The messengers made due haste to carry the golden prize to Athens.
They had no trouble in finding Solon. He was the chief ruler of that
great city.
All the people whom they saw spoke in praise of his wisdom.
When they told him their errand he was silent for a little while; then
he said:--
"I have never thought of myself as a wise man, and therefore the prize
is not for me. But I know of at least six men who are famous for their
wisdom, and one of them must be the wisest of the wise."
"Who are they?" asked the messengers.
"Their names are Thales, Bias, Pittacus, Cleobulus, Periander, and
Chilon," answered Solon.
"We have offered the prize to each one of them," said the messengers,
"and each one has refused it."
"Then there is only one other thing to be done," said Solon. "Carry
it to Delphi and leave it there in the Temple of Apollo; for Apollo
is the fountain of wisdom, the wisest of the wise."
And this the messengers did.
The famous men of whom I have told you in this story are commonly
called the Seven Wise Men of Greece. They lived more than two thousand
years ago, and each one helped to make his country famous.