Page:The Deipnosophists (Volume 3).djvu/78

 And Antiphanes, in his Alcestis, represents some one as anointing his feet with oil; but in his Mendicant Priest of Cybele, he says—

He bade the damsel take some choice perfumes From the altar of the goddess, and then, first, Anoint his feet with it, and then his knees: But the first moment that the girl did touch His feet, he leaped up.

And in his Zacynthus he says—

Have I not, then, a right to be fond of women, And to regard them all with tender love, For is it not a sweet and noble thing To be treated just as you are; and to have One's feet anointed by fair delicate hands?

And in his Thoricians he says—

He bathes completely—but what is't he does? He bathes his hands and feet, and well anoints them With perfume from a gold and ample ewer. And with a purple dye he smears his jaws And bosom; and his arms with oil of thyme; His eyebrows and his hair with marjoram; His knees and neck with essence of wild ivy.

And Anaxandrides, in his Protesilaus, says—

Ointment from Peron, which this fellow sold But yesterday to Melanopus here, A costly bargain fresh from Egypt, which Anoints to day Callistratus's feet.

And Teleclides, in his Prytanes, alludes to the lives of the citizens, even in the time of Themistocles, as having been very much devoted to luxury. And Cratinus in his Chirones, speaking of the luxury of the former generations, says—

There was a scent of delicate thyme besides, And roses too, and lilies by my ear; And in my hands I held an apple, and A staff, and thus I did harangue the people.

79. And Clearchus the Solensian, in his treatise on Love Matters, says—"Why is it that we carry in our hands flowers, and apples, and things of that sort? Is it that by our delight in these things nature points out those of us who have a desire for all kinds of beauty? Is it, therefore, as a kind of specimen of beauty that men carry beautiful things in their hands, and take delight in them? Or do they carry them about for two objects? For by these means the beginning of good fortune, and an indication of one's wishes, is to a