There was one feature springing from the advanced intelligence of the inhabitants which it is worth while to mention. Many of the possible activities which the beings could go through, instead of consisting of a pleasurable part first and a less painful part afterwards, consisted of a painful part first and a pleasurable part afterwards. This might happen by the particular arrangement of the acts of which the compounded activity consisted, the acts having already moments of pain or pleasure affixed to them, and happening to occur in such dispositions that the first part of the activity was painful, the next part pleasurable. Now when the intelligence of the inhabitants was developed, the king, by leading them to think of such an activity, could induce them to go through with it. For the idea of the pleasure which would accompany the second part of the activity lightened the pain of the first. And this, combined with the portion of the pain which the king bore, almost counterbalanced the pain connected with the first part of the activity. Thus the beings were enabled to go through the painful part of the activity. But when they came to the second part of the activity the creatures were much disappointed. For by the law of the valley pleasure and pain were equal (except for the small part which the king bore). Now the pleasures of expectation had been so great that when the time came for the act usually associated in their minds with pleasure, the pleasure due had most of it been used up. From this circumstance a saying arose amongst the inhabitants which was somewhat exaggerated, but which had a kernel of truth in what has just been described. The saying was that “The pleasure for which a labour has been undertaken flies away as soon as the labour has been finished, and nothing is left but to begin a new labour.” And, again, another saying: “The enjoyment of a thing lies in its anticipation, not in its possession.” All this which has been so briefly described had in reality taken a long time. And now fields were cultivated, better houses were built. The inhabitants of the valley had increased greatly in number, and were divided up into several tribes, inhabiting different parts of the valley. But the most favoured position was the centre, and for the possession of the centre there were contentions and struggles. There the king’s activity in bearing was greatest, and the life was most developed. All around the outskirts of the valley dwelt the ruder and less advanced people, who were called barbarians and savages by those nearer the centre. CHAPTER IV.