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MYSON.
* 1.1MY SON was (according to Hermippus) son of Stremon, born at Chene, a Village either of Oetaea, or Lacedaemonia, his father A Tyrant. Anacharsis demanding of the Oracle, if any were wiser, was answered (as was in the life of Thales mentioned of Chilon)
Oetaean Myson I declare Wiser then those who wisest are.
His curiosity encreasing by this answer, he went to the vil∣lage, and finding him fitting a plow-share to the plow, said, Myso, it is not yet time to plow: But it is (answered he) to prepare. Others affirme the Oracle called him Etean, about which there is much difference: Parmenides saith, that Etea is a Lacedaemonian Village, whereof Myson was. Sosicrates, that he was Oetaean by his father, Chenean by his mother. Euthyphron, that he was a Cretan, Etea a City of Creet. Anaxilaus an Arcadian. Hipponax mentions him in these words, And Myso, whom Apollo declared wisest of all men. Aristomenus affirmes, he was of the same humor as Timon and Apemantus, a Man-hater. He retired from Lacedaemon into the desert, and was there surprized all alone, smiling; being demanded why he smiled, no man being pre∣sent, he answered, for that reason. Aristoxenus saith, he was of no account, because not of the City, but of an obscure village; whence some ascribe his sayings to Pisistratus, but others reckon him one of the seaven; Plato puts him in the room of Periander. he said, we must not seek things from words, but words from things; things were not made for words, but words for things. He dyed 97. yeers old.