Page:The Deipnosophists (Volume 2).djvu/368

 "But still, in this line, [Greek: tis] is wanting, for the sentence, when complete, should run—

[Greek: allos men tis mogeôn apokinêsaske trapezês pleion eon, Nestôr d' ho gerôn amogêti aeiren]

so that the meaning would be, that there is no man who could lift the cup up from the table without an effort, but that Nestor raised it easily, without any labour or distress. For the cup is described as having been large in size, and very heavy in weight; which however Nestor, being very fond of drinking, was easily able to lift, from his constant practice.

85. "But Sosibius, the solver of questions, quoting the lines—

[Greek: allos men mogeôn apokinêsaske trapezês pleion eon; Nestôr d' ho gerôn amogêti aeiren],

writes on this expression—'Now, the poet has been often reproached for making that the rest of the men could only lift this cup by a great effort, but that Nestor alone could do so without any extraordinary exertion. For it appeared unreasonable, that when Diomede and Ajax, and even Achilles too were present, Nestor should be represented as more vigorous than they, when he was so far advanced in years. But though these accusations are brought against him, we may release the poet from them by transposing the order. For in that hexameter—

[Greek: pleion eon, Nestôr d' ho gerôn amogêti aeiren],

if we take [Greek: gerôn] out of the middle, we shall unite that to the beginning of the preceding line, after [Greek: allos men], and then we shall connect the words as before—

[Greek: allos men gerôn mogeôn apokinêsaske trapezês; pleion eon, ho de Nestôr aponêti aeiren.]

Now then, when the words are arranged in this way, Nestor only appears to be represented as the only one of the old men who could lift the cup without an extraordinary effort.'

"These are the observations of that admirable solver of difficulties, Sosibius. But Ptolemy Philadelphus the king jested upon him with some wit, on account of this and other much talked-of solutions. For as Sosibius received a royal stipend, Ptolemy, sending for his treasurers, desired them, when Sosibius came to demand his stipend, to tell him that he had received it already. And when, not long after, he did come and ask for his money, they said they had given it to him already, and said no more. But he, going to the king,