Page:The Deipnosophists (Volume 2).djvu/251



26. But the ancients used to call the men who discharged this office, heralds ([Greek: kêrykes]). Homer says—

Meanwhile the heralds through the crowded town Bring the rich wine and destined victims down. Idæus's arms the golden goblets prest, Who thus the venerable king addrest.

And a few lines further on he says—

On either side a sacred herald stands; The wine they mix, and on each monarch's hands Pour the full urn.

But Clidemus says that the cooks used to be called heralds. And some people have represented Hebe as acting as cupbearer to the gods, perhaps because their banquets were called Hebeteria. And Ptolemy, the son of Agesarchus, speaks of a damsel named Cleino as the cupbearer of Ptolemy the king, who was surnamed Philadelphus, mentioning her in the third book of his History of Philopator. But Polybius, in the fourteenth book of his History, adds that there are statues of her in Alexandria, in many parts of the city, clad in a tunic alone, holding a cup in her hand.

27. And so, after this conversation, Ulpian drinking a goblet of wine, said—

I drink this cup, a pledge of friendship dear, To all my kinsmen, naming them.

And while he was still drinking, one of those who were present quoted the rest of the passage—

When I have drunk, I'll say The rest; for I am choked: but now drink this.

And Ulpian, when he had drunk it up, said,—Clearchus has these lines in his Harp Player; but I, as is said in the Wool-*spinners of Amphis, recommend—

Let the boy wait on all with frequent goblets.

And again—

You fill for me, and I will give you drink; So shall the almond with the almond play:

as Xenarchus says, in his Twins. And accordingly, when some of the guests asked for more wine, and others wished to have it mixed half-and-half, and when some one mentioned that Archippus, in the second edition of his Amphitryon, said—

Wretch, who has mix'd for you this half-and-half?