By Heracles on Oeta, Hermotimus, you tell a brave and happy tale about them! But tell me this: do they ever come down from their hill-top (if that is their wish), to make use of what they have left down here below? Or must they stay there once they are up and live in Virtue’s company, laughing at wealth and glory and pleasures?

That is not all, Lycinus. A man who is perfected in Virtue can never be a slave to anger or fear or lusts; he will not know grief and in short he will not experience feelings of this sort any longer.

Well, if I must speak the truth without fear—but I had better keep quiet, I suppose; it would not be pious to question what wise men do.

Not at all. Please say what you mean.

Look, friend, how afraid I am!

Don’t be afraid, good Lycinus. You are speaking to me alone.