Page:The Deipnosophists (Volume 2).djvu/38

 And yet is far from cooking the meat through.) It is not every one who has a spoon And knife about him that we call a cook, Nor every one who puts his fish in a pan; There is more wit and reason in the business.

39. And the cook in Diphilus's Painter tells us also to whom he thinks it worth his while to hire himself, saying—

A. I will not use your meat, nor give my aid Unless I'm sure that I shall have all means Which needful are to make a proper show; Nor do I e'er go anywhere till first I know who 'tis who makes the sacrifice, Or what the cause may be which prompts the banquet, Or who the guests are who have been invited. For I have got a regular list at home Of where I choose to go, and where I don't.    As first, to speak of the commercial class; Some captain of a ship may make a sacrifice Just to discharge some vow, made when he lost His mast, or broke the rudder of his vessel, Or, having sprung a leak, threw overboard His cargo. I'll have nought to do with him: For he does nothing willingly, but only Just so much as he thinks he cannot help. And every time a cup is fill'd with wine, He makes a calculation of the sum Which he can charge his owners or his passengers, And thinks that what his guests do eat and drink Is his own flesh and blood. Another came, But three days since, from the Byzantine port, Safe and successful; joyful in a profit Of ten or twelve per cent; talking of nothing But freight and interest, spending all his love On worn-out panders. Soon as he did quit The ship and set his foot upon the land, I blew my nose, gave him my hand, and utter'd    Audible thanks to saving Jupiter, And hasten'd forth to wait on him. For this Is always my way; and I find it answer. Again, an amorous youth will feast and squander His sire's estate; to him I go at call. But those who feast in shares, and throw together Into one dish their petty contributions, Though they may tear their clothes, and cry aloud, "Come, who will cook us our new-purchased supper?" I let bawl on. For if you go to them, First there is language hard and blows to bear; Secondly, one must slave the livelong night; And when at last you ask them for your pay, "First bring the pot," say they. "There was no vinegar