adjourned.

Endnotes

¹ Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers I.84-85. ⇑