Chilon thereupon asserted that Solon was the right man to [Sidenote: F] make a beginning on the subject, not only because he was senior to all the rest and was in the place of honour at the table, but because, having legislated for the Athenians, he held the greatest and completest position as a ruler. At this Niloxenus remarked quietly to me, ‘People believe a good deal that is false, Diocles; and they mostly take a delight in inventing for themselves, and in accepting with avidity from others, mischievous stories about wise men. For instance, it was reported [Sidenote: 152] to us in Egypt that Chilon had cancelled his friendship and his relations of hospitality with Solon, because Solon declared that laws were alterable.’ At this I answered, ‘The story is ridiculous; for in that case Chilon ought to begin by disclaiming Lycurgus and all his laws, as having altered the whole Lacedaemonian constitution.’ After a brief delay Solon said: ‘In my opinion a king or despot would win most renown _by furnishing his fellow-citizens with a popular, in place of a monarchical, government_.’ The second to speak was Bias, who said: ‘_By identifying his behaviour with the laws of his country._’ Thales came next with the statement that he considered a ruler happy ‘_if he died naturally of old age_‘. Fourth Anacharsis: ‘_If good sense never failed him._’ [Sidenote: *] Fifth Cleobulus: ‘_If he trusted none of those about him._’ Sixth Pittacus: ‘_If the ruler could get his subjects to fear, not him, but [Sidenote: B] for him._’ Next Chilon said that ‘_the ruler’s conceptions should never be mortal, but always immortal_‘. After hearing these dicta, we claimed that Periander himself should express an opinion. With anything but cheerfulness, and pulling a serious face, he replied: ‘Well, the opinion I have to add is that every one of the views stated practically disqualifies a man of sense from being a ruler.’ Whereupon Aesop, as if in a spirit of reproof, said, ‘You ought, of course, to have discussed this subject by yourselves, and not to have delivered an attack upon rulers under pretence of being their advisers and friends.’ [Sidenote: C] ‘Don’t you think,’ said Solon, taking him by the head and smiling, ‘that one can make a ruler more moderate and a despot more reasonable by persuading him that it is better to decline such a position than to hold it?’ ‘And pray who,’ he replied, ‘is likely to follow you in the matter rather than the God, whose opinion is given in the oracle delivered to yourself: _Blessèd the city that hearkens to one commander’s proclaiming._’