And this is what the oracle said:--
"Give not the merchant nor the fishermen the prize; But give it to
that one who is wisest of the wise."
The governor was much pleased with this answer.
"The prize shall go to the man who deserves it most," he said. "There
is our neighbor, Thales,[Footnote: Thales (pro. tha'leez).] whom
everybody knows and loves. He is famous all over the world. Men come
from every country to see him and learn from him. We will give the
prize to him."
So, with his own hands he carried the golden tripod to the little house
where Thales lived. He knocked at the door and the wise man himself
opened it.
Then the governor told him how the tripod had been found, and how the
oracle had said that it must be given to the wisest of the wise.
"And so I have brought the prize to you, friend Thales."
"To me!" said the astonished Thales. "Why, there are many men who are
wiser than I. There is my friend Bias [Footnote: Bi'as] of Priene.
[Footnote: Prie'ne] He excels all other men. Send the beautiful gift
to him."
So the governor called two of his trusted officers and told them to
carry the tripod to Priene and offer it to Bias.
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