Page:The Deipnosophists (Volume 2).djvu/242

 wrote a satyric drama entitled Menedemus, in which Silenus says to the satyrs—

O cursed sons of a most excellent father, I, as you see, have quite a fancy for you: For, by the gods I swear, that not in Caria, Nor in fair Rhodes, nor royal Lydia, Have I e'er eaten so superb a supper; Phœbus Apollo! what a feast it was.

And a little further on, he says—

And the boy brought us round a scanty cup Of wine that might be worth five pence a bottle— Awfully flat; and then that cursed thing, That hang-dog lupin, danced upon the board, A fitting meal for parasites and beggars.

And presently afterwards, he says that philosophical disquisitions were carried on during the entertainment—

And for dessert, We had some learned conversation.

It is also related that those who met in this way very often kept on conversing to such a time that "the bird which calls the morn still caught them talking, and they were not yet satisfied."

16. But Arcesilaus, when giving a supper to some people, when the bread fell short, and his slave made him a sign that there were no loaves left, burst out laughing, and clapped his hands; and said, "What a feast we have here, my friends! We forgot to buy loaves enough; run now, my boy:"—and this he said, laughing; and all the guests who were present burst out laughing, and great amusement and entertainment were excited, so that the very want of bread was a great seasoning to the feast. And at another time, Arcesilaus ordered Apelles, one of his friends, to strain some wine; and when he, not being used to doing so, shook some of the wine and spilt some, so that the wine appeared much thicker than usual, he laughed, and said, "But I told a man to strain the wine who has never seen anything good any more than I myself have; so do you now get up, Aridices; and do you go away and tap the casks that are outside." And this good-humour of his so pleased and excited the mirth of those present, that they were all filled with joy.

17. But those of the present day who give entertainments, especially the inhabitants of the beautiful Alexandria, cry out,