Ἀρχίας

[Archias], a Syracusan,¹ and Myskellos, an Achaian,² had come to Delphi↗³ at the same time and they were asking to receive a good prophecy for the cities they were about to colonize, [about] what the life was that was fated to themselves and to their cities.⁴ And the Pythia⁵ said, "Since you have a people that inhabits the country and the city, you came to ask Phoebus [Apollo] what land to go to. But come now, tell me which boon you prefer, to have a wealth of possessions or most agreeable health?" Now when they heard this, Archias, since he was a lover of wealth, chooses the amplification of wealth, nor was he beguiled of his hope; at any rate Syracuse became a very rich city, in accordance with the Pythian oracle.⁶ Myskellos, though, chooses for himself and his city to have good health, and he got what he asked for. As proof, at any rate, of the good health in Croton,⁷ the inhabitants are of strong body, and the city became the mother of many fine athletes. Wealth and health are both gifts, then. The stout choice and healthy thought chooses the better things, and these men are evidence, the one that was wiser, and the other that was not altogether a gentleman. For, of the good things of mankind, one is greater and one is second, as Plato says⁸ and the song goes.⁹