The Deipnosophists, or Banquet of the Learned of Athenaeus Part 53

FOOTNOTES:

[210:1] Theophrastus was a disciple of Aristotle, and succeeded him as head of the Lyceum, so that this time would be about 310 B.C.

[211:1] A cotyla held about half a pint.

[212:1] Held on the thirteenth day of the month Anthesterion; being the first day of the great festival Anthesteria.

[218:1] The cercope, or monkey-gra.s.shopper, was so called from having a long tail like a monkey (??????).

[220:1] See Pope's Homer for his version of the different parts parodied. Odyss. i. 1.

[220:2] Iliad, x. 436.

[220:3] Ib. xx. 223.

[220:4] Odyss. v. 51.

[220:5] Iliad, xxiii. 51.

[220:6] Odyss. i. 334.

[221:1] This was a Greek proverb. See Aristophanes, Eq. 1279.

[221:2] Odyss. xi. 575.

[221:3] Ib. xi. 543.

[221:4] Ib. ix. 27.

[221:5] Iliad, ii. 745.

[222:1] Odyss. ix 292.

[222:2] Iliad, ii. 489.

[225:1] From t?????, a nurse.

[227:1] From ??pt?, to swallow.

[228:1] The Attic medimnus contained nearly twelve gallons.

[228:2] The ???? held about three quarts.

[228:3] An obol was about three half-pence or rather more.

[229:1] From s???, shade.

[230:1] A cotyla held about half a pint.

[230:2] A cyathus held about a twelfth part of a pint.

[232:1] A stater was about 3_s._ 3_d._

[238:1] I have only attempted here to extract a few of the sentences and words which appeared a little intelligible. The whole quotation is perhaps the most hopelessly corrupt in all Athenaeus. Schweighauser says,--"Even the most learned men have given up the whole extract in despair," and that it is only a very few words from which he can extract any sense by the greatest freedom of conjecture.

[244:1] A chnix held about a quart.

[244:2] The magadis was a three-cornered instrument like a harp, with twenty strings arranged in octaves, like the p??t??. It was also a Lydian name for a peculiar kind of flute or flageolet, producing a high and low note at the same time. V. Liddell and Scott in voc.

[264:1] The term ???, _brine_, seems used here of a troublesome fellow; something in the same spirit as we call a person "a pickle."

[274:1] This is a mistake; the pa.s.sage occurs in the first book.

[275:1] The candylus or candaulus was the name of a Lydian dish.

[283:1] "??s??d??, ? ?a? ?, a man who played women's characters in male attire; so called from Lysis, who wrote songs for such actors."--Liddell and Scott, in voc.

BOOK V.

1. But since, O Timocrates, we have now had a great deal of conversation on the subject of banquets in all that has been hitherto said; and since we have pa.s.sed over those things in them which are most useful and which do not weigh down the soul, but which cheer it, and nourish it by variety of food, as the divine Homer incidentally teaches us, I will also mention what has been said concerning these things by that most excellent writer Masyrius. For we, as the beautiful Agathon says--

Do what is more than needful as if needful, And treat our real work as if it were superfluous.

The poet accordingly says, when he is speaking of Menelaus--

At the fair dome the rapid labour ends,[287:1]

Where sat Atrides 'midst his bridal friends, With double vows invoking Hymen's power To bless his son's and daughter's nuptial hour:--

as it was a custom to celebrate banquets at marriages, both for the sake of the G.o.ds who preside over marriage, and as it were for a testimony to the marriage; and also, the king of Lycia instructs us what sort of banquet ought to be given to foreigners, receiving Bellerophon with great magnificence--

There Lycia's monarch paid him honours due,[287:2]

Nine days he feasted, and nine bulls he slew.

2. For wine appears to have a very attractive influence in promoting friends.h.i.+p, as it warms and also melts the soul. On which account the ancients did not ask who a man was before drinking, but afterwards; as honouring the laws of hospitality itself, and not this or that particular individual. But the lawgivers, taking care beforehand of the banquets of the present day, have appointed feasts for the tribe, and feasts for the borough; and also general banquets, and entertainments to the ward, and others also called orgeonica. And there are many meetings of philosophers in the city, some called the pupils of Diogenes, and others, pupils of Antipater, others again styled disciples of Panaetius.

And Theophrastus bequeathed money for an entertainment of that sort.

Not, by Jove, in order that the philosophers a.s.sembled might indulge in intemperance, but in order that during the banquet they might have a wise and learned conversation. And the Prytanes were accustomed every day to meet in well-regulated banquets, which tended to the advantage of the state. And it was to such a banquet as that Demosthenes says the news of the taking of Elatea was brought. "For it was evening, and a man came bringing news to the Prytanes that Elatea was taken." And the philosophers used to be careful to collect the young men, and to feast with them according to some well-considered and carefully laid down law.

Accordingly, there were some laws for banquets laid down by Xenocrates, in the Academy, and again by Aristotle.

But the Phiditia in Sparta, and the Andrea, or man's feasts, among the Cretans, were celebrated in their respective cities with all imaginable care. On which account some one said not unwisely--

Dear friends should never long abstain from feasts, For e'en the memory of them is delightful.

And Antipater the philosopher once a.s.sembled a banqueting party, and invited all the guests on the understanding that they were to discuss subtle questions. And they say that Arcesilaus, being once invited to a banquet, and sitting next to a man who ate voraciously, while he himself was unable to enjoy anything, when some one of those who were present offered him something, said--

May it be well with you; be this for Telephus: