2–1
And as far as that is concerned, you must permit us to take the risk. But that it is for the benefit of our empire that we are here, and also the safety of your city that we now propose to speak, we shall make plain to you, since what we desire is to have dominion over you without trouble to ourselves, and that you should be saved to the advantage of both.”
MEL. “And how could it prove as advantageous for us to become slaves, as it is for you to have dominion?”
ATH. “Because it would be to your advantage to submit before suffering the most horrible fate, and we should gain by not destroying you.”
MEL, “And so, you mean, you would not consent to our remaining at peace and being friends instead of enemies, but allies of neither combatant?”
ATH. “No; for your hostility does not injure us so much as your friendship; for in the eyes of our subjects that would be a proof of our weakness, whereas your hatred is a proof of our power.”
MEL. “Do your subjects regard equity in such a way as to put in the same category those that do not belong to you at all and those—your own colonists in most cases and in others revolted subjects—who have been subdued by you?”