Respect others’ heroes as you wish yours to be respected.
Babrius Translation
A Theban and Athenian took one road,
And thence, no marvel, conversation flow’d.
They came to speak of heroes, in their walk,
And, after other long and needless talk,
The Theban fain Alcmena’s son would prove
Greatest of men, and now of gods above.
Th’ Athenian argued, that far nobler fate
Was that of Theseus, so divine his state,
Compared with Herc’les and his servile lot:
And soon the wordy talker victory got.
The other, Theban-like, in words outmatch’d,
Thus, with rough wit, the argument despatch’d:
“There: you prevail! So then may we displease
“Theseus: and you Athenians Hercules!”
How do you think an AI might simplify this fable? Here is one answer, and the illustration above was made from this simplification:
The Theban and the Athenian
A man from Thebes and a man from Athens were walking the same road. As travelers do, they started talking, mostly about heroes.
The Theban praised Hercules, saying he was the greatest man to ever live, even now a god in the heavens. But the Athenian insisted Theseus was better, more noble, and more divine.
They debated for some time, until the Athenian, smooth with words, seemed to win.
The Theban, not one for long speeches, ended it with a smile and said, “Fine, you win. May we both honor the heroes from each other’s homes. I’ll not offend Theseus, and you Athenians can be sure not to offend Hercules!”
Moral
Respect others’ heroes as you wish yours to be respected.
Perry. #278