When Rome was founded, it lacked written laws. To help with this lack, the Romans decided to request a book of laws from Greece where since ancient times wisdom was indigenous and where, since the beginning of Christianity, the wisest knew that there was only one true God.
However, the citizens of the new city were so proud that no one was willing to risk undertaking the trip out of fear that they would harvest shame if it failed, while on the other side no one wanted someone else to gain the honor of a good outcome.
Finally, it was decided that instead of risking the honor of a wise and respected man, a dullard should be sent and to represent him as the bearer of many honors with a large retinue and to endow him with stately wealth. If he was successful, they thought, they could greatly amuse themselves afterwards over the Greeks; but should he return empty-handed home then there would be no great shame.
The plan was carried out, and the Roman emissary arrived safely in Byzantium. He was so pompous and proud that he chose not to begin the negotiations personally. Instead, he remained quietly on his ship and sent messengers into the city to announce his arrival and to state his requests. His retinue treated him with highest honors, as it was under penalty of death if anyone was found to betray the Roman plan.
The messengers said that their emissary was the wisest man of their homeland and that it would be appropriate if his wishes were met in an honorable manner.
These demands put the Greeks in no small degree of embarrassment, who called upon their wisest master for counsel of what to do to avoid being outwitted by the Romans. Following much discussion back and forth about having the wisest learned Greeks test the Romans to discover how deep the knowledge and insight of the strangers were.
To prevent either side from revealing their true honor, it was decided that both of the disputing parties would travel the same distance to a location for their negotiations. Next, it was discussed if the Greeks’ should communicate with each other using speech or signs during the negotiations. The decision was made for the latter, as this form would not be known to the uninformed.
After everything was decided and it was affirmed that no third party would be present for the negotiations, the two chosen negotiators came together and, without exchanging greetings, silently took their respective seats opposite each other.
The Greek began the negotiations by holding one finger in the air; the Romans answered by raising three fingers straight up. The Greek reached out his hand with the palm up; the Roman stuck out his balled fist toward his opponent. The Greek pointed with one finger in the air; the Roman, on the other hand, pointed one finger toward the earth. With that, the negotiations ended and both men left silently.
When the Greek returned to the city the people gathered in a crowd around him to learn what the outcome of the negotiations had been, but he gave no answer until he had met with the council of the wise ones. Here, he stated that he found the Roman to be a man of high wisdom, “…as I chose an object of such depth and meaning,” he said, “that it is hidden from most men of our time.
“First, I held one finger straight up to signify that there is only one God. But he held three fingers in the air to say that within this one God are three beings. I then stretched out my hand flat to show the fact that God created all, but in reply, the Roman showed me his balled fist to make clear to me that God holds all things in his hand.
“Finally, I pointed with my finger toward heaven to clarify that God is nobler than all creation. But he showed by pointing his finger to earth to express that God holds all power not only on high but also in the depths.”
When the master had finished his story, those present declared unanimously that the stranger was an exceptional man whose request must be resolved quickly and in an honorable manner. With that, the Roman received the book of laws and returned home.
On the way, he already expressed cynicism and critique of the Greeks, and when in Rome he was asked what he had done to achieve such a favorable success. He answered, “The guy who dealt with me soon noticed that with me he would not be able to deal as with some child, and so he approved my request amongst his people.”
They further inquired how the negotiations had progressed, and he said, “He first stuck a finger out as though to threaten to scratch out my eye. But I held out three fingers toward him to make him understand that if he had three eyes I would scratch them all out. With that, he held out his flat hand as though to box my ears. I, on the other hand, showed him my balled fist so that he saw I was willing to punch him in the head.
“Finally, he pointed with a finger in the air to express his wish to hang me from the gallows. But I pointed at the earth to make clear to him that he would go straight to hell if he brought me to the gallows. He agreed that I was his equal, and so stopped his resistance.”
If Salomon the Wise had known these two men, he would have used the following expressions over the wise man and the fool:
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth…
Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. (Salomon 10:20)