Socrates became famous as a teacher. But his enemies did not like him. They thought that he was leading the young men of Athens astray by teaching them some new and strange ideas. The rulers of Athens called Socrates to face a trial. But Socrates was not a coward. He faced the trial with determination and made a grand speech: He was condemned to death. He was sent to prison. As was the custom in Athens he was given a cup of poison. He drank it cheerfully and passed away. He thought it better to die than to change his opinion. His pupils were heard sobbing. But Socrates asked them to remain silent. He said that man should die in peace. He died believing that no evil could happen to a good man before or after death.