Page:The Deipnosophists (Volume 3).djvu/405

 In order to create variety Of the same dish, the art of cookery Began t' invent new modes of dressing it. In off'rings to the gods we still preserve The ancient custom, and abstain from salt; For in those early days salt was not used, Though now we have it in abundance; still, In solemn sacrifices, we conform To usage of old times: in private meals He who can season best is the best cook, And the desire of savoury meat inspires The invention of new sauces, which conduce To bring the art of cookery to perfection.

B. You are, indeed, a new Palæphatus.

A. Use gave experience, and experience skill. As cooks acquired more knowledge, they prepared The delicate tripe, with nice ingredients mix'd, To give it a new relish; follow'd soon The tender kid, sew'd up between two covers, Stew'd delicately down, and smoking hot, That melted in the mouth; the savoury hash Came next, and that disguised with so much art, And season'd with fresh herbs, and pungent sauce, That you would think it most delicious fish. Then salted meats, with store of vegetables, And fragrant honey, till the pamper'd taste, High fed with luscious dainties, grew too nice To feed on human garbage, and mankind Began to feel the joys of social life; The scatter'd tribes unite; towns soon were built And peopled with industrious citizens. These and a thousand other benefits Were the result of cookery alone.

B. Oh, rare! where will this end?

A.                               To us you owe The costly sacrifice, we slay the victims, We pour the free libations, and to us The gods themselves lend a propitious ear, And for our special merits scatter blessings On all the human race; because from us And from our art, mankind were first induced