Hor. A fine opportunity, indeed, of three or four hours chat.
Cleo. I shall be all alone without you.
Hor. I am your man, and shall expect you.
Cleo. Adieu.
THE SIXTH
DIALOGUE
BETWEEN
HORATIO AND CLEOMENES
Horatio.
Now we are off the stones, pray let us lose no time; I expect a great deal of pleasure from what I am to hear further.
Cleo. The second step to society is the danger men are in from one another: for which we are beholden to that staunch principle of pride and ambition, that all men are born with. Different families may endeavour to live together, and be ready to join in common danger; but they are all of little use to one another, when there is no common enemy to oppose. If we consider that strength, agility, and courage would, in such a state, be the most valuable qualifications, and that many families could not live long together, but some, actuated by the principle I named, would strive for superiority: this must breed quarrels, in which the most weak and fearful will, for their own safety, always join with him of whom they have the best opinion.
Hor. This would naturally divide multitudes into bands and companies, that would all have their different leaders, and of which the strongest and most valiant would always swallow up the weakest and most fearful.