One of his mottoes was this: "Whatever you do, do it well."
The messengers found him in his house talking to his friends and
teaching them wisdom. He looked at the tripod. "How beautiful it is!"
he said.
Then the messengers told him how it had been taken from the sea, and
they repeated the words of the oracle:--
"Give not the merchant nor the fishermen the prize; But give it to
that one who is wisest of the wise."
"It is well," said he, "that neither a merchant nor a fisherman shall
have it; for such men think only of their business and care really
nothing for beauty."
"We agree with you," said the messengers; "and we present the prize
to you because you are the wisest of the wise."
"You are mistaken," answered Pittacus. "I should be delighted to own
so beautiful a piece of workmanship, but I know I am not worthy."
"Then to whom shall we take it?" asked the messengers.
"Take it to Cleobulus, [Footnote: Cle o bu'lus.] King of Rhodes,
[Footnote: Rhodes (_pro_. rodes).]" answered the wise man. "He is the
handsomest and strongest of men, and I believe he is the wisest also."
IV
The messengers went on until they came at last to the island of Rhodes.
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