yself in person familiarly acquainted with
Periander (my art had gained me his acquaintance); and Thales boarded
at my house, at the request and upon the recommendation of Periander.
Whoever then gave you that account of our feast did it very
inadequately; it is plain he did it upon hearsay and that he was not
there among us. Now, that we are together and at leisure, and possibly
we may not live to find an opportunity so convenient another time,
I will (as you wish it) give you a faithful account of the whole
proceedings at that meeting.

Periander had prepared a dinner for us, not in the town, but in a
dining-hall which stands close to the temple of Venus, to whom there
was a sacrifice that day. For having neglected the duty ever since his
mother died for love, he was resolved now to atone for the omission,
being warned so to do by the dreams of Melissa. In order thereunto,
there was provided a rich chariot for every one of the guests. It was
summer-time, and every part of the way quite to the seaside was hardly
passable, by reason of throngs of people and whole clouds of dust. As
soon as Thales espied the chariot waiting at the door, he smilingly
discharged it, and we walked through the fields to avoid the press and
noise. There was in our company a third person, Niloxenus a Naucratian,
an eminent man, who was very intimately acquainted with Solon and Thales
in Egypt; he had a message to deliver to Bias, and a letter sealed,
the contents whereof he knew not; only he guessed it contained a second
question to be resolved by Bias, and in case Bias undertook not to
answer it, he had in commission to impart it to the wisest men in
Greece. What a fortune is this (quoth Niloxenus) to find you all
together! This paper (showing it us) I am bringing to the banquet.
Thales replied, after his wonted smiling way, If it contains any hard
question, away with it to Priene. Bias will resolve it with the same
readiness he did your former problem. What problem was that? quoth he.
Why, saith Thales, a certain person sent him a beast for sacrifice with
this command, that he should return him that part of his flesh which was
best and worst; our philosopher very gravely and wisely pulled out
the tongue of the beast, and sent it to the donor;--which single act
procured him the name and reputation of a very wise man. It was not
this act alone that advanced him in the estimation of the world, quoth
Niloxenus; but he joyfully embraces what you