Πολυκράτης
ὄλβιε Πυθαγόρη, Μουσέων Ἑλικώνιον ἔρνος,
εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῳ, ὁπόσοι σοφίης κατ᾽ ἀγῶνα
σοῖσι δόμοισιν ἔασιν, ἀεθλεύοντες ἄριστα.

Πυθαγόρας
τοιγὰρ ἐγὼν εἴποιμι, Πολύκρατες: ἡμίσεες μὲν
ἀμφὶ καλὰ σπεύδουσι μαθήματα: τέτρατοι αὖτε
ἀθανάτου φύσεως πεπονήαται: ἑβδομάτοις δὲ
σιγὴ πᾶσα μέμηλε, καὶ ἄφθιτοι ἔνδοθι μῦθοι:
τρεῖς δὲ γυναῖκες ἔασι, Θεανὼ δ᾽ ἔξοχος ἄλλων.
τόσσους Πιερίδων ὑποφήτορας αὐτὸς ἀγινῶ.

— Paton edition

PROBLEM
*Polycrates Speaks*
Blessed Pythagoras, Heliconian scion of the Muses, answer my question: How many in thy house are engaged in the contest for wisdom performing excellently?
*Pythagoras Answers*
I will tell thee then, Polycrates. Half of them are occupied with belles lettres; a quarter apply themselves to studying immortal nature ; a seventh are all intent on silence and the eternal discourse of their hearts. There are also three women, and above the rest is Theano, That is the number of interpreters of the Muses I gather round me.
*Solution* : 28 (14+7+4+3).

— Paton edition

PROBLEM
*Polycrates Speaks*
Blessed Pythagoras, Heliconian scion of the Muses, answer my question: How many in thy house are engaged in the contest for wisdom performing excellently?
*Pythagoras Answers*
I will tell thee then, Polycrates. Half of them are occupied with belles lettres; a quarter apply themselves to studying immortal nature ; a seventh are all intent on silence and the eternal discourse of their hearts. There are also three women, and above the rest is Theano, That is the number of interpreters of the Muses I gather round me.
*Solution* : 28 (14+7+4+3).

— Paton edition

Πολυκράτης
ὄλβιε Πυθαγόρη, Μουσέων Ἑλικώνιον ἔρνος,
εἰπέ μοι εἰρομένῳ, ὁπόσοι σοφίης κατ᾽ ἀγῶνα
σοῖσι δόμοισιν ἔασιν, ἀεθλεύοντες ἄριστα.

Πυθαγόρας
τοιγὰρ ἐγὼν εἴποιμι, Πολύκρατες: ἡμίσεες μὲν
ἀμφὶ καλὰ σπεύδουσι μαθήματα: τέτρατοι αὖτε
ἀθανάτου φύσεως πεπονήαται: ἑβδομάτοις δὲ
σιγὴ πᾶσα μέμηλε, καὶ ἄφθιτοι ἔνδοθι μῦθοι:
τρεῖς δὲ γυναῖκες ἔασι, Θεανὼ δ᾽ ἔξοχος ἄλλων.
τόσσους Πιερίδων ὑποφήτορας αὐτὸς ἀγινῶ.

— Paton edition