--- title: "Table-Talk · Quaestiones convivales" author: "Plutarch" translator: "Thomas Creech, rev. William W. Goodwin" languages: [grc, en] shelf: "Philosophy" url: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/ cite: "Plutarch, tr. Thomas Creech, rev. William W. Goodwin, Table-Talk · Quaestiones convivales. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/" --- # Table-Talk · Quaestiones convivales *Plutarch, tr. Thomas Creech, rev. William W. Goodwin* Nine books of dinner conversations: why we hunger more in autumn, which came first, the hen or the egg, and many more. > Greek: ed. Grēgorios N. Vernardakēs, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0007.tlg112, CC BY-SA 4.0). > English: Thomas Creech, rev. William W. Goodwin, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0007.tlg112.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included. > Rows follow the references the two texts share (books, chapters and sections), cut where both reach the end of a sentence. ## Contents 1. [Book I · chapters 1–4](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/1.md) 2. [Book I · chapters 4–10](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/2.md) 3. [Book II · chapters 1–3](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/3.md) 4. [Book II · chapters 4–10](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/4.md) 5. [Book III · chapters 1–5](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/5.md) 6. [Book III · chapters 6–10](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/6.md) 7. [Book IV · chapters 1–2](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/7.md) 8. [Book IV · chapters 3–6](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/8.md) 9. [Book V · chapters 1–5](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/9.md) 10. [Book V · chapters 6–10](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/10.md) 11. [Book VI · chapters 1–6](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/11.md) 12. [Book VI · chapters 7–10](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/12.md) 13. [Book VII · chapters 1–4](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/13.md) 14. [Book VII · chapters 4–6](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/14.md) 15. [Book VII · chapters 7–10](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/15.md) 16. [Book VIII · chapters 1–4](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/16.md) 17. [Book VIII · chapters 4–8](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/17.md) 18. [Book VIII · chapters 8–10](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/18.md) 19. [Book IX · chapters 1–13](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/19.md) 20. [Book IX · chapters 14–15](https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/20.md) ## 1. Book I · chapters 1–4 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/1/#p-N [¶0] 0.1. Some, my dear Sossius Senecio, imagine that this sentence, μισέω μνάμονα συμπόταω, was principally designed against the stewards of a feast, who are usually troublesome and press liquor too much upon the guests. For the Dorians in Sicily (as I am informed) called the steward μνάμονα, a remembrancer. Others think that this proverb admonisheth the guests to forget every thing that is spoken or done in company; and agreeably to this, the ancients used to consecrate forgetfulness with a ferula to Bacchus, thereby intimating that we should either not remember any irregularity committed in mirth and company, or apply a gentle and childish correction to the faults. But because you are of opinion that to forget absurdities is indeed (as Euripides says) a piece of wisdom, but to deliver over to oblivion all sort of discourse that merry meetings do usually produce is not only repugnant to that endearing quality that most allow to an entertainment, but against the known practice of the greatest philosophers (for Plato, Xenophon, Aristotle, Speusippus, Epicurus, Prytanis, Hieronymus, Dion the Academic, have thought it a worthy and noble employment to deliver down to us those discourses they had at table), and since it is your pleasure that I should gather up the chiefest of those scattered topics which both at Rome and Greece amidst our cups and feasting we have disputed on, in obedience to your commands I have sent three books, each containing ten problems; and the rest shall quickly follow, if these find good acceptance and do not seem altogether foolish and impertinent. > Greek: 0.1. τὸ μισέω μνάμονα συμπόταν ὦ Σόσσιε Σενεκίων, ἔνιοι πρὸς τοὺς ἐπιστάθμους εἰρῆσθαι λέγουσι, φορτικοὺς ἐπιεικῶς καὶ ἀναγώγους ἐν τῷ πίνειν ὄντας· οἱ γὰρ ἐν Σικελίᾳ Δωριεῖς ὡς ἔοικε τὸν ἐπίσταθμον μνάμονα προσηγόρευον. ἔνιοι δὲ τὴν παροιμίαν οἴονται τοῖς παρὰ πότον λεγομένοις καὶ πραττομένοις ἀμνηστίαν ἐπάγειν διὸ τήν τε λήθην οἱ πάτριοι λόγοι καὶ τὸν νάρθηκα τῷ θεῷ συγκαθιεροῦσιν, ὡς ἢ μηδενὸς δέον μνημονεύειν τῶν ἐν οἴνῳ πλημμεληθέντων ἢ παντελῶς ἐλαφρᾶς καὶ παιδικῆς νουθεσίας δεομένων. ἐπεὶ δὲ καὶ σοὶ δοκεῖ τῶν μὲν ἀτόπων ἡ λήθη τῷ ὄντι σοφὴ κατʼ Εὐριπίδην εἶναι· τὸ δʼ ὅλως ἀμνημονεῖν τῶν ἐν οἴνῳ μὴ μόνον τῷ φιλοποιῷ λεγομένῳ μάχεσθαι τῆς τραπέζης, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν φιλοσόφων τοὺς ἐλλογιμωτάτους ἀντιμαρτυροῦντας ἔχειν, Πλάτωνα καὶ Ξενοφῶντα καὶ Ἀριστοτέλην καὶ Σπεύσιππον, Ἐπίκουρόν τε καὶ Πρύτανιν καὶ Ἱερώνυμον καὶ Δίωνα τὸν ἐξ Ἀκαδημείας, ὡς ἄξιόν τινος σπουδῆς πεποιημένους ἔργον ἀναγράψασθαι λόγους παρὰ πότον γενομένους· ᾠήθης τε δεῖν ἡμᾶς τῶν σποράδην πολλάκις ἔν τε Ῥώμῃ μεθʼ ὑμῶν καὶ παρʼ ἡμῖν ἐν τῇ Ἑλλάδι, παρούσης ἅμα τραπέζης καὶ κύλικος, φιλολογηθέντων συναγαγεῖν τἀπιτήδεια· πρὸς τοῦτο γενόμενος τρία μὲν ἢδη σοι πέπομφα τῶν βιβλίων, ἑκάστου δέκα προβλήματα περιέχοντος· πέμψω δὲ καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ταχέως, ἂν ταῦτα δόξῃ μὴ παντελῶς ἄμουσα μηδʼ ἀπροσδιόνυσʼ εἶναι. [¶1] 1.1. THE first question is, Whether at table it is allowable to philosophize? For I remember at a supper at Athens this doubt was started, whether at a merry meeting it was fit to use philosophical discourse, and how far it might be used? And Aristo presently cried out: What then, for heaven’s sake, are there any that banish philosophy from company and wine? And I replied: Yes, sir, there are, and such as with a grave scoff tell us that philosophy, like the matron of the house, should never be heard at a merry entertainment; and commend the custom of the Persians, who never let their wives appear, but drink, dance, and wanton with their whores. This they propose for us to imitate; they permit us to have mimics and music at our feasts, but forbid philosophy; she, forsooth, being very unfit to be wanton with us, and we in a bad condition to be serious. Isocrates the rhetorician, when at a drinking bout some begged him to make a speech, only returned: With those things in which I have skill the time doth not suit; and in those things with which the time suits I have no skill. > Greek: 1.1. πρῶτον δὲ πάντων τέτακται τὸ περὶ τοῦ φιλοσοφεῖν παρὰ πότον. μέμνησαι γὰρ ὅτι, ζητήσεως Ἀθήνησι μετὰ δεῖπνον γενομένης εἰ χρηστέον ἐν οἴνῳ φιλοσόφοις λόγοις καὶ τί μέτρον ἔστι χρωμένοις, ἀρίστων παρών εἰσὶ γάρ ἔφησε πρὸς τῶν θεῶν οἱ φιλοσόφοις χώραν ἐπʼ οἴνῳ μὴ διδόντες; ἐγὼ δʼ εἶπον ἀλλ οὐ γὰρ εἰσίν, ὦ ἑταῖῤ, οἳ καὶ πάνυ γε σεμνῶς κατειρωνευόμενοι λέγουσι μὴ δεῖν ὥσπερ οἰκοδέσποιναν ἐν οἴνῳ φθέγγεσθαι φιλοσοφίαν· καὶ τοὺς Πέρσας ὀρθῶς φασι μὴ ταῖς γαμεταῖς ἀλλὰ ταῖς παλλακίσι συμμεθύσκεσθαι καὶ συνορχεῖσθαι; ταὐτὸ δὴ καὶ ἡμᾶς ἀξιοῦσι ποιεῖν εἰς τὰ συμπόσια τὴν μουσικὴν καὶ τὴν ὑποκριτικὴν ἐπεισάγοντας φιλοσοφίαν δὲ μὴ κινοῦντας, ὡς οὔτε συμπαίζειν ἐκείνην ἐπιτήδειον οὖσαν οὔθʼ ἡμᾶς τηνικαῦτα σπουδαστικῶς ἔχοντας· οὐδὲ γὰρ Ἰσοκράτη τὸν σοφιστὴν ὑπομεῖναι δεομένων εἰπεῖν τι παρʼ οἶνον ἀλλʼ ἢ τοσοῦτον ἐν οἷς μὲν ἐγὼ δεινός, οὐχ ὁ νῦν καιρός· ἐν οἷς δʼ ὁ νῦν καιρός, οὐκ ἐγὼ δεινός. [¶2] 1.2. And Crato cried out: By Bacchus, he was right in forswearing talk, if he designed to make such long-winded discourses as would have spoiled all mirth and conversation; but I do not think there is the same reason to forbid philosophy as to take away rhetoric from our feasts. For philosophy is quite of another nature; it is an art of living, and therefore must be admitted into every part of our conversation, into all our gay humors and our pleasures, to regulate and adjust them, to proportion the time, and keep them from excess; unless, perchance, upon the same scoffing pretence of gravity, they would banish temperance, justice, and moderation. It is true, were we to feast in a court-room, as those that entertained Orestes, and were silence enjoined by law, that might prove a not unlucky cloak of our ignorance; but if Bacchus is really λύσιος (a looser of every thing), and chiefly takes off all restraints and bridles from the tongue, and gives the voice the greatest freedom, I think it is foolish and absurd to deprive that time in which we are usually most talkative of the most useful and profitable discourse; and in our schools to dispute of the offices of company, in what consists the excellence of a guest, how mirth, feasting, and wine are to be used, and yet deny philosophy a place in these feasts, as if not able to confirm by practice what by precepts it instructs. > Greek: 1.2. καὶ ὁ Κράτων ἀνακραγών εὖ γʼ εἶπε νὴ τὸν Διόνυσον ἐξώμνυτο τὸν λόγον, εἰ τοιαύτας ἔμελλε περαίνειν περιόδους, αἷς ἔμελλε Χαρίτων ἀνάστατον γενήσεσθαι συμπόσιον. οὐχ ὅμοιον δʼ οἶμαι ῥητορικὸν ἐξαιρεῖν συμποσίου λόγον καὶ φιλόσοφον· ἀλλʼ ἕτερόν ἐστι τὸ φιλοσοφίας, ἣν τέχνην περὶ βίον οὖσαν οὔτε τινὸς παιδιᾶς οὔτε τινὸς ἡδονῆς διαγωγὴν ἐχούσης ἀποστατεῖν εἰκὸς ἀλλὰ πᾶσι παρεῖναι τὸ μέτρον καὶ τὸν καιρὸν ἐπιφέρουσαν· ἢ μηδὲ σωφροσύνην μηδὲ δικαιοσύνην οἰώμεθα δεῖν εἰς τοὺς πότους δέχεσθαι, κατειρωνευόμενοι τὸ σεμνὸν αὐτῶν. εἰ μὲν οὖν, ὥσπερ οἱ τὸν Ὀρέστην ἑστιῶντες, ἐν Θεσμοθετείῳ σιωπῇ τρώγειν καὶ πίνειν ἐμέλλομεν, ἦν τι τοῦτο τῆς ἀμαθίας οὐκ ἀτυχὲς παραμύθιον· εἰ δὲ πάντων μὲν ὁ Διόνυσος Λύσιός ἐστι καὶ Λυαῖος, μάλιστα δὲ τῆς γλώττης ἀφαιρεῖται τὰ χαλινὰ καὶ πλείστην ἐλευθερίαν τῇ φωνῇ δίδωσιν, ἀβέλτερον οἶμαι καὶ ἀνόητον ἐν λόγοις πλεονάζοντα καιρὸν ἀποστερεῖν τῶν ἀρίστων λόγων, καὶ ζητεῖν μὲν ἐν ταῖς διατριβαῖς περὶ συμποτικῶν καθηκόντων καὶ τίς ἀρετὴ συμπότου καὶ πῶς οἴνῳ χρηστέον, ἐξ αὐτῶν δὲ τῶν συμποσίων ἀναιρεῖν φιλοσοφίαν ὡς ἔργῳ βεβαιοῦν ἃ διδάσκει λόγῳ μὴ δυναμένην. [¶3] 1.3. And when you affirmed that none ought to oppose what Crato said, but determine what sorts of philosophical topics were to be admitted as fit companions at a feast, and so avoid that just and pleasant taunt put upon the wrangling disputers of the age, “Come now to supper, that we may contend;” and when you seemed concerned and urged us to speak to that head, I first replied: Sir, we must consider what company we have; for if the greater part of the guests are learned men,—as for instance, at Agatho’s entertainment, men like Socrates, Phaedrus, Pausanias, Euryximachus; or at Callias’s board, Charmides, Antisthenes, Hermogenes, and the like,—we will permit them to philosophize, and to mix Bacchus with the Muses as well as with the Nymphs; for the latter make him wholesome and gentle to the body, and the other pleasant and agreeable to the soul. And if there are some few illiterate persons present, they, as mute consonants with vowels, in the midst of the other learned, will participate in a voice not altogether inarticulate and insignificant. But if the greater part consists of such who can better endure the noise of any bird, fiddle-string, or piece of wood than the voice of a philosopher, Pisistratus hath shown us what to do; for being at difference with his sons, when he heard his enemies rejoiced at it, in a full assembly he declared that he had endeavored to persuade his sons to submit to him, but since he found them obstinate, he was resolved to yield and submit to their humors. So a philosopher, midst those companions that slight his excellent discourse, will lay aside his gravity, follow them, and comply with their humor as far as decency will permit; knowing very well that men cannot exercise their rhetoric unless they speak, but may their philosophy even whilst they are silent or jest merrily, nay, whilst they are piqued upon or repartee. For it is not only (as Plato says) the highest degree of injustice not to be just and yet seem so; but it is the top of wisdom to philosophize, yet not appear to do it; and in mirth to do the same with those that are serious, and yet seem in earnest. For as in Euripides, the Bacchae, though unprovided of iron weapons and unarmed, wounded their invaders with their boughs, thus the very jests and merry talk of true philosophers move and correct in some sort those that are not altogether insensible. > Greek: 1.3. σοῦ δʼ εἰπόντος οὐκ ἄξιον εἶναι Κράτωνι περὶ τούτων ἀντιλέγειν, ὅρον δέ τινα καὶ χαρακτῆρα τῶν παρὰ πότον φιλοσοφουμένων ζητεῖν ἐκφεύγοντα τοῦτο δὴ τὸ παιζόμενον οὐκ ἀηδῶς πρὸς τοὺς ἐρίζοντας καὶ σοφιστιῶντας νῦν δʼ ἔρχεσθʼ ἐπὶ δεῖπνον ἵνα ξυνάγωμεν Ἄρηα, ηομ. β 381 καὶ παρακαλοῦντος ἡμᾶς ἐπὶ τὸν λόγον· ἔφην ἐγὼ πρῶτον ὅτι μοι δοκεῖ σκεπτέον εἶναι τὸ τῶν παρόντων· ἂν μὲν γὰρ πλείονας ἔχῃ φιλολόγους τὸ συμπόσιον, ὡς τὸ Ἀγάθωνος Σωκράτας Φαίδρους Παυσανίας Ἐρυξιμάχους, καὶ τὸ Καλλίου Χαρμίδας Ἀντισθένας Ἑρμογένας, ἑτέρους τούτοις παραπλησίους, ἀφήσομεν αὐτοὺς μύθῳ φιλοσοφεῖν, οὐχ ἧττον ταῖς Μούσαις τὸν Διόνυσον ἢ ταῖς Νύμφαις κεραννύντας ἐκεῖναι μὲν γὰρ αὐτὸν τοῖς σώμασιν ἵλεων καὶ πρᾶον, αὗται δὲ ταῖς ψυχαῖς μειλίχιον ὄντως καὶ χαριδώτην ἐπεισάγουσι. καὶ γὰρ ἂν ὀλίγοι τινὲς ἰδιῶται παρῶσιν, ὥσπερ ἄφωνα γράμματα φωνηέντων ἐν μέσῳ πολλῶν τῶν πεπαιδευμένων ἐμπεριλαμβανόμενοι, φθογγῆς τινος οὐ παντελῶς ἀνάρθρου καὶ συνέσεως κοινωνήσουσιν. ἂν δὲ πλῆθος ᾖ τοιούτων ἀνθρώπων, οἳ παντὸς μὲν ὀρνέου παντὸς δὲ νεύρου καὶ ξύλου μᾶλλον ἢ φιλοσόφου φωνὴν ὑπομένουσι, τὸ τοῦ Πεισιστράτου χρήσιμον ἐκεῖνος γὰρ ἐν διαφορᾷ τινι πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς γενόμενος, ὡς ᾔσθετο τοὺς ἐχθροὺς χαίροντας, ἐκκλησίαν συναγαγὼν ἔφη βούλεσθαι μὲν αὐτὸς πεῖσαι τοὺς παῖδας, ἐπεὶ δὲ δυσκόλως ἔχουσιν, αὐτὸς ἐκείνοις πείσεσθαι καὶ ἀκολουθήσειν. οὕτω δὴ καὶ φιλόσοφος ἀνὴρ ἐν συμπόταις μὴ δεχομένοις τοὺς λόγους αὐτοῦ μεταθέμενος ἕψεται καὶ ἀγαπήσει τὴν ἐκείνων διατριβὴν, ἐφʼ ὅσον μὴ ἐκβαίνει τὸ εὔσχημον· εἰδὼς ὅτι ῥητορεύουσι μὲν ἄνθρωποι διὰ λόγου, φιλοσοφοῦσι δὲ καὶ σιωπῶντες καὶ παίζοντες καὶ νὴ Δία σκωπτόμενοι καὶ σκώπτοντες. οὐ γὰρ μόνον ἀδικίας ἐσχάτης ἐστίν ὥς φησι Πλάτων μὴ ὄντα δίκαιον εἶναι δοκεῖν, ἀλλὰ καὶ συνέσεως ἄκρας φιλοσοφοῦντα μὴ δοκεῖν φιλοσοφεῖν καὶ παίζοντα διαπράττεσθαι τὰ τῶν σπουδαζόντων. ὡς γὰρ αἱ παρʼ Εὐριπίδῃ μαινάδες ἄνοπλοι καὶ ἀσίδηροι τοῖς θυρσαρίοις παίουσαι τοὺς ἐπιτιθεμένους τραυματίζουσιν, οὕτω τῶν ἀληθινῶν φιλοσόφων καὶ τὰ σκώμματα καὶ οἱ γέλωτες τοὺς μὴ παντελῶς ἀτρώτους κινοῦσιν ἁμωσγέπως καὶ συνεπιστρέφουσιν. [¶4] 1.4. I think there are topics fit to be used at table, some of which reading and study give us, others the present occasion; some to incite to study, others to piety and great and noble actions, others to make us rivals of the bountiful and kind; which if a man cunningly and without any apparent design inserts for the instruction of the rest, he will free these entertainments from many of those considerable evils which usually attend them. Some that put borage into the wine, or sprinkle the floor with water in which verbena and maiden-hair have been steeped, as good to raise mirth and jollity in the guests (in imitation of Homer’s Helen, who with some medicament diluted the pure wine she had prepared), do not understand that that fable, coming round from Egypt, after a long way ends at last in easy and fit discourse. For whilst they were drinking, Helen relates the story of Ulysses, How Fortune’s spite the hero did control, And bore his troubles with a manly soul. For that, in my opinion, was the Nepenthe, the care-dissolving medicament,—that story exactly fitted to the then disasters and juncture of affairs. The pleasing men, though they designedly and apparently instruct, draw on their maxims with persuasive and smooth arguments, rather than the violent force of demonstrations. You see that even Plato in his Symposium, where he disputes of the chief end, the chief good, and is altogether on subjects theological, doth not lay down strong and close demonstrations; he doth not prepare himself for the contest (as he is wont) like a wrestler, that he may take the faster hold of his adversary and be sure of giving him the trip; but he draws men on by more soft and pliable attacks, by pleasant fictions and pat examples. > Greek: 1.4. οἶμαι δὲ διηγήσεων εἶναί τι συμποτικὸν γένος, ὧν τὰς μὲν ἱστορία δίδωσι, τὰς δʼ ἐκ τῶν ἀνὰ χεῖρα πραγμάτων λαβεῖν ἔστι, πολλὰ μὲν εἰς φιλοσοφίαν παραδείγματα πολλὰ δʼ εἰς εὐσέβειαν ἐχούσας, ἀνδρικῶν τε πράξεων καὶ μεγαλοθύμων ἐνίας δὲ χρηστῶν καὶ φιλανθρώπων ζῆλον ἐπαγούσας· αἷς ἤν τις ἀνυπόπτως χρώμενος διαπαιδαγωγῇ τοὺς πίνοντας, οὐ τὰ ἐλάχιστα τῶν κακῶν ἀφαιρήσει τῆς μέθης. οἱ μὲν οὖν τὰ βούγλωσσα καταμιγνύντες εἰς τὸν οἶνον καὶ τοῖς ἀποβρέγμασι τῶν περιστερεώνων καὶ ἀδιάντων τὰ ἐδάφη ῥαίνοντες, ὡς τούτων τινὰ τοῖς ἑστιωμένοις εὐθυμίαν καὶ φιλοφροσύνην ἐνδιδόντων, ἀπομιμούμενοι τὴν Ὁμηρικὴν Ἑλένην ὑποφαρμάττουσαν τὸν ἄκρατον, οὐ συνορῶσιν ὅτι κἀκεῖνος ὁ μῦθος ἐκπεριελθὼν ἀπʼ Αἰγύπτου μακρὰν ὁδὸν εἰς λόγους ἐπιεικεῖς καὶ πρέποντας ἐτελεύτησεν ἡ γὰρ Ἑλένη πίνουσιν αὐτοῖς διηγεῖται περὶ τοῦ Ὀδυσσέως· οἷον τόδʼ ἔρεξε καὶ ἔτλη καρτερὸς ἀνήρ, αὐτόν μιν πληγῇσιν ἀεικελίῃσι δαμάσσας· τοῦτο γὰρ ἦν ὡς ἔοικε τὸ νηπενθὲς φάρμακον καὶ ἀνώδυνον, λόγος ἔχων καιρὸν ἁρμόζοντα τοῖς ὑποκειμένοις πάθεσι καὶ πράγμασιν. οἱ δὲ χαρίεντες, κἂν ἀπʼ εὐθείας φιλοσοφῶσι, τηνικαῦτα διὰ τοῦ πιθανοῦ μᾶλλον ἢ βιαστικοῦ τῶν ἀποδείξεων ἄγουσι τὸν λόγον. ὁρᾷς γὰρ ὅτι καὶ Πλάτων ἐν τῷ Συμποσίῳ περὶ τέλους διαλεγόμενος καὶ τοῦ πρώτου ἀγαθοῦ καὶ ὅλως θεολογῶν οὐκ ἐντείνει τὴν ἀπόδειξιν οὐδʼ ὑποκονίεται, τὴν λαβὴν ὥσπερ εἴωθεν εὔτονον ποιῶν καὶ ἄφυκτον, ἀλλʼ ὑγροτέροις λήμμασι καὶ παραδείγμασι καὶ μυθολογίαις προσάγεται τοὺς ἄνδρας. [¶5] 1.5. Besides, the questions should be easy, the problems known, the interrogations plain and familiar, not intricate and dark, that they might neither vex the unlearned, nor fright them from the disquisition. For—as it is allowable to dissolve our entertainment into a dance, but if we force our guests to pitch quoits or play at cudgels, we shall not only make our feast unpleasant, but hurtful and unnatural—thus light and easy disquisitions do pleasantly and profitably excite us, but we must forbear all contentious and (to use Democritus’s word) wrangling disputes, which perplex the proposers with intricate and inexplicable doubts, and trouble all the others that are present. Our discourse should be like our wine, common to all, and of which every one may equally partake; and they that propose hard problems seem no better fitted for society than Aesop’s fox and crane. For the fox vexed the crane with thin broth poured out upon a flat stone, and laughed at her when he saw her, by reason of the narrowness of her bill and the thinness of the broth, incapable of partaking what he had prepared; and the crane, in requital, inviting the fox to supper, brought forth her dainties in a pot with a long and narrow neck, which she could conveniently thrust her bill into, whilst the fox could not reach one bit. Just so, when philosophers midst their cups dive into minute and logical disputes, they are very troublesome to those that cannot follow them through the same depths; and those that bring in idle songs, trifling disquisitions, common talk, and mechanical discourse destroy the very end of conversation and merry entertainments, and abuse Bacchus. Therefore, as when Phrynichus and Aeschylus brought tragedy to discourse of fables and misfortunes, it was asked, What is this to Bacchus?—so methinks, when I hear some pedantically drawing a syllogism into table-talk, I have reason to cry out, Sir, what is this to Bacchus? Perchance one, the great bowl standing in the midst, and the chaplets given round, which the God in token of the liberty he bestows sets on every head, sings one of those songs called σκολιά (crooked or obscure); this is not fit nor agreeable to a feast. Though some say these σκολιά were not dark and intricate composures; but that the guests sang the first song all together, praising Bacchus and describing the power of the God; and the second each man sang singly in his turn, a myrtle bough being delivered to every one in order, which they call an αἴσακον because he that received it was obliged to sing (ᾄδειν); and after this a harp being carried round the company, the skilful took it, and fitted the music to the song; this when the unskilful could not perform, the song was called σκολιόν, because it was hard to them, and one in which they could not bear a part. Others say this myrtle bough was not delivered in order, but from bed to bed; and when the uppermost of the first table had sung, he sent it to the uppermost of the second, and he to the uppermost of the third; and so the second in like manner to the second; and from these many windings and this circuit it was called σκολιόν, crooked. > Greek: 1.5. εἶναι δὲ δεῖ καὶ αὐτὰς τὰς ζητήσεις ὑγροτέρας καὶ γνώριμα τὰ προβλήματα καὶ τὰς πεύσεις ἐπιεικεῖς καὶ μὴ γλίσχρας, ἵνα μὴ πνίγωσι τοὺς ἀνοητοτέρους μηδʼ ἀποτρέπωσιν. ὥσπερ γὰρ τὰ σώματα πινόντων διʼ ὀρχήσεως καὶ χορείας νενόμισται σαλεύειν, ἂν δʼ ὁπλομαχεῖν ἀναστάντας ἢ δισκεύειν ἀναγκάζωμεν αὐτούς, οὐ μόνον ἀτερπὲς ἀλλὰ καὶ βλαβερὸν ἔσται τὸ συμπόσιον· οὕτω τὰς ψυχὰς αἱ μὲν ἐλαφραὶ ζητήσεις ἐμμελῶς καὶ ὠφελίμως κινοῦσιν, ἐριδαντέων δὲ κατὰ Δημόκριτον καὶ ἱμαντελικτέων λόγους ἀφετέον, οἳ αὐτούς τε κατατείνουσιν ἐν πράγμασι γλίσχροις καὶ δυσθεωρήτοις τούς τε παρατυγχάνοντας ἀνιῶσι· δεῖ γὰρ ὡς τὸν οἶνον κοινὸν εἶναι καὶ τὸν λόγον, οὗ πάντες μεθέξουσιν. οἱ δὲ τοιαῦτα προβλήματα καθιέντες οὐδὲν ἂν τῆς Αἰσωπείου γεράνου καὶ ἀλώπεκος ἐπιεικέστεροι πρὸς κοινωνίαν φανεῖεν· ὧν ἡ μὲν ἔτνος τι λιπαρὸν κατὰ λίθου πλατείας καταχεαμένη τὴν γέρανον ἐδέξατο οὐκ εὐωχουμένην, ἀλλὰ γελοῖα πάσχουσαν· ἐξέφευγε γὰρ ὑγρότητι τὸ ἔτνος τὴν λεπτότητα τοῦ στόματος αὐτῆς. ἐν μέρει τοίνυν ἡ γέρανος αὐτῇ καταγγείλασα δεῖπνον ἐν λαγυνίδι προὔθηκε λεπτὸν ἐχούσῃ καὶ μακρὸν τράχηλον, ὥστʼ αὐτὴ μὲν καθιέναι τὸ στόμα ῥᾳδίως καὶ ἀπολαύειν, τὴν δʼ ἀλώπεκα μὴ δυναμένην κομίζεσθαι συμβολὰς πρεπούσας. οὕτω τοίνυν, ὅταν οἱ φιλόσοφοι παρὰ πότον εἰς λεπτὰ καὶ διαλεκτικὰ προβλήματα καταδύντες ἐνοχλῶσι τοῖς πολλοῖς ἕπεσθαι μὴ δυναμένοις, ἐκεῖνοι δὲ πάλιν ἐπʼ ᾠδάς τινας καὶ διηγήματα φλυαρώδη καὶ λόγους βαναύσους καὶ ἀγοραίους ἐμβάλλωσιν ἑαυτούς, οἴχεται τῆς συμποτικῆς κοινωνίας τὸ τέλος καὶ καθύβρισται ὁ Διόνυσος. ὥσπερ οὖν, Φρυνίχου καὶ Αἰσχύλου τὴν τραγῳδίαν εἰς μύθους καὶ πάθη προαγόντων, ἐλέχθη τὸ τί ταῦτα πρὸς τὸν Διόνυσον; οὕτως ἔμοιγε πολλάκις εἰπεῖν παρέστη πρὸς τοὺς ἕλκοντας εἰς τὰ συμπόσια τὸν Κυριεύοντα ὦ ἄνθρωπε, τί ταῦτα πρὸς τὸν Διόνυσον; ᾄδειν μὲν γὰρ ἴσως τὰ καλούμενα σκόλια, κρατῆρος ἐν μέσῳ προκειμένου καὶ στεφάνων διανεμομένων, οὓς ὁ θεὸς ἐλευθερῶν ἡμᾶς ἐπιτίθησιν, οὐ καλὸν δʼ οὐδὲ συμποτικόν. ἐπεί τοι καὶ τὰ σκόλιά φασιν οὐ γένος ᾀσμάτων εἶναι πεποιημένων ἀσαφῶς, ἀλλʼ ὅτι πρῶτον μὲν ᾖδον ᾠδὴν τοῦ θεοῦ κοινῶς ἅπαντες μιᾷ φωνῇ παιανίζοντες, δεύτερον δʼ ἐφεξῆς ἑκάστῳ μυρσίνης παραδιδομένης, ἣν αἴσακον οἶμαι διὰ τὸ ᾄδειν τὸν δεξάμενον ἐκάλουν· ἐπὶ δὲ τούτῳ λύρας περιφερομένης, ὁ μὲν πεπαιδευμένος ἐλάμβανε καὶ ᾖδεν ἁρμοζόμενος, τῶν δʼ ἀμούσων οὐ προσιεμένων, σκολιὸν ὠνομάσθη τὸ μὴ κοινὸν αὐτοῦ μηδὲ ῥᾴδιον. ἄλλοι δέ φασι τὴν μυρσίνην οὐ καθεξῆς βαδίζειν, ἀλλὰ καθʼ ἕκαστον ἀπὸ κλίνης ἐπὶ κλίνην διαφέρεσθαι· τὸν γὰρ πρῶτον ᾄσαντα τῷ πρώτῳ τῆς δευτέρας κλίνης ἀποστέλλειν, ἐκεῖνον δὲ τῷ πρώτῳ τῆς τρίτης, εἶτα τὸν δεύτερον ὁμοίως τῷ δευτέρῳ, καὶ τὸ ποικίλον καὶ πολυκαμπὲς ὡς ἔοικε τῆς περιόδου σκολιὸν ὠνομάσθη. [¶6] 2.1. MY brother Timon, making a great entertainment, desired the guests as they came to seat themselves; for he had invited strangers and citizens, neighbors and acquaintance, and all sorts of persons to the feast. A great many being already come, a certain stranger at last appeared, dressed as fine as hands could make him, his clothes rich, and an unseemly train of foot-boys at his heels; he walked up to the parlor-door, and, staring round upon those that were already seated, turned his back and scornfully retired; and when a great many stepped after him and begged him to return, he said, I see no fit place left for me. At that, the other guests (for the glasses had gone round) laughed abundantly, and desired his room rather than his company. > Greek: 2.1. Τίμων ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἑστιῶν πλείονας ἕκαστον ἐκέλευε τῶν εἰσιόντων ὅποι βούλεται παρεμβάλλειν καὶ κατακλίνεσθαι, διὰ τὸ καὶ ξένους καὶ πολίτας καὶ συνήθεις καὶ οἰκείους; καὶ ὅλως παντοδαποὺς τοὺς κεκλημένους εἶναι. πολλῶν οὖν ἤδη παρόντων, ξένος τις ὥσπερ εὐπάρυφος ἐκ κωμῳδίας ἐσθῆτί τε περιττῇ καὶ ἀκολουθίᾳ παίδων ὑποσολοικότερος, ἧκεν ἄχρι τῶν θυρῶν τοῦ ἀνδρῶνος, καὶ κύκλῳ ταῖς ὄψεσιν ἐπελθὼν τοὺς κατακειμένους οὐκ ἠθέλησεν εἰσελθεῖν ἀλλʼ ᾤχετʼ ἀπιών· καὶ πολλῶν μεταθεόντων, οὐκ ἔφη τὸν ἄξιον ἑαυτοῦ τόπον ὁρᾶν λειπόμενον. ἐκεῖνον μὲν οὖν πολλῷ γέλωτι χαίροντας εὐφημοῦντας ἐκπέμπειν δόμων ἐκέλευον οἱ κατακείμενοι· καὶ γὰρ ἦσαν πολλοὶ μετρίως ὑποπεπωκότες. [¶7] 2.2. But after supper, my father addressing himself to me, who sat at another quarter of the table,—Timon, said he, and I have a dispute, and you are to be judge, for I have been upon his skirts already about that stranger; for if according to my directions he had seated every man in his proper place, we had never been thought unskilful in this matter, by one “Whose art is great in ordering horse and foot.” And story says that Paulus Aemilius, after he had conquered Perseus the king of Macedon, making an entertainment, besides his costly furniture and extraordinary provision, was very critical in the order of his feast; saying, It is the same man’s task to order a terrible battle and a pleasing entertainment, for both of them require skill in the art of disposing right. Homer often calls the stoutest and the greatest princes κοσμήτορας λαῶν, disposers of the people; and you use to say that the great Creator, by this art of disposing, turned disorder into beauty, and neither taking away nor adding any new being, but setting every thing in its proper place, out of the most uncomely figure and confused chaos produced this beauteous, this surprising face of nature that appears. In these great and noble doctrines indeed you instruct us; but our own observation sufficiently assures us, that the greatest profuseness in a feast appears neither delightful nor genteel, unless beautified by order. And therefore it is absurd that cooks and waiters should be solicitous what dish must be brought first, what next, what placed in the middle, and what last; and that the garlands, and ointment, and music (if they have any) should have a proper place and order assigned, and yet that the guests should be seated promiscuously, and no respect be had to age, honor, or the like; no distinguishing order by which the man in dignity might be honored, the inferior learn to give place, and the disposer be exercised in distinguishing what is proper and convenient. For it is not rational that, when we walk or sit down to discourse, the best man should have the best place, and that the same order should not be observed at table; or that the entertainer should in civility drink to one before another, and yet make no difference in their seats, at the first dash making the whole company one Myconus (as they say), a hodge-podge and confusion. This my father brought for his opinion. > Greek: 2.2. ἐπεὶ δὲ τὰ περὶ τὸ δεῖπνον τέλος εἶχεν, ὁ πατὴρ ἐμὲ πορρωτέρω κατακείμενον προσειπών Τίμων ἔφη κἀγὼ κριτήν σε πεποιήμεθα διαφερόμενοι· πάλαι γὰρ ἀκούει κακῶς ὑπʼ ἐμοῦ διὰ τὸν ξένον εἰ γὰρ διετάττετο ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς, ὥσπερ ἐκέλευον ἐγώ, τὰς κλίσεις, οὐκ ἂν εὐθύνας ὑπείχομεν ἀταξίας ἀνδρὶ δεινῷ· κοσμῆσαι ἵππους τε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀσπιδιώτας. καὶ γὰρ δὴ Παῦλον Αἰμίλιον στρατηγὸν λέγουσιν, ὅτε Περσέα καταπολεμήσας ἐν Μακεδονίᾳ πότους συνεκρότει, κόσμῳ τε θαυμαστῷ περὶ πάντα καὶ τῇ λοιπῇ τάξει χρώμενον, εἰπεῖν ὅτι ταὐτοῦ ἀνδρός ἐστι καὶ φάλαγγα συστῆσαι φοβερωτάτην καὶ συμπόσιον ἣδιστον· ἀμφότερα γὰρ εὐταξίας εἶναι. καὶ τοὺς ἀρίστους καὶ τοὺς βασιλικωτάτους ὁ ποιητὴς εἴωθε κοσμήτορας λαῶν προσαγορεύειν. καὶ τὸν μέγαν θεὸν ὑμεῖς πού φατε τὴν ἀκοσμίαν εὐταξίᾳ μεταβαλεῖν εἰς κόσμον, οὔτʼ ἀφελόντα τῶν ὄντων οὐδὲν οὔτε προσθέντα, τῷ δʼ ἕκαστον ἐπὶ τὴν προσήκουσαν χώραν καταστῆσαι τὸ κάλλιστον ἐξ ἀμορφοτάτου σχῆμα περὶ τὴν φύσιν ἀπεργασάμενον. ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν τὰ σεμνότερα καὶ μείζονα παρʼ ὑμῶν μανθάνομεν αὐτοὶ δὲ καὶ τὴν περὶ τὰ δεῖπνα δαπάνην ὁρῶμεν οὐδὲν ἔχουσαν ἐπιτερπὲς οὐδʼ ἐλευθέριον, εἰ μὴ τάξεως μετάσχοι. διὸ καὶ γελοῖόν ἐστι τοῖς μὲν ὀψοποιοῖς καὶ τραπεζοκόμοις σφόδρα μέλειν τί πρῶτον ἢ τί δεύτερον ἢ μέσον ἢ τελευταῖον ἐπάξουσι, καὶ νὴ Δία μύρου τινὰ καὶ στεφάνων καὶ ψαλτρίας, ἂν τύχῃ παροῦσα, χώραν καὶ τάξιν· εἶναι· τοὺς δʼ ἐπὶ ταῦτα καλουμένους εἰκῆ καὶ ὡς ἔτυχε κατακλίναντα χορτάζειν, μήθʼ ἡλικίᾳ μήτʼ ἀρχῇ μήτʼ ἄλλῳ τινὶ τῶν ὁμοίων τὴν ἁρμόττουσαν ἀποδιδόντα τάξιν, ἐν ᾗ τιμᾶται μὲν ὁ προύχων ἐθίζεται δʼ ὁ δευτερεύων, γυμνάζεται δʼ ὁ τάττων πρὸς διάκρισιν καὶ στοχασμὸν τοῦ πρέποντος. οὐ γὰρ ἕδρα μὲν ἔστι καὶ στάσις τοῦ κρείττονος, κατάκλισις δʼ οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδὲ προπίεται ἑτέρῳ πρὸ ἑτέρου μᾶλλον ὁ ἑστιῶν, περὶ δὲ τὰς κατακλίσεις παρόψεται τὰς διαφοράς, εὐθὺς ἐν ἀρχῇ τὴν λεγομένην μίαν Μύκονον ἀποφήνας τὸ συμπόσιον. ἡ μὲν οὖν τοῦ πατρὸς δικαιολογία τοιαύτη τις ἦν. [¶8] 2.3. And my brother said: I am not so much wiser than Bias, that, since he refused to be arbitrator between two only of his friends, I should pretend to be a judge between so many strangers and acquaintance; especially since it is not a money matter, but about precedence and dignity, as if I invited my friends not to treat them kindly, but to abuse them. Menelaus is accounted absurd and passed into a proverb, for pretending to advise when unasked; and sure he would be more ridiculous that instead of an entertainer should set up for a judge, when nobody requests him or submits to his determination which is the best and which the worst man in the company; for the guests do not come to contend about precedency, but to feast and be merry. Besides, it is no easy task for him to distinguish; for some claim respect by reason of their age, others from their familiarity and acquaintance; and, like those that make declamations consisting of comparisons, he must have Aristotle’s τόποι and Thrasymachus’s ὑπερβάλλοντες (books that furnish him with heads of argument) at his fingers’ end; and all this to no good purpose or profitable effect, but to bring vanity from the bar and the theatre into our feasts and entertainments, and, whilst by good fellowship we endeavor to remit all other passions, to intend pride and arrogance, from which, in my opinion, we should be more careful to cleanse our souls than to wash our feet from dirt, that our conversation may be free, simple, and fill of mirth. And while by such meetings we strive to end all differences that have at any time risen amongst the invited, we should make them flame anew, and kindle them again by emulation, by thus debasing some and puffing up others. And if, according as we seat them, we should drink oftener and discourse more with some than others, and set daintier dishes before them, instead of being friendly we should be lordly in our feasts. And if in other things we treat them all equally, why should we not begin at the first part, and bring it into fashion for all to take their seats promiscuously, without ceremony or pride, and to let them see, as soon as they enter, that they are invited to a dinner whose order is free and democratical, and not as particular chosen men to the government of a city where aristocracy is the form; since the richest and the poorest sit promiscuously together. > Greek: 2.3. ὁ δʼ ἀδελφὸς εἶπεν ὅτι τοῦ Βίαντος οὐκ εἴη σοφώτερος, ὥστʼ, ἐκείνου δυεῖν φίλων ἀπειπαμένου δίαιταν, αὐτὸς ὁμοῦ τοσούτων μὲν οἰκείων τοσούτων δʼ ἑταίρων γίγνεσθαι κριτής, οὐ περὶ χρημάτων ἀλλὰ περὶ πρωτείων ἀποφαινόμενος, ὥσπερ οὐ φιλοφρονήσασθαι παρακεκληκὼς ἀλλʼ ἀνιᾶσαι τοὺς ἐπιτηδείους. ἄτοπος μὲν οὖν ἔφη καὶ παροιμιώδης Μενέλαος, εἴ γε σύμβουλος ἐγένετο μὴ παρακεκλημένος· ἀτοπώτερος δʼ ὁ ποιῶν ἑαυτὸν ἀνθʼ ἑστιάτορος δικαστὴν καὶ κριτὴν τῶν οὐκ ἐπιτρεπόντων οὐδὲ κρινομένων, τίς ἐστι βελτίων τίνος ἢ χείρων· οὐ γὰρ εἰς ἀγῶνα καθείκασιν ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ δεῖπνον ἥκουσιν. ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ εὐχερὴς ἡ διάκρισίς ἐστι, τῶν μὲν ἡλικίᾳ τῶν δὲ δυνάμει τῶν δὲ χρείᾳ τῶν δʼ οἰκειότητι διαφερόντων· ἀλλὰ δεῖ, καθάπερ ὑπόθεσιν μελετῶντα συγκριτικήν, τοὺς Ἀριστοτέλους to/pous ἢ τοὺς Θρασυμάχου ὑπερβάλλοντας ἔχειν προχείρους οὐδὲν τῶν χρησίμων διαπραττόμενον ἀλλὰ τὴν κενὴν δόξαν ἐκ τῆς ἀγορᾶς καὶ τῶν θεάτρων εἰς τὰ συμπόσια μετάγοντα, καὶ τὰ μὲν ἄλλα πάθη πειρώμενον ἀνιέναι συνουσίᾳ, τὸν δὲ τύχηι ἐπισκευάζοντα, … ον πολὺ μᾶλλον οἶμαι προσήκει τῆς ψυχῆς ἢ τὸν πηλὸν ἀπονιψαμένους τῶν ποδῶν ἐλαφρῶς καὶ ἀφελῶς παρὰ πότον ἀλλήλοις συμφέρεσθαι, νῦν δὲ τὴν μὲν ἐξ ὀργῆς τινος ἢ πραγμάτων ἔχθραν πειρώμεθα τῶν κεκλημένων ἀφαιρεῖν, τῇ δὲ φιλοτιμίᾳ πάλιν ὑπεκκάομεν καὶ ἀναζωπυροῦμεν, τοὺς μὲν ταπεινοῦντες τοὺς δʼ ὀγκοῦντες. καίτοι γʼ, εἰ μὲν ἀκολουθήσουσι τῇ κατακλίσει προπόσεις τε συνεχέστεραι καὶ παραθέσεις ἔτι δʼ ὁμιλίαι καὶ προσαγορεύσεις, παντάπασι γενήσεται σατραπικὸν ἡμῖν ἀντὶ φιλικοῦ τὸ συμπόσιον· εἰ δὲ περὶ τἄλλα τὴν ἰσότητα τοῖς ἀνδράσι φυλάξομεν, τί οὐκ ἐντεῦθεν ἀρξάμενοι πρῶτον ἐθίζομεν ἀτύφως καὶ ἀφελῶς; κατακλίνεσθαι μετʼ ἀλλήλων, εὐθὺς ἀπὸ τῶν θυρῶν ὁρῶντας, ὅτι δημοκρατικῶς ἐπὶ τὸ δεῖπνον, καὶ οὐκ … ἐξαίρετον ὡς … πόλιν, ἐφʼ οὗ κατακλιθεὶς ὁ πλούσιος ἐν τῇ κατακλίσει τοῖς εὐτελεστάτοις; [¶9] 2.4. When this had been offered on both sides, and all present required my determination, I said: Being an arbitrator and not a judge, I shall close strictly with neither side, but go indifferently in the middle between both. If a man invites young men, citizens, or acquaintance, they should (as Timon says) be accustomed to be content with any place, without ceremony or concernment; and this good-nature and unconcernedness would be an excellent means to preserve and increase friendship. But if we use the same method to strangers, magistrates, or old men, I have just reason to fear that, whilst we seem to thrust our pride at the fore-door, we bring it in again at the back, together with a great deal of indifferency and disrespect. But in this, custom and the established rules of decency must guide; or else let us abolish all those modes of respect expressed by drinking to or saluting first; which we do not use promiscuously to all the company, but according to their worth we honor every one “With better places, meat, and larger cups,” as Agamemnon says, naming the place first, as the chiefest sign of honor. And we commend Alcinous for placing his guest next himself: He stout Laomedon his son removed, Who sat next him, for him he dearly loved; For to place a suppliant stranger in the seat of his beloved son was wonderful kind, and extreme courteous. Nay, even amongst the Gods themselves this distinction is observed; for Neptune, though he came last into the assembly, “Sat in the middle seat,” as if that was his proper place. And Minerva seems to have that assigned her which is next Jupiter himself; and this the poet intimates, when speaking of Thetis he says, “She sat next Jove, Minerva giving place.” And Pindar plainly says, “She sits just next the thunder-breathing flames.” Indeed Timon urges, we ought not to rob many to honor one. Now it seems to me that he does this very thing himself, even more than others; for he robs that makes something that is proper common; and suitable honor to his worth is each man’s property. And he gives that preeminence to running fast and making haste, which is due to virtue, kindred, magistracies, and such other qualities; and whilst he endeavors not to affront his guests, he necessarily falls into that very inconvenience; for he must affront every one by defrauding them of their proper honor. Besides, in my opinion it is no hard matter to make this distinction, and seat our guests according to their quality; for first, it very seldom happens that many of equal honor are invited to the same banquet; and then, since there are many honorable places, you have room enough to dispose them according to content, if you can but guess that this man must be seated uppermost, that in the middle, another next to yourself, or with his friend, acquaintance, tutor, or the like, appointing every one some place of honor; and as for the rest, I would supply their want of honor with some little presents, affability, and kind discourse. But if their qualities are not easy to be distinguished, and the men themselves hard to be pleased, see what device I have in that case; for I seat in the most honorable place my father, if invited; if not, my grandfather, father-in-law, uncle, or somebody whom the entertainer hath a more particular reason to esteem. And this is one of the many rules of decency that we have from Homer; for in his poem, when Achilles saw Menelaus and Antilochus contending about the second prize of the horserace, fearing that their strife and fury would increase, he gave the prize to another, under pretence of comforting and honoring Eumelus, but indeed to take away the cause of their contention. > Greek: 2.4. ἐπεὶ δὲ καὶ ταῦτʼ ἐρρήθη καὶ τὴν κρίσιν ἀπῄτουν οἱ παρόντες, ἔφην ἐγώ, διαιτητὴς ᾑρημένος οὐ κριτὴς, βαδιεῖσθαι διὰ μέσου. νέους μὲν γάρ εἶπον ἑστιῶντας καὶ πολίτας καὶ συνήθεις ἐθιστέον, ὥς φησι Τίμων, ἀφελῶς καὶ ἀτύφως κατανέμειν αὑτοὺς εἰς ἣν ἂν τύχωσι χώραν, καλὸν εἰς φιλίαν ἐφόδιον τὴν εὐκολίαν λαμβάνοντας· ἐν δὲ ξένοις ἢ ἄρχουσιν ἢ πρεσβυτέροις φιλοσοφοῦντες δέδια μὴ δοκῶμεν τῇ αὐλείῳ τὸν τῦφον ἀποκλείοντες εἰσάγειν τῇ παραθύρῳ μετὰ πολλῆς ἀδιαφορίας· ἐν ᾧ καὶ συνηθείᾳ τι καὶ νόμῳ δοτέον. ἢ καὶ προπόσεις καὶ προσαγορεύσεις ἀνέλωμεν, αἷς πρὸς τοὺς ἐπιτυγχάνοντας οὐδʼ ἀκρίτως ἀλλʼ ὡς ἐνδέχεται μάλιστα χρώμενοι τιμῶμεν ἕδρῃ τε κρέασὶν τʼ ἠδὲ πλείοις δεπάεσσιν ὥς φησιν ὁ τῶν Ἑλλήνων βασιλεύς, τὴν τάξιν ἐν πρώτῃ τιμῇ τιθέμενος. ἐπαινοῦμεν δὲ καὶ τὸν Ἀλκίνουν, ὅτι τὸν ξένον ἱδρύει παρʼ αὑτὸν υἱὸν ἀναστήσας, ἀγαπήνορα Λαοδάμαντα, ὃς οἱ πλησίον ἷζε, μάλιστα δέ μιν φιλέεσκε. τὸ γὰρ εἰς τὴν τοῦ φιλουμένου χώραν καθίσαι τὸν ἱκέτην ἐπιδέξιον ἐμμελῶς καὶ φιλάνθρωπον. ἔστι δὲ καὶ παρὰ τοῖς θεοῖς διάκρισις τῶν τοιούτων ὁ μὲν γὰρ Ποσειδῶν, καίπερ ὕστατος εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν παραγενόμενος ἷζεν ἄρʼ ἐν μέσσοισιν ὡς ταύτης αὐτῷ τῆς χώρας προσηκούσης. ἡ δʼ Ἀθηνᾶ φαίνεται τὸν πλησίον ἀεὶ τοῦ Διὸς τόπον ἐξαίρετον ἔχουσα καὶ τοῦτο παρεμφαίνει μὲν ὁ ποιητὴς διʼ ὧν ἐπὶ τῆς Θέτιδός φησιν ἡ δʼ ἄρα πὰρ Διὶ πατρὶ καθέζετο, εἶξε δʼ Ἀθήνη, διαρρήδην δʼ ὁ Πίνδαρος λέγει πῦρ πνέοντος ἅτε κεραυνοῦ ἄγχιστα ἡμένη. καίτοι φήσει Τίμων οὐ δεῖν ἀφαιρεῖσθαι τῶν ἄλλων ἑνὶ προσνέμοντα τὴν τιμήν. ὅπερ αὐτὸς ἔοικε ποιεῖν μᾶλλον· ἀφαιρεῖται γὰρ ὁ κοινὸν ποιῶν τὸ ἴδιον ἴδιον δὲ τὸ κατʼ ἀξίαν ἑκάστου, καὶ ποιεῖ δρόμου καὶ σπουδῆς τὸ πρωτεῖον, ἀρετῇ καὶ συγγενείᾳ καὶ ἀρχῇ καὶ τοῖς τοιούτοις ὀφειλόμενον. καὶ τὸ λυπηρὸς εἶναι τοῖς κεκλημένοις φεύγειν δοκῶν μᾶλλον ἐφέλκεται καθʼ αὑτοῦ λυπεῖ γὰρ ἀποστερῶν τῆς συνήθους τιμῆς ἕκαστον. ἐμοὶ δʼ οὐ λίαν χαλεπὸν εἶναι δοκεῖ τὸ περὶ τὴν διάκρισιν· πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ ἐφάμιλλοι τοῖς ἀξιώμασι πολλοὶ πρὸς μίαν κλῆσιν οὐ ῥᾳδίως ἀπαντῶσιν ἔπειτα πλειόνων τόπων ἐν δόξῃ γεγονότων, ἀφθονία τῆς διανομῆς ἔστιν, ἄν τις εὐστοχεῖν δύνηται, τὸν μὲν ὅτι πρῶτος, τὸν δʼ ὅτι μέσος, τὸν δʼ ὅτι παρʼ αὑτὸν ἢ μετὰ φίλου τινὸς ἢ συνήθους ἢ καθηγητοῦ, διδοὺς ἑκάστῳ τῶν ἀξιωματικῶν λεγομένων τοῖς δʼ ἄλλοις δωρεὰς καὶ φιλοφροσύνην ἔλιπον ἂν ἀνάπαυλαν μᾶλλον τῆς τιμῆς. ἂν δὲ δυσδιάκριτοι μὲν αἱ ἀξίαι δύσκολοι δʼ οἱ ἄνδρες ὦσιν, ὅρα τίνα μηχανὴν ἐπάγω· κατακλίνω γὰρ εἰς τὸν ἔνδοξον μάλιστα τόπον, ἂν μὲν πατήρ, τοῦτον ἀράμενος εἰ δὲ μή, πάππον ἢ πενθερὸν ἢ πατρὸς ἀδελφόν, ἤ τινα τῶν ὁμολογουμένην καὶ ἰδίαν ἐχόντων παρὰ τῷ δεχομένῳ τιμῆς ὑπεροχήν· ἐκ τῶν Ὁμήρου τὸ θεώρημα τοῦτο λαμβάνων καθηκόντων. καὶ γὰρ ἐπεῖ δήπουθεν ὁ Ἀχιλλεὺς τὸν Μενέλεων καὶ τὸν Ἀντίλοχον περὶ τῶν δευτερείων τῆς ἱπποδρομίας ὁρῶν διαφερομένους καὶ δεδοικὼς μὴ πορρωτέρω προέλθωσιν ὀργῆς καὶ φιλονεικίας ἑτέρῳ βούλεται τὸ ἔπαθλον ἀποδιδόναι, λόγῳ μὲν Εὔμηλον οἰκτίρων καὶ τιμῶν, ἔργῳ δὲ τῆς ἐκείνων διαφορᾶς τὴν αἰτίαν ἀφαιρῶν. [¶10] 2.5. When I had said this, Lamprias, sitting (as he always doth) upon a low bed, cried out: Sirs, will you give me leave to correct this sottish judge? And the company bidding him speak freely and tell me roundly of my faults, and not spare, he said: And who can forbear that philosopher, who disposes of places at a feast according to the birth, wealth, or offices of the guests, as if they were seats in a theatre or the Amphictyonic Council, so that pride and arrogance must be admitted even into our mirth and entertainments? In seating our guests we should not have respect to honor, but mirth and conversation; not look after every man’s quality, but their agreement and harmony with one another, as those do that join several different things in one composure. Thus a mason doth not set an Athenian or a Spartan stone, because formed in a more noble country, before an Asian or a Spanish; nor does a painter give the most costly color the chiefest place; nor a shipwright the Corinthian fir or Cretan cypress; but they so distribute them as will best serve to the common end, and make the whole composure strong, beautiful, and fit for use. Nay, you see even the Deity himself (by our Pindar named the most skilful artificer) doth not everywhere place the fire above and the earth below; but, as Empedocles hath it, The oysters, murets of the sea, and shell-fish every one, With massy coat, the tortoise eke, with crust as hard as stone, And vaulted back, which archwise he aloft doth hollow rear, Show all that heavy earth they do above their bodies bear; the earth not having that place that Nature appoints, but that which is necessary to compound bodies and serviceable to the common end, the preservation of the whole. Disorder is in every thing an evil; but then its badness is principally discovered, when it is amongst men whilst they are making merry; for then it breeds contentions and a thousand unspeakable mischiefs, which to foresee and hinder shows a man well skilled in good order and disposing right. > Greek: 2.5. ἐμοῦ δὲ τοιαῦτα λέγοντος, ὁ Λαμπρίας ἐκ παραβύστου καθήμενος; καθάπερ εἰώθει μέγα φθεγξάμενος ἠρώτα τοὺς παρόντας, εἰ διδόασιν αὐτῷ νουθετῆσαι ληροῦντα δικαστὴν κελευόντων δὲ πάντων χρῆσθαι παρρησίᾳ καὶ μὴ φείδεσθαι, τίς δʼ ἄν ἔφη φείσαιτο φιλοσόφου γένεσι καὶ πλούτοις καὶ ἀρχαῖς ὥσπερ θέαν ἐν συμποσίῳ κατανέμοντος ἢ προεδρίας ψηφισμάτων ἀμφικτυονικῶν διδόντος, ὅπως μηδʼ ἐν οἴνῳ τὸν τῦφον ἀποφύγωμεν; οὔτε γὰρ πρὸς τὸ ἔνδοξον ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸ ἡδὺ δεῖ ποιεῖσθαι τὰς κατακλίσεις, οὔτε τὴν ἑνὸς ἑκάστου σκοπεῖν ἀξίαν, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἑτέρου πρὲις ἕτερον σχέσιν καὶ ἁρμονίαν, ὥσπερ ἄλλων τινῶν εἰς μίαν κοινωνίαν παραλαμβανομένων. οὐδὲ γὰρ ὁ οἰκοδόμος τὸν Ἀττικὸν λίθον ἢ τὸν Λακωνικὸν πρὸ τοῦ βαρβαρικοῦ διὰ τὴν εὐγένειαν τίθησιν, οὐδʼ ὁ ζωγράφος τῷ πολυτελεστάτῳ χρώματι τὴν ἡγουμένην ἀποδίδωσι χώραν, οὐδʼ ὁ ναυπηγὸς προτάττει τὴν Ἰσθμικὴν πίτυν ἢ τὴν Κρητικὴν κυπάριττον, ἀλλʼ ὡς ὁὲν ἀλλήλοις ἕκαστα συντεθέντα καὶ συναρμοσθέντα μέλλῃ τὸ κοινὸν ἔργον ἰσχυρὸν καὶ καλὸν καὶ χρήσιμον παρέχειν, οὕτω κατανέμουσιν. καὶ τὸν θεὸν ὁρᾷς, ὃν ἀριστοτέχναν ἡμῶν ὁ Πίνδαρος προσεῖπεν, οὐ πανταχοῦ τὸ πῦρ ἄνω τάττοντα καὶ κάτω τὴν γῆν, ἀλλʼ ὡς ὀὲν αἱ χρεῖαι τῶν σωμάτων ἀπαιτῶσιν. τοῦτο μὲν ἐν κόγχαισι θαλασσονόμοις βαρυνώτοις, ναὶ μὴν κηρύκων τε λιθορρίνων χελύων τε φησὶν Ἐμπεδοκλῆς, ἔνθʼ ὄψει χθόνα χρωτὸς ὑπέρτατα ναιετάουσαν οὐχ ἣν ἡ φύσις δίδωσι χώραν, ἀλλʼ ἣν ἡ πρὸς τὸ κοινὸν ἔργον ποθεῖ σύνταξις, ταύτην ἔχουσαν. πανταχοῦ μὲν οὖν ἀταξία πονηρόν, ἐν δʼ ἀνθρώποις, καὶ ταῦτα πίνουσιν, ἐγγινομένη μάλιστα τὴν αὑτῆς ἀναδείκνυσι μοχθηρίαν ὕβρει καὶ κακοῖς ἄλλοις ἀμυθήτοις, ὁὶ προϊδέσθαι καὶ φυλάξασθαι τακτικοῦ καὶ ἁρμονικοῦ ἀνδρός ἐστιν. [¶11] 2.6. We all agreed that he said well, but asked him why he would not instruct us how to order things aright, and communicate his skill. I am content, says he, to instruct you, if you will permit me to change the present order of the feast, and will yield as ready obedience to me as the Thebans to Epaminondas when he altered the order of their battle. We gave him full power; and he, having turned all the servants out, looked round upon every one, and said: Hear (for I will tell you first) how I design to order you together. In my mind, the Theban Pammenes justly taxeth Homer as unskilful in love matters, for setting together, in his description of an army, tribe and tribe, family and family; for he should have joined the lover and the beloved, so that the whole body being united in their minds might perfectly agree. This rule will I follow, not set one rich man by another, a youth by a youth, a magistrate by a magistrate, and a friend by a friend; for such an order is of no force, either to beget or increase friendship and good-will. But fitting that which wants with something that is able to supply it, next one that is willing to instruct I will place one that is as desirous to be instructed; next a morose, one good-natured; next a talkative old man, a youth patient and eager for a story; next a boaster, a jeering smooth companion; and next an angry man, a quiet one. If I see a wealthy fellow bountiful and kind, I will take some poor honest man from his obscure place, and set him next, that something may run out of that full vessel into the other empty one. A sophister I will forbid to sit by a sophister, and one poet by another; “For beggars beggars, poets poets, envy.” I separate the clamorous scoffers and the testy, by putting some good-nature between them, that they may not justle so roughly on one another; but wrestlers, hunters, and farmers I put in one company. For some of the same nature, when put together, fight as cocks; others are very sociable as daws. Drinkers and lovers I set together, not only those who (as Sophocles says) feel the sting of masculine love, but those that are mad after virgins or married women; for they being warmed with the like fire, as two pieces of iron to be joined, will more readily agree; unless perhaps they both fancy the same person. > Greek: 2.6. ὀρθῶς οὖν ἔφαμεν λέγειν αὐτὸν ἡμεῖς, καὶ τί δὴ φθονεῖς τῶν τακτικῶν ἡμῖν καὶ ἁρμονικῶν; ἐλέγομεν. οὐδείς ἔφη φθόνος, ὀὲν μέλλητε πείθεσθαι μετακινοῦντί μοι καὶ μετακοσμοῦντι τὸ συμπόσιον, ὥσπερ τῷ Ἐπαμεινώνδᾳ τὴν φάλαγγα. συνεχωροῦμεν οὂν οὕτω ποιεῖν ἅπαντες. ὁ δὲ τοὺς παῖδας ἐκ μέσου κελεύσας γενέσθαι, καταβλέψας ἕκαστον ἀκούσατʼ εἶπεν ὡς μέλλω συντάττειν ὑμᾶς ἀλλήλοις βούλομαι γὰρ προειπεῖν. δοκεῖ γάρ μοι καὶ τὸν Ὅμηρον οὐκ ἀδίκως ὁ Θηβαῖος αἰτιάσασθαι Παμμένης ὡς τῶν ἐρωτικῶν ἄπερον, ὅτι φῦλα φύλοις συνέταξεν καὶ φρατρίας φατρίαις συνέμιξε, δέον ἐραστὴν μετʼ ἐρωμένου παρεμβάλλειν ἵνʼ σύμπνους ἡ φάλαγξ διʼ ὅλης ἔμψυχον ἔχουσα δεσμόν. τοιοῦτο κἀγὼ βούλομαι ποιῆσαι τὸ συμπόσιον ἡμῶν, οὐ πλουσίῳ πλούσιον οὐδὲ νέῳ νέον οὐδʼ ἄρχοντι συγκατακλίνων ἄρχοντα καὶ φίλῳ φίλον· ἀκίνητος γὰρ αὕτη καὶ ἀργὴ πρὸς εὐνοίας ἐπίδοσιν καὶ γένεσιν ἡ τάξις· ἀλλὰ τῷ δεομένῳ τὸ οἰκεῖον προσαρμόττων κελεύω φιλολόγῳ μὲν ὑποκατακλίνεσθαι φιλομαθῆ, δυσκόλῳ δὲ πρᾶον ἀδολέσχῳ δὲ πρεσβύτῃ φιλήκοον νεανίσκον, τῷ δʼ ἀλαζόνι τὸν εἴρωνα τῷ δʼ ὀργίλῳ τὸν σιωπηλόν· ἐὰν δέ που κατίδω πλούσιον μεγαλόδωρον, ἄξω πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐκ γωνίας τινὸς ἀναστήσας πένητα χρηστόν, ἵνʼ ὥσπερ ἐκ πλήρους κύλικος εἰς κενὴν ἀπορροή τις γένηται. σοφιστὴν δὲ κωλύω συγκατακλίνεσθαι σοφιστῇ καὶ ποιητὴν ποιητῇ πτωχὸς γὰρ πτωχῷ φθονέει καὶ ἀοιδὸς ἀοιδῷ· καίτερ Σωσικλῆς οὗτος καὶ Μόδεστος ἐνταῦθα συνερείδοντες ἔπος παρὰ … ζωπυρίων φλόγα μὲν ἀλλὰ κινδυνεύουσι τὰ κάλλιστα, διίστημι δὲ καὶ στραγγαλιῶντας καὶ φιλολοιδόρους; καὶ ὀξυθύμους … τινὰ παρεντιθεὶς μέσον, ὥσπερ μάλαγμα τῆς ἀντιτυπίας. ἀλειπτικοὺς δὲ καὶ κυνηγετικοὺς καὶ γεωργικοὺς συνάγω. τῶν γὰρ ὁμοιοτήτων ἡ μὲν μάχιμος ὥσπερ ἀλεκτρυόνων, ἡ δʼ ἐπιεικὴς ὥσπερ ἡ τῶν κολοιῶν. συνάγω δὲ καὶ ποτικοὺς εἰς ταὐτὸ καὶ ἐρωτικούς, οὐ μόνον ὅσοις ἔρωτος δῆγμα παιδικῶν πρόσεστιν ὥς φησι Σοφοκλῆς, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς ἐπὶ γυναιξὶ καὶ τοὺς ἐπὶ παρθένοις δακνομένους· τῷ γὰρ αὐτῷ θαλπόμενοι πυρὶ μᾶλλον ἀλλήλων ἀντιλήψονται, καθάπερ ὁ κολλώμενος σίδηρος, ἂν μὴ νὴ Δία ταὐτοῦ τύχωσιν ἢ τῆς αὐτῆς ἐρῶντες. [¶12] 3.1. THIS raised a dispute about the dignity of places, for the same place is not accounted honorable amongst all nations; in Persia the midst, for that is the place proper to the king himself; in Greece the uppermost; at Rome the lowermost of the middle bed, and this is called the consular; the Greeks about Pontus, as those of Heraclea, reckon the uppermost of the middle bed to be the chief. But we were most puzzled about the place called consular; for though it is esteemed most honorable, yet it is not for any well-defined reason, as if it were either the first or the midst; and its other circumstances are either not proper to that alone, or very frivolous. Though I confess three of the reasons alleged seemed to have something in them. The first was, that the consuls, having dissolved the monarchy, and reduced every thing to a more equal level and popular estate, left the middle, the kingly place, and sat in a lower seat; that by this means their power and authority might be less subject to envy, and not so grievous to their fellow-citizens. The second was, that, two beds being appointed for the invited guests, the third—and the first place in this—is most convenient for the master of the feast, whence, like a coachman or a pilot, he can guide and order every thing, and readily overlook the management of the whole affair. Besides, he is not so far removed but that he may easily discourse, talk to, and compliment his guests; for next below him his wife and children usually are placed; next above him the most honorable of the invited, that being the most proper place, as near the master of the feast. The third reason was, that it is peculiar to this place to be most convenient for the despatch of any sudden business; for the Roman consul is not such a one as Archias the governor of Thebes, so as to say, when letters of importance are brought to him at dinner, “serious things to-morrow,” and then throw aside the packet and take the great bowl; but he will be careful, circumspect, and mind it at that very instant. For not only (as the common saying hath it) “Each throw doth make the skilful dicer fear,” but even midst his feasting and his pleasure a magistrate should be intent on intervening business; and he hath this place appointed, as the most convenient for him to receive any message, answer it, or sign a bill; for there the second bed joining with the third, the turning at the corner leaves a vacant space, so that a notary, servant, guardsman, or a messenger from the army might approach, deliver the message, and receive commands; and the consul, having room enough to speak or use his hand, neither troubles any one, nor is hindered by any of the guests. > Greek: 3.1. ἐκ τούτου περὶ τῶν τόπων ἐνέπεσε ζήτησις. ἄλλοι γὰρ ἄλλοις ἔντιμοι, Πέρσαις μὲν ὁ μεσαίτατος ἐφʼ οὗ κατακλίνεται βασιλεύς, Ἕλλησι δʼ ὁ πρῶτος, Ῥωμαίοις δʼ ὁ τῆς μέσης κλίνης τελευταῖος ὃν ὑπατικὸν προσαγορεύουσι· τῶν δὲ περὶ τὸν Πόντον Ἑλλήνων ἐνίοις, ὥσπερ Ἡρακλεώταις, ἔμπαλιν ὁ τῆς μέσης πρῶτος. ἀλλὰ περὶ τοῦ γʼ ὑπατικοῦ λεγομένου μάλιστα διηποροῦμεν. οὗτος γὰρ ἐπρώτευε τῇ τιμῇ καθʼ ἡμᾶς καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν οὔθʼ ὡς ὁ πρῶτος οὔθʼ ὡς ὁ μέσος εἶχε νενομισμένην ἔτι καὶ τῶν συμβεβηκότων αὐτῷ τὰ μὲν οὐκ ἦν ἴδια τούτου μόνου, τὰ δʼ οὐδεμιᾶς ἄξια σπουδῆς ἐφαίνετο. πλὴν τρία γε τῶν λεχθέντων ἐκίνει, πρῶτον μὲν ὅτι τοὺς βασιλεῖς καταλύσαντες οἱ ὕπατοι καὶ πρὸς τὸ δημοτικώτερον ἅπαντα μετακοσμήσαντες ἐκ τῆς μέσης καὶ βασιλικῆς χώρας ὑπῆγον αὑτοὺς κάτω συγχωροῦντες, ὡς μηδὲ τοῦτο τῆς ἀρχῆς αὐτῶν καὶ ἐξουσίας ἐπαχθὲς εἴη τοῖς συνοῦσι· δεύτερον δʼ ὅτι, τῶν δυεῖν κλινῶν ἀποδεδομένων τοῖς παρακεκλημένοις, ἡ τρίτη καὶ ταύτης ὁ πρῶτος τόπος μάλιστα τοῦ ἑστιῶντός ἐστιν ἐνταῦθα γὰρ ὥσπερ ἡνίοχος ἢ κυβερνήτης ἐπὶ δεξιὰ πρὸς τὴν ἐπίβλεψιν ἐξικνεῖται τῆς ὑπηρεσίας, καὶ τοῦ φιλοφρονεῖσθαι καὶ διαλέγεσθαι τοῖς παροῦσιν οὐκ ἀπήρτηται τῶν συνέγγιστα τόπων· ὁ μὲν γὰρ ὑπʼ αὐτὸν ἢ γυναικὸς ἢ παίδων ἐστίν, ὁ δʼ ὑπὲρ αὐτὸν εἰκότως τῷ μάλιστα τιμωμένῳ τῶν κεκλημένων ἀπεδόθη, ἵνʼ ἐγγὺς τοῦ ἑστιῶντος. τρίτον δʼ ἔχειν ἴδιον οὗτος ὁ τόπος ἐδόκει τὸ πρὸς τὴν πρᾶξιν εὐφυές· οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ὁ τῶν Ῥωμαίων ὕπατος οἷος Ἀρχίας ὁ Θηβαίων πολέμαρχος, ὥστε, γραμμάτων ἢ λόγων αὐτῷ μεταξὺ δειπνοῦντι φροντίδος ἀξίων προσπεσόντων, ἐπιφθεγξάμενος εἰς ἕω τὰ σπουδαῖα τὴν μὲν ἐπιστολὴν παρῶσαι λαβεῖν δὲ τὴν θηρίκλειον· ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐμμεμαὼς καὶ περιεσκεμμένος ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις καιροῖς. οὐ γὰρ μόνον ὠδῖνα τίκτει νὺξ κυβερνήτῃ σοφῷ κατὰ τὸν Αἰσχύλον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πότου πᾶσα καὶ ἀνέσεως ἡδονὴ στρατηγῷ καὶ ἄρχοντι φροντίδος ἄξιόν ἐστιν· ἵνα τοίνυν ἀκοῦσαὶ θʼ ἃ δεῖ καὶ προστάξαι καὶ ὑπογράψαι δύνηται, τοῦτον ἐξαίρετον ἔχει τὸν τόπον· ἐν ᾧ τῆς δευτέρας κλίνης τῇ τρίτῃ συναπτούσης, ἡ γωνία διάλειμμα ποιοῦσα τῇ καμπῇ δίδωσι καὶ γραμματεῖ καὶ ὑπηρέτῃ καὶ φύλακι σώματος; καὶ ἀγγέλῳ τῶν ἀπὸ στρατοπέδου προσελθεῖν, διαλεχθῆναι, πυθέσθαι, μήτε τινὸς ἐνοχλοῦντος αὐτῷ μήτε τινὸς ἐνοχλουμένου τῶν συμποτῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ χεῖρα καὶ φωνὴν ὑπερδέξιον ἔχοντι καὶ ἀκώλυτον. [¶13] 4.1. CRATO a relative of ours, and Theon my acquaintance, at a certain banquet, where the glasses had gone round freely, and a little stir arose but was suddenly appeased, began to discourse of the office of the steward of a feast; declaring that it was my duty to wear the chaplet, assert the decaying privilege, and restore that office which should take care for the decency and good order of the banquet. This proposal pleased every one, and they were all an end begging me to do it. Well then, said I, since you will have it so, I make myself steward and director of you all, and command the rest of you to drink every one what he will, but Crato and Theon, the first proposers and authors of this decree, I enjoin to declare in short what qualifications fit a man for this office, what he should principally aim at, and how behave himself towards those under his command. This is the subject, and let them agree amongst themselves which head each shall manage. > Greek: 4.1. Κράτων ὁ γαμβρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ Θέων ὁ ἑταῖρος ἔν τινι πότῳ παροινίας ἀρχὴν λαβούσης εἶτα παυσαμένης, λόγον ἐποιήσαντο περὶ τῆς συμποσιαρχίας, οἰόμενοί με δεῖν στεφανηφοροῦντα μὴ περιιδεῖν ἔθος ἐκλειφθὲν παντάπασιν, ἀλλʼ ἀνακαλεῖν καὶ καταστῆσαι πάλιν τῆς ἀρχῆς τὴν νενομισμένην ἐπιστασίαν περὶ τὰ συμπόσια καὶ διακόσμησιν. ἐδόκει δὲ ταῦτα καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις, ὥστε θόρυβον ἐκ πάντων καὶ παράκλησιν γενέσθαι. ἐπεὶ τοίνυν ἔφην ἐγὼ δοκεῖ ταῦτα πᾶσιν, ἐμαυτὸν αἱροῦμαι συμποσίαρχον ὑμῶν καὶ κελεύω τοὺς μὲν ἄλλους, ὡς βούλονται, πίνειν ἐν τῷ παρόντι, Κράτωνα δὲ καὶ Θέωνα, τοὺς εἰσηγητὰς καὶ νομοθέτας τοῦ δόγματος, ἒν τινι τύπῳ βραχέως διελθεῖν, ὁποῖον ὄντα δεῖ τὸν συμποσίαρχον αἱρεῖσθαι, καὶ τί ποιούμενος τέλος ὁ αἱρεθεὶς ἄρξει, καὶ πῶς χρήσεται τοῖς κατὰ συμπόσιον· διελέσθαι δὲ τὸν λόγον αὐτοῖς ἐπιτρέπω. [¶14] 4.2. They made some slight excuse at first; but the whole company urging them to obey, Crato began thus. A captain of a watch (as Plato says) ought to be most watchful and diligent himself, and the director of merry companions ought to be the best. And such a one he is, that will not be easily overtaken or apt to refuse a glass; but as Cyrus in his epistle to the Spartans says, that in many other things he was more fit than his brother to be a king, and chiefly because he could bear abundance of wine. For one that is drunk must have an ill carriage and be apt to affront; and he that is perfectly sober, must be unpleasant, and fitter to be a governor of a school than of a feast. Pericles, as often as he was chosen general, when he first put on his cloak, used to say to himself, as it were to refresh his memory, Take heed, Pericles, thou dost govern freemen, thou dost govern Greeks, thou dost govern Athenians. So let our director say privately to himself, Thou art a governor over friends, that he may remember to neither suffer them to be debauched nor stint their mirth. Besides, he ought to have some skill in the serious studies of the guests, and not be altogether ignorant of mirth and humor; yet I would have him (as pleasant wine ought to be) a little severe and rough, for the liquor will soften and smooth him, and make his temper pleasant and agreeable. For as Xenophon says, that Clearchus’s rustic and morose humor in a battle, by reason of his bravery and heat, seemed pleasant and surprising; thus one that is not of a very sour nature, but grave and severe, being softened by a chirping cup, becomes more pleasant and complaisant. But chiefly he should be acquainted with every one of the guests’ humors, what alteration the liquor makes in him, what passion he is most subject to, and what quantity he can bear; for it is not to be supposed the water bears various proportions to different sorts of wine (which kings’ cup-bearers understanding sometimes pour in more, sometimes less), and that man hath no such relation to them. This our director ought to know, and knowing, punctually observe; so that like a good musician, screwing up one and letting down another, he may make between these different natures a pleasing harmony and agreement; so that he shall not proportion his wine by measure, but give every one what was proper and agreeable, according to the present circumstances of time and strength of body. But if this is too difficult a task, yet it is necessary that a steward should know the common accidents of age and nature, such as these,—that an old man will be sooner overtaken than a youth, one that leaps about or talks sooner than he that is silent or sits still, the thoughtful and melancholy sooner than the cheerful and the brisk. And he that understands these things is much more able to preserve quietness and order, than one that is perfectly ignorant and unskilful. Besides, I think none will doubt but that the steward ought to be a friend, and have no pique at any of the guests; for otherwise in his injunctions he will be intolerable, in his distributions unequal, in his jests apt to scoff and give offence. Such a figure, Theon, as out of wax, hath my discourse framed for the steward of a feast; and now I deliver him to you. > Greek: 4.2. μικρὰ μὲν οὖν ἠκκίσαντο παραιτούμενοι· κελευόντων δὲ πάντων πείθεσθαι τῷ ἄρχοντι καὶ ποιεῖν τὸ προσταττόμενον, ἔφη πρότερος ὁ Κράτων, ὅτι δεῖ τὸν μὲν φυλάκων ἄρχοντα φυλακικώτατον, ὥς φησιν ὁ Πλάτων, εἶναι· τὸν δὲ συμποτῶν συμποτικώτατον. ἔστι δὲ τοιοῦτος, ἂν μήτε τῷ μεθύειν εὐάλωτος μήτε πρὸς τὸ πίνειν ἀπρόθυμος· ἀλλʼ ὡς ὁ Κῦρος ἔλεγε πρὸς Λακεδαιμονίους γράφων, ὅτι τὰ τʼ ἄλλα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ βασιλικώτερος εἴη καὶ φέροι καλῶς πολὺν ἄκρατον. ὅ τε γὰρ παροινῶν ὑβριστὴς καὶ ἀσχήμων, ὃ τʼ αὖ παντάπασι νήφων ἀηδὴς καὶ παιδαγωγεῖν μᾶλλον ἢ συμποσιαρχεῖν ἐπιτήδειος. ὁ μὲν οὖν Περικλῆς, ὁσάκις ᾑρημένος στρατηγὸς ἀναλαμβάνοι τὴν χλαμύδα, πρῶτος εἰώθει διαλέγεσθαι πρὸς αὑτὸν ὥσπερ ὑπομιμνήσκων ὅρα, Περίκλεις ἐλευθέρων ἄρχεις, Ἑλλήνων ἄρχεις, Ἀθηναίων ἄρχεις. ὁ δὲ συμποσίαρχος ἡμῶν ἐκεῖνα λεγέτω πρὸς αὑτὸν φίλων ἄρχεις, ἵνα μήτʼ ἀσχημονεῖν ἐπιτρέπῃ μήτε τὰς ἡδονὰς ἀφαιρῇ. δεῖ δὲ καὶ σπουδῆς τὸν ἄρχοντα πινόντων οἰκεῖον εἶναι καὶ παιδιᾶς μὴ ἀλλότριον, ἀλλʼ εὖ πως συγκεκραμένον πρὸς ἀμφότερα, σμικρῷ δὲ μᾶλλον, ὥσπερ οἶνον ἀστεῖον, ἀπονεύοντα τῇ φύσει πρὸς τὸ αὐστηρόν· ὁ γὰρ οἶνος ἄξει τὸ ἦθος εἰς τὸ μέτριον μαλακώτερον ποιῶν καὶ ἀνυγραίνων. ὥσπερ γὰρ ὁ Ξενοφῶν ἔλεγε τοῦ Κλεάρχου τὸ σκυθρωπὸν καὶ ἄγροικον ἄλλως ἐν ταῖς μάχαις ἡδὺ καὶ φαιδρὸν ἐπιφαίνεσθαι διὰ τὸ θαρραλέον οὕτως ὁ μὴ φύσει πικρὸς ἀλλὰ σεμνὸς καὶ αὐστηρός, ἐν τῷ πίνειν ἀνιέμενος ἡδίων γίγνεται καὶ προσφιλέστερος, ἔτι τοίνυν αὐτῷ δεῖ προσεῖναι τὸ μάλιστα μὲν ἑκάστου τῶν συμποτῶν ἐμπείρως ἔχειν, τίνα λαμβάνει μεταβολὴν ἐν οἴνῳ καὶ πρὸς τί πάθος ἀκροσφαλής ἐστι καὶ πῶς φέρει τὸν ἄκρατον. οὐ γὰρ οἴνου μὲν ἔστι πρὸς ὕδωρ ἑτέρου ἑτέρα μῖξις, ἣν οἱ βασιλικοὶ γιγνώσκοντες οἰνοχόοι νῦν μὲν πλέον νῦν δʼ ἔλαττον ὑποχέουσιν· ἀνθρώπου δὲ πρὸς οἶνον οὐκ ἔστʼ ἰδία κρᾶσις ἣν τῷ συμποσιάρχῳ γιγνώσκειν προσήκει καὶ γιγνώσκοντι φυλάττειν, ἵνʼ ὥσπερ ἁρμονικὸς τὸν μὲν ἐπιτείνων τῇ πόσει τὸν δʼ ἀνιεὶς καὶ ὑποφειδόμενος, εἰς ὁμαλότητα καὶ συμφωνίαν ἐκ διαφορᾶς καταστήσῃ τὰς φύσεις· ὅπως μὴ κοτύλῃ μηδὲ κυάθοις τὸ ἴσον, ἀλλὰ καιροῦ τινι μέτρῳ καὶ σώματος δυνάμει τὸ οἰκεῖον ἑκάστῳ καὶ πρόσφορον ἀπονέμηται. εἰ δὲ τοῦτό δύσκολον, ἐκεῖνα γε πάντως ἐξειδέναι τῷ συμποσιάρχῳ προσήκει, τὰ κοινὰ περὶ τὰς φύσεις καὶ τὰς ἡλικίας· οἷον πρεσβῦται τάχιον μεθύσκονται νέων, σαλευόμενοι δʼ ἠρεμούντων, ἔλλυποι δὲ γιγνώσκων ἄν τις μᾶλλον τοῦ ἀγνοοῦντος εὐσχημοσύνην καὶ ὁμόνοιαν συμποσίου πρυτανεύσειε. καὶ μὴν ὅτι γε δεῖ τὸν συμποσίαρχον οἰκείως ἔχειν καὶ φιλικῶς πρὸς ἅπαντας ὕπουλον δὲ μηδενὶ μηδʼ ἀπεχθῆ τῶν ἑστιωμένων εἶναι, παντί που δῆλον οὔτε γὰρ ἐπιτάττων ἀνεκτὸς οὔτʼ ἀπονέμων ἴσος οὔτε προσπαίζων ὅμως ἀνέγκλητος ἔσται. τοιοῦτον ἔφη σοι, Θέων, ἐγὼ τὸν ἄρχοντα συμποσίου πλάσας ὥσπερ ἐκ κηροῦ τοῦ λόγου παραδίδωμι. ## 2. Book I · chapters 4–10 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/2/#p-N [¶0] 4.3. And Theon replied: He is welcome,—a very well-shaped gentleman, and fitted for the office; but whether I shall not spoil him in my particular application, I cannot tell. In my opinion he seems such a one as will keep an entertainment to its primitive institution, and not suffer it to be changed, sometimes into a mooting hall, sometimes a school of rhetoric, now and then a dicing-room, a playhouse, or a stage. For do not you observe some making fine orations and putting cases at a supper, others declaiming or reading some of their own compositions, and others proposing prizes to dancers and mimics? Alcibiades and Theodorus turned Polition’s banquet into a place of initiation, representing there the sacred procession and mysteries of Ceres; now such things as these, in my opinion, ought not to be suffered by a steward, but he must permit such discourse only, such shows, such merriment, as promote the particular end and design of such entertainments; and that is, by pleasant conversation either to beget or maintain friendship and good-will among the guests; for an entertainment is only a pleasant recreation at the table with a glass of wine, aiming to contract friendship through mutual good-will. But now because things pure and unmixed are usually surfeiting and odious, and the very mixture itself, unless the simples be well proportioned and opportunely put together, spoils the sweetness and goodness of the composition; it is evident that there ought to be a director who shall take care that the mirth and jollity of the guests be exactly and opportunely tempered. It is a common saying, that a voyage near the land and a walk near the sea are the best recreation. Thus our steward should place seriousness and gravity next jollity and humor; that, when they are merry, they should be on the very borders of gravity itself, and when grave and serious, they might be refreshed as sea-sick persons, having an easy and short prospect to the mirth and jollity on the shore. For mirth may be exceeding useful, and make our grave discourses smooth and pleasant,— As near the bramble oft the lily grows, And neighboring rue commends the blushing rose. But against vain and empty humors, that wantonly break in upon our feasts, like henbane mixed with the wine, he must caution the guests, lest scoffing and affronts creep in under these, lest in their questions or commands they grow scurrilous and abuse, as for instance by enjoining stutterers to sing, bald-pates to comb their heads, or a cripple to rise and dance. So the company once abused Agapestor the Academic, one of whose legs was lame and withered, when in a ridiculing frolic they ordained that every man should stand upon his right leg and take off his glass, or pay a forfeit; and he, when it was his turn to command, enjoined the company to follow his example and drink as he did, and having a narrow earthen pitcher brought in, he put his withered leg into it, and drank his glass, and every one in the company, after a fruitless endeavor to imitate, paid his forfeit. It was a good humor of Agapestor’s, and thus every little merry abuse must be as merrily revenged. Besides, he must give such commands as will both please and profit, putting such as are familiar and easy to the person, and when performed will be for his credit and reputation. A songster must be enjoined to sing, an orator to speak, a philosopher to solve a problem, and a poet to make a song; for every one very readily and willingly undertakes that “In which he may outdo himself.” An Assyrian king by public proclamation promised a reward to him that would find out any new sort of luxury and pleasure. And let the governor, the king of an entertainment, propose some pleasant reward for any one that introduceth inoffensive merriment, profitable delight and laughter, such as attends not scoffs and abusive jests, but kindness, pleasant humor, and good-will; for these matters not being well looked after and observed spoil and ruin most of our entertainments. It is the office of a prudent man to hinder all sort of anger and contention; in the exchange, that which springs from covetousness; in the fencing and wrestling schools, from emulation; in offices and state affairs, from ambition; and in a feast or entertainment, from pleasantness and joke. > Greek: 4.3. καὶ ὁ Θέων ἀλλὰ δέχομαι μέν εἶπεν οὕτω μᾶλλον ἀπειργασμένον τὸν ἄνδρα καὶ συμποτικόν· εἰ δὲ χρήσομαι κατὰ πᾶν αὐτῷ καὶ μὴ καταισχυνῶ τοὔργον, οὐκ οἶδα· κοσμιώτατον δέ μοι δοκεῖ τοιοῦτος ὢν τὸ συμπόσιον διαφυλάξειν ἡμῖν καὶ μὴ περιόψεσθαι νῦν μὲν ἐκκλησίαν δημοκρατικὴν νῦν δὲ σχολὴν σοφιστοῦ γενομένην αὖθις δὲ κυβευτήριον, εἶτά που σκηνὴν καὶ θυμέλην. ἢ γὰρ οὐχ ὁρᾶτε τοὺς μὲν δημαγωγοῦντας καὶ δικαζομένους παρὰ δεῖπνον, τοὺς δὲ μελετῶντας καὶ ἀναγιγνώσκοντας αὑτῶν τινα συγγράμματα, τοὺς δὲ μίμοις καὶ ὀρχησταῖς ἀγωνοθετοῦντας; Ἀλκιβιάδης δὲ καὶ Θεόδωρος τελεστήριον ἐποίησαν τὸ Πολυτίωνος συμπόσιον, ἀπομιμούμενοι δᾳδουχίας καὶ ἱεροφαντίας. ὧν οὐδὲν οἶμαι τῷ ἄρχοντι περιοπτέον· ἀλλὰ καὶ λόγοις καὶ θεάμασι καὶ παιδιαῖς δώσει τόπον ἐκείνοις μόνοις, ὅσα πρὸς τὸ συμποτικὸν τέλος ἐξικνεῖται· τοῦτο δʼ ἦν φιλίας ἐπίτασιν ἢ γένεσιν διʼ ἡδονῆς ἐνεργάσασθαι τοῖς παροῦσι· διαγωγὴ γάρ ἐστιν ἐν οἴνῳ τὸ συμπόσιον εἰς φιλίαν ὑπὸ χάριτος τελευτῶσα. ἐπεὶ δὲ πανταχοῦ τὸ πλήσμιον καὶ πολλαχοῦ βλαβερὸν τὸ ἄκρατον, ἡ δὲ μῖξις, οἷς ἂν ἐν καιρῷ καὶ μετὰ μέτρου παραγένηται πράγμασιν, ἀφαιρεῖ τἄγαν, ᾧ καὶ βλάπτει τὰ ἡδέα καὶ λυπεῖ τὰ ὠφέλιμα· δῆλον ὅτι καὶ τοῖς πίνουσιν ὁ ἐπιστάτης μεμιγμένην τινὰ παρέξει διαγωγήν. ἀκούων οὖν πολλῶν λεγόντων, ὅτι πλοῦς μὲν ὁ παρὰ γῆν περίπατος; δʼ ὁ παρὰ θάλατταν ἣδιστός ἐστιν, οὕτω παραβαλεῖ τῇ σπουδῇ τὴν παιδιάν, ὅπως οἵ τε παίζοντες ἁμωσγέπως σπουδῆς τινος ἔχωνται καὶ πάλιν οἱ σπουδάζοντες ἀναθαρρῶσιν, ὥσπερ οἱ ναυτιῶντες ἐγγύθεν εἰς γῆν τὴν παιδιὰν ἀποβλέποντες. ἔστι γὰρ καὶ γέλωτι χρῆσθαι πρὸς πολλὰ τῶν ὠφελίμων καὶ σπουδὴν ἡδεῖαν παρασχεῖν, ὡς ἀνʼ ἐχινόποδας καὶ ἀνὰ τρηχεῖαν ὄνωνιν φύονται μαλακῶν ἄνθεα λευκοΐων. ὅσαι δʼ ἄνευ σπουδῆς ἐπεισκωμάζουσι τοῖς συμποσίοις παιδιαί, ταύτας ἐπιμελῶς διακελεύσεται τοῖς συμπόταις εὐλαβεῖσθαι, μὴ λάθωσιν ὕβριν καὶ ἀσέλγειαν καθάπερ ὑοσκύαμον λαβόντες οἴνῳ τοῖς λεγομένοις προστάγμασιν ἐξυβρίζωσι, προστάττοντες ᾄδειν ψελλοῖς ἢ κτενίζεσθαι φαλακροῖς ἢ ἀσκωλιάζειν χωλοῖς. ὥσπερ Ἀγαπήστορι τῷ Ἀκαδημαϊκῷ λεπτὸν ἔχοντι καὶ κατεφθινηκὸς τὸ σκέλος ἐπηρεάζοντες οἱ ξυμπόται πάντας ἐκέλευσαν ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ποδὸς ἑστῶτας ἐκπιεῖν τὸ ποτήριον ἢ ζημίαν καταβαλεῖν τοῦ δὲ προστάσσειν περιελθόντος εἰς αὐτόν, ἐκέλευσε πάντας οὕτω πιεῖν, ὡς ἂν αὐτὸν ἴδωσι·; καὶ κεραμίου στενοῦ κομισθέντος, εἰς τοῦτο τὸν ἀσθενῆ πόδα καθεὶς ἐξέπιε τὸ ποτήριον, οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι πάντες, ὡς ἐφαίνετο πειρωμένοις ἀδύνατον, ἀπέτισαν τὴν ζημίαν. χαρίεις οὖν Ἀγαπήστωρ καὶ ποιητέον εὐκόλους οὕτω καὶ ἱλαρὰς τὰς ἀμύνας, ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ προστάγμασιν ἐθιστέον χρῆσθαι πρὸς ἡδονὴν καὶ ὠφέλειαν, τὰ οἰκεῖα καὶ δυνατὰ καὶ κοσμοῦντα τὸν δρῶντα προστάσσοντας, ᾠδικοῖς ᾆσαι, ῥητορικοῖς εἰπεῖν, φιλοσόφοις λῦσαί τι τῶν ἀπορουμένων, ποιηταῖς προενέγκασθαι στίχους. ἡδέως γὰρ εἰς τοῦθʼ ἕκαστος ἄγεται καὶ προθύμως, ἵνʼ αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ τυγχάνει κράτιστος ὤν ὁ μὲν οὖν τῶν Ἀσσυρίων βασιλεὺς ἆθλον ὑπὸ κήρυκος κατήγγειλε τῷ καινὴν ἡδονὴν ἐξευρόντι· συμποσίου δὲ βασιλεὺς; ἀστεῖον ἆθλον ἂν καὶ γέρας προθείη τῷ παιδιὰν ἀνύβριστον εἰσηγησαμένῳ καὶ τέρψιν ὠφέλιμον καὶ γέλωτα μὴ μώμου μηδʼ ὕβρεων ἀλλὰ χάριτος καὶ φιλοφροσύνης ἑταῖρον· ἐν οἷς τὰ πλεῖστα ναυαγεῖ συμπόσια μὴ τυχόντα παιδαγωγίας ὀρθῆς. ἔστι δὲ σώφρονος ἀνδρὸς ἔχθραν φυλάττεσθαι καὶ ὀργήν, ἐν ἀγορᾷ τὴν ἐκ πλεονεξίας ἐν γυμνασίοις καὶ παλαίστραις ἐκ φιλονεικίας ἐν δʼ ἀρχαῖς καὶ φιλοτιμίαις ἐκ φιλοδοξίας ἐν δὲ δείπνῳ καὶ παρὰ πότον ἐκ παιδιᾶς ἐπιτιθεμένην. [¶1] 5.1. ONE day when Sossius entertained us, after singing some Sapphic verses, this question was started, how it could be true That love in all doth vigorous thoughts inspire, And teaches ignorants to tune the lyre? Since Philoxenus, on the contrary, asserts, that the Cyclops “With sweet-tongued Muses cured his love.” Some said that love was bold and daring, venturing at new contrivances, and eager to accomplish, upon which account Plato calls it the enterpriser of every things; for it makes the reserved man talkative, the modest complimental, the negligent and sluggish industrious and observant; and, what is the greatest wonder, a close, hard, and covetous fellow, if he happens to be in love, as iron in fire, becomes pliable and soft, easy, good-natured, and very pleasant; as if there were something in that common jest, A lover’s purse is tied with the blade of a leek. Others said that love was like drunkenness; it makes men warm, merry, and dilated; and, when in that condition, they naturally slide down to songs and words in measure; and it is reported of Aeschylus, that he wrote tragedies after he was heated with a glass of wine; and my grandfather Lamprias in his cups seemed to outdo himself in starting questions and smart disputing, and usually said that, like frankincense, he exhaled more freely after he was warmed. And as lovers are extremely pleased with the sight of their beloved, so they praise with as much satisfaction as they behold; and as love is talkative in every thing, so more especially in commendation; for lovers themselves believe, and would have all others think, that the object of their passion is pleasing and excellent; and this made Candaules the Lydian force Gyges into his chamber to behold the beauty of his naked wife. For they delight in the testimony of others, and therefore in all composures upon the lovely they adorn them with songs and verses, as we dress images with gold, that more may hear of them, and that they may be remembered the more. For if they present a cock, horse, or any other thing to the beloved, it is neatly trimmed and set off with all the ornaments of art; and therefore, when they would present a compliment, they would have it curious, pleasing, and majestic, as verse usually appears. > Greek: 5.1. πῶς εἴρηται τὸ ποιητὴν δʼ ἄρα ἔρως διδάσκει, κἂν ἄμουσος ᾖ τὸ πρίν ἐζητεῖτο παρὰ Σοσσίῳ, Σαπφικῶν τινων ᾀσθέντων, ὅπου καὶ τὸν Κύκλωπα μούσαις εὐφώνοις ἰᾶσθαι φησὶ τὸν ἔρωτα Φιλόξενος. ἐλέχθη μὲν οὖν, ὅτι πρὸς πάντα τόλμαν ὁ ἔρως καὶ καινοτομίαν συγχωρῆσαι δεινός ἐστιν, ὥσπερ καὶ Πλάτων ἴτην αὐτὸν καί παντὸς ἐπιχειρητὴν ὠνόμασε· καὶ γὰρ λάλον ποιεῖ τὸν σιωπηλὸν καὶ θεραπευτικὸν τὸν αἰσχυντηλόν, ἐπιμελῆ δὲ καὶ φιλόπονον τὸν ἀμελῆ καὶ ῥᾴθυμον ὃ δʼ ἄν τις μάλιστα θαυμάσειεν, φειδωλὸς ἀνήρ τε καὶ μικρολόγος ἐμπεσὼν εἰς ἔρωτα, καθάπερ εἰς πῦρ σίδηρος ἀνεθεὶς καὶ μαλαχθείς, ἁπαλὸς καὶ ὑγρὸς καὶ ἡδίων· ὥστε τουτὶ τὸ παιζόμενον μὴ πάνυ φαίνεσθαι γελοῖον, ὅτι πράσου φύλλῳ τὸ τῶν ἐρώντων δέδεται βαλλάντιον ἐλέχθη δὲ καὶ ὅτι τῷ μεθύειν τὸ ἐρᾶν ὅμοιόν ἐστι· ποιεῖ γὰρ θερμοὺς καὶ ἱλαροὺς καὶ διακεχυμένους· γενόμενοι δὲ τοιοῦτοι πρὸς τὰς ἐπῳδοὺς καὶ ἐμμέτρους μάλιστα φωνὰς ἐκφέρονται. καὶ τὸν Αἰσχύλον φασὶ τὰς τραγῳδίας πίνοντα ποιεῖν καὶ διαθερμαινόμενον. ἦν δὲ Λαμπρίας ὁ ἡμέτερος πάππος ἐν τῷ πίνειν εὑρετικώτατος αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ καὶ λογιώτατος· εἰώθει δὲ λέγειν ὅτι τῷ λιβανωτῷ παραπλησίως ὑπὸ θερμότητος; ἀναθυμιᾶται. καὶ μὴν ἣδιστα τοὺς ἐρωμένους ὁρῶντες οὐχ ἧττον ἡδέως ἐγκωμιάζουσιν ἢ ὁρῶσι· καὶ πρὸς πάντα λάλος ὢν ἔρως λαλίστατός ἐστιν ἐν τοῖς ἐπαίνοις. αὐτοί τε γὰρ οὕτω πεπεισμένοι τυγχάνουσι καὶ βούλονται πεπεῖσθαι πάντας, ὡς καλῶν κἀγαθῶν ἐρῶντες. τοῦτο καὶ τὸν Λυδὸν ἐπῆρε Κανδαύλην τῆς ἑαυτοῦ γυναικὸς ἐπισπᾶσθαι θεατὴν εἰς τὸ δωμάτιον τὸν … τὴν οὐ βούλονται γὰρ ὑπʼ ἄλλων μαρτυρεῖσθαι· διὸ καὶ γράφοντες ἐγκώμια τῶν καλῶν ἐπικοσμοῦσιν αὐτὰ μέλεσι καὶ μέτροις καὶ ᾠδαῖς, ὥσπερ εἰκόνας χρυσῷ καλλωπίζοντες, ὅπως ἀκούηταί τε μᾶλλον ὑπὸ πολλῶν καὶ μνημονεύηται· καὶ γὰρ ἂν ἵππον καὶ ἀλεκτρυόνα, κἂν ἄλλο τι τοῖς ἐρωμένοις διδῶσι, καλὸν εἶναι καὶ κεκοσμημένον ἐκπρεπῶς βούλονται καὶ περιττῶς τὸ δῶρον· μάλιστα δὲ λόγον κόλακα προσφέροντες ἡδὺν ἐθέλουσι φαίνεσθαι καὶ γαῦρον καὶ περιττόν, οἷος ὁ ποιητικός ἐστιν. [¶2] 5.2. Sossius applauding these discourses added: Perhaps we may make a probable conjecture from Theophrastus’s discourse of Music, for I have lately read the book. Theophrastus lays down three causes of music,—grief, pleasure, and enthusiasm; for each of these changes the usual tone, and makes the voice slide into a cadence; for deep sorrow has something tunable in its groans, and therefore we perceive our orators in their conclusions, and actors in their complaints, are somewhat melodious, and insensibly fall into a tune. Excess of joy provokes the more airy men to frisk and dance and keep their steps, though unskilful in the art; and, as Pindar hath it, “They shout, and roar, and wildly toss their heads.” But the graver sort are excited only to sing, raise their voice, and tune their words into a sonnet. But enthusiasm quite changes the body and the voice, and makes it far different from its usual constitution. Hence the very Bacchae use measure, and the inspired give their oracles in measure. And we shall see very few madmen but are frantic in rhyme and rave in verse. This being certain, if you will but anatomize love a little, and look narrowly into it, it will appear that no passion in the world is attended with more violent grief, more excessive joy, or greater ecstasies and fury; a lover’s soul looks like Sophocles’s city: At once ’tis full of sacrifice, Of joyful songs, of groans and cries. And therefore it is no wonder, that since love contains all the causes of music,—grief, pleasure, and enthusiasm,—and is besides industrious and talkative, it should incline us more than any other passion to poetry and songs. > Greek: 5.2. ὁ μέντοι Σόσσιος ἐπαινέσας ἐκείνους, εἶπεν ὡς οὐ χεῖρον ἄν τις ἐπιχειρήσειεν ὁρμηθεὶς ἀφʼ ὧν Θεόφραστος εἴρηκε περὶ μουσικῆς· καὶ γὰρ ἔναγχος ἔφη τὸ βιβλίον ἀνέγνων. λέγει δὲ Θεόφραστος μουσικῆς ἀρχὰς τρεῖς εἶναι, λύπην, ἡδονήν, ἐνθουσιασμόν, ὡς ἑκάστου τῶν … αὐτῶν παρατρέποντος ἐκ τοῦ συνήθους καὶ παρεγκλίνοντος τὴν φωνήν. αἵ τε γὰρ λῦπαι τὸ γοερὸν καὶ θρηνητικὸν ὀλισθηρὸν εἰς ᾠδὴν ἔχουσι· διὸ καὶ τοὺς ῥήτορας ἐν τοῖς ἐπιλόγοις καὶ τοὺς ὑποκριτὰς ἐν τοῖς ὀδυρμοῖς ἀτρέμα τῷ μελῳδεῖν προσάγοντας ὁρῶμεν καὶ παρεντείνοντας τὴν φωνήν. αἵ τε σφοδραὶ περιχάρειαι τῆς ψυχῆς τῶν μὲν ἐλαφροτέρων τῷ ἤθει καὶ τὸ σῶμα πᾶν ἐπαίρουσι καὶ παρακαλοῦσιν εἰς ἔνρυθμον κίνησιν, ἐξαλλομένων καὶ κροτούντων εἴπερ ὀρχεῖσθαι μὴ δύνανται· μανίαι τʼ ἀλαλαὶ τʼ ὀρινομένων ῥιψαύχενι σὺν κλόνῳ κατὰ Πίνδαρον. οἱ δὲ χαρίεντες ἐν τῷ πάθει τούτῳ γενόμενοι τὴν φωνὴν μόνην εἰς τὸ ᾅδειν καὶ φθέγγεσθαι μέτρα καὶ μέλη προΐενται. μάλιστα δʼ ὁ ἐνθουσιασμὸς ἐξίστησι καὶ παρατρέπει τό τε σῶμα καὶ τὴν φωνὴν τοῦ συνήθους καὶ καθεστηκότος. ὅθεν αἵ τε βακχεῖαι ῥυθμοῖς χρῶνται καὶ τὸ χρησμῳδεῖν ἐμμέτρως παρέχεται τοῖς ἐνθεαζομένοις· τῶν τε μαινομένων ὀλίγους ἰδεῖν ἔστιν ἄνευ μέτρου καὶ ᾠδῆς ληροῦντας. οὕτω δὲ τούτων ἐχόντων, εἰ βούλοιο καθορᾶν ὑπʼ αὐγὰς διαπτύξας τὸν ἔρωτα καὶ καταμανθάνειν, οὐκ ἂν ἄλλο πάθος εὕροις οὔτε λύπας δριμυτέρας ἔχον οὔτε σφοδροτέρας περιχαρείας οὒτε μείζονας ἐκστάσεις καὶ παραφροσύνας· ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ τὴν Σοφοκλέους πόλιν ἰδεῖν ἔστιν ἀνδρὸς ἐρωτικοῦ ψυχὴν ὁμοῦ μὲν θυμιαμάτων γέμουσαν, ὁμοῦ δὲ παιάνων τε καὶ στεναγμάτων. οὐδὲν οὖν ἄτοπον οὐδὲ θαυμαστόν, εἰ πάσας, ὅσαι μουσικῆς εἰσιν ἀρχαί, περιέχων ὁ ἔρως ἐν αὑτῷ καὶ συνειληφώς, λύπην ἡδονὴν ἐνθουσιασμόν, τὰ τʼ ἄλλα φιλόφωνός ἐστι καὶ λάλος εἴς τε ποίησιν μελῶν καὶ μέτρων, ὡς οὐδὲν ἄλλο πάθος, ἐπίφορος καὶ κατάντης. [¶3] 6.1. SOME said that Alexander did not drink much, but sat long in company, discoursing with his friends; but Philinus showed this to be an error from the king’s diary, where it was very often registered that such a day, and sometimes two days together, the king slept after a debauch; and this course of life made him cold in love, but passionate and angry, which argues a hot constitution. And some report his sweat was fragrant and perfumed his clothes; which is another argument of heat, as we see the hottest and driest climates bear frankincense and cassia; for a flagrant smell, as Theophrastus thinks, proceeds from a due concoction of the humors, when the noxious moisture is conquered by the heat. And it is thought probable, that he took a pique at Calisthenes for avoiding his table because of the hard drinking, and refusing the great bowl called Alexander’s in his turn, adding, I will not drink of Alexander’s cup, to stand in need of Aesculapius’s. And thus much of Alexander’s drinking. > Greek: 6.1. λόγος ἦν περὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου τοῦ βασιλέως, ὡς οὐ πολὺ πίνοντος ἀλλὰ πολὺν χρόνον ἐν τῷ πίνειν καὶ διαλέγεσθαι τοῖς φίλοις ἕλκοντος. ἀπεδείκνυε δʼ αὐτοὺς φλυαροῦντας Φιλῖνος ἐκ τῶν βασιλικῶν ἐφημερίδων, ἐν αἷς συνεχέστατα γέγραπται καὶ πλειστάκις ὅτι τήνδε τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκ τοῦ πότου καθεύδων ἔστι δʼ ὅτε καὶ τὴν ἐφεξῆς· διὸ καὶ πρὸς τὰς συνουσίας ἀργότερος ἦν ὀξὺς δὲ καὶ θυμοειδὴς ἅπερ ἐστὶ σωματικῆς θερμότητος. λέγεται δὲ καὶ τοῦ χρωτὸς ἣδιστον ἀποπνεῖν, ὥστε καταπιμπλάναι τοὺς χιτωνίσκους εὐωδίας ἀρωματιζούσης. ὃ δοκεῖ καὶ αὐτὸ θερμότητος εἶναι· διὸ καὶ τῆς οἰκουμένης οἱ ξηρότατοι καὶ θερμότατοι τόποι τὴν τε κασίαν καὶ τὸν λιβανωτὸν ἐκφέρουσι· πέψει γάρ τινι τῶν ὑγρῶν ὁ Θεόφραστός; φησιν ἐπιγίγνεσθαι τὴν εὐωδίαν, ὅταν ἐξαιρεθῇ τὸ βλαβερὸν ὑγρὸν ὑπὸ θερμότητος. δοκεῖ δὲ καὶ Καλλισθένης ἐν διαβολῇ γενέσθαι πρὸς αὐτόν, ὡς δυσχεραίνων δειπνεῖν διὰ τὸν πότον· ἐπεὶ καὶ κύλικα λεγομένην Ἀλεξάνδρου μεγάλην, ἐλθοῦσαν ἐπʼ αὐτὸν, ἀπεώσατο φήσας οὐκ ἐθέλειν Ἀλεξάνδρου πιὼν Ἀσκληπιοῦ δεῖσθαι. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν περὶ τῆς Ἀλεξάνδρου πολυποσίας. [¶4] 6.2. Story tells us, that Mithridates, the famous enemy of the Romans, among other trials of skill that he instituted, proposed rewards to the greatest eater and to the stoutest drinker in his kingdom. He won both the prizes himself; he out-drank every man living, and for his excellency that way he was called Bacchus. But this reason for his surname is a vain fancy and an idle story; for whilst he was an infant a flash of lightning burnt his cradle, but did his body no harm, and only left a little mark on his forehead, which his hair covered when he was grown a boy; and after he came to be a man, another flash broke into his bed-chamber, and burnt the arrows in a quiver that was hanging under him; from whence his diviners presaged, that archers and light-armed men should win him considerable victories in his wars; and the vulgar gave him this name, because in those many dangers by lightning he bore some resemblance to the Theban Bacchus. > Greek: 6.2. Μιθριδάτην δὲ τὸν πολεμήσαντα Ῥωμαίοις ἐν τοῖς ἀγῶσιν, οὓς ἐπετέλει, καὶ πολυφαγίας ἆθλα θεῖναι καὶ πολυποσίας φασί· νικῆσαι δʼ αὐτὸν ἀμφότερα, καὶ ὅλως πιεῖν πλεῖστον τῶν καθʼ αὑτὸν ἀνθρώπων, διὸ καὶ Διόνυσον ἐπικληθῆναι. τοῦθʼ ἡμεῖς εἴπομεν ἕν τι τῶν εἰκῆ πεπιστευμένων εἶναι, τὸ περὶ τὴν αἰτίαν τῆς ἐπικλήσεως· νηπίου γὰρ ὄντος αὐτοῦ κεραυνὸς ἐπέφλεξε τὰ σπάργανα, τοῦ δὲ σώματος οὐχ ἥψατο, πλὴν ὅσον ἴχνος τι τοῦ πυρὸς ἐν τῷ μετώπῳ κρατουμένῳ ὑπὸ τῆς κόμης μένειν αὐτῷ παιδί· καὶ ἀνδρὸς ἤδη πάλιν ἐπὶ τὸ δωμάτιον ἐμπεσὼν κεραυνὸς αὐτοῦ μὲν κατέπεσε καθεύδοντος, τῆς δὲ φαρέτρας ὑποκρεμαμένης διεξῆλθε τὰ βέλη πυρακτώσας. οἱ μὲν οὖν μάντεις ἀπεφήναντο πλεῖστον αὐτὸν ἰσχύσειν ἀπὸ τῆς τοξικῆς καὶ κούφης στρατιᾶς, οἱ δὲ πολλοὶ Διόνυσον αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῶν κεραυνοβολιῶν ὁμοιότητι τοῦ πάθους προσηγόρευσαν. [¶5] 6.3. From hence great drinkers were the subject of our discourse; and the wrestler Heraclides (or, as the Alexandrians mince it, Heraclus), who lived but in the last age, was accounted one. He, when he could get none to hold out with him. invited some to take their morning’s draught, others to dinner, to supper others, and others after, to take a merry glass of wine; so that as the first went off, the second came, and the third and fourth company, and he all the while without any intermission took his glass round, and outsat all the four companies. > Greek: 6.3. ἐκ τούτου περὶ τῶν πολὺ πιόντων ἦν λόγος· ἐν οἷς καὶ τὸν πύκτην Ἡρακλείδην ἐτίθεσαν, ὃν Ἡρακλοῦν Ἀλεξανδρεῖς ὑπεκορίζοντο, κατὰ τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν γενόμενον. οὗτος ἀπορῶν συμπότου παραμένοντος, ἐκάλει τοὺς μὲν ἐπὶ πρόπωμα τοὺς δʼ ἐπʼ ἄριστον ἄλλους δʼ ἐπὶ δεῖπνον, ἐσχάτους δέ τινας ἐπὶ κῶμον· ἀπαλλαττομένων δὲ τῶν πρώτων, δεύτεροι συνῆπτον εἶτʼ ἐφεξῆς οἱ τρίτοι καὶ τέταρτοι· κἀκεῖνος οὐθὲν διάλειμμα ποιῶν ἅπασιν ἐξήρκει καὶ τοὺς τέσσαρας πότους συνδιέφερε. [¶6] 6.4. Amongst the retainers to Drusus, the Emperor Tiberius’s son, there was a physician that drank down all the court; he, before he sat down, would usually take five or six bitter almonds to prevent the operation of the wine; but whenever he was forbidden that, he knocked under presently, and a single glass dozed him. Some think these almonds have a penetrating, abstersive quality, are able to cleanse the face, and clear it from the common freckles; and therefore, when they are eaten, by their bitterness vellicate and fret the pores, and by that means draw down the ascending vapors from the head. But, in my opinion, a bitter quality is a drier, and consumes moisture; and therefore a bitter taste is the most unpleasant. For, as Plato says, dryness, being an enemy to moisture, unnaturally contracts the spongy and tender nerves of the tongue. And green ulcers are usually drained by bitter injections. Thus Homer: He squeezed his herbs, and bitter juice applied; And straight the blood was stanched, the sore was dried. And he guesses well, that what is bitter to the taste is a drier. Besides, the powders women use to dry up their sweat are bitter, and by reason of that quality astringent. This then being certain, it is no wonder that the bitterness of the almonds hinders the operation of the wine, since it dries the inside of the body and keeps the veins from being overcharged; for from their distention and disturbance they say drunkenness proceeds. And this conjecture is much confirmed from that which usually happens to a fox; for if he eats bitter almonds without drinking, his moisture suddenly fails, and it is present death. > Greek: 6.4. τῶν δὲ Δρούσῳ τῷ Τιβερίου Καίσαρος υἱῷ συμβιούντων ὁ πάντας ἐν τῷ πίνειν προτρεπόμενος ἰατρὸς ἑάλω τῶν πικρῶν ἀμυγδαλῶν πέντʼ ἢ ἓξ ἑκάστοτε προλαμβάνων ἕνεκα τοῦ μὴ μεθύσκεσθαι· κωλυθεὶς δὲ καὶ παραφυλαχθεὶς οὐδʼ ἐπὶ μικρὸν ἀντέσχεν. ἔνιοι μὲν οὖν ᾤοντο τὰς ἀμυγδαλίδας δηκτικόν τι καὶ ῥυπτικὸν ἔχειν τῆς σαρκός, ὥστε καὶ τῶν προσώπων τὰς ἐφηλίδας ἐξαιρεῖν· ὅταν οὖν προληφθῶσι, τῇ πικρότητι τοὺς πόρους ἀμύσσειν καὶ δηγμὸν ἐμποιεῖν, ὑφʼ οὗ τὸ ὑγρὸν κατασπῶσιν ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς διατμιζόμενον. ἡμῖν δὲ μᾶλλον ἡ τῆς πικρότητος ἐδόκει δύναμις ἀναξηραντικὴ καὶ δάπανος ὑγρῶν εἶναι· διὸ τῇ γεύσει πάντων ἐστὶ τῶν χυλῶν ὁ πικρὸς ἀηδέστατος· τὰ γὰρ φλέβια τῆς γλώττης, ὡς ὁ Πλάτων φησί, μαλακὰ καὶ νοτερὰ ὄντα, συντείνει παρὰ φύσιν ἡ τῆς ξηρότητος δύναμις, ἐκτηκομένων τῶν ὑγρῶν. καὶ τὰ ἕλκη τοῖς πικροῖς ἀπισχναίνουσι φαρμάκοις, ὡς ὁ ποιητής φησιν ἐπὶ δὲ ῥίζαν βάλε πικρὴν χερσὶ διατρίψας ὀδυνήφατον, ἣ οἱ ἁπάσας ἔσχʼ ὀδύνας· τὸ μὲν ἕλκος ἐτέρσετο, παύσατο δʼ αἷμα. τὸ γὰρ τῇ γεύσει πικρὸν τῇ δυνάμει ξηραντικὸν ὀρθῶς προσηγόρευσε. φαίνεται δὲ καὶ τὰ διαπάσματα τῶν γυμνικῶν, οἷς ἀναρπάζουσι τοὺς ἱδρῶτας, πικρὰ τῇ γύσει καὶ στυπτικὰ ὄντα σφοδρότητι τοῦ στρυφνοῦ τὸ πικρόν. οὕτως οὖν ἔφην τούτων ἐχόντων, εἰκότως ἡ τῶν ἀμυγδαλῶν πικρότης βοηθεῖ πρὸς τὸν ἄκρατον, ἀναξηραίνουσα τοῦ σώματος τὰ ἐντὸς καὶ οὐκ ἐῶσα πίμπλασθαι τὰς φλέβας, ὧν διατάσει φασὶ καὶ ταραχῇ συμβαίνει τὸ μεθύειν. τεκμήριον δὲ τοῦ λόγου μέγα τὸ συμβαῖνον περὶ τὰς ἀλώπεκας· ἂν γὰρ ἀμυγδάλας πικρὰς φαγοῦσαι μὴ ἐπιπίωσιν, ἀποθνήσκουσι τῶν ὑγρῶν ἀθρόως ἐκλειπόντων. [¶7] 7.1. IT was debated why old men loved the strongest liquors. Some, fancying that their natural heat decayed and their constitution grew cold, said, such liquors were most necessary and agreeable to their age; but this was mean and obvious, and besides, neither a sufficient nor a true reason; for the like happens to all their other senses. They are not easily moved or wrought on by any qualities, unless they are in intense degrees and make a vigorous impression; but the reason is the laxity of the habit of their body, for that, being grown lax and weak, loves a smart stroke. Thus their taste is pleased most with strong sapors, their smelling with brisk odors; for strong and unalloyed qualities make a more pleasing impression on the sense. Their touch is almost senseless to a sore, and a wound generally raises no sharp pain. The like also in their hearing may be observed; for old musicians play louder and sharper than others, that they may move their own dull tympanum with the sound. For what steel is to the edge in a knife, that spirit is to the sense in the body; and therefore, when the spirits fail, the sense grows dull and stupid, and cannot be raised, unless by something, such as strong wine, that makes a vigorous impression. > Greek: 7.1. ἐζητεῖτο περὶ τῶν γερόντων, διὰ τί μᾶλλον ἀκρατοτέρῳ τῷ ποτῷ χαίρουσιν. οἱ μὲν οὖν κατεψυγμένην τὴν ἕξιν αὐτῶν καὶ δυσεκθέρμαντον οὖσαν οἰόμενοι διὰ τοῦτο τῇ σφοδρότητι τῆς κράσεως ἐναρμόττειν, ἐφαίνοντο κοινόν τι καὶ πρόχειρον οὐχ ἱκανὸν δὲ πρὸς τὴν αἰτίαν οὐδʼ ἀληθὲς λέγοντες. καὶ γὰρ ἐπὶ τῶν ἄλλων αἰσθήσεων ταὐτὸ συμβέβηκε. δυσκίνητοι γάρ εἰσι καὶ δυσμετάβλητοι πρὸς τὰς ἀντιλήψεις τῶν ποιοτήτων, ἂν μὴ κατάκοροι καὶ σφοδραὶ προσπέσωσιν αἰτία δʼ ἡ τῆς ἕξεως ἄνεσις· ἐκλυομένη γὰρ καὶ ἀτονοῦσα πλήττεσθαι φιλεῖ. διὸ τῇ τε γεύσει μάλιστα τοὺς δηκτικοὺς προσίενται χυμούς, ἣ τʼ ὄσφρησις αὐτῶν ὅμοια πέπονθε πρὸς τὰς ὀσμάς· κινεῖται γὰρ ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκράτων καὶ σφοδρῶν ἥδιον. ἡ δʼ ἁφὴ πρὸς τὰ ἕλκη δυσπαθής· τραύματα γὰρ ἐνίοτε λαμβάνοντες οὐ μάλα πονοῦσιν. ὁμοιότατον δὲ γίγνεται τὸ τῆς ἀκοῆς· οἱ γὰρ μουσικοὶ γηρῶντες ὀξύτερον ἁρμόζονται καὶ σκληρότερον, οἷον ὑπὸ πληγῆς τῆς συντόνου φωνῆς ἐγείροντες τὸ αἰσθητήριον. ὅ τι γὰρ σιδήρῳ πρὸς ἀκμὴν στόμωμα, τοῦτο σώματι πνεῦμα παρέχει πρὸς αἴσθησιν· ἐνδόντος δὲ τούτου καὶ χαλάσαντος, ἀργὸν ἀπολείπεται καὶ γεῶδες τὸ αἰσθητήριον καὶ σφοδροῦ τοῦ νύττοντος, οἷον ὁ ἄκρατός ἐστι, δεόμενον. [¶8] 8.1. To my discourse in the former problem some objection may be drawn from the sense of seeing in old men; for, if they hold a book at a distance, they will read pretty well, nearer they cannot see a letter. This Aeschylus means by these verses: Behold from far; for near thou canst not see; A good old scribe thou mayst much sooner be. And Sophocles more plainly: Old men are slow in talk, they hardly hear; Far off they see; but all are blind when near. And therefore, if old men’s organs are more obedient to strong and intense qualities, why, when they read, do they not take the reflection near at hand, but, holding the book a good way off, mix and weaken it by the intervening air, as wine by water? > Greek: 8.1. ταῦτα δʼ ἡμῶν εἰς τὸ προκείμενον εὑρησιλογούντων, ἐδόκει τὸ τῆς ὄψεως ς ἀντιπίπτειν. οἱ γὰρ πρεσβύτεροι πόρρω τὰ γράμματα τῶν ὀμμάτων ἀπάγοντες ἀναγιγνώσκουσιν, ἐγγύθεν δʼ οὐ δύνανται· καὶ τοῦτο παραδηλῶν ὁ Αἰσχύλος φησὶν οὐδὲ ἀπὸ … αὐτόν· οὐ γὰρ ἐγγύθεν ἐνδηλότερον δὲ Σοφοκλῆς ταὐτὸ περὶ τῶν γερόντων· βαρεῖα μὲν γὰρ ἐν λόγοισι προσβολὴ μόλις διʼ ὠτὸς ἔρχεται τρυπωμένου, πόρρω δὲ λεύσσων, ἐγγύθεν δὲ πᾶς τυφλός. εἴπερ οὖν πρὸς τὴν ἐπίτασιν καὶ σφοδρότητα μᾶλλον ὑπακούει τὰ τῶν γερόντων αἰσθητήρια, πῶς ἐν τῷ ἀναγιγνώσκειν τὸν ἐγγύθεν ἀντιφωτισμὸν οὐ φέρουσιν, ἀλλὰ παράγοντες ἀπωτέρω τὸ βιβλίον ιο ἐκλύουσι τὴν λαμπρότητα τῷ ἀέρι καθάπερ οἶνον ὕδατι κατακεραννυμένην; [¶9] 8.2. Some answered, that they did not remove the book to lessen the light, but to receive more rays, and let all the space between the letters and their eyes be filled with lightsome air. Others agreed with those that imagine the rays of vision mix with one another; for since there is a cone stretched between each eye and the object, whose point is in the eye and whose basis is the object, it is probable that for some way each cone extends apart and by itself; but, when the distance increases, they mix and make but one common light; and therefore every object appears single and not two, though it is seen by both eyes at once; for the conjunction of the cones makes these two appearances but one. These things supposed, when old men hold the letters near to their eyes, the cones not being joined, but each apart and by itself, their sight is weak; but when they remove it farther, the two lights being mingled and increased, they see better, as a man with both hands can hold that for which either singly is too weak. > Greek: 8.2. ἦσαν μὲν οὖν οἳ πρὸς τοῦτʼ ἔλεγον, ὡς ἀπάγουσι τῶν ὄψεων τὸ βιβλίον, οὐ μαλακώτερον τὸ φῶς ποιοῦντες, ἀλλʼ οἷον ἐπιδραττόμενοι καὶ περιλαμβάνοντες αὐγὴν πλείονα καὶ πληροῦντες ἀέρος λαμπροῦ τὴν μεταξὺ τῶν ὀμμάτων καὶ τῶν γραμμάτων χώραν. ἕτεροι δὲ τοῖς συμβάλλουσι τὰς αὐγὰς μετεῖχον ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἀποτείνεται τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ἑκατέρου κῶνος, πρὸς τῷ ὄμματι τὴν κορυφὴν ἔχων, ἕδραν δὲ καὶ βάσιν ἣ περιλαμβάνει τὸ ὁρώμενον, ἄχρι μέν τινος εἰκός ἐστιν ἰδίᾳ τῶν κώνων ἑκάτερον φέρεσθαι· γενόμενοι δʼ ἀπωτέρω καὶ συμπεσόντες ἀλλήλοις ἓν τὸ φῶς ποιοῦσι· διὸ καὶ τῶν ὁρωμένων ἕκαστον ἓν οὐ δύο φαίνεται, καίπερ ἀμφοτέροις ἅμα τοῖς ὄμμασι καταφαινόμενον· αἰτία γὰρ ἡ τῶν κώνων σύναψις εἰς ταὐτὸ καὶ σύλλαμψις ἐκ δυεῖν μίαν ὄψιν ἀπειργασμένη. τούτων δʼ οὕτως ἐχόντων, οἱ μὲν ἐγγὺς προσάγοντες τὰ γράμματα πρεσβῦται, μηδέπω τῶν αὐγῶν συγκεχυμένων, ἀλλʼ ἑκατέρᾳ χωρὶς ἐπιθιγγάνοντες ἀσθενέστερον ἐπιλαμβάνονται· οἱ δʼ ἀπωτέρω προθέμενοι, μεμιγμένου τοῦ φωτὸς ἤδη καὶ πολλοῦ γεγονότος, μᾶλλον ἐξακριβοῦσιν ὥσπερ οἱ ταῖς δυσὶν ὁμοῦ χερσὶ κατέχοντες, ὃ τῇ ἑτέρᾳ μὴ δύνανται. [¶10] 8.3. But my brother Lamprias, though unacquainted with Hieronymus’s notions, gave us the same reason. We see, said he, some species that come from the object to the eye, which at their first rise are thick and great, and therefore when near disturb old men, whose eyes are stiff and not easily penetrated; but when they are separated and diffused into the air, the thick obstructing parts are easily removed, and the subtile remainders coming to the eye slide gently and easily into the pores; and so the disturbance being less, the sight is more vigorous and clear. Thus a rose smells most fragrant at a distance; but if you bring it near the nose, it is not so pure and delightful; and the reason is this,—many earthy disturbing particles are carried with the smell, and spoil the fragrancy when near, but in a longer passage those are lost, and the pure brisk odor, by reason of its subtility, reaches and acts upon the sense. > Greek: 8.3. Λαμπρίας δʼ ὁ ἀδελφὸς τὴν Ἱερωνύμου … οὐκ ἀνέγνωκεν … εὐφυΐαν ἐμπεσὼν, ὅτι τοῖς προσπίπτουσιν ἀπὸ τῶν ὁρατῶν εἴδεσι πρὸς τὴν ὄψιν ὁρῶμεν, ἃ πρῶτον μὲν ἀπέρχεται μεγάλα καὶ παχυμερῆ· διὸ τοὺς γέροντας ἐγγύθεν ἐπιταράττει βραδυπόρον καὶ σκληρὰν ἔχοντας τὴν ὅρασιν ἀνενεχθέντων δʼ εἰς τὸν ἀέρα καὶ λαβόντων διαστήματα, τὰ μὲν γεώδη περιθραύεται καὶ ἀποπίπτει, τὰ δὲ λεπτὰ προσπελάζοντα ταῖς ὄψεσιν ἀλύπως καὶ ὁμαλῶς ἐναρμόττει τοῖς πόροις, ὥσθʼ ἧττον ταραττομένους μᾶλλον ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι. καὶ γὰρ αἱ τῶν ἀνθέων ὀσμαὶ πόρρωθεν εὐωδέστεραι προσπίπτουσιν· ἂν δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἄγαν προσάγῃς, οὐχ οὕτω καθαρὸν οὐδʼ ἄκρατον ὀδώδασιν. αἴτιον δʼ ὅτι πολλὰ τῶν γεωδῶν καὶ θολερῶν συναποφέρεται τῇ ὀσμῇ καὶ διαφθείρει τὴν εὐωδίαν ἐγγύθεν λαμβανομένην· ἂν δʼ ἄπωθεν, τὰ μὲν θολερὰ καὶ γεώδη περιρρεῖ καὶ ὑποπίπτει, τὸ δʼ εἰλικρινὲς καὶ θερμὸν αὐτοῦ ὑπὸ λεπτότητος διασῴζεται πρὸς τὴν αἴσθησιν. [¶11] 8.4. But we, according to Plato’s opinion, assert that a bright spirit darted from the eye mixes with the light about the object, and those two are perfectly blended into one similar body; now these must be joined in due proportion one to another; for one part ought not wholly to prevail on the other, but both, being proportionally and amicably joined, should agree in one third common power. Now this (whether flux, illuminated spirit, or ray) in old men being very weak, there can be no combination, no mixture with the light about the object; but it must be wholly consumed, unless, by removing the letters from their eyes, they lessen the brightness of the light, so that it comes to the sight not too strong or unmixed, but well proportioned and blended with the other. And this explains that common affection of creatures seeing in the dark; for their eye-sight being weak is overcome and darkened by the splendor of the day; because the little light that flows from their eyes cannot be proportionably mixed with the stronger and more numerous beams; but it is proportionable and sufficient for the feeble splendor of the stars, and so can join with it, and co-operate to move the sense. > Greek: 8.4. ἡμεῖς δὲ τὴν Πλατωνικὴν φυλάττοντες ἀρχὴν ἐλέγομεν ὅτι πνεῦμα τῶν ὀμμάτων αὐγοειδὲς ἐκπίπτον ἀνακίρναται τῷ περὶ τὰ σώματα φωτὶ καὶ λαμβάνει σύμπηξιν, ὥσθʼ ἓν ἐξ ἀμφοῖν σῶμα διʼ ὅλου συμπαθὲς γενέσθαι. κεράννυται δʼ ἕτερον ἑτέρῳ συμμετρίας τε λόγῳ καὶ ποσότητος· οὐ γὰρ ἀναιρεθῆναι δεῖ θάτερον ὑπὸ θατέρου κρατηθέν, ἀλλʼ ἀπʼ ἀμφοῖν ἔς τι μέσον ἁρμονίᾳ καὶ κοινωνίᾳ συναχθέντων μίαν δύναμιν ἀποτελεσθῆναι. ὄντος οὖν τοῦ τῶν παρηλίκων, εἴτε ῥεῦμα χρὴ προσαγορεύειν τὸ διὰ τῆς κόρης φερόμενον εἴτε πνεῦμα φωτοειδὲς εἴτʼ αὐγήν, ἀσθενοῦς καὶ ἀδρανοῦς, οὐ γίγνεται κρᾶσις πρὸς αὐτὸ τῷ ἐκτὸς οὐδὲ μῖξις ἀλλὰ φθορὰ καὶ σύγκρισις, ἂν μὴ μακρὰν τὰ γράμματα τῶν ὀμμάτων ἀπάγοντες ἐκλύωσι τὴν ἄγαν λαμπρότητα τοῦ φωτός, ὥστε μὴ πολλὴν μηδʼ ἄκρατον ἀλλʼ ὁμοιοπαθῆ καὶ σύμμετρον ἀπαντῆσαι πρὸς τὴν ὄψιν. ὃ δὴ καὶ τοῦ περὶ τὰ νυκτίνομα τῶν ζῴων παθήματος αἴτιόν ἐστιν ἡ γὰρ ὄψις αὐτῶν ὑπὸ τοῦ μεθημερινοῦ φωτὸς ἀδρανὴς οὖσα κατακλύζεται καὶ κρατεῖται, μὴ δυναμένη πρὸς πολὺ καὶ ἰσχυρὸν ἀπʼ ἀσθενοῦς καὶ ὀλίγης ἀρχῆς κεράννυσθαι· πρὸς δὲ τὸ ἀμαυρὸν καὶ λεπτὸν οἷον ἀστέρος φῶς αὐγὴν διαρκῆ καὶ σύμμετρον ἐξίησιν, ὥστε κοινωνεῖν καὶ συνεργεῖσθαι τὴν αἴσθησιν. [¶12] 9.1. THEON the grammarian, when Metrius Florus gave us an entertainment, asked Themistocles the Stoic, why Chrysippus, though he frequently mentioned some strange phenomena in nature (as that salt fish soaked in salt water grows fresher than before, fleeces of wool are more easily separated by a gentle than a quick and violent force, and men that are fasting eat slower than those who took a breakfast), yet never gave any reason for the appearance. And Themistocles replied, that Chrysippus only proposed such things by the by, as instances to correct us, who easily and without any reason assent to what seems likely, and disbelieve every thing that seems unlikely at the first sight. But why, sir, are you concerned at this? For if you are speculative and would enquire into the causes of things, you need not want subjects in your own profession; but pray tell me why Homer makes Nausicaa wash in the river rather than the sea, though it was near, and in all likelihood hotter, clearer, and fitter to wash with than that? > Greek: 9.1. Θέων ὁ γραμματικός, ἑστιωμένων ἡμῶν παρὰ Μεστρίῳ Φλώρῳ, πρὸς Θεμιστοκλέα τὸν Στωικὸν διηπόρησε, τί δήποτε Χρύσιππος ἐν πολλοῖς τῶν παραλόγων καὶ ἀτόπων ἐπιμνησθείς, οἷόν ἐστι τὸ τάριχος, ἂν ἅλμῃ βρέχηται, γλυκύτερον γίγνεσθαι καὶ τὸ τῶν ἐρίων τοὺς πόκους ἧττον ὑπακούειν τοῖς βίᾳ διασπῶσιν ἢ τοῖς ἀτρέμα διαλύουσι καὶ τὸ νηστεύσαντας ἀργότερον ἐσθίειν ἢ προφαγόντας· οὐδενὸς αὐτῶν αἰτίαν ἀπέδωκεν. ὁ δὲ Θεμιστοκλῆς εἰπὼν, ὅτι ταῦτα Χρύσιππος ἄλλως ἐν παραδείγματος λόγῳ προύθετο, ῥᾳδίως ἡμῶν καὶ ἀλόγως ὑπὸ τοῦ εἰκότος ἁλισκομένων καὶ πάλιν ἀπιστούντων τῷ παρὰ τὸ εἰκός, ἐπιστρέφων σοὶ δʼ ἔφη βέλτιστε, τί πρᾶγμα περὶ τούτων διαπορεῖν; εἰ γὰρ ἡμῖν αἰτίων ζητητικὸς καὶ θεωρητικὸς γέγονας, μὴ μακρὰν οὕτως ἀποσκήνου τῶν ἰδίων, ἀλλʼ εἰπὲ διʼ ἣν αἰτίαν Ὅμηρος ἐν τῷ ποταμῷ πλύνουσαν οὐκ ἐν τῇ θαλάττῃ, καίπερ ἐγγὺς οὔσῃ, τὴν Ναυσικάαν πεποίηκε, καίτοι θερμοτέραν γε καὶ διαφανεστέραν εἰκὸς καὶ ῥυπτικωτέραν εἶναι. [¶13] 9.2. And Theon replied: Aristotle hath already given an account for this from the grossness of the sea water; for in this an abundance of rough earthy particles is mixed, and those make it salt; and upon this account swimmers or any other weights sink not so much in sea water as in fresh, for the latter, being thin and weak, yields to every pressure and is easily divided, because it is pure and unmixed; and by reason of this subtility of parts it penetrates better than salt water, and so looseneth from the clothes the sticking particles of the spot. And is not this discourse of Aristotle very probable? > Greek: 9.2. καὶ ὁ Θέων ἀλλὰ τοῦτὸ γʼ εἶπε τῶν γεωδῶν Ἀριστοτέλης πάλαι διαλέλυκεν, ὃ προβέβληκας ἡμῖν. καὶ γὰρ τῇ θαλάττῃ τὸ ραχὺ καὶ γεῶδες ἐνδιέσπαρται καὶ τοῦτο ποιεῖ τὴν ἁλυκότητα μεμιγμένον· ᾗ καὶ μᾶλλον ἡ θάλαττα τούς τε νηχομένους ἐξαναφέρει καὶ στέγει τὰ βάρη, τοῦ γλυκέος ἐνδιδόντος διὰ κουφότητα καὶ ἀσθένειαν ἔστι γὰρ ἄμικτον καὶ καθαρόν· ὅθεν ἐνδύεται διὰ λεπτότητα καὶ διεξιὸν τοῦ θαλαττίου μᾶλλον ἐκτήκει τὰς κηλῖδας. ἢ οὐ δοκεῖ σοι τοῦτο πιθανῶς λέγειν Ἀριστοτέλης; [¶14] 9.3. Probable indeed, I replied, but not true; for I have observed that with ashes, gravel, or, if these are not to be gotten, with dust itself they usually thicken the water, as if the earthy particles being rough would scour better than fair water, whose thinness makes it weak and ineffectual. Therefore he is mistaken when he says the thickness of the sea water hinders the effect, since the sharpness of the mixed particles very much conduces to make it cleansing; for that opens the pores, and draws out the stain. But since all oily matter is most difficult to be washed out and spots a cloth, and the sea is oily, that is the reason why it doth not scour as well as fresh; and that it is oily, even Aristotle himself asserts, for salt in his opinion hath some oil in it, and therefore makes candles, when sprinkled on them, burn the better and clearer than before. And sea water sprinkled on a flame increaseth it, and is more easily kindled than any other; and this, in my opinion, makes it hotter than the fresh. Besides, I may urge another cause; for the end of washing is drying, and that seems cleanest which is driest; and the moisture that scours (as hellebore, with the humors that it purges) ought to fly away quickly together with the stain. The sun quickly draws out the fresh water, because it is so light; but the salt water being rough lodges in the pores, and therefore is not easily dried. > Greek: 9.3. πιθανῶς ἔφην ἐγὼ οὐ μὴν ἀληθῶς· ὁρῶ γὰρ ὅτι καὶ τέφρᾳ καὶ λίθοις, κἂν μὴ παρῇ δὲ ταῦτα, κονιορτῷ πολλάκις παχύνουσι τὸ ὕδωρ, ὡς μᾶλλον τῶν γεωδῶν τῇ παχύτητι καταπλύνειν δυναμένων τὸν ῥύπον, αὐτοῦ δὲ τοῦ ὕδατος διὰ λεπτότητα καὶ ἀσθένειαν οὐχ ὁμοίως τοῦτο δρῶντος. τὸ μὲν οὖν παχυμερὲς τῆς … θαλάττης οὐ πετουτόποτε … πρὸς τήν κα … δὲ τὴν δριμύτητα· καὶ γὰρ αὕτη τοὺς πόρους ἀναστομοῦσα καὶ ἀνοίγουσα κατασύρει τὸν ῥύπον. ἐπεὶ δὲ πᾶν τὸ λιπαρὸν δυσέκπλυτὸν ἐστι καὶ κηλῖδα ποιεῖ, λιπαρὰ δʼ ἡ θάλασσα, τοῦτʼ ἂν αἴτιον εἴη μάλιστα τοῦ μὴ καλῶς πλύνειν. ὅτι δʼ ἐστὶ λιπαρά, καὶ αὐτὸς εἴρηκεν Ἀριστοτέλης· οἵ τε γὰρ ἅλες λίπος ἔχουσι καὶ τοὺς λύχνους βέλτιον παρέχουσι καομένους· αὐτή θʼ ἡ θάλαττα προσραινομένη ταῖς φλοξὶ συνεκλάμπει, καὶ κάεται μάλιστα τῶν ὑδάτων τὸ θαλάττιον· ὡς δʼ ἐγᾦμαι, διὰ τοῦτο καὶ θερμότατόν ἐστιν. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ κατʼ ἄλλον τρόπον ἐπεὶ τῆς πλύσεως τέλος ἡ ψῦξίς ἐστι καὶ μάλιστα φαίνεται καθαρὸν τὸ μάλιστα ξηρὸν γιγνόμενον· δεῖ δὴ τὸ πλῦνον ὑγρὸν τῷ ῥύπῳ ταχέως συνεξελθεῖν, ὥσπερ τῷ νοσήματι τὸν ἐλλέβορον. τὸ μὲν οὖν γλυκὺ ῥᾳδίως ὁ ἥλιος ἐξάγει διὰ κουφότητα, τὸ δʼ ἁλμυρὸν ἐνισχόμενον τοῖς πόροις διὰ τραχύτητα δυσξήραντόν ἐστι. [¶15] 9.4. And Theon replied: You say just nothing, sir; for Aristotle in the same book affirms that those that wash in the sea, if they stand in the fresh sun, are sooner dried than those that wash in the fresh streams. It is true, I answered, he says so; but I hope that Homer asserting the contrary will, by you especially, be more easily believed; for Ulysses (as he writes) after his shipwreck meeting Nausicaa, “A frightful sight, and with the salt besmeared,” said to her maidens, “Retire a while, till I have washed my skin.” And when he had leaped into the river, “He from his head did scour the foaming sea.” The poet knew very well what happens in such a case; for when those that come wet out of the sea stand in the sun, the subtilest and lightest parts suddenly exhale, but the salt and rough particles stick upon the body in a crust, till they are washed away by the fresh water of a spring. > Greek: 9.4. καὶ ὁ Θέων ὑπολαβών οὐδέν ἔφη λέγεις· Ἀριστοτέλης γὰρ ἐν ταὐτῷ βιβλίῳ φησὶ τοὺς ἐν θαλάττῃ λουσαμένους τάχιον ἀποξηραίνεσθαι τῶν γλυκέσι χρησαμένων, ἂν ἐν ἡλίῳ στῶσι.λέγει γάρ εἶπον· ἀλλʼ ᾤμην σε μᾶλλον Ὁμήρῳ τἀναντία λέγοντι πιστεύσειν. ὁ γὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς μετὰ τὸ ναυάγιον ἐντυγχάνει τῇ Ναυσικάᾳ σμερδαλέος ὀφθῆναι, κεκακωμένος ἅλμῃ, καὶ πρὸς τὰς θεραπαινίδας φησὶν ἀμφίπολοι, στῆθʼ οὕτω ἀπόπροθεν, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼ αὐτὸς ἅλμην ὤμοιιν ἀπολούσομαι. καταβὰς δʼ εἰς τὸν ποταμὸν ἐκ κεφαλῆς ἔσμηχεν ἁλὸς χνόον, ὑπερφυῶς τοῦ ποιητοῦ τὸ γιγνόμενον συνεωρακότος. ὅταν γὰρ ἐκ τῆς θαλάττης ἀναδύντες ἐν τῷ ἡλίῳ στῶσι, τὸ λεπτότατον καὶ κουφότατον τῆς ὑγρασίας ἡ θερμότης διεφόρησε· τὸ δʼ ἁλμυρὸν αὐτὸ καὶ τραχὺ καταλειφθὲν ἐφίσταται καὶ παραμένει τοῖς σώμασιν ἁλώδης ἐπίπαγος, μέχρι ἂν αὐτὸ ποτίμῳ καὶ γλυκεῖ κατακλύσωσιν. [¶16] 10.1. WHEN we were feasting at Serapion’s, who gave an entertainment after the chorus of the tribe Leontis under his order and direction had won the prize (for we were citizens and free of that tribe), a very pertinent discourse, and proper to the then occasion, happened. It had been a very notable trial of skill, the king Philopappus being very generous and magnificent in his rewards, and defraying the expenses of all the tribes. He was at the same feast with us, and being a very good-humored man and eager for instruction, he would now and then freely discourse of ancient customs, and as freely hear. > Greek: 10.1. ἐν δὲ τοῖς Σαραπίωνος ἐπινικίοις, ὅτε τῇ Λεοντίδι φυλῇ τὸν χορὸν διατάξας ἐνίκησεν, ἑστιωμένοις ἡμῖν ἅτε δὴ καὶ φυλέταις οὖσι δημοποιήτοις, οἰκεῖοι λόγοι τῆς ἐν χειρὶ φιλοτιμίας παρῆσαν. ἔσχε γὰρ ὁ ἀγὼν ἐντονωτάτην ἅμιλλαν, ἀγωνοθετοῦντος ἐνδόξως καὶ μεγαλοπρεπῶς Φιλοπάππου τοῦ βασιλέως ταῖς φυλαῖς ὁμοῦ πάσαις χορηγοῦντος. ἐτύγχανε δὲ συνεστιώμενος ἡμῖν καὶ τῶν παλαιῶν τὰ μὲν λέγων τὰ δʼ ἀκούων διὰ φιλανθρωπίαν οὐχ ἧττον ἢ φιλομάθειαν. [¶17] 10.2. Marcus the grammarian began thus: Neanthes the Cyzicenian, in his book called the Fabulous Narrations of the City, affirms that it was a privilege of the tribe Aeantis that their chorus should never be determined to be the last. It is true, he brings some stories for confirmation of what he says; but if he falsifies, the matter is open, and let us all enquire after the reason of the thing. But, says Milo, suppose it be a mere tale. It is no strange thing, replied Philopappus, if in our disquisitions after truth we meet now and then with such a thing as Democritus the philosopher did; for he one day eating a cucumber, and finding it of a honey taste, asked his maid where she bought it; and she telling him such a garden, he rose from table and bade her direct him to the place. The maid surprised asked him what he meant; and he replied, I must search after the cause of the sweetness of the fruit, and shall find it the sooner if I see the place. The maid with a smile replied, Sit still, pray sir, for I unwittingly put it into a honey barrel. And he, as it were discontented, cried out, Shame take thee, yet I will pursue my purpose, and seek after the cause, as if this sweetness were a taste natural and proper to the fruit. Therefore neither will we admit Neanthes’s credulity and inadvertency in some stories as an excuse and a good reason for avoiding this disquisition; for we shall exercise our thoughts by it, though no other advantage rises from that enquiry. > Greek: 10.2. Προεβλήθη δέ τι τοιοῦτον ὑπὸ Μάρκου τοῦ γραμματικοῦ. Νεάνθη τὸν Κυζικηνὸν ἔφη λέγειν ἐν τοῖς κατὰ πόλιν μυθικοῖς, ὅτι τῇ Αἰαντίδι φυλῇ γέρας ὑπῆρχε τὸ μὴ κρίνεσθαι τὸν αὐτῆς χορὸν ἔσχατον· εἰ μὲν οὖν ἔφη πρὸς ἀπόδειξιν ἱστορίας ὁ ἀνα εἰ δὲ τοῦτὸ γʼ οὐ νοθεύει, προκείσθω τῆς αἰτίας ἐν κοινῷ πᾶσιν ἡ ζήτησις εἰπόντος δὲ τοῦ ἑταίρου Μίλωνος ἂν οὖν ψεῦδος ᾖ τὸ λεγόμενον; οὐδέν ἔφη δεινόν ὁ Φιλόπαππος εἰ ταὐτὸ πεισόμεθα Δημοκρίτῳ τῷ σοφῷ διὰ φιλολογίαν. καὶ γὰρ ἐκεῖνος ὡς ἔοικε τρώγων σίκυον, ὡς ἐφάνη μελιτώδης ὁ χυμός, ἠρώτησε τὴν διακονοῦσαν, ὁπόθεν πρίαιτο· τῆς δὲ κῆπόν τινα φραζούσης, ἐκέλευσεν ἐξαναστὰς ἡγεῖσθαι καὶ δεικνύναι τὸν τόπον· θαυμάζοντος δὲ τοῦ γυναίου καὶ πυνθανομένου τί βούλεται, τὴν αἰτίαν ἔφη δεῖ με τῆς γλυκύτητος εὑρεῖν, εὑρήσω δὲ τοῦ χωρίου γενόμενος θεατής· κατάκεισο δή τὸ γύναιον εἶπε μειδιῶν, ἐγὼ γὰρ ἀγνοήσασα τὸ σίκυον εἰς ἀγγεῖον ἐθέμην μεμελιτωμένον· ὁ δʼ ὥσπερ ἀχθεσθεὶς ἀπέκναισας εἶπε καὶ οὐδὲν ἧττον ἐπιθήσομαι τῷ λόγῳ καὶ ζητήσω τὴν αἰτίαν, ὡς ἂν οἰκείου καὶ συγγενοῦς οὔσης τῷ σικύῳ τῆς γλυκύτητος. οὐκοῦν μηδʼ ἡμεῖς τὴν Νεάνθους ἐν ἐνίοις εὐχέρειαν ἀποδράσεως ποιησώμεθα πρόφασιν ἐγγυμνάσασθαι γάρ, εἰ μηδὲν ἄλλο χρήσιμον, ὁ λόγος παρέξει. [¶18] 10.3. Presently every one poured out something in commendation of that tribe, mentioning every matter that made for its credit and reputation. Marathon was brought in as belonging to it, and Harmodius with his associates, by birth Aphidneans, were also produced as glorious members of that tribe. The orator Glaucias proved that that tribe made up the right wing in the battle at Marathon, from the elegies of Aeschylus, who had himself fought valiantly in the same encounter; and farther evinced that Callimachus the field marshal was of that tribe, who behaved himself very bravely, and was the principal cause next to Miltiades, with whose opinion he concurred, that that battle was fought. To this discourse of Glaucias I added, that the edict which impowered Miltiades to lead forth the Athenians, was made when the tribe Aeantis was chief of the assembly, and that in the battle of Plataea the same tribe acquired the greatest glory; and upon that account, as the oracle directed, that tribe offered a sacrifice for this victory to the nymphs Sphragitides, the city providing a victim and all other necessaries belonging to it. But you may observe (I continued) that other tribes likewise have their peculiar glories; and you know that mine, the tribe Leontids, yields to none in any point of reputation. Besides, consider whether it is not more probable that this was granted out of a particular respect, and to please Ajax, from whom this tribe received its name; for we know he could not endure to be outdone, but was easily hurried on to the greatest enormities by his contentious and passionate humor; and therefore to comply with him and afford him some comfort in his disasters, they secured him from the most vexing grievance that follows the misfortune of the conquered, by ordering that his tribe should never be determined to be last. > Greek: 10.3. πάντες οὖν ὁμαλῶς ἐρρύησαν πρὸς τὸ τὴν φυλὴν ἐγκωμιάζειν, εἴ τι καλὸν πρὸς δόξαν αὐτῇ ὑπῆρχεν ἀναλεγόμενοι. καὶ γὰρ ὁ Μαραθὼν εἰς, μέσον εἵλκετο, δῆμος ὢν ἐκείνης τῆς φυλῆς· καὶ τοὺς περὶ Ἁρμόδιον Αἰαντίδας ἀπέφαινον, Ἀφιδναίους γε δὴ τῶν δήμων γεγονότας. Γλαυκίας δʼ ὁ ῥήτωρ καὶ τὸ δεξιὸν κέρας Αἰαντίδαις τῆς ἐν Μαραθῶνι παρατάξεως ἀποδοθῆναι, ταῖς Αἰσχύλου εἰς τὴν μεθορίαν ἐλεγείαις πιστούμενος, ἠγωνισμένου τὴν μάχην ἐκείνην ἐπιφανῶς· ἔτι δὲ καὶ Καλλίμαχον ἀπεδείκνυε τὸν πολέμαρχον ἐξ ἐκείνης ὄντα τῆς φυλῆς, ὃς αὑτόν τε παρέσχεν ἄριστον ἄνδρα καὶ τῆς μάχης μετά γε Μιλτιάδην αἰτιώτατος κατέστη, σύμψηφος ἐκείνῳ γενόμενος. ἐγὼ δὲ τῷ Γλαυκίᾳ προσετίθην, ὅτι καὶ τὸ ψήφισμα, καθʼ ὃ τοὺς Ἀθηναίους ἐξήγαγε, τῆς Αἰαντίδος φυλῆς πρυτανευούσης γραφείη, καὶ ὅτι περὶ τὴν ἐν Πλαταιαῖς μάχην εὐδοκιμήσειεν ἡ φυλὴ μάλιστα· διὸ καὶ ταῖς Σφραγίτισι Νύμφαις τὴν ἐπινίκιον καὶ πυθόχρηστον ἀπῆγον Αἰαντίδαι θυσίαν εἰς Κιθαιρῶνα, τῆς πόλεως τὸ ἱερεῖον καὶ τἄλλα παρεχούσης αὐτοῖς. ἀλλʼ ὁρᾷς ἔφην ὅτι πολλὰ καὶ ταῖς ἄλλαις φυλαῖς ὑπάρχει, καὶ πρώτην γε τὴν ἐμὴν ἴστε δὴ τὴν Λεοντίδα μηδεμιᾷ δόξης ὑφιεμένην. σκοπεῖτε δὲ δή, μὴ πιθανώτερον λέγεται τὸ παραμύθιον τοῦ ἐπωνύμου τῆς φυλῆς καὶ παραίτησιν εἶναι τὸ γιγνόμενον· οὐ γὰρ εὔκολος ἐνεγκεῖν ἧτταν ὁ Τελαμώνιος, ἀλλʼ οἷος ἀφειδεῖν πάντων ὑπʼ ὀργῆς καὶ φιλονεικίας· ἵνʼ οὖν μὴ χαλεπὸς μηδʼ ἀπαραμύθητος, ἔδοξε τῆς ἥττης ἀφελεῖν τὸ δυσχερέστατον, εἰς τὴν ἐσχάτην χώραν μηδέποτε τὴν φυλὴν αὐτοῦ καταβαλόντας. ## 3. Book II · chapters 1–3 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/3/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/3/#p-N [¶0] 0.1. OF the several things that are provided for an entertainment, some, my Sossius Senecio, are absolutely necessary; such are wine, bread, meat, couches, and tables. Others are brought in, not for necessity, but pleasure; such are songs, shows, mimics, and buffoons (like Philip who came from the house of Callias); which, when present, delight indeed, but when absent, are not eagerly desired; nor is the entertainment looked upon as mean because such are wanting. Just so of discourses; some the sober men admit as necessary to a banquet, and others for their pretty speculations, as more profitable and agreeable than a fiddle and a pipe. My former book gives you examples of both sorts. Of the first are these, Whether we should philosophize at table?—Whether the entertainer should appoint proper seats, or leave the guests to agree upon their own? Of the second, Why lovers are inclined to poetry? and the question about the tribe Aeantis. The former I call properly συμποτικά, table-talk, but both together I comprehend under the general name of Symposiacs. They are promiscuously set down, not in any exact method, but as each singly occurred to memory. And let not my readers wonder that I dedicate these collections to you, which I have received from others or your own mouth; for if all learning is not bare remembrance, yet to learn and to remember are very commonly one and the same thing. > Greek: 0.1. τῶν εἰς τὰ δεῖπνα καὶ τὰ συμπόσια παρασκευαζομένων, ὦ Σόσσιε Σενεκίων, τὰ μὲν ἀναγκαίαν ἔχει τάξιν, ὥσπερ οἶνος καὶ σιτία καὶ ὄψα καὶ στρωμναὶ δηλαδὴ καὶ τράπεζαι· τὰ δʼ ἐπεισόδια γέγονεν ἡδονῆς ἕνεκεν, χρείας μὴ συναγομένης, ὥσπερ ἀκροάματα καὶ θεάματα καὶ γελωτοποιός τις ἐκ Καλλίου Φίλιππος οἷς παροῦσι μὲν ἥδονται, μὴ παρόντα δʼ οὐ πάνυ ποθοῦσιν οὐδʼ αἰτιῶνται τὴν συνουσίαν ὡς ἐνδεέστερον ἔχουσαν. οὕτω δὴ καὶ τῶν λόγων τοὺς μὲν ἐπὶ χρείᾳ τῇ περὶ τὰ συμπόσια παραλαμβάνουσιν οἱ μέτριοι, τοὺς δʼ ἄλλους δέχονται θεωρίαν πιθανὴν καὶ τῷ καιρῷ μᾶλλον αὐλοῦ καὶ βαρβίτου πρέπουσαν ἔχοντας. ὧν καὶ τὸ πρῶτον ἡμῖν βιβλίον εἶχε μεμιγμένα δείγματα, τοῦ μὲν προτέρου γένους τὸ περὶ τοῦ φιλοσοφεῖν παρὰ πότον καὶ περὶ τοῦ διανέμειν αὐτὸν ἢ τοῖς δειπνοῦσιν ἐφιέναι τὰς κλίσεις καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα· τοῦ δευτέρου περὶ τοῦ τοὺς ἐρῶντας ποιητικοὺς εἶναι καὶ περὶ τῆς Αἰαντίδος φυλῆς. … καλῶ δῆτα καὶ … τὰ συμποτικά· τὰ δʼ … τερα κοινῶς συμποσιακά. σποράδην δʼ ἀναγέγραπται καὶ οὐ διακεκριμένως ἀλλʼ ὡς ἕκαστον εἰς μνήμην ἦλθεν. οὐ δεῖ δὲ θαυμάζειν τοὺς ἀναγιγνώσκοντας, εἴ σοὶ προσφωνοῦντές τινα τῶν προρρηθέντων ὑπὸ σοῦ συνηγάγομεν· καὶ γὰρ ἂν αἱ μαθήσεις ἀναμνήσεις μὴ ποιῶσι, πολλάκις εἰς ταὐτὸ τῷ μανθάνειν τὸ ἀναμιμνήσκεσθαι καθίστησι. [¶1] 1.1. Now each book being divided into ten questions, that shall make the first in this, which Socratical Xenophon hath as it were proposed; for he tells us that, Gobryas banqueting with Cyrus, amongst other things that he found admirable in the Persians, he was surprised to hear them ask one another such questions that it was more delightful to be interrogated than to be let alone, and pass such jests on one another that it was more pleasant to be jested on than not. For if some, even whilst they praise, offend, why should not their polite and neat facetiousness be admired, whose very raillery is delightful and pleasant to him that is the subject of it? Once when you were entertaining us at Patrae, you said: I wish I could learn what kind of questions those are; for to be skilled in and make right use of apposite questions and pleasant raillery, I think is no small part of conversation. > Greek: 1.1. δέκα δὲ προβλημάτων εἰς ἕκαστον νενεμημένων βιβλίον, ἐν τούτῳ πρῶτόν ἐστιν ὃ τρόπον τινὰ Ξενοφῶν ὁ Σωκρατικὸς ἡμῖν προβέβληκε. τὸν γὰρ Γωβρύαν φησὶ συνδειπνοῦντα τῷ Κύρῳ τὰ τʼ ἄλλα θαυμάζειν τῶν Περσῶν, καὶ ὅτι τοιαῦτα μὲν ἀλλήλους ἐπηρώτων ἃ ἥδιον ἦν ἐρωτηθῆναι ἢ μή, ἔσκωπτον δʼ ἃ σκωφθῆναι κάλλιον ἢ μὴ· εἰ γὰρ ἐπαινοῦντες ἕτεροι πολλάκις λυποῦσι καὶ προσίστανται, πῶς οὐκ ἄξιον ἦν ἄγασθαι· τὴν εὐτραπελίαν ἐκείνων καὶ τὴν σύνεσιν, ὧν καὶ τὰ σκώμματα τοῖς σκωπτομένοις ἡδονὴν καὶ χάριν παρεῖχε; δεχόμενος οὖν ἡμᾶς ἐν Πάτραις, ἡδέως ἂν ἔφης πυθέσθαι τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐρωτήματα ποίου γένους εἴη καί τίς αὐτῶν τύπος· οὐ γάρ τι μικρόν ἔφης τῆς ὁμιλητικῆς μόριον ἡ περὶ τὰς ἐρωτήσεις καὶ τὰς παιδιὰς τοῦ ἐμμελοῦς ἐπιστήμη καὶ τήρησις. [¶2] 1.2. A considerable one, I replied; but pray observe whether Xenophon himself, in his descriptions of Socrates’s and the Persian entertainments, hath not sufficiently explained them. But if you would have my thoughts,—first, men are pleased to be asked those questions to which they have an answer ready; such are those in which the persons asked have some skill and competent knowledge; for when the enquiry is above their reach, those that can return nothing are troubled, as if requested to give something beyond their power; and those that do answer, producing some crude and insufficient demonstration, must needs be very much concerned, and apt to blunder on the wrong. Now, if the answer not only is easy but hath something not common, it is more pleasing to them that make it; and this happens, when their knowledge is greater than that of the vulgar, as suppose they are well skilled in points of astrology or logic. For not only in action and serious matters, but also in discourse, every one hath a natural disposition to be pleased (as Euripides hath it) “To seem far to outdo himself.” And all are delighted when men put such questions as they understand, and would have others know that they are acquainted with; and therefore travellers and merchants are most satisfied when their company is inquisitive about other countries, the unknown ocean, and the laws and manners of the barbarians; they are ready to inform them, and describe the countries and the creeks, imagining this to be some recompense for their toil, some comfort for the dangers they have passed. In short, whatever we are wont to discourse of though unrequested, we are desirous to be asked; because then we seem to gratify those whom otherwise our prattle would disturb and force from our conversation. And this is the common disease of navigators. But more genteel and modest men love to be asked about those things which they have bravely and successfully performed, and which modesty will not permit to be spoken by themselves before company; and therefore Nestor did well when, being acquainted with Ulysses’s desire of reputation, he said, Tell, brave Ulysses, glory of the Greeks, How you the horses seized. For man cannot endure the insolence of those who praise themselves and repeat their own exploits, unless the company desires it and they are forced to a relation; therefore it tickles them to be asked about their embassies and administrations of the commonwealth, if they have done any thing notable in either. And upon this account the envious and ill-natured start very few questions of that sort; they thwart and hinder all such kind of motions, being very unwilling to give any occasion or opportunity for that discourse which shall tend to the advantage of the relator. In short, we please those to whom we put them, when we start questions about those matters which their enemies hate to hear. > Greek: 1.2. μέγα μὲν οὖν ἔφην ἐγώ, ἀλλʼ ὅρα καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ Ξενοφῶν ἔν τε τῷ Σωκρατικῷ καὶ τοῖς Περσικοῖς ἐπιδείκνυσι συμποσίοις τὸ γένος. εἰ δὲ δοκεῖ καὶ ἡμᾶς ἐπιθέσθαι τινὶ λόγῳ, πρῶτον ἡδέως ἐρωτᾶσθαί μοι δοκοῦσιν ἃ ῥᾳδίως ἀποκρίνασθαι δύνανται· ταῦτα δʼ ἐστὶν ὧν ἐμπειρίαν ἔχουσιν. ὁἱ γὰρ ἀγνοοῦσιν, ἢ μὴ λέγοντες ἄχθονται καθάπερ αἰτηθέντες ὃ δοῦναι μὴ δύνανται, ἢ λέγοντες ἀπὸ δόξης καὶ εἰκασίας οὐ βεβαίου διαταράσσονται καὶ κινδυνεύουσιν. ἂν δὲ μὴ μόνον ἔχῃ τὸ ῥᾴδιον ἀλλὰ καὶ περιττὸν ἡ ἀπόκρισις, ἡδίων ἐστὶ τῷ ἀποκρινομένῳ περιτταὶ δʼ εἰσὶν αἱ τῶν ἐπισταμένων ἃ μὴ πολλοὶ γιγνώσκουσιν μηδʼ ἀκηκόασιν; οἷον ἀστρολογικῶν, διαλεκτικῶν, ἄνπερ ἕξιν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἔχωσιν. οὐ γὰρ πράττων μόνον ἕκαστος οὐδὲ διημερεύων, ὡς Εὐριπίδης φησίν, ἀλλὰ καὶ διαλεγόμενος ἵνʼ αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ τυγχάνει κράτιστος ὤν ἡδέως διατίθεται· καὶ χαίρουσι τοῖς ἐρωτῶσιν ἃ γιγνώσκοντες ἀγνοεῖσθαι καὶ λανθάνειν οὐ θέλουσι. διὸ καὶ περὶ χώρας ἀποίκου καὶ ξένης θαλάττης ἐθῶν τε βαρβαρικῶν καὶ νόμων οἱ πεπλανημένοι καὶ πεπλευκότες ἣδιον ἐρωτῶνται, καὶ προθύμως διηγοῦνται καὶ διαγράφουσι κόλπους καὶ τόπους, οἰόμενοι καὶ χάριν τινὰ τῶν πόνων ταύτην καὶ παραμυθίαν κομίζεσθαι. καθόλου δʼ ὅσα μηδενὸς ἐρωτῶντος αὐτοὶ διηγεῖσθαι καὶ λέγειν ἀφʼ ἑαυτῶν εἰώθαμεν, ἣδιον ἐρωτώμεθα, χαρίζεσθαι τούτοις δοκοῦντες; ὧν ἔργον ἦν ἐνοχλουμένων ἀποσχέσθαι. καὶ τοῦτο μὲν ἐν τοῖς πλωτικοῖς μάλιστα φύεται τὸ γένος τοῦ νοσήματος· οἱ δὲ κομψότεροι ταῦτʼ ἐρωτᾶσθαι θέλουσιν ἃ βουλόμενοι λέγειν αἰδοῦνται καὶ φείδονται τῶν παρόντων· οἷον ὅσα τυγχάνουσιν αὐτοὶ διαπεπραγμένοι καὶ κατωρθωκότες. ὀρθῶς γοῦν ὁ Νέστωρ τὴν φιλοτιμίαν τοῦ Ὀδυσσέως ἐπιστάμενος εἴπʼ ἄγε μʼ, ὦ πολύαινʼ Ὀδυσεῦ ʽ φησἴ, μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν, ὅππως τούσδʼ ἵππους λάβετον. ἄχθονται γὰρ τοῖς αὑτοὺς ἐπαινοῦσι καὶ τὰς ἑαυτῶν εὐτυχίας διεξιοῦσιν, ἂν μὴ κελεύσῃ ἄλλος τις τῶν παρόντων καὶ οἷον βιαζόμενοι λέγωσι. ἡδέως γοῦν ἐρωτῶνται περὶ πρεσβειῶν καὶ περὶ πολιτειῶν εἰ μέγα τι καὶ λαμπρὸν εἰργασμένοι τυγχάνουσιν. ὅθεν ἣκιστα περὶ τούτων οἱ φθονεροὶ καὶ κακοήθεις ἐρωτῶσι, κἂν ἄλλος τις ἔρηται τὰ τοιαῦτα, διακρούονται καὶ παρατρέπουσι, χώραν τῇ διηγήσει μὴ, διδόντες μηδὲ βουλόμενοι λόγου τὸν λέγοντα κοσμοῦντος ἀφορμὰς προέσθαι. καὶ ταῦτʼ οὖν ἐρωτῶντες χαρίζεσθαι τοῖς ἀποκρινομένοις, ἃ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς καὶ δυσμενεῖς αἰσθάνονται μὴ βουλομένους ἀκούειν. [¶3] 1.3. Ulysses says to Alcinous, You bid me tell what various ills I bore, That the sad tale might make me grieve the more. And Oedipus says to the chorus, “’Tis pain to raise again a buried grief.” But Euripides on the contrary, How sweet it is, when we are lulled in ease, To think of toils!—when well, of a disease! True indeed, but not to those that are still tossed, still under a misfortune. Therefore be sure never to ask a man about his own calamities; it is irksome to relate his losses of children or estate, or any unprosperous adventure by sea or land; but ask a man how he carried the cause, how he was caressed by the King, how he escaped such a storm, such an assault, thieves, and the like; this pleaseth him, he seems to enjoy it over again in his relation, and is never weary of the topic. Besides, men love to be asked about their happy friends, or children that have made good progress in philosophy or the law, or are great at court; as also about the disgrace and open conviction of their enemies; for of such matters they are most eager to discourse, yet are cautious of beginning it themselves, lest they should seem to insult over and rejoice at the misery of others. You please a hunter if you ask him about dogs, a wrestler about exercise, and an amorous man about beauties; the ceremonious and superstitious man discourses about dreams, and what success he hath had by following the directions of omens or sacrifices, and by the kindness of the Gods; and questions concerning those things will extremely please him. He that enquires any thing of an old man, though the story doth not at all concern him, wins his heart, and urges one that is very willing to discourse: Nelides Nestor, faithfully relate How great Atrides died, what sort of fate; And where was Menelaus largely tell? Did Argos hold him when the hero fell? Here is a multitude of questions and variety of subjects; which is much better than to confine and cramp his answers, and so deprive the old man of the most pleasant enjoyment he can have.’In short, they that had rather please than distaste will still propose such questions, the answers to which shall rather get the praise and good-will than the contempt and hatred of the hearers. And so much of questions. > Greek: 1.3. καὶ μὴν ὃ γʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς τῷ Ἀλκινόῳ σοὶ δʼ ἐμὰ κήδεα θυμὸς ἐπετράπετο στονόεντα εἴρεσθʼ, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὀδυρόμενος στεναχίζω. καὶ πρὸς τὸν χορὸν ὁ Οἰδίπους δεινὸν μὲν τὸ πάλαι κείμενον ἤδη κακόν, ὦ ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεγείρειν. ὁ δʼ Εὐριπίδης τοὐναντίον ὡς ἡδὺ μεμνῆσθαι πόνων … οὐ τοῖς ἔτι πλανωμένοις καὶ κακὰ φέρουσι. τῶν οὖν κακῶν φυλακτέον ἐστὶ τὰς ἐρωτήσεις· ἀνιῶνται γὰρ διηγούμενοι καταδίκας αὑτῶν ἢ ταφὰς παίδων ἤ τινας κατὰ γῆν οὐκ εὐτυχεῖς ἢ κατὰ θάλατταν ἐμπορίας. τὸ δὲ πῶς εὐημέρησαν ἐπὶ βήματος ἢ προσηγορεύθησαν ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως ἢ τῶν ἄλλων περιπεσόντων χειμῶσιν ἢ λῃσταῖς αὐτοὶ διέφυγον τὸν κίνδυνον, ἡδέως ἐρωτῶνται πολλάκις, καὶ τρόπον τινὰ τῷ λόγῳ τοῦ πράγματος ἀπολαύοντες ἀπλήστως ἔχουσι τοῦ διηγεῖσθαι καὶ μνημονεύειν. χαίρουσι δὲ καὶ περὶ φίλων εὐτυχούντων ἐρωτώμενοι καὶ περὶ παίδων προκοπτόντων ἐν μαθήμασιν ἢ συνηγορίαις ἢ φιλίαις βασιλέων. ἐχθρῶν δὲ καὶ δυσμενῶν ὀνείδη καὶ βλάβας καὶ καταδίκας ἐξελεγχθέντων καὶ σφαλέντων ἣδιον ἐρωτώμενοι καὶ προθυμότερον ἐξαγγέλλουσιν αὐτοὶ δʼ ἀφʼ αὑτῶν ὀκνοῦσι φυλαττόμενοι δόξαν ἐπιχαιρεκακίας. ἥδιον δὲ καὶ περὶ κυνῶν ἄνδρα θηρευτικὸν ἐρωτᾶν καὶ φιλαθλητὴν περὶ γυμνικῶν ἀγώνων καὶ περὶ καλῶν ἐρωτικόν. ὁ δʼ εὐσεβὴς καὶ φιλοθύτης διηγηματικὸς ὀνείρων, καὶ ὅσα χρησάμενος ἢ φήμαις ἢ ἱεροῖς ἢ θεῶν εὐμενείᾳ κατώρθωσεν, ἡδέως ἂν καὶ περὶ τούτων ἐρωτῷτο. τοῖς δὲ πρεσβύταις, κἂν μηδὲν ἡ διήγησις ᾖ προσήκουσα, πάντως οἱ ἐρωτῶντες χαρίζονται καὶ κινοῦσι βουλομένους. ὦ Νέστορ Νηληιάδη, σὺ δʼ ἀληθὲς ἐνίσπες, πῶς ἔθανʼ Ἀτρείδης; … ποῦ Μενέλαος ἔην; … ἦ οὐκ Ἄργεος ἦεν Ἀχαιικοῦ; πολλὰ ἐρωτῶν ἅμα καὶ πολλῶν λόγων ἀφορμὰς προσιέμενος, οὐχ, ὥσπερ ἔνιοι, συστέλλοντες εἰς τἀναγκαῖον αὐτὸ καὶ συνελαύνοντες τὰς ἀποκρίσεις ἀφαιροῦνται τῆς γεροντικῆς διατριβῆς τὸ ἥδιστον. ὅλως δʼ οἱ θέλοντες εὐφραίνειν μᾶλλον ἢ λυπεῖν τοιαύτας ἐρωτήσεις προφέρονται, ὧν ταῖς ἀποκρίσεσιν οὐ ψόγος ἀλλʼ ἔπαινος, οὐδὲ μῖσος ἢ νέμεσις ἀλλʼ εὔνοια καὶ χάρις ἕπεται παρὰ τῶν ἀκουσάντων. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν τὰ περὶ τὰς ἐρωτήσεις. [¶4] 1.4. As for raillery, those that cannot use it cautiously with art, and time it well, should never venture at it. For as in a slippery place, if you but just touch a man as you pass by, you throw him down; so when we are in drink, we are in danger of tripping at every little word that is not spoken with due address. And we are sometimes more offended with a joke than a plain and scurrilous abuse; for we see the latter often slip from a man unwittingly in passion, but consider the former as a thing voluntary, proceeding from malice and ill-nature; and therefore we are generally more offended at a sharp jeerer than a whistling snarler. Such a jeer has indeed something artfully malicious about it, and often seems to be an insult devised and thought of beforehand. For instance, he that calls thee salt-fish monger plainly and openly abuseth; but he that says, I remember when you wiped your nose upon your sleeve, maliciously jeers. Such was Cicero’s to Octavius, who was thought to be descended from an African; for when Cicero spoke something, and Octavius said he did not hear him, Cicero rejoined, Strange, for you have a hole through your ear. And Melanthius, when he was ridiculed by a comedian, said, You pay me now something that you do not owe me. And upon this account jeers vex more; for like bearded arrows they stick a long while, and gall the wounded sufferer. Their smartness is pleasant, and delights the company; and those that are pleased with the saying seem to believe the detracting speaker. For, according to Theophrastus, a jeer is a figurative reproach for some fault or misdemeanor; and therefore he that hears it supplies the concealed part, as if he knew and gave credit to the thing. For he that laughs and is tickled at what Theocritus said to one whom he suspected of a design upon his purse, and who asked him if he went to supper at such a place,—Yes, he replied, I go, but shall likewise lodge there all night,—doth, as it were confirm the accusation, and believe the fellow was a thief. Therefore an impertinent jeerer makes the whole company seem ill-natured and abusive, as being pleased with and consenting to the scurrility of the jeer. It was one of the excellent rules in Sparta, that none should be bitter in their jests, and the jeered should patiently endure; but if he took offence, the other was to forbear, and pursue the frolic no farther. How is it possible therefore to determine such raillery as shall delight and please the person that is jested on, when to be smart without offence is no mean piece of cunning and address? > Greek: 1.4. σκώμματος δὲ τῷ μὴ δυναμένῳ μετʼ εὐλαβείας καὶ τέχνης κατὰ καιρὸν ἅπτεσθαι παντάπασιν ἀφεκτέον ὥσπερ γὰρ οἱ ἐν ὀλισθηρῷ τόπῳ, κἂν θίγωσιν ἐκ παραδρομῆς μόνον, ἀνατρέπουσιν, οὕτως ἐν οἴνῳ πρὸς πᾶσαν ἀφορμὴν λόγου μὴ κατὰ σχῆμα γιγνομένην ἐπισφαλῶς ἔχομεν. τοῖς δὲ σκώμμασιν ἔστιν ὅτε μᾶλλον ἢ ταῖς λοιδορίαις ἐκκινούμεθα, τὸ μὲν ὑπʼ ὀργῆς πολλάκις ἀβουλήτως ὁρῶντες γιγνόμενον, τὸ δʼ ὡς οὐκ ἀναγκαῖον ἀλλʼ ἔργον ὕβρεως καὶ κακοηθείας προβαλλόμενοι· καὶ καθόλου διαλέγεσθαι τοῖς … νοις μᾶλλον ἢ τοῖς … φλυαροῦσι χαλεπαίνομεν δῆλον γὰρ ὅτι δόλος τῷ σχήματι προσέσται τῷ κατὰ τὸ σκῶμμα, λοιδόρημα δὲ … εἶναι καὶ πεποιημένον ἐκ παρασκευῆς. ὁ γὰρ εἰπὼν ταριχοπώλην αὐτόθεν ἐλοιδόρησεν, ὁ δὲ φήσας, μεμνήμεθά σε τῷ βραχίονι ἀπομυττόμενον ἔσκωψε. καὶ Κικέρων πρὸς Ὀκταούιον, ἐκ Λιβύης εἶναι δοκοῦντα λέγοντος δʼ αὐτοῦ φάσκοντα μὴ ἀκούειν, καὶ μὴν τετρυπημένον ἔφη ἔχεις τὸ οὖς. καὶ Μελάνθιος ὑπὸ τοῦ κωμῳδιοποιοῦ καταγελώμενος ἔφη οὐκ ὀφειλόμενόν μοι ἀποδίδως ἔρανον μᾶλλον οὖν τὰ σκώμματα δάκνει, καθάπερ τὰ παρηγκιστρωμένα βέλη πλείονα χρόνον ἐμμένοντα, καὶ λυπεῖ τοὺς σκωφθέντας ἡ τέρψις τῇ κομψότητι καὶ ἡδύνει τοὺς παρόντας· ἡδόμενοι γὰρ ἐπὶ τῷ λεγομένῳ, πιστεύειν δοκοῦσι καὶ συνδιασύρειν τῷ λέγοντι. ὀνειδισμὸς γάρ ἐστι τῆς ἁμαρτίας παρεσχηματισμένος τὸ σκῶμμα κατὰ τὸν Θεόφραστον· ὅθεν ἐξ αὑτοῦ τῇ ὑπονοίᾳ προστίθησιν ὁ ἀκούσας τὸ ἐλλεῖπον ὡς εἰδὼς καὶ πιστεύων. ὁ γὰρ γελάσας καὶ ἡσθείς, τοῦ Θεοκρίτου πρὸς τὸν δοκοῦντα λωποδυτεῖν ἐρωτῶντα δʼ αὐτὸν εἰ ἐπὶ δεῖπνον βαδίζει φήσαντος βαδίζειν ἐκεῖ μέντοι καθεύδειν, βεβαιοῦντι τὴν διαβολὴν ὅμοιός ἐστι. διὸ καὶ προσαναπίμπλησι τοὺς παρόντας ὁ σκώπτων παρὰ μέλος κακοηθείας, ὡς ἐφηδομένους καὶ συνυβρίζοντας. ἓν δὲ τῇ καλῇ Λακεδαίμονι τῶν μαθημάτων ἐδόκει, τὸ σκώπτειν ἀλύπως καὶ σκωπτόμενον φέρειν· εἰ δέ τις ἀπείποι σκωπτόμενος, εὐθὺς ὁ σκώπτων ἐπέπαυτο. πῶς οὖν οὐ χαλεπὸν εὑρεῖν σκῶμμα τῷ σκωπτομένῳ κεχαρισμένον, ὅπου καὶ τὸ μὴ λυποῦν τοῦ σκώμματος οὐ τῆς τυχούσης ἐμπειρίας καὶ δεξιότητός ἐστιν; [¶5] 1.5. First then, such as will vex and gall the conscious must please those that are clean, innocent, and not suspected of the matter. Such a joke is Xenophon’s, when he pleasantly brings in a very ugly ill-looking fellow, and is smart upon him for being Sambaulas’s minion. Such was that of Aufidius Modestus, who, when our friend Quintius in an ague complained his hands were cold, replied, Sir, you brought them warm from your province; for this made Quintius laugh, and extremely pleased him; yet it had been a reproach and abuse to a covetous and oppressing governor. Thus Socrates, pretending to compare faces with the beauteous Critobulus, rallied only, and not abused. And Alcibiades again was smart on Socrates, as his rival in Agatho’s affection. Kings are pleased when jests are put upon them as if they were private and poor men. Such was the flatterer’s to Philip, who chided him: Sir, don’t I keep you? For those that mention faults of which the persons are not really guilty intimate those virtues with which they are really adorned. But then it is requisite that those virtues should be evident and certainly belong to them; otherwise the discourse will breed disturbance and suspicion. He that tells a very rich man that he will procure him a sum of money,—a temperate sober man, and one that drinks water only, that he is foxed, or hath taken a cup too much,—a hospitable, generous, good-humored man, that he is a niggard and pinch-penny,—or threatens an excellent lawyer to meet him at the bar,— must make the persons smile and please the company. Thus Cyrus was very obliging and complaisant, when he challenged his play-fellows at those sports in which he was sure to be overcome. And Ismenias piping at a sacrifice, when no good omens appeared, the man that hired him snatched the pipe, and played very ridiculously himself; and when all found fault, he said: To play satisfactorily is the gift of Heaven. And Ismenias with a smile replied: Whilst I played, the Gods were so well pleased that they were careless of the sacrifice; but to be rid of thy noise they presently received it. > Greek: 1.5. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ πρῶτά μοι δοκεῖ τὰ λυποῦντα τοὺς ἐνόχους σκώμματα τοῖς μακρὰν οὖσι τῆς διαβολῆς ἡδονήν τινα καὶ χάριν ποιεῖν· οἷον ὁ Ξενοφῶν τὸν ὑπέραισχρον καὶ ὑπέρδασυν ἐκεῖνον ὡς παιδικὰ τοῦ Σαμβαύλα σκωπτόμενον εἰσάγει μετὰ παιδιᾶς. καὶ Κυήτου τοῦ ἡμετέρου μέμνησαι γάρ ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τὰς χεῖρας ἔχειν ψυχρὰς λέγοντος, Αὐφίδιος Μόδεστος ἀλλὰ μήν ἔφη θερμὰς ἀπὸ τῆς ἐπαρχίας κεκόμικας αὐτάς· τοῦτο γὰρ ἐκείνῳ μὲν γέλωτα καὶ διάχυσιν παρέσχε, κλέπτῃ δʼ ἀνθυπάτῳ λοιδόρημα καὶ ὄνειδος ἦν. διὸ καὶ Κριτόβουλον ὁ Σωκράτης εὐπροσωπότατον ὄντα προκαλούμενος εἰς σύγκρισιν εὐμορφίας ἔπαιζεν οὐκ ἐχλεύαζεν. καὶ Σωκράτην πάλιν Ἀλκιβιάδης ἔσκωπτεν εἰς ζηλοτυπίαν τὴν περὶ Ἀγάθωνος. ἥδονται δὲ καὶ βασιλεῖς τοῖς λεγομένοις ὡς εἰς πένητας αὐτοὺς καὶ ἰδιώτας, ὥσπερ ὑπὸ Φιλίππου σκωφθεὶς ὁ παράσιτος εἶπεν οὐκ ἐγώ σε τρέφω; τὰ γὰρ οὐ προσόντα φαῦλα λέγοντες ἐμφαίνουσι τὰ προσόντα χρηστά. δεῖ δʼ ὁμολογουμένως καὶ βεβαίως προσεῖναὶ τι χρηστόν· εἰ δὲ μή, τὸ λεγόμενον τοὐναντίον ἀμφισβητήσιμον ἔχει τὴν ὑπόνοιαν. ὁ γὰρ τῷ πάνυ πλουσίῳ τοὺς δανειστὰς ἐπάξειν λέγων, ἢ τὸν ὑδροπότην καὶ σώφρονα παροινεῖν καὶ μεθύειν, ἢ τὸν εὐδάπανον καὶ μεγαλοπρεπῆ καὶ χαριστικὸν κίμβικα καὶ κυμινοπρίστην προσαγορεύων, ἢ τὸν ἐν συνηγορίαις καὶ πολιτείαις μέγαν ἀπειλῶν ἐν ἀγορᾷ λήψεσθαι, διάχυσιν καὶ μειδίαμα παρέσχεν. οὕτως ὁ Κῦρος ἐν οἷς ἐλείπετο τῶν ἑταίρων, εἰς ταῦτα προκαλούμενος ἐγίγνετο προσηνὴς καὶ κεχαρισμένος. καὶ τοῦ Ἰσμηνίου τῇ θυσίᾳ προσαυλοῦντος, ὡς οὐκ ἐκαλλιέρει, παρελόμενος τοὺς αὐλοὺς ὁ μισθωτὴς ηὔλησε γελοίως· αἰτιωμένων δὲ τῶν παρόντων, ἐκεῖνος καλλιερήσας ἔστιν ἔφη τὸ κεχαρισμένως αὐλεῖν θεόθεν· ὁ δʼ Ἰσμηνίας γελάσας ἀλλʼ ἐμοῦ μὲν εἶπεν αὐλοῦντος ἡδόμενοι διέτριβον οἱ θεοί, σοῦ δʼ ἀπαλλαγῆναι σπεύδοντες ἐδέξαντο τὴν θυσίαν. [¶6] 1.6. Butt more, those that jocosely put scandalous names upon things commendable, if it be opportunely done, please more than he that plainly and openly commends; for those that cover a reproach under fair and respectful words (as he that calls an unjust man Aristides, a coward Achilles) gall more than those that openly abuse. Such is that of Oedipus, in Sophocles, “The faithful Creon, my most constant friend.” The familiar irony in commendations answers to this on the other side. Such Socrates used, when he called the kind endeavor and industry of Antisthenes to make men friends pimping, bawds-craft, and allurement; and others that called Crates the philosopher, who wherever he went was caressed and honored, the door-opener. > Greek: 1.6. ἔτι τοίνυν οἱ τὰ χρηστὰ τῶν πραγμάτων τοῖς λοιδορουμένοις ὀνόμασι μετὰ παιδιᾶς καλοῦντες, ἂν ἐμμελῶς ποιῶσιν, αὐτῶν μᾶλλον εὐφραίνουσι τῶν ἀπʼ εὐθείας ἐπαινούντων. καὶ γὰρ δάκνουσι μᾶλλον οἱ διὰ τῶν εὐφήμων ὀνειδίζοντες, ὡς οἱ τοὺς πονηροὺς Ἀριστείδας καὶ τοὺς δειλοὺς Ἀχιλλεῖς καλοῦντες, καὶ ὁ τοῦ Σοφοκλέους Οἰδίπους … ταύτης Κρέων ὁ πιστὸς οὑξ ἀρχῆς φίλος. ἀντίστροφον οὖν ἔοικε γένος εἰρωνείας εἶναι τὸ περὶ τοὺς ἐπαίνους· ᾧ καὶ Σωκράτης ἐχρήσατο, τοῦ Ἀντισθένους τὸ φιλοποιὸν καὶ συναγωγὸν ἀνθρώπων εἰς εὔνοιαν μαστροπείαν καὶ συναγωγίαν καὶ προαγωγείαν ὀνομάσας. … Κράτητα δὲ τὸν φιλόσοφον, εἰς πᾶσαν οἰκίαν εἰσιόντα μετὰ τιμῆς καὶ φιλοφροσύνης δεχομένων, θυρεπανοίκτην ἐκάλουν. [¶7] 1.7. Again, a complaint that implies thankfulness for a received favor is pleasant raillery. Thus Diogenes of his master Antisthenes: That man that made me leave my precious ore, Clothed me with rags, and force. me to be poor; That man that made me wander, beg my bread, And scorn to have a house to hide my lead. For it had not been half so pleasant to have said, that man that made me wise, content, and happy. And thus a Spartan, making as if he would find fault with the master of the exercises for giving him wood that would not smoke, said, He will not permit us even to shed a tear. So he that calls a hospitable man, and one that treats often, a kidnapper, and a tyrant who for a long time would not permit him to see his own table; and he whom the King hath raised and enriched, that says he had a design upon him and robbed him of his sleep and quiet. So if he that hath an excellent vintage should complain of Aeschylus’s Cabeiri for making him want vinegar, as they had jocosely threatened. For such as these have a pungent pleasantness, so that the praised are not offended nor take it ill. > Greek: 1.7. ποιεῖ δʼ εὔχαρι σκῶμμα καὶ μέμψις ἐμφαίνουσα χάριν, ὡς Διογένης περὶ Ἀντισθένους ἔλεγεν ὅς με ῥάκη τʼ ἤμπισχε κἀξηνάγκασεν πτωχὸν γενέσθαι κἀκ δόμων ἀνάστατον. οὐ γὰρ ἂν ὁμοίως πιθανὸς ἦν λέγων ὅς με σοφὸν καὶ αὐτάρκη καὶ μακάριον ἐποίησε καὶ ὁ Λάκων ἄκαπνα ξύλα τῷ γυμνασιάρχῳ παρασχόντι προσποιούμενος ἐγκαλεῖν, ἔλεγε διʼ ὃν οὐδʼ ἀποδακρῦσαι γέγονεν ἡμῖν. καὶ ὁ τὸν δειπνίζοντα καθʼ ἡμέραν ἀνδραποδιστὴν καλῶν καὶ τύραννον, διʼ ὃν ἐτῶν τοσούτων οὐχ ἑώρακε τὴν ἑαυτοῦ τράπεζαν. καὶ ὁ λέγων ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπιβεβουλευμένος ἀφῃρῆσθαι τὴν σχολὴν καὶ τὸν ὕπνον, πλούσιος γεγονὼς ἐκ πένητος. καὶ εἴ τις ἀντιστρέψας αἰτιῷτο τοὺς Αἰσχύλου Καβείρους ὄξους σπανίζειν δῶμα ποιήσαντας, ὥσπερ αὐτοὶ παίζοντες ἠπείλησαν. ἅπτεται γὰρ ταῦτα μᾶλλον ἔχοντα δριμυτέραν χάριν, ὥστε μὴ προσίστασθαι μηδὲ λυπεῖν τοὺς ἐπαινουμένους. [¶8] 1.8. Besides, he that would be civilly facetious must know the difference between a vice and a commendable study or recreation; for instance, between the love of money or contention and of music or hunting; for men are grieved if twitted with the former, but take it very well if they are laughed at for the latter. Thus Demosthenes the Mitylenæan was pleasant enough when, knocking at a man’s door that was much given to singing and playing on the harp, and being bid come in, he said, I will, if you will tie up your harp. But the flatterer of Lysimachus was offensive; for being frighted at a wooden scorpion that the king threw into his lap, and leaping out of his seat, he said after he knew the humor, And I’ll fright your majesty too; give me a talent. > Greek: 1.8. δεῖ δὲ τὸν ἐμμελῶς σκώμματι χρησόμενον εἰδέναι καὶ νοσήματος διαφορὰν πρὸς ἐπιτήδευμα, λέγω δὲ φιλαργυρίας καὶ φιλονεικίας πρὸς φιλομουσίαν καὶ φιλοθηρίαν· ἐπʼ ἐκείνοις μὲν γὰρ ἄχθονται σκωπτόμενοι, πρὸς ταῦτα δʼ ἡδέως ἔχουσιν. οὐκ ἀηδῶς γοῦν Δημοσθένης ὁ Μιτυληναῖος, φιλῳδοῦ τινος καὶ φιλοκιθαριστοῦ θύραν κόψας, ὑπακούσαντος αὐτοῦ καὶ κελεύσαντος εἰσελθεῖν ἂν πρῶτον ἔφη τὴν κιθάραν δήσῃς. ἀηδῶς δʼ ὁ τοῦ Λυσιμάχου παράσιτος, ἐμβαλόντος αὐτοῦ σκορπίον ξύλινον εἰς τὸ ἱμάτιον, ἐκταραχθεὶς καὶ ἀναπηδήσας, ὡς ᾔσθετο τὴν παιδιάν, κἀγώ σε φησὶν ἐκφοβῆσαι βούλομαι, ὦ βασιλεῦ· δός μοι τάλαντον. [¶9] 1.9. In several things about the body too the like caution is to be observed. Thus he that is jested on for a flat or hooked nose usually laughs at the jest. Thus Cassander’s friend was not at all displeased when Theophrastus said to him,’Tis strange, sir, that your eyes don’t sing, since your nose is so near to give them the tune; and Cyrus commanded a long hawk-nosed fellow to marry a flat-nosed girl, for then they would very well agree. But a jest on any for his stinking breath or filthy nose is irksome; for baldness it may be borne, but for blindness or infirmity in the eyes it is intolerable. It is true, Antigonus would joke upon himself, and once, receiving a petition written in great letters, he said, This a man may read if he were stark blind. But he killed Theocritus the Chian for saying,—when one told him that as soon as he appeared before the King’s eyes he would be pardoned,—Sir, then it is impossible for me to be saved. And the Byzantine to Pasiades saying, Sir, your eyes are weak, replied, You upbraid me with this infirmity, not considering that thy son carries the vengeance of Heaven on his back: now Pasiades’s son was hunch-backed. And Archippus the popular Athenian was much displeased with Melanthius for being smart on his crooked back; for Melanthius had said that he did not stand at the head of the state (προεστάναι) but bowed down before it (προκεκυφέναι). It is true, some are not much concerned at such jeers. Thus Antigonus’s friend, when he had begged a talent and was denied, desired a guard, lest somebody should rob him of that talent he was now to carry home. Different tempers make men differently affected, and that which troubles one is not regarded by another. Epaminondas feasting with his fellow-magistrates drank vinegar; and some asking if it was good for his health, he replied, I cannot tell that, but I know it makes me remember what I drink at home. Therefore it becomes every man that would rally, to look into the humors of his company, and take heed to converse without offence. > Greek: 1.9. εἰσὶ δὲ καὶ περὶ τὰ σωματικὰ τοιαῦται διαφοραὶ τῶν πολλῶν· οἷον εἰς γρυπότητα καὶ σιμότητα σκωπτόμενοι γελῶσιν, ὡς ὁ Κασάνδρου φίλος; οὐκ ἠχθέσθη τοῦ Θεοφράστου πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰπόντος θαυμάζω σου τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς, ὅτι οὐκ ᾅδουσι, τοῦ μυκτῆρος; αὐτοῖς ἐνδεδωκότος καὶ ὁ Κῦρος ἐκέλευσε τὸν γρυπὸν σιμὸν ἀγαγέσθαι γύναιον, οὕτω γὰρ ἐφαρμόσειν. εἰς δὲ δυσωδίαν μυκτῆρος ἢ στόματος ἄχθονται σκωπτόμενοι· καὶ πάλιν εἰς φαλακρότητα πράως φέρουσιν, εἰς δὲ πήρωσιν ὀφθαλμῶν ἀηδῶς. καὶ γὰρ Ἀντίγονος αὐτὸς μὲν ἑαυτὸν εἰς τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν ἔσκωπτε· καί ποτε λαβὼν ἀξίωμα μεγάλοις γράμμασι γεγραμμένον ταυτὶ μέν ἔφη καὶ τυφλῷ δῆλα Θεόκριτον δὲ τὸν Χῖον ἀπέκτεινεν, ὅτι φήσαντός τινος τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς ἂν βασιλέως παραγένῃ, σωθήσῃ·ἀλλά μοι εἶπεν ἀδύνατον λέγεις τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ τὴν σωτηρίαν. Λέων ὁ Βυζάντιος, εἰπόντος Πασιάδου πρὸς αὐτὸν, ὀφθαλμισθῆναι διʼ αὐτοῦ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς ἀσθένειαν ἔφη σώματος ὀνειδίζεις, νέμεσιν οὐχ ὁρῶν ἐπὶ τῶν ὤμων βαστάζοντά σου τὸν υἱόν· εἶχε δὲ κυρτὸν ὁ Πασιάδης υἱόν. ἠγανάκτησε δὲ καὶ Ἄρχιππος, ὁ δημαγωγὸς τῶν Ἀθηναίων, ὑπὸ Μελανθίου σκωφθεὶς εἰς τὸ κυρτόν· ἔφη γὰρ αὐτὸν ὁ Μελάνθιος οὐ προεστάναι τῆς πόλεως ἀλλὰ προκεκυφέναι. τινὲς δὲ ταῦτα πράως καὶ μετρίως φέρουσιν, ὥσπερ ὁ φίλος τοῦ Ἀντιγόνου τάλαντον αἰτήσας καὶ μὴ λαβὼν ᾔτησε προπομποὺς καὶ φύλακας ὅπως ἔφη μὴ ἐπιβουλευθῶ προστάξας κατʼ ὤμου τὸ τάλαντον φέρειν. οὕτω μὲν περὶ τὰ ἐκτὸς ἔχουσι διὰ τὴν ἀνωμαλίαν ἄλλοι γὰρ ἐπʼ ἄλλοις ἄχθονται. Ἐπαμεινώνδας μετὰ τῶν συναρχόντων ἑστιώμενος ἐπέπινεν ὄξος, καὶ πυνθανομένων εἰ πρὸς ὑγίειαν ἀγαθόν, οὐκ οἶδʼ εἶπεν, ὅτι μέντοι πρὸς τὸ μεμνῆσθαι τῆς οἴκοι διαίτης ἀγαθόν, ἐπίσταμαι. διὸ δεῖ καὶ πρὸς τὰς φύσεις καὶ τὰ ἤθη σκοποῦντα ταῖς παιδιαῖς χρῆσθαι, πειρώμενον ἀλύπως καὶ κεχαρισμένως ἑκάστοις ὁμιλεῖν. [¶10] 1.10. Love, as in most things else, so in this matter causes different effects; for some lovers are pleased and some displeased at a merry jest. Therefore in this case a fit time must be accurately observed; for as a blast of wind puffs out a fire whilst it is weak and little, but when thoroughly kindled strengthens and increaseth it; so love, before it is evident and confessed, is displeased at a discoverer, but when it breaks forth and blazes in everybody’s eyes, then it is delighted and gathers strength by the frequent blasts of joke and raillery. When their beloved is present it will gratify them most to pass a jest upon their passion, but to fall on any other subject will be counted an abuse. If they are remarkably loving to their own wives, or entertain a generous affection for a hopeful youth, then are they proud, then tickled when jeered for such a love. And therefore Arcesilaus, when an amorous man in his school laid down this proposition, In my opinion one thing cannot touch another, replied, Sir, you touch this person, pointing to a lovely boy that sat near him. > Greek: 1.10. ὁ δʼ ἔρως τὰ τʼ ἄλλα ποικιλώτατός ἐστι, καὶ τοῖς σκώμμασιν οἱ μὲν ἄχθονται καὶ ἀγανακτοῦσιν οἱ δὲ χαίρουσι. δεῖ δʼ εἰδέναι τὸν καιρόν· ὡς γὰρ τὸ πῦρ ἐν ἀρχῇ μὲν ἀποσβέννυσι τὸ πνεῦμα διὰ τὴν ἀσθένειαν αὐξηθέντι δὲ τροφὴν παρέχει καὶ ῥώμην, οὕτω φυόμενος ὁ ἔρως ἔτι καὶ λανθάνων δυσκολαίνει καὶ ἀγανακτεῖ πρὸς τοὺς ἀποκαλύπτοντας, ἐκλάμψας δὲ καὶ διαφανεὶς τρέφεται καὶ προσγελᾷ τοῖς σκώμμασι φυσώμενος. ἥδιστα δὲ σκώπτονται, παρόντων τῶν ἐρωμένων, εἰς αὐτὸ τὸ ἐρᾶν εἰς ἄλλο δʼ οὐδέν. ἐὰν δὲ καὶ γυναικῶν ἐρῶντες ἰδίων τύχωσιν ἢ νεανίσκων φιλοκάλων ἔρωτα γενναῖον, παντάπασι γάνυνται καὶ καλλωπίζονται τῷ σκώπτεσθαι πρὸς αὐτούς. διὸ καὶ Ἀρκεσίλαος, ἐν τῇ σχολῇ τοιαύτης μεταδόσεως αὐτῷ γενομένης ὑπό τινος τῶν ἐρωτικῶν δοκεῖ μοι μηδὲν ἅπτεσθαι μηδενός·οὐδὲ σὺ τοίνυν ἔφη τοῦδʼ ἅπτῃ; δείξας τινὰ τῶν καλῶν καὶ ὡραίων παρακαθήμενον. [¶11] 1.11. Besides, the company must be considered; for what a man will only laugh at when mentioned amongst his friends and familiar acquaintance, he will not endure to be told of before his wife, father, or tutor, unless perhaps it be something that will please those too; as for instance, if before a philosopher one should jeer a man for going barefoot or studying all night; or before his father, for carefulness and thrift; or in the presence of his wife, for being cold to his companions and doating upon her. Thus Tigranes, when Cyrus asked him, What will your wife say when she hears that you are put to servile offices? replied, Sir, she will not hear it, but be present herself and see it. > Greek: 1.11. ἤδη δὲ καὶ τὸ τῶν παρόντων σκεπτέον· ἃ γὰρ ἐν φίλοις καὶ συνήθεσιν ἀκούοντες γελῶσι, ταῦτα δυσχεραίνουσιν, ἂν λέγηται πρὸς αὐτοὺς τῆς γαμετῆς παρούσης ἢ τοῦ πατρὸς ἢ τοῦ καθηγητοῦ, πλὴν ἂν μή τι κεχαρισμένον τῶν λεγομένων ἐκείνοις· οἷον ἄν τις σκώπτηται τοῦ φιλοσόφου παρόντος εἰς ἀνυποδησίαν ἢ νυκτογραφίαν, ἢ τοῦ πατρὸς ἀκούοντος εἰς μικρολογίαν, ἢ τῆς γυναικὸς παρούσης εἰς τὸ ἀνέραστον ἑτέρων ἐκείνης δὲ δοῦλον καὶ θεραπευτικόν, ὡς ὁ Τιγράνης ὑπὸ τοῦ Κύρου τί δʼ, ἂν σʼ ἡ γυνὴ σκευοφοροῦντα ἀκούσῃ;ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἀκούσεται εἶπεν ὄψεται δʼ αὐτὴ παροῦσα. [¶12] 1.12. Again, those jokes are accounted less affronting which reflect somewhat also on the man that makes them; as when one poor man, base-born fellow, or lover jokes upon another. For whatever comes from one in the same circumstances looks more like a piece of mirth than a designed affront; but otherwise it must needs be irksome and distasteful. Upon this account, when a slave whom the King had lately feed and enriched behaved himself very impertinently in the company of some philosophers, asking them, how it came to pass that the broth of beans, whether white or black, was always green, Aridices putting another question, why, let the whips be white or not, the wales and marks they made were still red, displeased him extremely, and made him rise from the table in a great rage and discontent. But Amphias the Tarsian, who was supposed to be sprung from a gardener, joking upon the governor’s friend for his obscure and mean birth, and presently subjoining, But ’tis true, I sprung from the same seed, caused much mirth and laughter. And the harper very facetiously put a check to Philip’s ignorance and impertinence; for when Philip pretended to correct him, he cried out, God forbid, sir, that ever you should be brought so low as to understand these things better than I. For by this seeming joke he instructed him without giving any offence. Therefore some of the comedians seem to lay aside their bitterness in every jest that may reflect upon themselves; as Aristophanes, when he is merry upon a bald-pate; and Cratinus in his play Pytine upon drunkenness and excess. > Greek: 1.12. ποιεῖ δʼ ἀλυπότερα τὰ σκώμματα καὶ τὸ κοινωνεῖν ἁμωσγέπως τοὺς λέγοντας· ὅταν εἰς πενίαν λέγῃ πένης ἢ δυσγενὴς εἰς δυσγένειαν ἢ ἐρῶν εἰς ἔρωτα· δοκεῖ δʼ οὐχ ὕβρει παιδιᾷ δέ τινι γίγνεσθαι μᾶλλον ὑπὸ τῶν ὁμοίων εἰ δὲ μή, παροξύνει καὶ λυπεῖ. τὸν γοῦν ἀπελεύθερον τοῦ βασιλέως νεόπλουτον ὄντα φορτικῶς δὲ καὶ σοβαρῶς ἐπιπολάζοντα τοῖς συνδειπνοῦσι φιλοσόφοις, καί τέλος ἐρωτῶντα πῶς ἔκ τε τῶν λευκῶν καὶ τῶν μελάνων κυάμων ὁμοίως χλωρὸν γίγνεται τὸ ἔτνος, ἀντερωτήσας ὁ Ἀριδίκης, πῶς ἐκ τῶν λευκῶν καὶ μελάνων ἱμάντων φοινικοῖ γίγνονται μώλωπες, ἐποίησεν ἀναστῆναι περίλυπον γενόμενον. ὁ δὲ Ταρσεὺς Ἀμφίας ἐκ κηπουροῦ δοκῶν γεγονέναι, σκώψας δὲ τὸν φίλον τοῦ ἡγεμόνος εἰς δυσγένειαν εἶθʼ ὑπολαβὼν εὐθὺς ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐκ τῶν αὐτῶν σπερμάτων γεγόναμεν γέλωτʼ ἐποίησε. κομψῶς δὲ καὶ τοῦ Φιλίππου τὴν ὀψιμαθίαν ἅμα καὶ περιεργίαν ὁ ψάλτης ἐπέσχεν οἰομένου γὰρ αὐτὸν ἐξελέγχειν τοῦ Φιλίππου περὶ κρουμάτων καὶ ἁρμονιῶν μὴ γένοιτό σοι εἶπεν ὦ βασιλεῦ, κακῶς οὕτως, ἵνʼ ἐμοῦ σὺ ταῦτʼ εἰδῇς βέλτιον σκώπτειν γὰρ ἑαυτὸν δοκῶν, ἐκεῖνον ἀλύπως ἐνουθέτησε. διὸ καὶ τῶν κωμικῶν ἔνιοι τὴν πικρίαν ἀφαιρεῖν δοκοῦσι τῷ σκώπτειν ἑαυτούς, ὡς Ἀριστοφάνης εἰς τὴν φαλακρότητα καὶ τὴν Ἀγάθωνος ἀπόλειψιν· Κρατῖνος δὲ τὴν πυτίνην εἰς τὴν φιλοινίαν ἐδίδαξεν. [¶13] 1.13. Besides, you must be very careful that the jest should seem to be extempore, taken from some present question or merry humor; not far fetched, as if premeditate and designed. For as men are not much concerned at the anger and debates among themselves at table while they are in the midst of their cups, but if any stranger should come in and offer abuse to any of the guests, they would hate and look upon him as an enemy; so they will easily pardon and indulge a jest if undesignedly taken from any present circumstance; but if it is nothing to the matter in hand but fetched from another thing, it must look like a design and be resented as an affront. Such was that of Timagenes to the husband of a woman that often vomited,—“Thou beginnest thy troubles when thou bringest home this vomiting woman,” —saying τήνδ’ ἐμοῦσαν (this vomiting woman), when the poet had written τήνδε Μοῦσαν (this Muse); and also his question to Athenodorus the philosopher,—Is the affection to our children natural For when the raillery is not founded on some present circumstance. it is an argument of ill-nature and a mischievous temper; and such as delight in jests like these do often for a mere word, the lightest thing in the world (as Plato says), suffer the heaviest punishment. But those that know how to time and apply a jest confirm Plato’s opinion, that to rally pleasantly and facetiously is the business of a scholar and a wit. > Greek: 1.13. οὐχ ἥκιστα δὲ δεῖ προσέχειν καὶ φυλάττειν, ὅπως ἐκ τοῦ παρατυχόντος ἔσται τὸ σκῶμμα πρὸς τινας ἐρωτήσεις αὐτόθεν ἢ παιδιὰς γιγνόμενον, ἀλλὰ μὴ πόρρωθεν οἷον ἐκ παρασκευῆς ἐπεισόδιον. ὡς γὰρ ὀργὰς καὶ μάχας τὰς ἐκ τῶν συμποσίων πραότερον φέρουσιν, ἐὰν δʼ ἐπελθών τις ἔξωθεν λοιδορῆται καὶ ταράττῃ, τοῦτον ἐχθρὸν ἡγοῦνται καὶ μισοῦσιν οὕτω μέτεστι συγγνώμης σκώμματι καὶ παρρησίας, ἂν ἐκ τῶν παρόντων ἔχῃ τὴν γένεσιν, ἀφελῶς καὶ ἀπλάστως φυόμενον· ἂν δʼ μὴ πρὸς λόγον ἀλλʼ ἔξωθεν, ἐπιβουλῇ καὶ ὕβρει προσέοικεν· οἷον τὸ Τιμαγένους πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα τῆς ἐμετικῆς κακῶν γὰρ ἄρχεις τήνδε μοῦσαν εἰσάγων· καὶ πρὸς Ἀθηνόδωρον τὸν φιλόσοφον, εἰ φυσικὴ ἡ πρὸς τὰ ἔκγονα φιλοστοργία ἡ γὰρ ἀκαιρία καὶ τὸ μὴ πρὸς λόγον ὕβριν ἐμφαίνει καὶ δυσμένειαν. οὗτοι μὲν οὖν κατὰ Πλάτωνα κουφοτάτου πράγματος, λόγων, βαρυτάτην ζημίαν ἔτισαν· οἱ δὲ τὸν καιρὸν εἰδότες καὶ φυλάττοντες αὐτῷ τῷ Πλάτωνι μαρτυροῦσιν, ὅτι τοῦ πεπαιδευμένου καλῶς ἔργον ἐστὶ τὸ παίζειν ἐμμελῶς καὶ κεχαρισμένως. [¶14] 2.1. IN Eleusis, after the solemn celebration of the sacred mysteries, Glaucias the orator entertained us at a feast; where, after the rest had done, Xenocles of Delphi, as his humor is, began to be smart upon my brother Lamprias for his good Boeotian stomach. I in his defence opposing Xenocles, who was an Epicurean, said, Pray, sir, do not all place the very essence of pleasure in privation of pain and suffering? But Lamprias, who prefers the Lyceum before the Garden, ought by his practice to confirm Aristotle’s doctrine; for he affirms that every man hath a better stomach in the autumn than in other seasons of the year, and gives the reason, which I cannot remember at present. So much the better (says Glaucias), for when supper is done, we will endeavor to discover it ourselves. That being over, Glaucias and Xenocles drew various reasons from the autumnal fruit. One said, that it scoured the body, and by this evacuation continually raised new appetites. Xenocles affirmed, that ripe fruit had usually a pleasing vellicating sapor, and thereby provoked the appetite better than sauces or sweetmeats; for sick men of a vitiated stomach usually recover it by eating fruit. But Lamprias said, that our natural heat, the principal instrument of nutrition, in the midst of summer is scattered and becomes rare and weak, but in autumn it unites again and gathers strength, being shut in by the ambient cold and contraction of the pores. I for my part said: In summer we are more thirsty and use more moisture than in other seasons; and therefore Nature, observing the same method in all her operations, at this change of seasons employs the contrary and makes us hungry; and to maintain an equal temper in the body, she gives us dry food to countervail the moisture taken in the summer. Yet none can deny but that the food itself is a partial cause; for not only new fruit, bread, or corn, but flesh of the same year, is better tasted than that of the former, more forcibly provokes the guests, and enticeth them to eat on. > Greek: 2.1. ἐν Ἐλευσῖνι μετὰ τὰ μυστήρια τῆς πανηγύρεως ἀκμαζούσης, εἱστιώμεθα παρὰ Γλαυκίᾳ τῷ ῥήτορι. πεπαυμένων δὲ δειπνεῖν τῶν ἄλλων, Ξενοκλῆς ὁ Δελφὸς ὥσπερ εἰώθει τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν Λαμπρίαν εἰς ἀδδηφαγίαν Βοιώτιον ἐπέσκωπτεν. ἐγὼ δʼ ἀμυνόμενος ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ τὸν Ξενοκλέα τοῖς Ἐπικούρου λόγοις χρώμενον οὐ γὰρ ἅπαντες εἶπον ὦ βέλτιστε, ποιοῦνται τὴν τοῦ ἀλγοῦντος ὑπεξαίρεσιν ὅρον ἡδονῆς καὶ πέρας· Λαμπρίᾳ δὲ καὶ ἀνάγκη, πρὸ τοῦ κήπου κυδαίνοντι τὸν περίπατον καὶ τὸ Λύκειον ἔργῳ μαρτυρεῖν Ἀρἰστοτέλει· φησι γὰρ ὁ ἀνὴρ βρωτικώτατον ἕκαστον αὐτὸν αὑτοῦ περὶ τὸ φθινόπωρον εἶναι, καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν ἐπείρηκεν ἐγὼ δʼ οὐ μνημονεύωβέλτιον εἶπεν ὁ Γλαυκίας αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἐπιχειρήσομεν ζητεῖν, ὅταν παυσώμεθα δειπνοῦντες. ὡς οὖν ἀφῃρέθησαν αἱ τράπεζαι, γλαυκίας μὲν καὶ Ξενοκλῆς ᾐτιάσαντο τὴν ὀπώραν διαφόρως, ὁ μὲν ὡς τὴν κοιλίαν ὑπεξάγουσαν καὶ τῷ κενοῦσθαι τὸ σῶμα νεαρὰς ὀρέξεις ἀεὶ παρασκευάζουσαν· ὁ δὲ Ξενοκλῆς ἔλεγεν εὔστομόν τι καὶ δηκτικὸν ἔχοντα τῶν ὡραίων τὰ πλεῖστα τὸν στόμαχον ἐπὶ τὴν βρῶσιν ἐκκαλεῖσθαι παντὸς μᾶλλον ὄψου καὶ ἡδύσματος· καὶ γὰρ τοῖς ἀποσίτοις τῶν ἀρρώστων ὀπώρας τι προσενεχθὲν ἀναλαμβάνει τὴν ὄρεξιν. ὁ δὲ Λαμπρίας εἶπεν, ὅτι τὸ οἰκεῖον καὶ τὸ σύμφυτον θερμὸν ἡμῶν, ᾧ τρέφεσθαι πεφύκαμεν, ἐν μὲν τῷ θέρει διέσπαρται καὶ γέγονεν ἀσθενέστερον καὶ μανόν, ἐν δὲ τῷ φθίνοντι καιρῷ συναγείρεται πάλιν καὶ ἰσχύει, κατακρυπτόμενον ἐντὸς διὰ τὴν περίψυξιν καὶ τὴν πύκνωσιν τοῦ σώματος. ἐγὼ δʼ ὑπὲρ τοῦ μὴ δοκεῖν ἀσύμβολος τοῦ λόγου μετασχεῖν εἶπον, ὅτι τοῦ θέρους διψητικώτεροι γιγνόμεθα καὶ πλείονι χρώμεθα τῷ ὑγρῷ διὰ τὸ καῦμα· νῦν οὖν ἡ φύσις ἐν τῇ μεταβολῇ ζητοῦσα τοὐναντίον, ὥσπερ εἴωθε, πεινητικωτέρους ποιεῖ, καὶ τὴν ξηρὰν τροφὴν τῇ κράσει τοῦ σώματος· ἀνταποδίδωσιν. οὐ μὴν οὐδὲ τὰ σιτία φήσαι τις ἂν αἰτίας ἀμοιρεῖν παντάπασιν, ἀλλʼ ἐκ νέων καὶ προσφάτων γενόμενα καρπῶν οὐ μόνον μάζας καὶ ὄσπρια καὶ ἄρτους καὶ πυροὺς, ἀλλὰ καὶ κρέα ζῴων εὐωχουμένων τὰ ἐπέτεια τοῖς τε χυμοῖς διαφέρειν τῶν παλαιῶν καὶ μᾶλλον ἐπάγεσθαι τοὺς χρωμένους καὶ ἀπολαύοντας. [¶15] 3.1. WHEN upon a dream I had forborne eggs a long time, on purpose that in an egg (as in a Carian ) I might make experiment of a notable vision that often troubled me; some at Sossius Senecio’s table suspected that I was tainted with Orpheus’s or Pythagoras’s opinions, and refused to cat an egg (as some do the heart and brain) imagining it to be the principle of generation. And Alexander the Epicurean ridiculingly repeated,— To feed on beans and parents’ heads Is equal sin; as if the Pythagoreans covertly meant eggs by the word κύαμοι (beans), deriving it from κύω or κυέω (to conceive), and thought it as unlawful to feed on eggs as on the animals that lay them. Now to pretend a dream for the cause of my abstaining, to an Epicurean, had been a defence more irrational than the cause itself; and therefore I suffered jocose Alexander to enjoy his opinion, for he was a pleasant man and excellently learned. > Greek: 3.1. ἐξ ἐνυπνίου τινὸς ἀπειχόμην ᾠῶν πολὺν ἡδο παρὰ τοῦτο ποιούμενος, ἐν καθάπερ ἐν Καρὶ διάπειραν λαβεῖν τῆς ὄψεως ἐναργῶς μοι πολλάκις γενομένης· ὑπόνοιαν μέντοι παρέσχον, ἑστιῶντος ἡμᾶς Σοσσίου Σενεκίωνος, ἐνέχεσθαι δόγμασιν Ὀρφικοῖς ἢ Πυθαγορικοῖς, καὶ τὸ ᾠόν, ὥσπερ ἔνιοι καρδίαν καὶ ἐγκέφαλον, ἀρχὴν ἡγούμενος γενέσεως ἀφοσιοῦσθαι· καὶ προὔφερεν Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ Ἐπικούρειος ἐπὶ γέλωτι τὸ ἶσόν τοι κυάμους ἔσθειν κεφαλάς τε τοκήων ὡς δὴ κυάμους τὰ ᾠὰ διὰ τὴν κύησιν αἰνιττομένων τῶν ἀνδρῶν, διαφέρειν δὲ μηδὲν οἰομένων τὸ ἐσθίειν ᾠὰ τοῦ χρῆσθαι τοῖς τίκτουσι τὰ ᾠὰ ζῴοις. ἐγίγνετο δὴ τὸ τῆς αἰτίας ἀπολόγημα τῆς αἰτίας αὐτῆς ἀλογώτερον, Ἐπικουρείῳ λέγειν ἐνύπνιον. ὅθεν οὐ παρῃτούμην τὴν δόξαν ἅμα προσπαίζων τι τῷ Ἀλεξάνδρῳ καὶ γὰρ ἦν χαρίεις καὶ φιλόλογος ἐπιεικῶς. [¶16] 3.2. Soon after he proposed that perplexed question, that plague of the inquisitive, Which was first, the bird or the egg? And my friend Sylla, saying that with this little question, as with an engine, we shook the great and weighty question (whether the world had a beginning), declared his dislike of such problems. But Alexander deriding the question as slight and impertinent, my relation Firmus said: Well, sir, at present your atoms will do me some service; for if we suppose that small things must be the principles of greater, it is likely that the egg was before the bird; for an egg amongst sensible things is very simple, and the bird is more mixed, and contains a greater variety of parts. It is universally true, that a principle is before that whose principle it is; now the seed is a principle, and the egg is somewhat more than the seed, and less than the bird; for as a disposition or a progress in goodness is something between a tractable mind and a habit of virtue, so an egg is as it were a progress of Nature tending from the seed to a perfect animal. And as in an animal they say the veins and arteries are formed first, upon the same account the egg should be before the bird, as the thing containing before the thing contained. Thus art first makes rude and ill-shapen figures, and afterwards perfects every thing with its proper form; and it was for this reason that the statuary Polycletus said, Then our work is most difficult, when the clay comes to be fashioned by the nail. So it is probable that matter, not readily obeying the slow motions of contriving Nature, at first frames rude and indefinite masses, as the egg, and of these moulded anew, and joined in better order, the animal afterward is formed. As the canker is first, and then growing dry and cleaving lets forth a winged animal, called psyche; so the egg is first as it were the subject matter of the generation. For it is certain that, in every change, that out of which the thing changes must be before the thing changing. Observe how worms and caterpillars are bred in trees from the moisture corrupted or concocted; now none can say but that the engendering moisture is naturally before all these. For (as Plato says) matter is as a mother or nurse in respect of the bodies that are formed, and we call that matter out of which any thing that is is made. And with a smile continued he, I speak to those that are acquainted with the mystical and sacred discourse of Orpheus, who not only affirms the egg to be before the bird, but makes it the first being in the whole world. The other parts, because deep mysteries (as Herodotus would say), we shall now pass by; but let us look upon the various kinds of animals, and we shall find almost every one beginning from an egg,—fowls and fishes; land animals, as lizards; amphibious, as crocodiles; some with two legs, as a cock; some without any, as a snake; and some with many, as a locust. And therefore in the solemnly feast of Bacchus it is very well done to dedicate an egg, as the emblem of that which begets and contains every thing in itself. > Greek: 3.2. ἐκ δὲ τούτου τὸ ἄπορον καὶ πολλὰ πράγματα τοῖς ζητητικοῖς παρέχον εἰς μέσον εἷλκε πρόβλημα περὶ τοῦ ᾠοῦ καὶ τῆς ὄρνιθος, ὁπότερον γένοιτο πρότερον αὐτῶν. καὶ Σύλλας μὲν ὁ ἑταῖρος εἰπὼν ὅτι μικρῷ προβλήματι καθάπερ ὀργάνῳ μέγα καὶ βαρὺ σαλεύομεν τὸ περὶ τῆς τοῦ κόσμου γενέσεως, ἀπηγόρευσε. τοῦ δʼ Ἀλεξάνδρου τῆς ζητήσεως ὡς μηδὲν προσφυὲς φερούσης καταγελάσαντος, ὁ γαμβρὸς ἡμῶν Φίρμος ἐμοὶ τοίνυν ἔφη χρῆσον ἐν τῷ παρόντι τὰς ἀτόμους. εἰ γὰρ τὰ μικρὰ δεῖ στοιχεῖα τῶν μεγάλων ἀρχὰς ὑποτίθεσθαι, πρῶτον εἰκὸς ἐστι τὸ ᾠὸν γεγονέναι τῆς ὄρνιθος· ἔστι γὰρ καὶ ἁπλοῦν, ὡς ἐν αἰσθητοῖς· ποικίλον δὲ καὶ μεμιγμένον μᾶλλον ἡ ὄρνις. καθόλου δʼ ἡ μὲν ἀρχὴ πρῶτον ἀρχὴ δὲ τὸ σπέρμα, τὸ δʼ ᾠὸν σπέρματος; μὲν πλέον ζῴου δὲ μικρότερον. ὡς γὰρ ἡ προκοπὴ μέσον εὐφυΐας εἶναι δοκεῖ καὶ ἀρετῆς, οὕτω τὸ ᾠὸν προκοπὴ τίς ἐστι τῆς φύσεως ἐπὶ τὸ ἔμψυχον ἀπὸ τοῦ σπέρματος πορευομένης. ἔτι δʼ, ὥσπερ ἐν τῷ ζῴῳ πρῶτα γίγνεσθαι λέγουσιν ἀρτηρίας καὶ φλέβας, οὕτω λόγον ἔχει καὶ τοῦ ζῴου τὸ ᾠὸν γεγονέναι πρῶτον, ὡς περιέχον ἐμπεριεχομένου. καὶ γὰρ αἱ τέχναι πρῶτον ἀτύπωτα καὶ ἄμορφα πλάττουσιν, εἶθʼ ὕστερον ἕκαστα τοῖς εἴδεσι διαρθροῦσιν ᾕ Πολύκλειτος ὁ πλάστης εἶπε χαλεπώτατον εἶναι τοὔργον, ὅταν ἐν ὄνυχι ὁ πηλὸς γένηται. διὸ καὶ τῇ φύσει τὸ πρῶτον εἰκός ἐστιν ἀτρέμα κινούσῃ τὴν ὕλην ἀργοτέραν ὑπακούειν, τύπους ἀμόρφους καὶ ἀορίστους ἐκφέρουσαν ὥσπερ τὰ ᾠά· μορφουμένων δὲ τούτων καὶ διαχαρασσομένων, ὕστερον ἐνδημιουργεῖσθαι τὸ ζῷον. ὡς δὲ κάμπη γίγνεται τὸ πρῶτον, εἶτʼ ἐκπαγεῖσα διὰ ξηρότητα καὶ περιρραγεῖσα ἕτερον πτερωθὲν διʼ αὑτῆς τὴν καλουμένην ψυχὴν μεθίησι, τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον ἐνταῦθα προϋφίσταται τὸ ᾠὸν οἷον ὕλη τῆς γενέσεως. ἀνάγκη γὰρ ἐν πάσῃ μεταβολῇ πρότερον εἶναι τοῦ μεταβάλλοντος τὸ ἐξ οὗ μετέβαλε. σκόπει δʼ ὅτι σκνῖπες ἐν δένδρῳ καὶ τερηδόνες ἐμφύονται ξύλῳ κατὰ σῆψιν ὑγρότητος ἢ πέψιν· ὧν οὐδεὶς ἂν ἀξιώσειεν μὴ προϋποκεῖσθαι μηδὲ πρεσβύτερον εἶναι φύσει τὸ γεννῶν. ἡ γὰρ ὕλη λόγον ἔχει πρὸς τὰ γιγνόμενα μητρὸς ὥς φησι Πλάτων καὶ τιθήνης ὕλη δὲ πᾶν, ἐξ οὗ σύστασιν ἔχει τὸ γεννώμενον τὸ δʼ ἐπὶ τούτοις ἔφη γελάσας ἀείσω ξυνετοῖσι τὸν Ὀρφικὸν καὶ ἱερὸν λόγον, ὃς οὐκ ὄρνιθος μόνον τὸ ᾠὸν ἀποφαίνει πρεσβύτερον, ἀλλὰ καὶ συλλαβὼν ἅπασαν αὐτῷ τὴν ἁπάντων ὁμοῦ πρεσβυγένειαν ἀνατίθησι. καὶ τἄλλα μὲν εὔστομα κείσθω καθʼ Ἡρόδοτον· ἔστι γὰρ μυστικώτερα· ζῴων δὲ πολλὰς φύσεις τοῦ κόσμου περιέχοντος, οὐδὲν ὡς εἰπεῖν γένος ἄμοιρόν ἐστι τῆς ἐξ ᾠοῦ γενέσεως· ἀλλὰ καὶ πτηνὰ γεννᾷ καὶ νηκτὰ μυρία καὶ χερσαῖα, σαύρας, καὶ ἀμφίβια, κροκοδείλους, καὶ δίποδα, τὸν ὄρνιν, καὶ ἄποδα, τὸν ὄφιν, καὶ πολύποδα, τὸν ἀττέλεβον· ὅθεν οὐκ ἀπὸ τρόπου τοῖς περὶ τὸν Διόνυσον ὀργιασμοῖς ὡς μίμημα τοῦ τὰ πάντα γεννῶντος καὶ περιέχοντος ἐν ἑαυτῷ συγκαθωσίωται. [¶17] 3.3. To this discourse of Firmus, Senecio replied: Sir, your last similitude contradicts your first, and you have unwittingly opened the world (instead of the door, as the saying is) against yourself. For the world was before all, being the most perfect; and it is rational that the perfect in Nature should be before the imperfect, as the sound before the maimed, and the whole before the part. For it is absurd that there should be a part when there is nothing whose part it is; and therefore nobody says the seed’s man or egg’s hen, but the man’s seed and hen’s egg; because those being after these and formed in them, pay as it were a debt to Nature, by bringing forth another. For they are not in themselves perfect, and therefore have a natural appetite to produce such a thing as that out of which they were first formed; and therefore seed is defined as a telling produced that is to be perfected by another production. Now nothing can be perfected by or want that which as yet is not. Everybody sees that eggs have the nature of a concretion or consistence in some animal or other, but want those organs, veins, and muscles which animals enjoy. Therefore no story delivers that ever any egg was formed immediately from earth; and the poets themselves tell us, that the egg out of which came the Tyndaridae fell down from heaven. But even till this time the earth produceth some perfect and organized animals, as mice in Egypt, and snakes, frogs, and grasshoppers almost everywhere, some external and invigorating principle assisting in the production. And in Sicily, where in the servile war much blood was shed, and many carcasses rotted on the ground, whole swarms of locusts were produced, and spoiled the corn over the whole isle. Such spring from and are nourished by the earth; and seed being formed in them, pleasure and titillation provoke them to mix, upon which some lay eggs, and some bring forth their young alive; and this evidently proves that animals first sprang from earth, and afterwards by copulation, after different ways, propagated their several kinds. In short, it is the same thing as if you said the womb was before the woman; for as the womb is to the egg, the egg is to the chick that is formed in it; so that he that inquires how birds should be when there were no eggs, might ask as well how men and women could be before any organs of generation were formed. Parts generally have their subsistence together with the whole; particular powers follow particular members, and operations follow those powers, and effects those operations. Now the effect of the generative power is the seed and egg; so that these must be after the formation of the whole. Therefore consider, as there can be no digestion of food before the animal is formed, so there can be no seed nor egg; for those, it is likely, are made by some digestion and alterations; nor can it be that, before the animal is, the superfluous parts of the food of the animal should have a being. Besides, though seed may perhaps pretend to be a principle, the egg cannot; for it doth not subsist first, nor hath it the nature of a whole, for it is imperfect. Therefore we do not affirm that the animal is produced without a principle of its being; but we call the principle that power which changes, mixes, and tempers the matter, so that a living creature is regularly produced; but the egg is an after-production, as the blood or milk of an animal after the taking in and digestion of the food. For we never see an egg formed immediately of mud, for it is produced in the bodies of animals alone; but a thousand living creatures rise from the mud. What need of many instances? None ever found the spawn or egg of an eel; yet if you empty a pit and take out all the mud, as soon as other water settles in it, eels likewise are presently produced. Now that must exist first which hath no need of any other thing that it may exist, and that after, which cannot be without the concurrence of another thing. And of this priority is our present discourse. Besides, birds build nests before they lay their eggs; and women provide cradles, swaddling-clothes, and the like; yet who says that the nest is before the egg, or the swaddling-clothes before the infant? For the earth (as Plato says) doth not imitate a woman, but a woman, and so likewise all other females, the earth. Moreover it is probable that the first production out of the earth, which was then vigorous and perfect, was self-sufficient and entire, nor stood in need of those secundines, membranes, and vessels, which now Nature forms to help the weakness and supply the defects of breeders. > Greek: 3.3. ταῦτα τοῦ Φίρμου διεξιόντος, ὁ Σενεκίων ἔφη τὴν τελευταίαν τῶν εἰκόνων αὐτῷ πρώτην ἀντιπίπτειν. ἔλαθες γάρ εἶπεν ὦ Φίρμε, τὸν κόσμον ἀντὶ τῆς παροιμιακῆς θύρας ἐπὶ σεαυτὸν ἀνοίξας· ὁ γὰρ κόσμος προϋφέστηκε πάντων τελειότατος ὤν· καὶ λόγον ἔχει τοῦ ἀτελοῦς φύσει πρότερον εἶναι τὸ τέλειον, ὡς τοῦ πεπηρωμένου τὸ ὁλόκληρον καὶ τοῦ μέρους τὸ ὅλον· οὐδὲ γὰρ ἔχει λόγον εἶναι μέρος οὗ μέρος; ἐστὶ μὴ γεγονότος. ὅθεν οὐθεὶς λέγει τοῦ σπέρματος εἶναι τὸν ἄνθρωπον οὐδὲ τοῦ ᾠοῦ τὴν ἀλεκτορίδα, τῆς δʼ ἀλεκτορίδος τὸ ᾠὸν εἶναι καὶ τὸ σπέρμα τοῦ ἀνθρώπου λέγομεν, ὡς τούτων ἐπιγιγνομένων ἐκείνοις καὶ τὴν γένεσιν ἐν ἐκείνοις λαμβανόντων εἶθʼ ὥσπερ ὄφλημα τῇ φύσει τὴν γένεσιν ἀποδιδόντων. ἐνδεᾶ γάρ ἐστι, τοῦ οἰκείου· διὸ καὶ βούλεσθαι ποιεῖν πέφυκεν ἄλλο τοιοῦτον, οἷον ἦν ἐξ οὗ ἀπεκρίθη. καὶ τὸν σπερματικὸν λόγον ὁρίζονται γόνον ἐνδεᾶ γενέσεως· ἐνδεὲς δʼ οὐδέν ἐστι τοῦ μὴ γενομένου μηδʼ ὄντος· τὰ δʼ ᾠὰ καὶ παντάπασι βλέπεται τὴν φύσιν ἔχοντα τῆς ἔν τινι ζῴῳ πήξεως καὶ συστάσεως ὀργάνων τε τοιούτων καὶ ἀγγείων δεομένην. ὅθεν οὐδʼ ἱστόρηται γηγενὲς ᾠόν· ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ· Τυνδάρειον οἱ ποιηταὶ λέγουσιν οὐρανοπετὲς ἀναφανῆναι. ζῷα δʼ αὐτοτελῆ καὶ ὁλόκληρα μέχρι νῦν ἀναδίδωσιν ἡ γῆ, μῦς ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ πολλαχοῦ δʼ ὄφεις καὶ βατράχους καὶ τέττιγας, ἀρχῆς ἔξωθεν ἑτέρας καὶ δυνάμεως ἐγγενομένης. ἐν δὲ Σικελίᾳ περὶ τὸν δουλικὸν πόλεμον, αἵματος πολλοῦ καὶ νεκρῶν ἀτάφων ἐν τῇ γῇ κατασαπέντων, πλῆθος ἀττελέβων ἐξήνθησε καὶ τὸν σῖτον ἔφθειρον πανταχοῦ σκεδασθέντες ἐπὶ τὴν νῆσον. ταῦτα τοίνυν ἐκ γῆς φύεται καὶ τρέφεται καὶ τροφῆς περίσσωμα ποιεῖ γόνιμον, ᾧ καθʼ ἡδονὰς πρὸς ἄλληλα τρέπεται, καὶ συνδυαζόμενα τῇ μίξει τὰ μὲν ᾠοτοκεῖν τὰ δὲ ζῳοτοκεῖν πέφυκε. καὶ τούτῳ μάλιστα δῆλόν ἐστιν, ὅτι τὴν πρώτην γένεσιν ἐκ γῆς λαβόντα καθʼ ἕτερον τρόπον ἤδη καὶ· διʼ ἀλλήλων ποιεῖται τὰς τεκνώσεις. καθόλου δʼ ὅμοιόν ἐστι τῷ λέγειν, πρὸ τῆς γυναικὸς ἡ μήτρα γέγονεν· ὡς γὰρ ἡ μήτρα πρὸς τὸ ᾠόν, οὕτω πάλιν τὸ ᾠὸν πρὸς τὸν νεοσσὸν πέφυκε, κυόμενον ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ λοχευόμενον ὥστε μηδὲν διαφέρειν τὸν διαποροῦντα, πῶς ὄρνιθες ἐγένοντο μὴ γενομένων ᾠῶν, τοῦ πυνθανομένου, πῶς ἄνδρες ἐγένοντο καὶ γυναῖκες πρὶν αἰδοῖα γενέσθαι καὶ μήτρας. καίτοι τῶν μερῶν τὰ πλεῖστα συνυφίσταται τοῖς ὅλοις, αἱ δὲ δυνάμεις ἐπιγίνονται τοῖς μέρεσιν αἱ δʼ ἐνέργειαι ταῖς δυνάμεσι, τὰ δʼ ἀποτελέσματα ταῖς ἐνεργείαις· ἀποτέλεσμα δὲ τῆς γεννητικῆς τῶν μορίων δυνάμεως τὸ σπέρμα καὶ τὸ ᾠόν· ὥστε τῆς τῶν ὅλων καθυστερεῖν γενέσεως. σκόπει δὲ μή, καθάπερ οὐ δυνατόν ἐστι πέψιν τροφῆς εἶναι πρὶν ἢ γενέσθαι ζῷον, οὕτως οὐδʼ ᾠὸν οὐδὲ σπέρμα· καὶ γὰρ ταῦτα πέψεσί τισι καὶ μεταβολαῖς ἐπιγενέσθαι ἔοικεν· καὶ οὐχ οἷόν τε, πρὶν ἢ γενέσθαι ζῷον, ἔχειν ζῴου τροφῆς περίττωμα τὴν φύσιν. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ τὸ σπέρμα μὲν ἁμωσγέπως ἀρχῆς τινος ἀντιποιεῖται, τὸ δʼ ᾠὸν οὔτʼ ἀρχῆς ἔχει λόγον, οὐ γὰρ ὑφίσταται πρῶτον· οὔθʼ ὅλου φύσιν, ἀτελὲς γάρ ἐστιν. ὅθεν ἀρχῆς μὲν ἄνευ γεγονέναι ζῷον οὐ λέγομεν, ἀρχὴν δʼ εἶναι ζῳογονίας, ὑφʼ ἧς πρῶτον ἡ ὕλη μετέβαλε, δυνάμεως κρᾶσίν τινα καὶ μῖξιν ἐνεργασαμένης γόνιμον· τὸ δʼ ᾠὸν ἐπιγέννημα εἶναι, καθάπερ τὸ αἷμα καὶ τὸ γάλα, τοῦ ζῴου μετὰ τροφὴν καὶ πέψιν· οὐ γὰρ ὦπται συνιστάμενον ᾠὸν ἐκ τῆς ἰλύος, ἀλλʼ ἐν μόνῳ ζῴῳ τοῦτο τὴν σύστασιν ἔχει καὶ γένεσιν· ζῷα δὲ καθʼ αὑτὰ μυρία συνίσταται. καὶ τί δεῖ λέγειν τἄλλα; πολλῶν γὰρ ἐγχέλεων ἁλισκομένων, οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν οὔτε θορὸν οὔτʼ ᾠὸν ἔγχελυν ἔχουσαν· ἀλλὰ κἂν τὸ ὕδωρ τις ἐξαρύσῃ καὶ τὴν ἰλὺν ἀναξύσῃ πᾶσαν, εἰς τὸν τόπον ὕδατος συρρυέντος ἐγχέλεις ζῳογονοῦνται. δεῖ οὖν ὕστερον ἀνάγκῃ γεγονέναι τὸ θατέρου δεόμενον πρὸς γένεσιν· δὲ καὶ νῦν θατέρου χωρὶς ἄλλως ὑπάρχει συνίστασθαι, τοῦτο προτερεῖν τῇ ἀρχῇ τῆς γενέσεως. περὶ ἐκείνης γὰρ ἔστι τῆς πρώτης ὁ λόγος· ἐπεὶ νῦν γε καὶ νεοττιὰς συντίθησι τὰ πτηνὰ πρὸ τῆς ᾠοτοκίας, καὶ σπάργανα παρασκευάζουσιν αἱ γυναῖκες· ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἂν εἴποις καὶ νεοττιὰν ᾠοῦ γεγονέναι πρότερον καὶ σπάργανα παίδων. οὐ γὰρ γῆ φησὶν ὁ Πλάτων γυναῖκα, γῆν δὲ γυνὴ μιμεῖται καὶ τῶν ἄλλων θηλέων ἕκαστον. διὸ πρώτην γένεσιν εἰκός ἐστιν ἐκ γῆς τελειότητι καὶ ῥώμῃ τοῦ γεννῶντος αὐτοτελῆ καὶ ἀπροσδεᾶ γενέσθαι, τοιούτων ὀργάνων καὶ στεγασμάτων καὶ ἀγγείων μὴ δεομένην, ἃ νῦν ἡ φύσις ἐν τοῖς τίκτουσιν ἐργάζεται καὶ μηχανᾶται διʼ ἀσθένειαν. ## 4. Book II · chapters 4–10 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/4/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/4/#p-N [¶0] 4.1. SOSICLES of Coronea having at the Pythian games won the prize from all the poets, we gave him an entertainment. And the time for running, cuffing, wrestling, and the like drawing on, there was a great talk of the wrestlers; for there were many and very famous men, who came to try their skill. Lysimachus, one of the company, a procurator of the Amphictyons, said he heard a grammarian lately affirm that wrestling was the most ancient exercise of all, as even the very name witnessed; for some modern things have the names of more ancient transferred to them; thus tuning a pipe is called fitting it, and playing on it is called striking; both these being transferred to it from the harp. Thus all places of exercise they call wrestling schools, wrestling being the oldest exercise, and therefore denominating the newer sorts. That, said I, is no good argument, for these palaestras or wrestling schools are called so from wrestling (πάλη), not because it is the most ancient exercise, but because it is the only sort in which they use clay (πηλός), dust, and oil; for in these there is neither racing nor cuffing, but wrestling only, and that part of the pancratium in which they struggle on the ground,—for the pancratium comprises. both wrestling and cuffing. Besides, it is unlikely that wrestling, being more artificial and methodical than any other sort of exercise, should likewise be the most ancient; for mere want or necessity, putting us upon new inventions, produces simple and inartificial things first, and such as have more of force in them than sleight and skill. This ended, Sosicles said: You speak right, and I will confirm your discourse from the very name; for, in my opinion, πάλη, wrestling, is derived from παλέυειν, i. e. to throw down by sleight and artifice. And Philinus said, it seems to me to be derived from πλαιστῄ, the palm of the hand, for wrestlers use that part most, as cuffers do the πυγμή, fist; and hence both these sorts of exercises have their proper names, the one πάλη, the other πυγμή. Besides, since the poets use the word παλύνειν for καταπάσσειν and συμπάσσειν, to sprinkle, and this action is most frequent amongst wrestlers, this exercise πάλη may receive its name from that word. But more, consider that racers strive to be distant from one another; cuffers, by the judges of the field, are not permitted to take hold; and none but wrestlers come up close breast to breast, and clasp one another round the waist, and most of their turnings, liftings, lockings, bring them very close. It is probable therefore that this exercise is called πάλη from πλησιάζειν or πέλας γίγνεσθαι, to come up close or to be near together. > Greek: 4.1. Σωσικλέα τὸν Κορωνῆθεν, Πυθίοις νενικηκότα ποιητάς, εἱστιῶμεν τὰ ἐπινίκια. τοῦ δὲ γυμνικοῦ ἀγῶνος ἐγγὺς ὄντος, ὁ πλεῖστος ἦν λόγος περὶ τῶν παλαιστῶν πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐτύγχανον ἀφιγμένοι καὶ ἔνδοξοι. παρὼν οὖν ὁ Λυσίμαχος, εἷς τῶν Ἀμφικτυόνων ἐπιμελητής, ἔναγχος ἔφη γραμματικοῦ τινος ἀκοῦσαι τὴν πάλην ἀρχαιοτάτην ἀθλημάτων πάντων ἀποφαίνοντος, ὡς καὶ τοὔνομα μαρτυρεῖν ἐπιεικῶς γὰρ ἀπολαύειν τὰ νεώτερα πράγματα κειμένων ἐν τοῖς παλαιοτέροις ὀνομάτων· ὥς που καὶ τὸν αὐλὸν ἡρμόσθαι λέγουσι καὶ κρούματα τὰ αὐλήματα καλοῦσιν, ἀπὸ τῆς λύρας λαμβάνοντες τὰς προσηγορίας. τὸν, οὖν τόπον, ἐν ᾧ γυμνάζονται πάντες οἱ ἀθληταί, παλαίστραν καλοῦσι, τῆς πάλης τοὔνομα κτησαμένης τὸ πρῶτον· εἶτα καὶ τοῖς αὖθις ἐφευρεθεῖσιν ἐμπαρασχεῖν. τοῦτʼ ἔφην ἐγὼ τὸ μαρτύριον οὐκ ἰσχυρὸν εἶναι· κεκλῆσθαι γὰρ ἀπὸ τῆς πάλης τὴν παλαίστραν, οὐχ ὅτι πρεσβύτατόν ἐστι τῶν ἄλλων, ἀλλʼ ὅτι μόνον τῶν τῆς ἀγωνίας εἰδῶν πηλοῦ καὶ κονίστρας καὶ κηρώματος τυγχάνει δεόμενον· οὔτε γὰρ δρόμον οὔτε πυγμὴν ἐν παλαίστραις διαπονοῦσιν, ἀλλὰ πάλης καὶ παγκρατίου τὸ περὶ τὰς κυλίσεις ὅτι γὰρ μέμικται τὸ παγκράτιον ἔκ τε πυγμῆς καὶ πάλης, δῆλόν ἐστιν. ἄλλως δὲ πῶς ἔφην λόγον ἔχει τεχνικώτατον καὶ πανουργότατον τῶν ἀθλημάτων τὴν πάλην οὖσαν ἅμα καὶ πρεσβύτατον εἶναι; τὸ γὰρ ἁπλοῦν καὶ ἄτεχνον καὶ βίᾳ μᾶλλον ἢ μεθόδῳ περαινόμενον αἱ χρεῖαι πρῶτον ἐκφέρουσιν ἐμοῦ δὲ ταῦτʼ εἰπόντος, ὁ Σωσικλῆς ὀρθῶς ἔφη λέγεις, καὶ συμβάλλομαί σοι πίστιν ἀπὸ τοῦ ὀνόματος· ἡ γὰρ πάλη μοι δοκεῖ τῷ παλεύειν, ὅπερ ἐστὶ δολοῦν καὶ καταβάλλειν διʼ ἀπάτης κεκλῆσθαι καὶ ὁ Φιλῖνος ἐμοὶ δʼ εἶπεν ἀπὸ τῆς παλαιστῆς· τούτῳ γὰρ μάλιστα τῷ μέρει τοῖν χεροῖν ἐνεργοῦσιν οἱ παλαίοντες, ὥσπερ οἱ πυκτεύοντες αὖ πάλιν τῇ πυγμῇ· διὸ κἀκεῖνο πυγμὴ καὶ τοῦτο πάλη προσηγόρευται τοὔργον. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ συμπάσαι τῶν ποιητῶν καὶ καταπάσαι παλῦναι λεγόντων, ᾧ μάλιστα χρωμένους τοὺς παλαιστὰς ὁρῶμεν, ἔστι καὶ ταύτῃ προσάγειν τὴν ἐτυμότητα τοῦ ὀνόματος. σκόπει δ’ ἔτι εἶπε μὴ τοῖς μὲν δρομεῦσιν ἔργον ἐστὶν ὅτι πλεῖστον ἀπολιπεῖν καὶ πορρωτάτω διαστῆναι, τοὺς δὲ πύκτας οὐδὲ πάνυ βουλομένους ἐῶσιν οἱ βραβευταὶ συμπλέκεσθαι· μόνους δὲ τοὺς παλαιστὰς ὁρῶμεν ἀλλήλους ἀγκαλιζομένους καὶ περιλαμβάνοντας· καὶ τὰ πλεῖστα τῶν ἀγωνισμάτων, ἐμβολαί, παρεμβολαί, συστάσεις, παραθέσεις, συνάγουσιν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀναμιγνύουσιν ἀλλήλοις. διὸ τῷ πλησιάζειν μάλιστα καὶ γίγνεσθαι πέλας οὐκ ἄδηλόν ἐστι τὴν πάλην ὠνομάσθαι. [¶1] 5.1. THIS discourse being ended, and Philinus hummed, Lysimachus began again, What sort of exercise then shall we imagine to be first? Racing, as at the Olympian games? For here in the Pythian, as every exercise comes on, all the contenders are brought in, the boy wrestlers first, then the men, and the same method is observed when the cuffers and fencers are to exercise; but there the boys perform all first, and then the men. But, says Timon interposing, pray consider whether Homer hath not determined this matter; for in his poems cuffing is always put in the first place, wrestling next, and racing last. At this Menecrates the Thessalian surprised cried out, Good God, what things we skip over! But, pray sir, if you remember any of his verses to that purpose, do us the favor to repeat them. And Timon replied: That the funeral solemnities of Patroclus had this order I think every one hath heard; but the poet, all along observing the same order, brings in Achilles speaking to Nestor thus: With this reward I Nestor freely grace, Unfit for cuffing, wrestling, or the race. And in his answer he makes the old man impertinently brag: I cuffing conquered Oinop’s famous son, With Anceus wrestled, and the garland won, And outran Iphiclus. And again he brings in Ulysses challenging the Phaeacians “To cuff, to wrestle, or to run the race;” and Alcinous answers: Neither in cuffing nor in wrestling strong, But swift of foot are we. So that he doth not carelessly confound the order, and, according to the occasion, now place one sort first and now another; but he follows the then custom and practice, and is constant in the same. And this was so as long as the ancient order was observed. > Greek: 5.1. ῥηθέντων δὲ τούτων καὶ τὸν Φιλῖνον ἡμῶν ἐπαινεσάντων, αὖθις ὁ Λυσίμαχος ἔφη ποῖον οὖν φαίη τις ἂν τῶν ἀγωνισμάτων γεγονέναι πρῶτον ἢ τὸ στάδιον, ὥσπερ Ὀλυμπίασιν … ἐνταῦθα δὲ παρʼ ἡμῖν καθʼ ἕκαστον ἄθλημα τοὺς ἀγωνιζομένους εἰσάγουσιν ἐπὶ παισὶ παλαισταῖς ἄνδρας παλαιστὰς καὶ πύκτας ἐπὶ πύκταις ὁμοίως καὶ παγκρατιαστάς· ἐκεῖ δʼ, ὅταν οἱ παῖδες διαγωνίσωνται, τότε τοὺς ἄνδρας καλοῦσι. σκόπει δὲ μὴ μᾶλλον ἔφη τὴν κατὰ χρόνον τάξιν Ὅμηρος ἀποδείκνυσι· πρῶτον γὰρ ἀεὶ πυγμὴ παρʼ αὐτῷ, δεύτερον πάλη, καὶ τελευταῖον ὁ δρόμος τῶν γυμνικῶν ἀεὶ τέτακται θαυμάσας οὖν Μενεκράτης ὁ Θεσσαλὸς ὦ Ἡράκλεις εἶπεν ὅσα λανθάνει ἡμᾶς· εἰ δέ τινα τῶν ἐπῶν ἐστί σοι πρόχειρα, μὴ φθονήσῃς ἀναμνῆσαι. καὶ ὁ Τίμων ἀλλʼ ὅτι μέν εἶπεν αἱ Πατρόκλου ταφαὶ ταύτην ἔχουσι τῶν ἀγωνισμάτων τὴν τάξιν, ἅπασιν ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν ἔναυλόν ἐστι. διατηρῶν δὲ τὴν τάξιν ὁμαλῶς ὁ ποιητὴς τὸν μὲν Ἀχιλλέα λέγοντα τῷ Νέστορι πεποίηκε δίδωμι δέ σοι τόδʼ ἄεθλον αὔτως· ιδεμ οὐ γὰρ πύξ γε μαχήσεαι οὐδὲ παλαίσεις, οὐδὲ τʼ ἀκοντιστὺν ἐνδύσεαι οὐδὲ πόδεσσι θεύσεαι· τὸν δὲ πρεσβύτην ἐν τῷ ἀποκρίνεσθαι παραδολεσχοῦντα γεροντικῶς, ὅτι πὺξ μὲν ἐνίκησα Κλυτομήδεα, Οἴνοπος υἱόν, Ἀγκαῖον δὲ πάλῃ Πλευρώνιον, Ἴφικλον δὲ πόδεσσι παρέδραμον· αὖθις δὲ τὸν μὲν Ὀδυσσέα τοὺς Φαίακας προκαλούμενον ἢ πύξ ἠὲ πάλῃ ἢ καὶ ποσίν, τὸν δʼ Ἀλκίνουν ὑποτιμώμενον οὐ γὰρ πυγμάχοι εἰμὲν ἀμύμονες οὐδὲ παλαισταί, ἀλλὰ ποσὶ κραιπνοῖς θέομεν· ὡς οὐ κατὰ τύχην ἐκ τοῦ παρισταμένου τῇ τάξει χρώμενος ἄλλοτʼ ἄλλως, ἀλλὰ τοῖς εἰθισμένοις τότε καὶ δρωμένοις κατὰ νόμον ἐπακολουθῶν ἐδρᾶτο δʼ οὕτως, τὴν παλαιὰν ἔτι τάξιν αὐτῶν διαφυλαττόντων. [¶2] 5.2. To this discourse of my brother’s I subjoined, that I liked what he said, but could not see the reason of this order. And some of the company, thinking it unlikely that cuffing or wrestling should be a more ancient exercise than racing, desired me to search farther into the matter; and thus I spake upon the sudden. All these exercises seem to me to be representations of feats of arms and training therein; for after all, a man armed at all points is brought in to show that that is the end at which all these exercises and training aim. And the privilege granted to the conquerors—as they rode into the city, to throw down some part of the wall—hath this meaning, that walls are but a small advantage to that city which hath men able to fight and overcome. In Sparta those that were victors in any of the crowned games had an honorable place in the army, and were to fight near the King’s person. Of all creatures a horse only can have a part in these games and win the crown, for that alone is designed by nature to be trained to war, and to prove assisting in a battle. If these things seem probable, let us consider farther, that it is the first work of a fighter to strike his enemy and ward the other’s blows; the second, when they come up close and lay hold of one another, to trip and overturn him; and in this, they say, our countrymen being better wrestlers very much distressed the Spartans at the battle of Leuctra. Aeschylus describes a warrior thus, “One stout, and skilled to wrestle in his arms;” and Sophocles somewhere says of the Trojans, They rid the horse, they could the bow command, And wrestle with a rattling shield in hand. But it is the third and last, either when conquered to fly, or when conquerors to pursue. And therefore it is likely that cuffing is set first, wrestling next, and racing last; for the first bears the resemblance of charging or warding the blows; the second, of close fighting and repelling; and the third, of flying a victorious, or pursuing a routed enemy. > Greek: 5.2. παυσαμένου δὲ τἀδελφοῦ, τἄλλα μὲν ἔφην ἀληθῶς λέγεσθαι, τὴν δʼ αἰτίαν τῆς τάξεως οὐκ ἐπενόουν. ἐδόκει δὲ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τισὶ μὴ πιθανὸν εἶναι γεγονέναι τὸ πυκτεύειν καὶ παλαίειν πρότερον ἐν ἀγῶνι καὶ ἁμίλλῃ τοῦ τροχάζειν, καὶ παρεκάλουν ἐξάγειν εἰς τὸ ἀνώτερον. ἔφην δʼ ἐκ τοῦ παραστάντος, ὅτι ταῦτά μοι πάντα μιμήματα δοκεῖ καὶ γυμνάσματα τῶν πολεμικῶν εἶναι· καὶ γὰρ ὁπλίτης ἐπὶ πᾶσιν εἰσάγεται, μαρτυρούμενος ὅτι τοῦτο τὸ τέλος ἐστὶ τῆς σωμασκίας καὶ τῆς ἁμίλλης καὶ τὸ τοῖς νικηφόροις εἰσελαύνουσι τῶν τειχῶν ἐφίεσθαι μέρος διελεῖν καὶ καταβαλεῖν, τοιαύτην ἔχει διάνοιαν, ὡς οὐ μέγα πόλει τειχῶν ὄφελος ἄνδρας ἐχούσῃ μάχεσθαι δυναμένους καὶ νικᾶν. ἐν δὲ Λακεδαίμονι τοῖς νενικηκόσι στεφανίτας ἀγῶνας ἐξαίρετος ἦν ἐν ταῖς παρατάξεσι χώρα, περὶ αὐτὸν τὸν βασιλέα τεταγμένους μάχεσθαι· καὶ τῶν ζῴων μόνῳ τῷ ἵππῳ μετουσία στεφάνου καὶ ἀγῶνος ἔστιν, ὅτι μόνος καὶ πέφυκε καὶ ἤσκηται μαχομένοις παρεῖναι καὶ συμπολεμεῖν. εἰ δὲ δὴ ταῦτα λέγεται μὴ κακῶς, ἤδη σκοπῶμεν ἔφην ὅτι τῶν μαχομένων πρῶτον ἔργον ἐστὶ τὸ πατάξαι καὶ φυλάξασθαι, δεύτερον δὲ συμπεσόντας ἤδη καὶ γενομένους ἐν χερσὶν ὠθισμοῖς τε χρῆσθαι καὶ περιτροπαῖς ἀλλήλων, ᾧ δὴ μάλιστά φασιν ἐν Λεύκτροις τοὺς Σπαρτιάτας ὑπὸ τῶν ἡμετέρων, παλαιστρικῶν ὄντων, καταβιασθῆναι· διὸ καὶ παρʼ Αἰσχύλῳ τις τῶν πολεμικῶν ὀνομάζεται βριθύς, ὁπλιτοπάλας καὶ Σοφοκλῆς εἴρηκέ που περὶ τῶν Τρώων ὡς φίλιπποι καὶ κερουλκοί, σὺν σάκει δὲ κωδωνοκρότῳ παλαισταί· καὶ μὴν ἐπὶ πᾶσί γε τὸ τρίτον ἐστὶ νικωμένους φεύγειν ἢ διώκειν νικῶντας. εἰκότως οὖν ἡ πυγμὴ προῆγε, δευτέραν δʼ εἶχεν ἡ πάλη τάξιν, καὶ τελευταίαν ὁ δρόμος· ὅτι πυγμὴ μέν ἐστι μίμημα πληγῆς καὶ φυλακῆς, πάλη δὲ συμπλοκῆς καὶ ὠθισμοῦ, δρόμῳ δὲ μελετῶσι φεύγειν καὶ διώκειν. [¶3] 6.1. SOCLARUS entertaining us in his gardens, round which the river Cephissus runs, showed us several trees strangely varied by the different grafts upon their stocks. We saw an olive upon a mastic, a pomegranate upon a myrtle, pear grafts on an oak, apple upon a plane, a mulberry on a fig, and a great many such like, which were grown strong enough to bear. Some joked on Soclarus as nourishing stranger kinds of things than the poets’ Sphinxes or Chimaeras; but Crato set us to enquire why those stocks only that are of an oily nature will not admit such mixtures, for we never see a pine, fir, or cypress bear a graft of another kind. > Greek: 6.1. Σώκλαρος ἑστιῶν ἡμᾶς ἐν κήποις ὑπὸ τοῦ Κηφισοῦ ποταμοῦ περιρρεομένοις ἐπεδείκνυτο δένδρα παντοδαπῶς πεποικιλμένα τοῖς λεγομένοις ἐνοφθαλμισμοῖς· καὶ γὰρ ἐκ σχίνων ἐλαίας ἀναβλαστανούσας ἑωρῶμεν καὶ ῥοιὰς ἐκ μυρρίνης· ἦσαν δὲ καὶ δρύες ἀπίους ἀγαθὰς ἐκφέρουσαι καὶ πλάτανοι μηλεῶν δεδεγμέναι καὶ συκαῖ μορεῶν ἐμβολάδας, ἄλλαι τε μίξεις φυτῶν κεκρατημένων ἄχρι καρπογονίας. οἱ μὲν οὖν ἄλλοι πρὸς τὸν Σώκλαρον ἔπαιζον, ὡς τῶν ποιητικῶν σφιγγῶν καὶ χιμαιρῶν τερατωδέστερα γένη καὶ θρέμματα βόσκοντα· Κράτων δὲ προὔβαλεν ἡμῖν διαπορῆσαι περὶ τῆς αἰτίας, διʼ ἣν μόνα τῶν φυτῶν τὰ, ἐλαιώδη δέχεσθαι τὰς τοιαύτας ἐπιμιξίας οὐ πέφυκεν· οὔτε γὰρ κῶνον οὔτε κυπάριττον ἢ πίτυν ἢ πεύκην ἐκτρέφουσάν τι τῶν ἑτερογενῶν ὁρᾶσθαι. [¶4] 6.2. And Philo subjoined: There is, Crato, a reason for this amongst the philosophers, which the gardeners confirm and strengthen. For they say, oil is very hurtful to all plants, and any plant dipped in it, like a bee, will soon die. Now these trees are of a fat and oily nature, insomuch that they weep pitch and rosin; and, if you cut them gore (as it were) appears presently in the wound. Besides, a torch made of them sends forth an oily smoke, and the brightness of the flame shows it to be fat; and upon this account these trees are as great enemies to all other kinds of grafts as oil itself. To this Crato added, that the bark was a partial cause; for that, being rare and dry, could not afford either convenient room or sufficient nourishment to the grafts; but when the bark is moist, it quickly joins with those grafts that are let into the body of the tree. > Greek: 6.2. ὑπολαβὼν δὲ Φίλων ἔφη λόγος τις ἔστιν, ὧ Κράτων, παρὰ τοῖς σοφοῖς, βεβαιούμενος ὑπὸ τῶν γεωργικῶν. τὸ γὰρ ἔλαιον εἶναί φασι τοῖς φυτοῖς πολέμιον καὶ τάχιστʼ ἂν ἀπολέσθαι φυτὸν ὃ βούλοιο χριόμενον ἐλαίῳ, καθάπερ τὰς μελίττας. τὰ δʼ εἰρημένα δένδρα πίονα καὶ πέπειραν ἔχει τὴν φύσιν, ὥστε πίσσαν ἀποδακρύειν καὶ ῥητίνην· ὅταν δὲ πληγῇ, ταῖς διακοπαῖς ὥσπερ ἑλκωθέντʼ ἰχῶρα συνάγει; ἥ τε δᾲς αὐτῶν ἐλαιηρὰν ἀφίησιν ἰκμάδα καὶ περιστίλβει τὸ λιπαρὸν αὐτῇ· διὸ καὶ πρὸς τἄλλα γένη δυσμίκτως ἔχει, καθάπερ αὐτὸ τοὔλαιον παυσαμένου δὲ τοῦ Φίλωνος, ὁ μὲν Κράτων ᾤετο καὶ τὴν τοῦ φλοιοῦ φύσιν πρὸς τοῦτο συνεργεῖν λεπτὸν γὰρ ὄντα καὶ ξηρὸν οὐ παρέχειν ἕδραν οὐδʼ ἐμβίωσιν τοῖς ἐνθεμένοις, ὥσθʼ ὥσπερ τὰ φλοιώδη καὶ νοτερὰ καὶ τὰ μαλακὰ τοῖς ὑπὸ τὸν φλοιὸν μέρεσι προσδεχομένοις περιπτύσσεσθαι κολλώμενον. [¶5] 6.3. Then Soclarus added: This too ought to be considered, that that which receives a graft of another kind ought to be easy to be changed, that the graft may prevail, and make the sap in the stock fit and natural to itself. Thus we break up the ground and soften it, that being thus broken it may more easily be wrought upon, and applied to what we plant in it; for things that are hard and rigid cannot be so quickly wrought upon nor so easily changed. Now those trees, being of very light wood, do not mix well with the grafts, because they are very hard either to be changed or overcome. But more, it is manifest that the stock which receives the graft should be instead of a soil to it, and a soil should have a breeding faculty; and therefore we choose the most fruitful stocks to graft on, as women that are full of milk, when we would put out a child to nurse. But everybody knows that the fir, cypress, and the like are no great bearers. For as men very fat have few children (for, the whole nourishment being employed in the body, there remains no overplus to make seed), so these trees, spending all their sap in their own stock, flourish indeed and grow great; but as for fruit, some bear none at all, some very little, and that too slowly ripens; therefore it is no wonder that they will not nourish another’s fruit, when they are so very sparing to their own. > Greek: 6.3. αὐτὸς δὲ Σώκλαρος ἔφη καὶ τὸν ταῦτα λέγοντα μὴ κακῶς προσεννοεῖν, ὅτι δεῖ τὸ δεχόμενον ἑτέραν φύσιν εὔτρεπτον εἶναι, ἵνα κρατηθὲν ἐξομοιωθῇ καὶ μεταβάλῃ τὴν ἐν ἑαυτῷ τροφὴν πρὸς τὸ ἐμφυτευόμενον. καὶ γὰρ τὴν γῆν προδιαλύομεν καὶ μαλάσσομεν, ἵνα κοπεῖσα μεταβάλῃ διʼ εὐπάθειαν καὶ ἅψηται τῶν ἐμφυτευομένων ἡ γὰρ ἀτενὴς καὶ σκληρὰ δυσμετάβλητος. ταῦτα δὲ τὰ δένδρα κοῦφα τοῖς ξύλοις ὄντα κρᾶσιν οὐ ποιεῖ διὰ τὸ μὴ κρατεῖσθαι μηδὲ μεταβάλλειν. ἔτι δʼ εἶπεν οὐκ ἄδηλον ὅτι δεῖ πρὸς τὸ ἐμφυτευόμενον χώρας λόγον ἔχειν τὸ δεξόμενον τὴν δὲ χώραν ἀεῖ θήλειαν ἔχειν καὶ γόνιμον· ὅθεν τὰ πολυκαρπότατα τῶν φυτῶν ἐκλεγόμενοι παραπηγνύουσιν, ὥσπερ γυναιξὶ πολυγαλακτούσαις ἕτερα βρέφη προσβάλλοντες. πεύκην δὲ καὶ κυπάριττον καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα πάντα γλίσχρα καὶ ἀγεννῆ τοῖς καρποῖς ὁρῶμεν. ὥσπερ γὰρ οἱ πολυσαρκίᾳ κεχρημένοι καὶ ὄγκῳ ὡς ἐπὶ τὸ πλεῖστον ἄτεκνοι· τὴν γὰρ τροφὴν εἰς τὸ σῶμα καταναλίσκοντες οὐ ποιοῦσιν αὐτῆς περίττωμα σπερματικόν οὕτω τὰ τοιαῦτα δένδρα τῆς τροφῆς ἀπολαύοντα, πάσης εἰς αὐτὰ δαπανωμένης, εὐσωματεῖ τοῖς μεγέθεσι καὶ αὐξάνεται, καρπὸν δὲ τὰ μὲν οὐ φέρει τὰ δὲ φέρει μικρὸν καὶ συντελούμενον βραδέως· ὥστʼ οὐ δεῖ θαυμάζειν, εἰ μὴ φύεται τἀλλότριον, ἐν ᾧ κακῶς τρέφεται καὶ τὸ οἰκεῖον. [¶6] 7.1. CHAEREMONIANUS the Trallian, when we were at a very noble fish dinner, pointing to a little, long, sharp-headed fish, said the echeneis (ship-stopper) was like that, for he had often seen it as he sailed in the Sicilian sea, and wondered at its strange force; for it stopped the ship when under full sail, till one of the seamen perceived it sticking to the outside of the ship, and took it off. Some laughed at Chaeremonianus for believing such an incredible and unlikely story. Others on this occasion talked very much of antipathies, and produced a thousand instances of such strange effects; for example, the sight of a ram quiets an enraged elephant; a viper lies stock-still, if touched with a beechen leaf; a wild bull grows tame, if bound with the twigs of a fig-tree; amber draws all light things to it, except basil and such as are dipped in oil; and a loadstone will not draw a piece of iron that is rubbed with garlic. Now all these, as to matter of fact, are very evident; but it is hard, if not altogether impossible, to find the cause. > Greek: 7.1. Χαιρημονιανὸς ὁ Τραλλιανός, ἰχθυδίων ποτὲ παντοδαπῶν παρατεθέντων, ἓν ἐπιδείξας ἡμῖν ὀξὺ τῷ κεφαλίῳ καὶ πρόμηκες ἔλεγε τούτῳ προσεοικέναι τὴν ἐχενηίδα· θεάσασθαι γὰρ πλέων ἐν τῷ Σικελικῷ καὶ θαυμάσαι τὴν δύναμιν, οὐκ ὀλίγην βραδυτῆτα καὶ διατριβὴν παρὰ τὸν πλοῦν ἀπεργασαμένης· τῆς ἐχενηίδος, ἕως ὑπὸ τοῦ πρῳρέως ἑάλω προσεχομένη τῷ τοίχῳ τῆς νεὼς ἔξωθεν. ἦσαν μὲν οὖν οἱ καταγελῶντες τοῦ Χαιρημονιανοῦ ὡς πλάσμα μυθῶδες παραδεδεγμένου καὶ ἄπιστον, ἦσαν δὲ καὶ οἱ τὰς ἀντιπαθείας θρυλοῦντες, καὶ ἄλλα πολλὰ παρόντων ἦν ἀκούειν, ὅτι μαινόμενον ἐλέφαντα καταπαύει κριὸς ὀφθείς, ἔχιδναν δὲ φηγοῦ κλωνίον ἐὰν προσαγάγῃς καὶ θίγῃς, ἵστησιν· ἄγριος δὲ ταῦρος ἀτρεμεῖ καὶ πραΰνεται συκῇ προσδεθείς· τὸ δʼ ἤλεκτρον πάντα κινεῖ καὶ προσάγεται τὰ κοῦφα, πλὴν ὠκίμου καὶ τῶν ἐλαίῳ βρεχομένων· ἡ δὲ σιδηρῖτις λίθος οὐκ ἄγει τὸν σίδηρον, ἂν σκορόδῳ χρισθῇ. τούτων γὰρ ἐμφανῆ τὴν πεῖραν ἐχόντων, χαλεπὸν εἶναι τὴν αἰτίαν, εἰ μὴ καὶ παντελῶς ἀδύνατον, καταμαθεῖν. [¶7] 7.2. Then said I: This is a mere shift and avoiding of the question, rather than a declaration of the cause; but if we please to consider, we shall find a great many accidents that are only consequents of the effect to be unjustly esteemed the causes of it; as for instance, if we should fancy that by the blossoming of the chaste-tree the fruit of the vine is ripened; because this is a common saying, “The chaste-tree blossoms, and the grapes grow ripe;” or that the little protuberances in the candle-snuff thicken the air and make it cloudy; or the hookedness of the nails is the cause and not an accident consequential to an internal ulcer. Therefore as those things mentioned are but consequents to the effect, though proceeding from one and the same cause, so one and the same cause stops the ship, and joins the echeneis to it; for the ship continuing dry, not yet made heavy by the moisture soaking into the wood, it is probable that it glides lightly, and as long as it is clean, easily cuts the waves; but when it is thoroughly soaked, when weeds, ooze, and filth stick upon its sides, the stroke of the ship is more obtuse and weak; and the water, coming upon this clammy matter, doth not so easily part from it; and this is the reason why they usually scrape the sides of their ships. Now it is likely that the echeneis in this case, sticking upon the clammy matter, is not thought an accidental consequent to this cause, but the very cause itself. > Greek: 7.2. ἐγὼ δὲ τοῦτο μὲν ἔφην ἀπόδρασιν εἶναι τῆς ἐρωτήσεως μᾶλλον ἢ τῆς αἰτίας ἀπόδοσιν. σκοπῶμεν δʼ εἶπον ὅτι πολλὰ συμπτώματʼ ἐνόντα πάθεσιν αἰτιῶν λαμβάνει δόξαν οὐκ ὀρθῶς ὅμοιον ὡς εἴ τις οἴοιτο τῇ ἀνθήσει τοῦ ἄγνου πεπαίνεσθαι τὸν τῆς ἀμπέλου καρπόν, ὅτι δή, τοῦτο τὸ λεγόμενον, ἡ τʼ ἄγνος ἀνθεῖ χὠ βότρυς πεπαίνεται ἢ τοῖς ἐπὶ τῶν λύχνων φαινομένοις μύκησι συγχεῖσθαι καὶ συννεφεῖν τὸ περιέχον· ἢ τὴν γρυπότητα τῶν ὀνύχων αἴτιον ἀλλὰ μὴ συμβεβηκὸς εἶναι τοῦ περὶ σπλάγχνον ἕλκους. ὥσπερ οὖν τούτων ποσσις ἕκαστον ἐπακολούθημα τοῦ πάθους ἐστὶν ἐκ τῶν αὐτῶν γεννώμενον αἰτιῶν, οὕτως ἔφην ἐγὼ μίαν αἰτίαν εἶναι διʼ ἣν βραδέως τε πλεῖ καὶ προσάγεται τὴν ἐχενηίδα τὸ πλοῖον· ξηρᾶς μὲν γὰρ οὔσης καὶ μὴ σφόδρα βαρείας ὑγρότητι τῆς νεώς, εἰκὸς ὑπολισθάνουσαν ὑπὸ κουφότητος τῇ θαλάττῃ τὴν τρόπιν διαλαβεῖν τὸ κῦμα ξύλῳ καθαρῷ διαιρούμενον καὶ ἀφιστάμενον εὐπετῶς· ὅταν δὲ νοτερὰ σφόδρα καὶ διάβροχος οὖσα φυκία τε πολλὰ καὶ βρυώδεις ἐπιπάγους προσάγηται, τοῦ τε ξύλου τὸν τόμον ἀμβλύτερον ἴσχει τό τε κῦμα τῇ γλισχρότητι προσπῖπτον οὐ ῥᾳδίως ἀπολύεται. διὸ καὶ παραψήχουσι τοὺς τοίχους, τὰ, βρύα καὶ τὰ φυκία τῶν ξύλων ἀποκαθαίροντες, οἷς εἰκός ἐστι τὴν ἐχενηίδα προσισχομένην ὑπὸ τῆς γλισχρότητος αἴτιον τῆς βραδυτῆτος ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐπακολούθημα τοῦ τὴν βραδυτῆτα ποιοῦντος αἰτίου νομισθῆναι. [¶8] 8.1. SOME say the horses called λυκοσπάδες received that name from the fashion of their bridles (called λύκοι), that had prickles like the teeth on the wolf’s jaw; for being fiery and hard-mouthed, the riders used such to tame them. But my father, who seldom speaks but on good reason, and breeds excellent horses, said, those that were set upon by wolves when colts, if they escaped, grew swift and mettlesome, and were called λυκοσπάδες. Many agreeing to what he said, it began to be enquired why such an accident as that should make them more mettlesome and fierce; and many of the company thought that, from such an assault, fear and not courage was produced; and that thence growing fearful and apt to start at every thing, their motions became more quick and vigorous, as they are in wild beasts when entangled in a net. But, said I, it ought to be considered whether the contrary be not more probable; for the colts do not become more swift by escaping the assault of a wild beast, but they had never escaped unless they had been swift and mettlesome before. As Ulysses was not made wise by escaping from the Cyclops, but he escaped by being wise before. > Greek: 8.1. ἵππους λυκοσπάδας οἱ μὲν ἀπὸ τῶν χαλινῶν τῶν λύκων ἔφασαν ὠνομάσθαι, διὰ τὸ θυμοειδὲς καὶ δυσκάθεκτον οὕτω σωφρονιζομένους· ὁ δὲ πατὴρ ἡμῶν ἣκιστα περὶ τὰς ἰσηγορίας αὐτοσχέδιος ὢν καὶ κεχρημένος ἀεὶ κρατιστεύουσιν ἵπποις ἔλεγε τοὺς ὑπὸ λύκων ἐπιχειρηθέντας ἐν πώλοις, ἄνπερ ἐκφύγωσιν, ἀγαθοὺς μὲν ἀποβαίνειν καὶ ποδώκεις, καλεῖσθαι δὲ λυκοσπάδας. ταῦτα δὲ πλειόνων αὐτῷ μαρτυρούντων, ἀπορίαν αἰτίας παρεῖχε, διʼ ἣν τὸ σύμπτωμα τοῦτο θυμικωτέρους καὶ γοργοτέρους ποιεῖ τοὺς ἵππους. καὶ ὁ μὲν πλεῖστος ἦν λόγος τῶν παρόντων, ὅτι φόβον τὸ πάθος οὐ θυμὸν ἐνεργάζεται τοῖς ἵπποις, καὶ γιγνόμενοι ψοφοδεεῖς καὶ πρὸς ἅπαν εὐπτόητοι τὰς ὁρμὰς ὀξυρρόπους καὶ ταχείας ἴσχουσιν, ὥσπερ τὰ λινόπληκτα τῶν θηρίων. ἐγὼ δὲ σκοπεῖν ἔφην χρῆναι, μὴ τοὐναντίον ἐστὶ τοῦ δοκοῦντος· οὐ γὰρ γίγνεσθαι δρομικωτέρους τοὺς πώλους, ὅταν ἐκφύγωσι τὰς βλάβας τῶν θηρίων ἐπιχειρηθέντες, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐκφυγεῖν, εἰ μὴ φύσει θυμικοὶ καὶ ταχεῖς ἦσαν οὔτε γὰρ τὸν Ὀδυσσέα γενέσθαι φρόνιμον ὑπεκδράντα τοῦ Κύκλωπος, ἀλλʼ, ὅτι τοιοῦτος ἦν, ὑπεκδρᾶναι. [¶9] 9.1. AFTER the former discourse, mention was made of those sheep that wolves have bitten; for it is commonly said of them, that their flesh is very sweet, and their wool breeds lice. Our relation Patroclias seemed to be pretty happy in his reasoning upon the first part, saying, that the beast by biting it did mollify the flesh; for wolves’ spirits are so hot and fiery, that they soften and digest the hardest bones; and for the same reason things bitten by wolves rot sooner than others. But concerning the wool we could not agree, being not fully resolved whether it breeds those lice, or only opens a passage for them, separating the flesh by its fretting roughness or proper warmth; and it seemed that this power proceeded from the bite of the wolf, which alters even the very hair of the creature that it kills. And this some particular instances seem to confirm; for we know some huntsmen and cooks will kill a beast with one stroke, so that it never breathes after, whilst others repeat their blows, and scarce do it with a great deal of trouble. But (what is more strange) some, as they kill it, infuse such a quality that the flesh rots presently and cannot be kept sweet above a day; yet others that despatch it as soon find no such alteration, but the flesh will keep sweet a long while. And that by the manner of killing a great alteration is made even in the skins, nails, and hair of a beast, Homer seems to witness, when, speaking of a good hide, he says, “An ox’s hide that fell by violent blows;” for those that fell not by a disease or old age, but by a violent death, leave us tough and strong hides; but when they are bitten by wild beasts, their hoofs grow black, their hair falls, their skins putrefy and are good for nothing. > Greek: 9.1. μετὰ τοῦτο περὶ τῶν λυκοβρώτων ἐζητεῖτο προβάτων, ἃ λέγεται τὸ μὲν κρέας γλυκύτατον παρέχειν τὸ δʼ ἔριον φθειροποιόν. οὐ φαύλως οὖν ἐδόκει Πατροκλέας ὁ γαμβρὸς ἐπιχειρεῖν περὶ τῆς γλυκύτητος, ὡς τοῦ θηρίου τῷ δήγματι τὴν σάρκα τακερὰν ποιοῦντος· καὶ γὰρ εἶναι τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ λύκου περίθερμον οὕτω καὶ πυρῶδες, ὥστε τὰ σκληρότατα τῶν ὀστῶν ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ τήκειν καὶ καθυγραίνειν διὸ καὶ σήπεσθαι τὰ λυκόβρωτα τῶν ἄλλων τάχιον. περὶ δὲ τῶν ἐρίων διηποροῦμεν, μήποτʼ οὐ γεννᾷ τοὺς φθεῖρας ἀλλʼ ἐκκαλεῖται, τραχύτητός τινος ἀμυκτικῆς ἢ θερμότητος ἰδιότητι διακρίνοντα τὴν σάρκα· ταύτην δὲ τοῖς ἐρίοις τὴν δύναμιν ἐγγίγνεσθαι πρὸς τὸ τοῦ λύκου δῆγμα καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα, μεταβάλλοντος ἄχρι τῶν τριχῶν τοῦ σφαττομένου. καὶ συνεβάλλετο τῷ λόγῳ πίστιν ἡ ἱστορία τῶν γὰρ κυνηγῶν καὶ τῶν μαγείρων ἐπιστάμεθα τοὺς μὲν μιᾷ πληγῇ καταβάλλοντας, ὥστʼ ἀπνευστὶ τὰ πληγέντα κεῖσθαι, τοὺς δὲ πολλαῖς μόγις καὶ χαλεπῶς ἀναιροῦντας· ὃ δὲ τούτου θαυμασιώτερόν ἐστι, τοὺς μὲν τοιαύτην ἐνιέντας μετὰ τοῦ σιδήρου τῷ τιτρωσκομένῳ δύναμιν, ὥστε ταχὺ σήπεσθαι καὶ μηδὲ πρὸς μίαν ἡμέραν ἀντέχειν, τοὺς δʼ ἀποκτείνοντας μὲν οὐ βράδιον ἐκείνων, οὐδὲν δὲ τοιοῦτο γιγνόμενον περὶ τὴν σάρκα τῶν σφαγέντων ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ χρόνον διαμένουσαν. ὅτι δʼ αἱ κατὰ τὰς σφαγὰς καὶ τοὺς θανάτους τῶν ζῴων μεταβολαὶ μέχρι δερμάτων καὶ τριχῶν καὶ ὀνύχων διατείνουσιν, ἀποδηλοῦν εἴωθε τῷ λέγειν καὶ Ὅμηρος ἐπὶ τῶν δερμάτων καὶ τῶν ἱμάντων, ὅτι φησὶν ἱμὰς βοὸς ἶφι κταμένοιο· τῶν γὰρ μὴ νόσῳ μηδὲ γήρᾳ διαλυομένων ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ σφαγῆς εὔτονον τὸ δέρμα καὶ στιφρὸν γίγνεσθαι· τὰ δʼ ὑπὸ θηρίων δηχθέντα καὶ τοὺς ὄνυχας μελαίνεσθαι καὶ τριχορροεῖν καὶ τοῖς δέρμασι φλιδᾶν καὶ ῥακοῦσθαι. [¶10] 10.1. WHEN I was chief magistrate, most of the suppers consisted of distinct messes, where every particular guest had his portion of the sacrifice allowed him. Some were wonderfully well pleased with this order; others blamed it as unsociable and ungenteel, and were of the opinion that, as soon as I was out of my office, the manner of entertainments ought to be reformed; for, says Hagias, we invite one another not barely to eat and drink, but to eat and drink together. Now this division into messes takes away all society, makes many suppers, and many eaters, but no one sups with another; but every man takes his pound of beef, as from the market, sets it before himself, and falls on. And is it not the same thing to provide a different cup and different table for every guest (as the Demophontidae treated Orestes), as now to set each man his loaf of bread and mess of meat, and feed him, as it were, out of his own proper manger? Only, it is true, we are not (as those that treated Orestes were) obliged to be silent and not discourse. Besides, to show that all the guests should have a share in every thing, we may draw an argument from hence;—the same discourse is common to us all, the same songstress sings, the same musician plays to all. So, when the same cup is set in the midst, not appropriated to any, it is a large spring of good fellowship, and each man may take as much as his appetite requires; not like this most unjust distribution of bread and meat, which prides itself forsooth in being equal to all, though unequal, stomachs; for the same portion to a man of a small appetite is too much; to one of a greater, too little. And, sir, as he that administers the very same dose of physic to all sorts of patients must be very ridiculous; so likewise must that entertainer who, inviting a great many guests that can neither eat nor drink alike, sets before every one an equal mess, and measures what is just and fit by an arithmetical not geometrical proportion. When we go to a shop to buy, we all use, it is true, one and the same public measure; but to an entertainment each man brings his own belly, which is satisfied with a portion, not because it is equal to that which others have, but because it is sufficient for itself. Those entertainments where every one had his single mess Homer mentions amongst soldiers and in the camp, which we ought not to bring into fashion amongst us; but we should rather imitate the good friendship of the ancients, who, to show what reverence they had for all kinds of societies, not only honored those that lived with them or under the same roof, but also those that drank out of the same cup or ate out of same dish. Let us never mind Homer’s entertainments; they were good for nothing but to starve a man, and the makers of them were kings, more stingy and observant than the Italian cooks; insomuch that in the midst of a battle, whilst they were at handy-blows with their enemies, they could exactly reckon up how many glasses each man drank at his table. Those that Pindar describes are much better, “Where heroes mixed sat round the noble board,” because they maintained society and good fellowship; for the latter truly mixed and joined friends, but this modern custom divides and asperses them as persons who, though seemingly very good friends, cannot so much as eat with one another out of the same dish. > Greek: 10.1. ὅτε τὴν ἐπώνυμον ἀρχὴν ἦρχον οἴκοι, τὰ πλεῖστα τῶν δείπνων δαῖτες ἦσαν, ἐν ταῖς θυσίαις ἑκάστῳ μερίδος ἀποκληρουμένης· ὅ τισι μὲν ἤρεσκε θαυμαστῶς, οἱ δʼ ὡς ἀκοινώνητον καὶ ἀνελεύθερον ρο ψέγοντες ᾤοντο δεῖν ἅμα τῷ καταθέσθαι τὸν στέφανον ἐπὶ τὴν συνήθη δίαιταν αὖθις μεθαρμόσασθαι τὰς τραπέζας;. οὐ γὰρ τοῦ φαγεῖν ὁ Ἁγίας ἔφη χάριν οὐδὲ τοῦ πιεῖν, ἀλλὰ τοῦ συμπιεῖν καὶ συμφαγεῖν ὡς ἐγᾦμαι καλοῦμεν ἀλλήλους, ἡ δʼ εἰς μερίδας αὕτη κρεωδαισία τὴν κοινωνίαν ἀναιροῦσα, πολλὰ δεῖπνα ποιεῖ καὶ πολλοὺς δειπνοῦντας, οὐδένα δὲ σύνδειπνον οὐδενός, ὅταν ὥσπερ ἀπὸ κρεοπωλικῆς; τραπέζης σταθμῷ λαβὼν ἕκαστος μοῖραν ἑαυτῷ πρόθηται. καίτοι τίνʼ ἔχει διαφορὰν ἢ κύλικα καταθέντα τῶν κεκλημένων ἑκάστῳ καὶ χοῦν, ἐμπλησάμενον οἴνου, καὶ τράπεζαν ἰδίαν ὥσπερ οἱ Δημοφωντίδαι τῷ Ὀρέστῃ λέγονται, πίνειν κελεῦσαι μὴ προσέχοντα τοῖς ἄλλοις· ἢ τοῦθʼ ὅπερ νῦν γίγνεται, κρέας προθέμενον καὶ ἄρτον, ὥσπερ ἐκ φάτνης ἰδίας ἕκαστον εὐωχεῖσθαι, πλὴν ὅτι μὴ πρόσκειται σιωπῆς ἡμῖν ἀνάγκη, καθάπερ τοῖς τὸν Ὀρέστην ξενίζουσιν; ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῦτʼ ἴσως αὐτὸ πρὸς τὴν ἁπάντων κοινωνίαν ἐκκαλεῖται τοὺς συνόντας, ὅτι καὶ λόγῳ κοινῷ πρὸς ἀλλήλους χρώμεθα καὶ ᾠδῇ, ψαλτρίας τε τερπούσης; καὶ αὐλητρίδος ὁμοίως μετέχομεν· καὶ ὁ κρατὴρ οὗτος ὅρον οὐκ ἔχων ἐν μέσῳ πρόκειται, πηγὴ φιλοφροσύνης ἄφθονος καὶ μέτρον ἔχουσα τῆς ἀπολαύσεως τὴν ὄρεξιν οὐχ ὥσπερ ἡ τοῦ κρέως καὶ τοῦ ἄρτου μερὶς ἀδικωτάτη μέτρῳ καλλωπίζεται τῷ ἴσῳ πρὸς ἀνίσους· τὸ γὰρ αὐτὸ τῷ μικροῦ δεομένῳ πλέον ἐστὶ τῷ δὲ μείζονος ἔλαττον. ὥσπερ οὖν, ὦ ἑταῖρʼ, ὁ κάμνουσι πολλοῖς ἴσα φάρμακα μέτροις ἀκριβέσι καὶ σταθμοῖς διανέμων παγγέλοιος, οὕτω τοιοῦτος ἑστιάτωρ οἷος ἀνθρώπους οὔτε διψῶντας ὡσαύτως οὔτε πεινῶντας εἰς ταὐτὸ συναγαγὼν ἀπὸ τῶν ἴσων θεραπεύειν ἅπαντας, ἀριθμητικῶς οὐ γεωμετρικῶς ὁρίζων τὸ δίκαιον καὶ μέτριον. εἰς καπήλου μὲν οὖν φοιτῶμεν ἑνὶ χρώμενοι μέτρῳ τῷ δημοσίῳ πάντες· ἐπὶ δεῖπνον δʼ ἕκαστος ἰδίαν ἥκει γαστέρα κομίζων, ἣν οὐ τὸ ἴσον ἀλλὰ τὸ ἀρκοῦν ἐμπίπλησι. τὰς δʼ Ὁμηρικὰς ἐκείνας δαῖτας οὐ χρὴ μεταφέρειν ἐκ τῶν στρατιωτικῶν καὶ παρεμβολικῶν ἐνταῦθα δείπνων, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον τὴν τῶν παλαιῶν φιλανθρωπίαν ζηλοῦν, οὐ μόνον ὁμεστίους οὐδʼ ὁμωροφίους ἀλλὰ καὶ ὁμοχοίνικας καὶ ὁμοσίτους τῷ πᾶσαν σέβεσθαι κοινωνίαν ἐν τιμῇ τιθεμένους. τὰ μὲν οὖν Ὁμήρου δεῖπνα χαίρειν ἐῶμεν ὑπολιμώδη γάρ ἐστι καὶ διψαλέα καὶ τοὺς ἑστιάρχας βασιλεῖς ἔχοντα τῶν Ἰταλικῶν δεινοτέρους καπήλων ὥστε παρὰ τὰς μάχας, ἐν χερσὶ τῶν πολεμίων ὄντων, ἀπομνημονεύειν ἀκριβῶς, πόσον ἕκαστος τῶν δεδειπνηκότων παρʼ αὐτοῖς πέπωκε. τὰ δὲ Πινδαρικὰ βελτίω δήπουθεν, ἐν οἷς ἥρωες αἰδοίαν ἐμίγνυντʼ ἀμφὶ τράπεζαν θαμά τῷ κοινωνεῖν ἁπάντων ἀλλήλοις. ἐκεῖνο γὰρ ἦν οἷον ἀνάμιξις καὶ σύγκρασις ἀληθῶς, τοῦτο δὲ διαίρεσις καὶ διαβολὴ τῶν φιλτάτων εἶναι δοκούντων, ὡς μηδʼ ὄψου κοινωνεῖν δυναμένων. [¶11] 10.2. To this polite discourse of Hagias they urged me to reply. And I said: Hagias, it is true, hath reason to be troubled at this unusual disappointment, because having so great a belly (for he was an excellent trencher-man) he had no larger mess than others; for in a fish eaten in common, Democritus says, there are no bones. But that very thing is especially apt to bring us a share beyond our own proper allowance. For it is equality, as the old woman in Euripides hath it, “That fastens towns to towns, and friends to friends;” and entertainments chiefly stand in need of this. The necessity is from nature as well as custom, and is not lately introduced or founded only on opinion. For when the same dish lies in common before all, the man that is slow and eats little must be offended at the other that is too quick for him, as a slow ship at the swift sailer. Besides, snatching, contention, shoving, and the like, are not, in my mind, neighborly beginnings of mirth and jollity; but they are absurd, doggish, and often end in anger or reproaches, not only against one another, but also against the entertainer himself or the carvers of the feast. But as long as Moera and Lachesis (division and distribution) kept an equality in feasts, nothing uncivil or disorderly appeared, and they called the feasts δαῖτες, distributions, the entertained δαιτυμόνες, and the carvers δαιτροί, distributers, from dividing and distributing to every man his proper mess. The Lacedaemonians had officers called distributers of the flesh, no mean men, but the chief of the city; for Lysander himself by King Agesilaus was constituted one of these in Asia. But when luxury crept into our feasts, distributing was thrown out; for I suppose they had not leisure to divide these numerous tarts, cheese-cakes, pies, and other delicate varieties; but, surprised with the pleasantness of the taste and tired with the variety, they left off cutting it into portions, and left all in common. This is confirmed from the present practice; for in our religious or public feasts, where the food is simple and inartificial, each man hath his mess assigned him; so that he that endeavors to retrieve the ancient custom will likewise recover thrift and almost lost frugality again. But, you object, where only property is, community is lost. True indeed, where equality is not; for not the possession of what is proper and our own, but the taking away of another’s and coveting that which is common, is the cause of all injury and contention; and the laws, restraining and confining these within the bounds of propriety, receive their name from their office, being a power distributing equality to every one in order to the common good. Thus every one is not to be honored by the entertainer with the garland or the chiefest place; but if any one brings with him his sweet heart or a minstrel-wench, they must be common to him and his friends, that all things may be huddled together in one mass, as Anaxagoras would have it. Now if propriety in these things doth not in the least hinder but that things of greater moment, and the only considerable, as discourse and civility, may be still common, let us leave off disgracing distributions or the lot, the son of Fortune (as Euripides hath it), which hath no respect either to riches or honor, but which in its inconsiderate wheel now and then raiseth up the humble and the poor, and makes him master of himself, and, by accustoming the great and rich to endure and not be offended at equality, pleasingly instructs. > Greek: 10.2. ἐπὶ τούτοις εὐδοκιμήσαντι τῷ Ἁγίᾳ παρώξυνάν μʼ ἐπιθέσθαι. ἔλεγον οὖν οὐ ξένον τι πεπονθέναι πάθος Ἁγίαν, εἰ τὴν ἴσην μερίδα λαμβάνων δυσκολαίνει, γαστέρα φορῶν τηλικαύτην καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς εἶναι τῶν ἀδδηφαγίᾳ χαιρόντων ἐν γάρ ξυνῷ ἰχθύι ἄκανθαι οὐκ ἔνεισιν ὥς φησιν ὁ Δημόκριτος. ἀλλὰ τοῦτʼ αὐτό ἔφην καὶ μάλιστα τὴν μοῖραν ὑπὲρ εἱμαρμένην ἡμῖν ἐπήγαγεν. ἰσότητος γάρ, ἣν πόλεις τε πόλεσι συμμάχοις τε συμμάχους ἡ Εὐριπίδειος γραῦς φησι συνδεῖν, οὐδὲν οὕτως ὡς ἡ περὶ τράπεζαν κοινωνία δεῖται, φύσει κοὐ νόμῳ καὶ ἀναγκαίαν οὐ καινὴν οὐδʼ ἐπείσακτον ὑπὸ δόξης ἔχουσα χρείαν· τῷ πλέονα δʼ ἐκ τῶν κοινῶν ἐσθίοντι πολέμιον καθίσταται τὸ καθυστεροῦν καὶ ἀπολειπόμενον, ὥσπερ ἐν ῥοθίῳ ταχυναυτούσης τριήρους. οὐ γὰρ φιλικὸν οὐδὲ συμποτικὸν οἶμαι προοίμιον εὐωχίας ὑφόρασις καὶ ἁρπασμὸς καὶ χειρῶν ἅμιλλα καὶ διαγκωνισμός, ἀλλʼ ἄτοπα καὶ κυνικὰ καὶ τελευτῶντα πολλάκις εἰς λοιδορίας καὶ ὀργὰς οὐ κατʼ ἀλλήλων μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ κατὰ τῶν τραπεζοκόμων καὶ κατὰ τῶν ἑστιώντων. ὅσον δὲ χρόνον ἡ Μοῖρα καὶ ἡ Λάχεσις ἰσότητι τὴν περὶ τὰ δεῖπνα καὶ συμπόσια κοινωνίαν ἐβράβευον, οὐθὲν ἰδεῖν ἄκοσμον ἦν οὐδʼ ἀνελεύθερον ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ δεῖπνα δαῖτας ἐκάλουν καὶ τοὺς ἑστιωμένους δαιτυμόναςδαιτροὺς δὲ τοὺς τραπεζοκόμους ἀπὸ τοῦ διαιρεῖν καὶ διανέμειν. Λακεδαιμόνιοι δὲ κρεοδαίτας εἶχον οὐ τοὺς τυχόντας ἀλλὰ τοὺς πρώτους ἄνδρας, ὥστε καὶ Λύσανδρον ὑπʼ Ἀγησιλάου τοῦ βασιλέως ἐν Ἀσίᾳ κρεοδαίτην ἀποδειχθῆναι. τότʼ οὖν αἱ νεμήσεις ἐξέπεσον, ὅτʼ ἐπεισῆλθον αἱ πολυτέλειαι τοῖς δείπνοις· οὐ γὰρ ἦν οἶμαι πέμματα καὶ κανδύλους καὶ καρυκείας ἄλλας τε παντοδαπὰς ὑποτριμμάτων καὶ ὄψων παραθέσεις διαιρεῖν, ἀλλʼ ἐξηττώμενοι τῆς περὶ ταῦτα λιχνείας καὶ ἡδυπαθείας προήκαντο τὴν ἰσομοιρίαν. τεκμήριον δὲ τοῦ λόγου καὶ νῦν ἔτι τὰς θυσίας καὶ τὰ δημόσια δεῖπνα πρὸς μερίδα γίγνεσθαι διὰ τὴν ἀφέλειαν καὶ καθαριότητα τῆς διαίτης· ὥσθʼ ὁ τὴν νέμησιν ἀναλαμβάνων ἅμα συνανασῴζει τὴν εὐτέλειαν. ἀλλʼ ὅπου τὸ ἴδιον ἔστιν, ἀπόλλυται τὸ κοινόν; ὅπου μὲν οὖν μὴ ἴσον ἔστιν· οὐ γὰρ οἰκείου κτῆσις ἀλλʼ ἀφαίρεσις ἀλλοτρίου καὶ πλεονεξία περὶ τὸ κοινὸν ἀδικίας; ἦρξε καὶ διαφορᾶς, ἣν ὅρῳ καὶ μέτρῳ τοῦ ἰδίου καταπαύοντες οἱ νόμοι τῆς ἴσα νεμούσης εἰς; τὸ κοινὸν ἀρχῆς καὶ δυνάμεως ἐπώνυμοι γεγόνασιν. ἐπεὶ μηδὲ στέφανον ἀξίου διανέμειν ἡμῶν ἑκάστῳ τὸν ἑστιῶντα μηδὲ κλισίας καὶ χώρας· ἀλλὰ κἂν ἐρωμένην τις ἢ ψάλτριαν ἥκῃ κομίζων, κοινὰ τὰ φίλων, ἵνα τό ὁμοῦ πάντα χρήματα γίγνηται κατὰ τὸν Ἀναξαγόραν. εἰ δʼ οὐδὲν ἡ τούτων ἰδίωσις ἐπιταράττει τὴν κοινωνίαν τῷ τὰ μέγιστα καὶ πλείστης ἄξια σπουδῆς εἶναι κοινά, λόγους, προπόσεις, φιλοφροσύνας, παυσώμεθα τὰς Μοίρας ἀτιμάζοντες; καὶ τὸν τῆς τύχης παῖδα κλῆρονʼ ὡς Εὐριπίδης φησίν, ὃς οὔτε πλούτῳ νέμων οὔτε δόξῃ τὸ πρωτεῖον, ἀλλʼ ὅπως ἔτυχεν ἄλλως ἄλλοτε συμφερόμενος τὸν μὲν πένητα καὶ ταπεινὸν ἐπιγαυροῖ καὶ συνεξαίρει γευόμενόν τινος αὐτονομίας, τὸν δὲ πλούσιον καὶ μέγαν ἐθίζων ἰσότητι μὴ δυσκολαίνειν ἀλύπως σωφρονίζει. ## 5. Book III · chapters 1–5 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/5/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/5/#p-N [¶0] 0.1. Simonides the poet, my Sossius Senecio, seeing one of the company sit silent and discourse nobody, said: Sir, if you are a fool, it is wisely done; if a wise man, very foolishly. It is good to conceal a man’s folly, but (as Heraclitus says) it is very hard to do it over a glass of wine, Which doth the gravest men to mirth advance, And let them loose to sing. to laugh, and dance, And speak what had been better left unsaid. In which lines the poet in my mind shows the difference between being a little heated and downright drunk; for to sing, laugh, and dance may agree very well with those that have gone no farther than a merry cup; but to prattle, and speak what had been better left unsaid, argues a man to be quite gone. Therefore Plato thinks that wine is the most ingenious discoverer of men’s humors; and Homer, when he says, “At feasts they had not known each other’s minds,” evidently shows that he knew wine was powerful to open men’s thoughts, and was full of new discoveries. It is true from the bare eating and drinking, if they say nothing, we can give no guess at the tempers of the men; but because drinking leads them on to discourse, and discourse lays a great many things open and naked which were secret and hid before, therefore to sport a glass of wine together lets us into one another’s humors. And therefore a man may reasonably fall foul on Aesop: Why, sir, would you have a window in every man’s breast, through which we may look in upon his thoughts? Wine opens and exposes all, it will not suffer us to be silent, but takes off all mask and visor, and makes us regardless of the severe precepts of decency and custom. Thus Aesop, or Plato, or any other that designs to look into a man, may have his desires satisfied by the assistance of a bottle; but those that are not solicitous to pump one another, but to be sociable and pleasant, discourse of such matters and handle such questions as make no discovery of the bad parts of the soul, but such as comfort the good, and, by the help of neat and polite learning, lead the intelligent part into an agreeable pasture and garden of delight. This made me collect and dedicate to you this third dedication of table discourses, the first of which is about chaplets made of flowers. > Greek: 0.1. Σιμωνίδης ὁ ποιητής, ὦ Σόσσιε Σενεκίων, ἔν τινι πότῳ ξένον ἰδὼν κατακείμενον σιωπῇ καὶ μηδενὶ διαλεγόμενον, ὦ ἄνθρωπʼ εἶπεν εἰ μὲν ἠλίθιος εἶ, σοφὸν πρᾶγμα ποιεῖς εἰ δὲ σοφός, ἠλίθιον.ἀμαθίην γὰρ ἄμεινον ὥς φησιν Ἡράκλειτος κρύπτειν, ἔργον δὲ ἐν ἀνέσει καὶ παρʼ οἶνον ὅστʼ ἐφέηκε πολύφρονά περ μάλʼ ἀεῖσαι, καὶ θʼ ἁπαλὸν γελάσαι καὶ τʼ ὀρχήσασθαι ἀνῆκε· καί τι ἔπος προέηκεν, ὅπερ τʼ ἄρρητον ἄμεινον· οἰνώσεως ἐνταῦθα τοῦ ποιητοῦ καὶ μέθης, ὡς ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ, διαφορὰν ὑποδεικνύντος. ᾠδὴ μὲν γὰρ καὶ γέλως καὶ ὄρχησις οἰνωμένοις μετρίως ἔπεισι· τὸ δὲ λαλεῖν καὶ λέγειν, ἃ βέλτιον ἦν σιωπᾶν, παροινίας ἢδη καὶ μέθης ἔργον ἐστί. διὸ καὶ Πλάτων ἐν οἴνῳ μάλιστα καθορᾶσθαι τὰ ἤθη τῶν πολλῶν νομίζει, καὶ Ὅμηρος εἰπὼν οὐδὲ τραπέζῃ γνώτην ἀλλήλων δῆλός ἐστιν εἰδὼς τὸ πολύφωνον τοῦ οἴνου καὶ λόγων πολλῶν γόνιμον. οὐ γὰρ ἔστι τρωγόντων σιωπῇ καὶ πινόντων γνῶσις· ἀλλʼ ὅτι τὸ πίνειν εἰς τὸ λαλεῖν προάγεται, τῷ δὲ λαλεῖν ἐμφαίνεται καὶ τῷ ἀπογυμνοῦσθαι πολλὰ τῶν ἄλλως λανθανόντων, παρέχει τινὰ τὸ συμπίνειν καὶ κατανόησιν ἀλλήλων· ὥστε μὴ φαύλως ἂν ἐπιτιμῆσαι τῷ Αἰσώπῳ, τί τὰς θυρίδας, ὦ μακάριε, ζητεῖς ἐκείνας, διʼ ὧν ἄλλος; ἄλλου κατόψεται τὴν διάνοιαν; ὁ γὰρ οἶνος ἡμᾶς ἀνοίγει καὶ δείκνυσιν οὐκ ἐῶν ἡσυχίαν ἄγειν, ἀλλʼ ἀφαιρῶν τὸ πλάσμα καὶ τὸν σχηματισμόν, ἀπωτάτω τοῦ νόμου καθάπερ παιδαγωγοῦ γεγονότων. Αἰσώπῳ μὲν οὖν καὶ Πλάτωνι, καὶ εἴ τις ἄλλος ἐξετάσεως τρόπου δεῖται, πρὸς τοῦτο χρήσιμον ὁ ἄκρατος· οἱ δὲ μηδὲν ἀλλήλους βασανίζειν δεόμενοι μηδὲ καταφωρᾶν ἀλλʼ ἢ χρῆσθαι φιλοφρόνως, τὰ τοιαῦτα προβλήματα καὶ τοὺς λόγους ἄγουσι συνιόντες, οἷς ἀποκρύπτεται τὰ φαῦλα τῆς ψυχῆς, τὸ δὲ βέλτιστον ἀναθαρρεῖ καὶ τὸ μουσικώτατον, ὥσπερ ἐπὶ λειμῶνας οἰκείους καὶ νομὰς ὑπὸ φιλολογίας προερχόμενον. ὅθεν καὶ ἡμεῖς τρίτην δεκάδα ταύτην σοι πεποιήμεθα συμποτικῶν ζητημάτων, τὸ περὶ τῶν στεφάνων πρῶτον ἔχουσαν. [¶1] 1.1. AT Athens Erato the musician keeping a solemn feast to the Muses, and inviting a great many to the treat, the company was full of talk, and the subject of the discourse garlands. For after supper many of all sorts of flowers being presented to the guests, Ammonius began to jeer me for choosing a rose chaplet before a laurel, saying that those made of flowers were effeminate, and fitted toyish girls and women more than grave philosophers and men of music. And I admire that our friend Erato, that abominates all flourishing in songs, and blames good Agatho, who first in his tragedy of the Mysians ventured to introduce the chromatic airs, should himself fill his entertainment with such various and such florid colors, and that, while he shuts out all the soft delights that through the ears can enter to the soul, he should introduce others through the eyes and through the nose, and make these garlands, instead of signs of piety, to be instruments of pleasure. For it must be confessed that this ointment gives a better smell than those trifling flowers, which wither even in the hands of those that wreathe them. Besides, all pleasure must be banished the company of philosophers, unless it is of some use or desired by natural appetite; for as those that are carried to a banquet by some of their invited friends (as, for instance, Socrates carried Aristodemus to Agatho’s table) are as civilly entertained as the bidden guests, but he that goes on his own account is shut out of doors; thus the pleasures of eating and drinking, being invited by natural appetite, should have admission; but all the others which come on no account, and have only luxury to introduce them, ought in reason to be denied. > Greek: 1.1. ἐγένοντο γάρ ποτε καὶ περὶ στεφάνων λόγοι τὸ δὲ συμπόσιον ἦν Ἀθήνησιν, Ἐράτωνος τοῦ ἁρμονικοῦ ταῖς Μούσαις τεθυκότος καὶ πλείονας ἑστιῶντος, παντοδαπῶν γὰρ μετὰ τὸ δειπνῆσαι στεφάνων περιφερομένων, ὁ Ἀμμώνιος ἐπέσκωψέ πως ἡμᾶς ἀντὶ τοῦ δαφνίνου τοῖς ῥοδίνοις ἀναδησαμένους ὅλως γὰρ εἶναι τοὺς ἀνθίνους κορασιώδεις καὶ παιζούσαις μᾶλλον ἐπιτηδείους; παρθένοις καὶ γυναιξὶν ἢ συνουσίαις φιλοσόφων καὶ μουσικῶν ἀνδρῶν. θαυμάζω δὲ καὶ Ἐράτωνα τουτονὶ τὰς μὲν ἐν τοῖς μέλεσι παραχρώσεις βδελυττόμενον καὶ κατηγοροῦντα τοῦ καλοῦ Ἀγάθωνος, ὃν πρῶτον εἰς τραγῳδίαν φασὶν ἐμβαλεῖν καὶ ὑπομῖξαι τὸ χρωματικὸν, ὅτε τοὺς Μυσοὺς ἐδίδασκεν, αὐτὸς δʼ ἡμῖν ὁρᾶτε ὡς ποικίλων χρωμάτων καὶ ἀνθηρῶν τὸ συμπόσιον ἐμπέπληκε, καὶ τὴν διὰ τῶν ὢτων ἀποκλείει τρυφὴν καὶ ἡδυπάθειαν τῆ αὐλείῳ, τὴν κατὰ τὰ ὄμματα καὶ τὰς ῥῖνας, ὥσπερ καθʼ ἑτέρας θύρας, ἐπεισάγων τῇ ψυχῇ καὶ τὸν στέφανον ἡδονῆς ποιῶν οὐκ εὐσεβείας. καίτοι τό γε μύρον τοῦτο τῆς ἀνθίνης ταύτης καὶ μαραινομένης ἐν ταῖς χερσὶ τῶν στεφανηπλόκων σπουδαιοτέραν ἀναδίδωσιν εὐωδίαν. ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἔχει χώραν ἐν συμποσίῳ φιλοσόφων ἀνδρῶν ἡδονὴ πρὸς μηδεμίαν συμπεπλεγμένη χρείαν μηδʼ ἀκολουθοῦσα φυσικῆς ὀρέξεως ἀρχῇ. καθάπερ γὰρ οἱ μὲν ὑπὸ τῶν κεκλημένων ἀγόμενοι φίλων ἐπὶ τὸ δεῖπνον ἔθει φιλανθρώπῳ τυγχάνουσι τῶν αὐτῶν, ὥσπερ Ἀριστόδημος ὑπὸ Σωκράτους εἰς Ἀγάθωνος ἀχθεὶς ἑστιῶντος· εἰ δέ τις ἀφʼ αὑτοῦ βαδίζοι, τούτῳ δεῖ τὴν θύραν κεκλεῖσθαι· οὕτως αἱ μὲν περὶ τὴν ἐδωδὴν καὶ πόσιν ἡδοναὶ κεκλημέναι ὑπὸ τῆς φύσεως ταῖς· ὀρέξεσιν ἑπόμεναι τόπον ἔχουσι, ταῖς δʼ ἄλλαις ἀκλήτοις καὶ σὺν οὐδενὶ λόγῳ φιληδονίαις ἀπηλλάχθαι προσήκει. [¶2] 1.2. At this some young men, not thoroughly acquainted with Ammonius’s humor, being abashed, privately tore their chaplets; but I, perceiving that Ammonius proposed this only for discourse and disputation’s sake, applying myself to Trypho the physician, said: Sir, you must put off that sparkling rosy chaplet as well as we, or declare, as I have often heard you, what excellent preservatives these flowery garlands are against the strength of liquor. But here Erato putting in said: What, is it decreed that no pleasure must be admitted without profit? And must we be angry with our delight, unless hired to endure it? Perhaps we may have reason to be ashamed of ointments and purple vests, because so costly and expensive, and to look upon them as (in the barbarian’s phrase) treacherous gar ments and deceitful odors; but these natural smells and colors are pure and simple as fruits themselves, and without expense or the curiosity of art. And I appeal to any one, whether it is not absurd to receive the pleasant tastes Nature gives us, and reject those smells and colors that the seasons afford us, because forsooth they blossom with delight, if they have no other external profit or advantage. Besides, we have an axiom against you, for if (as you affirm) Nature makes nothing vain, those things that have no other use were designed on purpose to please and to delight. Besides, observe that to thriving trees Nature hath given leaves, for the preservation of the fruit and of the stock itself; for those sometimes warming sometimes cooling it, the seasons creep on by degrees, and do not assault it with all their violence at once. But now the flower, whilst it is on the plant, is of no profit at all, unless we use it to delight our nose with the admirable smell, and to please our eyes when it opens that inimitable variety of colors. And therefore, when the leaves are plucked off, the plants as it were suffer injury and grief. There is a kind of an ulcer raised, and an unbecoming nakedness attends them; and we must not only (as Empedocles says) “By all means spare the leaves that grace the palm,” but likewise the leaves of all other trees, and not injuriously against Nature robbing them of their leaves, bring deformity on them to adorn ourselves. But to pluck the flowers doth no injury at all. It is like gathering of grapes at the time of vintage; unless plucked when ripe, they wither of themselves and fall. And therefore, like the barbarians who clothe themselves with the skins more commonly than with the wool of sheep, those that wreathe leaves rather than flowers into garlands seem to me to use the plants according to neither the dictates of reason nor the design of Nature. And thus much I say in defence of those who sell chaplets of flowers; for I am not grammarian enough to remember those poems which tell us that the old conquerors in the sacred games were crowned with flowers. Yet, now I think of it, there is a story of a rosy crown that belongs to the Muses; Sappho mentions it in a copy of verses to a woman unlearned and unacquainted with the Muses: Dead thou shalt lie forgotten in thy tomb, Since not for thee Pierian roses bloom. But if Trypho can produce any thing to our advantage from physic, pray let us have it. > Greek: 1.2. πρὸς ταῦθʼ οἱ μὲν ἀήθεις τοῦ Ἀμμωνίου νεανίσκοι διαταραχθέντες ἡσυχῆ παρελύοντο τοὺς στεφάνους· ἐγὼ δʼ εἰδὼς ὅτι γυμνασίας ἕνεκα καὶ ζητήσεως καταβέβληκεν ἐν μέσῳ τὸν λόγον ὁ Ἀμμώνιος, προσαγορεύσας Τρύφωνα τὸν ἰατρὸν ὦ τᾶν εἶπον ἢ καταθέσθαι δίκαιος εἶ μεθʼ ἡμῶν τουτονὶ τὸν καλὸν ἄνθεσι φλέγοντα τοῖς ῥοδίνοις στέφανον, ἢ λέγειν, ὥσπερ εἴωθας ἑκάστοτε πρὸς ἡμᾶς, ὅσας ἔχουσιν οἱ ἄνθινοι στέφανοι πρὸς τὸ πίνειν βοηθείας. ὑπολαβὼν δʼ ὁ Ἐράτων οὕτω γάρ εἶπε δέδοκται μηδεμίαν ἡδονὴν ἀσύμβολον δέχεσθαι, ἀλλʼ εὐφραινομένους δυσκολαίνειν, ἂν μὴ μετά τινος μισθοῦ τοῦτο πάσχωμεν ἢ τὸ μὲν μύρον εἰκότως ὑποδυσωπούμεθα καὶ τὴν πορφύραν διὰ τὴν ἐπίθετον πολυτέλειαν ὡς δολερὰ εἵματα καὶ χρίματα κατὰ τὴν τοῦ βαρβάρου φωνήν, αἱ δʼ αὐτοφυεῖς χρόαι καὶ ὀσμαὶ τὸ ἀφελὲς ἔχουσι καὶ καθαρὸν καὶ οὐδὲν ὀπώρας διαφέρουσι; μὴ γὰρ εὔηθες ᾖ τοὺς μὲν χυμοὺς δρέπεσθαι καὶ ἀπολαύειν τῆς φύσεως διδούσης, ὀσμὰς δὲ καὶ χρόας ἃς ὧραι φέρουσι, διὰ τὴν ἐπανθοῦσαν ἡδονὴν ταῦτα καὶ χάριν ἀτιμάζειν, ἂν μή τι χρειῶδες ἔξωθεν ἄλλο συνεπιφέρωσιν. … ἓν γὰρ αὐτὸ δοκεῖ τοὐναντίον, εἰ μηδὲν ἡ φύσις, ὡς ὑμεῖς φατε … μάτην πεποίηκε, ταῦτα τῆς ἡδονῆς πεποιῆσθαι χάριν, ἃ μηδὲν ἄλλο χρήσιμον ἔχοντα μόνον εὐφραίνειν πέφυκε. σκόπει δʼ ὅτι τοῖς φυομένοις καὶ βλαστάνουσι τὰ μὲν φύλλα σωτηρίας ἕνεκα τοῦ καρποῦ καὶ ὅπως ὑπʼ αὐτῶν τὰ δένδρα θαλπόμενα καὶ ψυχόμενα μετρίως φέρῃ τὰς μεταβολὰς; γέγονε· τοῦ δʼ ἄνθους ὄφελος οὐδὲν ἐπιμένοντος, πλὴν εἴ τι χρωμένοις ἡμῖν ἐπιτερπὲς ὀσφρέσθαι καὶ ἰδεῖν ἡδὺ παρέχει, θαυμαστὰς μὲν ὀσμὰς ἀφιέντα, ποικιλίαν δʼ ἀμιμήτοις χρώμασι καὶ βαφαῖς ἀνοιγόμενα. διὸ τῶν μὲν φύλλων ἀποσπωμένων οἷον ἀλγεῖ καὶ δάκνεται τὰ φυτὰ καὶ γίγνεται περὶ αὐτὰ βλάβη τις ἑλκώδης καὶ ψίλωσις ἀπρεπής· καὶ οὐ μόνης ὡς ἔοικε κατʼ Ἐμπεδοκλέα τῆς δάφνης τῶν φύλλων ἀπὸ πάμπαν ἔχεσθαι χρή, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων φείδεσθαι δένδρων ἁπάντων καὶ μὴ κοσμεῖν ἑαυτοὺς ταῖς ἐκείνων ἀκοσμίαις, βίᾳ καὶ παρὰ φύσιν τὰ φύλλα συλῶντας; αὐτῶν. αἱ δὲ τῶν ἀνθέων ἀφαιρέσεις τρυγήσεσιν ἐοίκασι καὶ βλάπτουσιν οὐδέν, ἀλλὰ κἂν μὴ λάβῃ τις ἐν ὥρᾳ, περιερρύη μαρανθέντα. καθάπερ οὖν οἱ βάρβαροι τῶν θρεμμάτων τοῖς δέρμασιν ἀντὶ τῶν ἐρίων ἀμφιέννυνται, οὕτω μοι δοκοῦσιν οἱ μᾶλλον ἐκ τῶν φύλλων ἢ τῶν ἀνθέων ὑφαίνοντες τοὺς στεφάνους οὐ κατὰ λόγον χρῆσθαι τοῖς φυτοῖς. ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν ταῦτα συμβάλλομαι ταῖς στεφανοπώλισιν οὐ γάρ εἰμι γραμματικός, ὥστʼ ἀπομνημονεύειν ποιημάτων, ἐν οἷς τοὺς παλαιοὺς ἱερονίκας ἀναγιγνώσκομεν ἀνθινοῖς; ἀναδουμένους στεφάνοις· πλὴν ὅτι γε ταῖς Μούσαις ὁ τῶν ῥόδων στέφανος ἐπιπεφήμισται, μεμνῆσθαί μοι δοκῶ Σαπφοῦς λεγούσης πρός τινα τῶν ἀμούσων καὶ ἀμαθῶν γυναικῶν κατθάνοισα δὲ κείσεαι· οὐ γὰρ πεδέχεις ῥόδων τῶν ἐκ Πιερίας. εἰ δέ τινα καὶ Τρύφων ἀπὸ τῆς ἰατρικῆς δίδωσι μαρτυρίαν, ἀκουστέον. [¶3] 1.3. Then Trypho taking the discourse said: The ancients were very curious and well acquainted with all these things, because plants were the chief ingredients of their physic. And of this some signs remain till now; for the Tyrians offer to the son of Agenor, and the Magnesians to Chiron, the first supposed practitioners of physic, as the first fruits, the roots of those plants which have been successful on a patient. And Bacchus was counted a physician not only for finding wine, the most pleasing and most potent remedy, but for bringing ivy, the greatest opposite imaginable to wine, into reputation, and for teaching his drunken followers to wear garlands of it, that by that means they might be secured against the violence of a debauch, the heat of the liquor being remitted by the coldness of the ivy. Besides, the names of several plants sufficiently evidence the ancients’ curiosity in this matter; for they named the walnut-tree καρύα, because it sends forth a heavy and drowsy (καρωτικόν) spirit, which affects their heads who sleep beneath it; and the daffodil, νάρκισσος, because it benumbs the nerves and causes a stupid narcotic heaviness in the limbs; and therefore Sophocles calls it the ancient garland flower of the great (that is, the earthy) Gods. And some say rue was called πήγανον from its astringent quality; for, by its dryness proceeding from its heat, it fixes (πήγνυσι) or coagulates the seed, and is very hurtful to great-bellied women. But those that imagine the herb amethyst (ἀμεθυστος), and the precious stone of the same name, are called so because powerful against the force of wine, are much mistaken; for both receive their names from their color; for its leaf is not of the color of strong wine, but resembles that of weak diluted liquor. And indeed I could mention a great many which have their names from their proper virtues. But the care and experience of the ancients sufficiently appears in those of which they made their garlands when they designed to be merry and frolic over a glass of wine; for wine, especially when it seizes on the head, and strains the body just at the very spring and origin of the sense, disturbs the whole man. Now the effluvia of flowers are an admirable preservative against this, they secure the brain, as it were a citadel, against the efforts of drunkenness; for those that are hot open the pores and give the fumes free passage to exhale, and those that are moderately cold repel and keep down the ascending vapors. Of this last nature are the violet and rose; for the odors of both these are prevalent against any ache and heaviness in the head. The flowers of privet and crocus bring those that have drunk freely into a gentle sleep; for they send forth a smooth and gentle effluvia, which softly takes off all asperities that arise in the body of the drunken; and so all things being quiet and composed, the violence of the noxious humor is abated and thrown off. The smells of some flowers being received into the brain cleanse the organs and instruments of sense, and gently by their heat, without any violence or force, dissolve the humors, and warm and cherish the brain itself, which is naturally cold. Upon this account, they called those little posies they hung about their necks ὑποθύμιδες, and anointed their breasts with the oils that were squeezed from them; and of this Alcaeus is a witness, when he bids his friends, Pour ointment o’er his laboring temples, pressed With various cares, and o’er his aged breast. Hence the odors by means of the heat shoot upward into the very brain, being caught up by the nostrils. For they did not call those garlands hung about the neck ὑποθύμιδες because they thought the heart was the seat and citadel of the mind (θυμός), for on that account they should rather have called them ἐπιθυμίδες; but, as I said before, from their vapor and exhalation. Besides, it is no strange thing that these smells of garlands should be of so considerable a virtue; for some tell us that the shadow of the yew, especially when it blossoms, kills those that sleep under it; and a subtile spirit ariseth from pressed poppy, which suddenly overcomes the unwary squeezers. And there is an herb called alyssus, which to some that take it in their hands, to others that do but look on it, is found a present remedy against the hiccough; and some affirm that planted near the stalls it preserves sheep and goats from the rot and mange. And the rose is called ῥόδον, probably because it sends forth a stream (ῥεῦμα) of odors; and for that reason it withers presently. It is a cooler, yet fiery to look upon; and no wonder, for upon the surface a subtile heat, being driven out by the inward cold, looks vivid and appears. > Greek: 1.3. ἐκ τούτου δεξάμενος ὁ τρύφων τὸν λόγον οὐδενὸς ἔφη τούτων ἀσκέπτους γεγονέναι τοὺς παλαιούς, ἅτε δὴ πλείστῃ κεχρημένους ἀπὸ φυτῶν ἰατρικῇ· τεκμήρια δʼ ἔστι τινʼ ἔτι νῦν. Τύριοι μὲν Ἀγηνορίδῃ Μάγνητες δὲ Χείρωνι, τοῖς πρώτοις ἰατρεῦσαι λεγομένοις, ἀπαρχὰς; κομίζουσι·; ῥίζαι γάρ εἰσι καὶ βοτάναι, διʼ ὧν ἰῶντο τοὺς κάμνοντας. ὁ δὲ Διόνυσος οὐ μόνον τῷ τὸν οἶνον εὑρεῖν, ἰσχυρότατον φάρμακον καὶ ἥδιστον, ἰατρὸς ἐνομίσθη μέτριος, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ τὸν κιττὸν ἀντιταττόμενον μάλιστα τῇ δυνάμει πρὸς τὸν οἶνον εἰς τιμὴν προαγαγεῖν καὶ στεφανοῦσθαι διδάξαι τοὺς βακχεύοντας ὡς ἧττον ὑπὸ τοῦ οἴνου ἀνιῷντο, τοῦ κιττοῦ κατασβεννύντος τὴν μέθην τῇ ψυχρότητι. δηλοῖ δὲ καὶ τῶν ὀνομάτων ἔνια τὴν περὶ ταῦτα πολυπραγμοσύνην τῶν παλαιῶν· τήν τε γὰρ καρύαν οὕτως ὠνόμασαν, ὅτι πνεῦμα βαρὺ καὶ καρωτικὸν ἀφιεῖσα λυπεῖ τοὺς ὑπʼ αὐτῆς παρακεκλιμένους· καὶ τὸν νάρκισσον ὡς ἀμβλύνοντα τὰ νεῦρα καὶ βαρύτητας ἐμποιοῦντα ναρκώδεις· διὸ καὶ ὁ Σοφοκλῆς αὐτόν ἀρχαῖον μεγάλων θεῶν στεφάνωμα τουτέστι τῶν χθονίων, προσηγόρευκε. φασὶ δὲ καὶ τὸ πήγανον ἀπὸ τῆς δυνάμεως ὠνομάσθαι· πήγνυσι γὰρ ξηρότητι διὰ θερμότητα τὸ σπέρμα καὶ ὅλως πολέμιόν ἐστι ταῖς κυούσαις. οἱ δὲ καὶ τὴν ἀμέθυστον οἰόμενοι τῷ πρὸς τὰς οἰνώσεις βοηθεῖν αὐτήν τε καὶ τὴν ἐπώνυμον αὐτῆς λίθον οὕτω κεκλῆσθαι διαμαρτάνουσι· κέκληται γὰρ ἀπὸ τῆς χρόας ἑκατέρα· οὐ γάρ ἐστιν αὐτῆς τὸ φύλλον ἀκράτῳ, ἀλλʼ ἀοίνῳ καὶ ὑδαρεῖ τὴν κρᾶσιν οἴνῳ προσεοικός. ἄλλα μέντοι πάμπολλα λαβεῖν ἔστιν, οἷς παρέσχον τὰς κλήσεις αἱ δυνάμεις· ἀρκεῖ δὲ κἀκεῖνα τὴν τῶν παλαιῶν ἐπιμέλειαν ὑποδηλῶσαι καὶ πολυπειρίαν, ἀφʼ ἧς ἐχρήσαντο τοῖς παροίνοις στεφάνοις. μάλιστα μὲν γὰρ ὁ ἄκρατος, ὅταν τῆς κεφαλῆς καθάψηται καὶ τονώσῃ τὰ σώματα πρὸς τὰς τῶν αἰσθήσεων ἀρχάς, ἐπιταράσσει τὸν ἄνθρωπον αἱ δὲ τῶν ἀνθέων ἀπορροαὶ πρὸς τοῦτο θαυμασίως βοηθοῦσι καὶ ἀποτειχίζουσι τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀπὸ τῆς μέθης ὡς ἀκρόπολιν, τῶν μὲν θερμῶν μαλακῶς ἀναχαλώντων τοὺς πόρους καὶ ἀναπνοὴν τῷ οἴνῳ διδόντων, ὅσα δʼ ἡσυχῆ ψυχρὰ τῷ μετρίως ἐπιψαύειν ἀνακρουομένων τὰς ἀναθυμιάσεις, ὥσπερ ὁ τῶν ἴων καὶ ῥόδων στέφανος· στύφει γὰρ ἀμφότερα καὶ συστέλλει τῇ ὀσμῇ τὰς καρηβαρίας. τὸ δὲ τῆς κύπρου ἄνθος καὶ ὁ κρόκος καὶ ἡ βάκκαρις εἰς ὕπνον ἄλυπον ὑπάγει τοὺς πεπωκότας· ἔχει γὰρ ἀπορροὴν λείαν καὶ προσηνῆ καὶ τὰς περὶ τὸ σῶμα τῶν μεθυσκομένων ἀνωμαλίας καὶ τραχύτητας ἡσυχῆ διαχέουσαν, ὥστε, γιγνομένης γαλήνης, ἀμβλύνεσθαι καὶ συνεκπέττεσθαι τὸ κραιπαλῶδες. ἐνίων δʼ ἀνθέων ὀσμαῖς ἄνω σκιδναμέναις περὶ τὸν ἐγκέφαλον, οἵ τε πόροι τῶν αἰσθητηρίων ἐκκαθαίρονται καὶ λεπτύνεται τὰ ὑγρὰ πράως ἄνευ πληγῆς καὶ σάλου τῇ θερμότητι διακρινόμενα, καὶ φύσει ψυχρὸς ὢν ὁ ἐγκέφαλος ἀναθάλπεται. διὸ μάλιστα τοὺς ἀνθίνους ἐκ τῶν τραχήλων καθάπτοντες ὑποθυμίδας ἐκάλουν, καὶ τοῖς ἀπὸ τούτων μύροις ἔχριον τὰ στήθη· μαρτυρεῖ δʼ Ἀλκαῖος κελεύων καταχέαι τὸ μύρον αὐτοῦ κατὰ τᾶς πόλλα παθοίσας κεφάλας καὶ τῶ πολίω στήθεος. οὕτω καὶ ἐντεῦθεν αἱ ὀσμαὶ τοξεύουσιν ὑπὸ θερμότητος; εἰς τὸν ἐγκέφαλον ἁρπαζόμεναι ταῖς ὀσφρήσεσιν. οὐ γάρ, ὅτι τῇ καρδίᾳ τὸν θυμὸν ἐνστρατοπεδεύειν ᾤοντο, τοὺς περιδεραίους τῶν στεφάνων ὑποθυμίδας ἐκάλουν ἐπιθυμίδας γὰρ αὐτοῖς διὰ γε τοῦτο μᾶλλον ἦν καλεῖσθαι προσῆκον, ἀλλʼ ὡς λέγω διὰ τὴν ἀποφορὰν καὶ ὑποθυμίασιν. μὴ θαυμάζωμεν δʼ εἰ τοσαύτην αἱ τῶν στεφάνων ἀποφοραὶ δύναμιν ἔχουσιν· ἱστοροῦσι γάρ, ὅτι καὶ σκιὰ σμίλακος ἀποκτίννυσιν ἀνθρώπους ἐγκαταδαρθόντας, ὅταν ὀργᾷ μάλιστα πρὸς τὴν ἄνθησιν· καὶ τὸ τῆς μήκωνος ἀπορρέον πνεῦμα μὴ φυλαξαμένοις τοῖς τὸν ὀπὸν τρυγῶσι συνέβη καταπεσεῖν. τὴν δʼ ἄλυσσον καλουμένην βοτάνην καὶ λαβόντες εἰς τὴν χεῖρα μόνον, οἱ δὲ καὶ προσβλέψαντες, ἀπαλλάττονται λυγμοῦ· λέγεται δὲ καὶ ποιμνίοις ἀγαθὴ καὶ αἰπολίοις, παραφυτευομένη ταῖς μάνδραις. τὸ δὲ ῥόδον ὠνόμασται δήπουθεν, ὅτι ῥεῦμα πολὺ τῆς ὀδωδῆς ἀφίησι· διὸ καὶ τάχιστα μαραίνεται. ψυκτικὸν δʼ ἐστὶ δυνάμει τῇ δʼ ὄψει πυρωπόν, οὐκ ἀλόγως· λεπτὸν γὰρ αὐτῷ περιανθεῖ τὸ θερμὸν ἐπιπολῆς ἐξωθούμενον ὑπὸ τῆς ψυχρότητος. [¶4] 2.1. UPON this discourse, when we all hummed Trypho, Ammonius with a smile said: It is not decent by any contradiction to pull in pieces, like a chaplet, this various and florid discourse of Trypho’s. Yet methinks the ivy is a little oddly interwoven, and unjustly said by its cold powers to temper the heat of strong wine; for it is rather fiery and hot, and its berries steeped in wine make the liquor more apt to inebriate and inflame. And from this cause, as in sticks warped by the fire, proceeds the crookedness of the boughs. And snow, that for many days will lie on other trees, presently melts from the branches of the ivy, and wastes all around, as far as the warmth reaches. But the greatest evidence is this. Theophrastus tells us, that when Alexander commanded Harpalus to plant some Grecian trees in the Babylonian gardens, and—because the climate is very hot and the sun violent—such as were leafy, thick, and fit to make a shade, the ivy only would not grow; though all art and diligence possible was used, it withered and died. For being hot itself, it could not agree with the fiery nature of the soil; for excess in similar qualities is destructive, and therefore we see every thing as it were affects its contrary; a cold plant flourishes in a hot ground, and a hot plant is delighted with a cold. Upon which account it is that bleak mountains, exposed to cold winds and snow, bear firs, pines, and the like, full of pitch, fiery, and excellent to make a torch. But besides, Trypho, trees of a cold nature, their little feeble heat not being able to diffuse itself but retiring to the heart, shed their leaves; but their natural oiliness and warmth preserve the laurel, olive, and cypress always green; and the like too in the ivy may be observed. And therefore it is not likely our dear friend Bacchus, who called wine μέθυ (intoxicating) and himself μεθυμναῖος, should bring ivy into reputation for being a preservative against drunkenness and an enemy to wine. But in my opinion, as lovers of wine, when they have not any juice of the grape ready, drink ale, mead, cider, or the like; thus he that in winter would have a vine-garland on his head, finding the vine naked and without leaves, used the ivy that is like it; for its boughs are twisted and irregular, its leaves moist and disorderly confused, but chiefly the berries, like ripening clusters, make an exact representation of the vine. But grant the ivy to be a preservative against drunkenness,—that to please you, Trypho, we may call Bacchus a physician,—still I affirm that power to proceed from its heat, which either opens the pores or helps to digest the wine. > Greek: 2.1. ἐπαινεσάντων δʼ ἡμῶν, τὸν Τρύφωνα, μειδιῶν ὁ Ἀμμώνιος οὐκ ἄξιον ἔφη ποικίλον οὕτω καὶ ἀνθηρὸν λόγον ὥσπερ στέφανον ἀντιλέγοντα διαλακτίζειν· πλὴν ὅ τε κιττὸς οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅπως συγκαταπέπλεκται ψυχρότητι συγκατασβεννύναι λεγόμενος τὸν ἄκρατον· ἔστι γὰρ ἔμπυρος καὶ θερμότερος, καὶ ὅ γε καρπὸς; αὐτοῦ μιγνύμενος εἰς τὸν οἶνον μεθυστικὸν ποιεῖ καὶ ταρακτικὸν τῷ πυροῦθαι· τὸ δὲ κλῆμα λέγουσιν αὐτοῦ σπώμενον ὥσπερ τἀν πυρὶ ξύλα συνδιαστρέφεσθαι. χιὼν δὲ πολλάκις ἡμέρας συχνὰς ἐπιμένουσα τοῖς ἄλλοις φυτοῖς φεύγει τάχιστα τὸν κιττόν· μᾶλλον δʼ ὅλως εὐθὺς ἀπόλλυται καὶ περιτήκεται περὶ αὐτὸν ὑπὸ θερμότητος. ὃ δὲ μέγιστόν ἐστιν ὑπὸ Θεοφράστου δʼ ἱστόρηται, Ἀλεξάνδρου κελεύσαντος Ἑλληνικὰ δένδρα τοῖς ἐν Βαβυλῶνι παραδείσοις ἐμβαλεῖν Ἅρπαλον, μάλιστα δέ, τῶν τόπων ἐμπύρων ὄντων καὶ περιφλεγόντων, τὰ ἀλσώδη καὶ εὐπέταλα καὶ σκιερὰ δ καταμῖξαι τοῖς φυτοῖς, μόνον οὐκ ἐδέξατο τὸν κιττὸν ἡ χώρα, καίτοι πολλὰ τοῦ Ἁρπάλου πραγματευομένου καὶ προσφιλονεικοῦντος· ἀλλʼ ἀπώλλυτο καὶ κατεξηραίνετο τῷ πυρώδης μὲν αὐτὸς εἶναι, πρὸς πυρώδη δὲ μίγνυσθαι γῆν οὐ λαμβάνων κρᾶσιν ἀλλʼ ἐξιστάμενος, αἱ γὰρ ὑπερβολαὶ φθείρουσι τὰς δυνάμεις· διὸ τῶν ἐναντίων μᾶλλον ὀρέγονται; καὶ φιλόθερμόν ἐστι τὸ ψυχρὸν καὶ φιλόψυχρον τὸ θερμόν ὅθεν οἱ ὄρειοι καὶ πνευματώδεις καὶ νιφόμενοι τόποι τὰ δᾳδώδη καὶ πισσοτρόφα τῶν φυτῶν, μάλιστα πεύκας καὶ στροβίλους, ἐκφέρουσιν. ἄνευ δὲ τούτων, ὦ φίλε Τρύφων, τὰ δύσριγα καὶ ψυχρὰ φυλλορροεῖ, μικρότητι τοῦ θερμοῦ καὶ ἀσθενείᾳ συστελλομένου καὶ προλείποντος τὸ φυτόν· ἐλαίαν δὲ καὶ δάφνην καὶ κυπάριττον ἀειθαλῆ διαφυλάσσει τὸ λιπαρὸν καὶ. τὸ θερμὸν ὥσπερ τὸν κιττόν. ὅθεν ὁ φίλτατος Διόνυσος οὐχ ὡς βοηθὸν ἐπὶ τὴν μέθην οὐδʼ ὡς πολέμιον τῷ οἴνῳ τὸν κιττὸν ἐπήγαγεν· ὅς γε τὸν ἄκρατον ἄντικρυς μέθυ καὶ μεθυμναῖον αὐτὸς αὑτὸν ὠνόμασεν. ἀλλά μοι δοκεῖ καθάπερ οἱ φίλοινοι, μὴ παρόντος ἀμπελίνου, κριθίνῳ χρῶνται πώματι, καὶ μηλίτας τινάς, οἱ δὲ φοινικίνους οἴνους ποιοῦσιν· οὕτω καὶ ὁ ποθῶν χειμῶνος ὥρᾳ τὸν ἀπὸ τῆς ἀμπέλου στέφανον, ὡς ἐκείνην ἑώρα γυμνὴν καὶ ἄφυλλον, ἀγαπῆσαι τὴν ὁμοιότητα τοῦ κιττοῦ. καὶ γὰρ τοῦ κλήματος τὸ ἑλικῶδες τοῦτο καὶ σφαλλόμενον ἐν τῇ πορείᾳ καὶ τοῦ πετάλου τὸ ὑγρὸν καὶ περικεχυμένον ἀτάκτως, μάλιστα δʼ αὐτὸς ὁ κόρυμβος ὄμφακι πυκνῷ καὶ περκάζοντι προσεοικώς, ἐκμεμίμηται τὴν τῆς ἀμπέλου διάθεσιν. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ κἂν βοηθῇ τι πρὸς μέθην ὁ κιττός, θερμότητι τοῦτο ποιεῖν φήσομεν αὐτὸν ἀνοίγοντα τοὺς πόρους ἢ συνεκπέττοντα μᾶλλον τὸν ἄκρατον, ἵνα καὶ μένῃ σὴν χάριν, ὦ Τρύφων, ἰατρὸς ὁ Διόνυσος. [¶5] 2.2. Upon this Trypho sat silent, studying for an answer. Erato addressing himself to us youths, said: Trypho wants your assistance; help him in this dispute about the garlands, or be content to sit without any. Ammonius too bade us not be afraid, for he would not reply to any of our discourses; and Trypho likewise urging me to propose something, I said: To demonstrate that the ivy is cold is not so proper a task for me as Trypho, for he often useth coolers and binders; but that proposition, that wine in which ivy berries have been is more inebriating, is not true; for that disturbance which it raiseth in those that drink it is not so properly called drunkenness as alienation of mind or madness, such as hyoscyamus and a thousand other things that set men beside themselves usually produce. The crookedness of the bough is no argument at all, for such violent and unnatural effects cannot be supposed to proceed from any natural quality or power. Now sticks are bent by the fire, because that draws the moisture, and so the crookedness is a violent distortion; but the natural heat nourishes and preserves the body. Consider therefore, whether it is not the weakness and coldness of the body that makes it wind, bend, and creep upon the ground; for those qualities check its rise, and depress it in its ascent, and render it like a weak traveller, that often sits down and then goes on again. Therefore the ivy requires something to twine about, and needs a prop; for it is not able to sustain and direct its own branches, because it wants heat, which naturally tends upward. The snow is melted by the wetness of the leaf, for water destroys it easily, passing through the thin contexture, it being nothing but a congeries of small bubbles; and therefore in very cold but moist places the snow melts as soon as in hot. That it is continually green doth not proceed from its heat, for to shed its leaves doth not argue the coldness of a tree. Thus the myrtle and maiden-hair, though not hot, but confessedly cold, are green all the year. Some imagine this comes from the equal and duly proportioned mixture of the qualities in the leaf, to which Empedocles hath added a certain aptness of pores, through which the nourishing juice is orderly transmitted, so that there is still supply sufficient. But now it is otherwise in trees whose leaves fall, by reason of the wideness of their higher and narrowness of their lower pores; for the latter do not send juice enough, nor do the former keep it, but pour it out as soon as a small stock is received. This may be illustrated from the usual watering of our gardens; for when the distribution is unequal, the plants that are always watered have nourishment enough, seldom wither, and look always green. But you further argue, that being planted in Babylon it would not grow. It was well done of the plant, methinks, being a particular friend and familiar of the Boeotian God, to scorn to live amongst the barbarians, or imitate Alexander in following the manners of those nations; but it was not its heat but cold that was the cause of this aversion, for that could not agree with the contrary quality. For one similar quality doth not destroy but cherish another. Thus dry ground bears thyme, though it is naturally hot. Now at Babylon they say the air is so suffocating, so intolerably hot, that many of the merchants sleep upon skins full of water, that they may lie cool. > Greek: 2.2. πρὸς ταῦθʼ ὁ μὲν Τρύφων ἄφωνος; ἦν, ὅπως ἀντείποι σκεπτόμενος· ὁ δʼ Ἐράτων ἕκαστον ἡμῶν τῶν νέων ἀνακαλούμενος ἐκέλευε βοηθεῖν τῷ Τρύφωνι περὶ τῶν στεφάνων ἢ τοὺς στεφάνους ἀποτίθεσθαι· καὶ Ἀμμώνιος; ἔφη παρέχειν ἄδειαν, οὐ γὰρ ἀντερεῖν οἷς ἂν ἡμεῖς; εἴπωμεν. οὕτω δὴ καὶ τοῦ Τρύφωνος ἐπικελεύοντος εἰπεῖν ἔφην ὅτι τὸ μὲν ἀποδεῖξαι ψυχρὸν εἶναι τὸν κιττὸν οὐκ ἐμὸν ἦν ἔργον, ἀλλὰ Τρύφωνος· οὗτος γὰρ αὐτῷ ψύχοντι καὶ στύφοντι πολλὰ χρῆται· τῶν δʼ εἰρημένων ἔφην τὸ μὲν μεθύσκειν κιττὸν οἴνῳ μιγνύμενον οὐκ ἀληθές ἐστιν· ὃ γὰρ ἐμποιεῖ τοῖς πιοῦσι πάθος οὐ μέθην ἄν τις εἴποι, ταραχὴν δὲ καὶ παραφροσύνην, οἷον ὑοσκύαμος ἐμποιεῖ καὶ πολλὰ ἄλλα τοιαῦτα κινοῦντα μανικῶς τὴν διάνοιαν. ὁ δὲ τοῦ κλήματος σπασμὸς; ἄλογός ἐστι· τοιαῦτα γὰρ παρὰ φύσιν ἔργα τῶν κατὰ φύσιν δυνάμεων οὐκ ἔστιν· ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ ξύλα διαστρέφεται, τοῦ πυρὸς τὸ ὑγρὸν ἕλκοντος ἐξ αὐτῶν βίᾳ, κυρτότητας ἴσχοντα καὶ παραβάσεις· τὸ δὲ συγγενὲς θερμὸν αὔξειν καὶ τρέφειν πέφυκε. σκόπει δὲ μὴ μᾶλλον ἀρρωστία τις καὶ ψυχρότης σώματος τὸ πολυκαμπὲς καὶ χαμαιπετὲς πέφυκεν, προσκρούσεις πυκνὰς καὶ ἀντικοπὰς λαμβάνοντος, ὥσπερ ὁδοιπόρου διʼ ἀσθένειαν πολλάκις ἀποκαθίζοντος εἶτα πάλιν ἐρχομένου· διὸ καὶ περιπλοκῆς δεῖται καὶ στηρίγματος, αὐτὸς ἑαυτὸν ἀνέχειν καὶ ποδηγεῖν ἀδυνατῶν διʼ ἔνδειαν θερμότητος, ἧς; τὸ ἀνωφερὲς δύναμίς ἐστιν. ἡ δὲ χιὼν ἀπορρεῖ καὶ περιτήκεται διʼ ὑγρότητα τοῦ φύλλου τὸ γὰρ ὕδωρ σβέννυσιν αὐτῆς καὶ κόπτει τὴν χαυνότητα διὰ τὸ μικρῶν εἶναι καὶ πυκνῶν ἄθροισμα πομφολύγων ὅθεν οὐχ ἧττον ἐν τοῖς περιψύκτοις σφόδρα καὶ νοτεροῖς τόποις ἢ τοῖς προσείλοις αἱ χιόνες ῥέουσι. τὸ δʼ ἀειθαλὲς τοῦτο καὶ ὥς φησιν Ἐμπεδοκλῆς ἐμπεδόφυλλον οὐκ ἔστι θερμότητος· οὐδὲ γὰρ ψυχρότητος τὸ φυλλορροεῖν. ἡ γοῦν μυρρίνη καὶ τὸ ἀδίαντον οὐκ ὄντα τῶν θερμῶν ἀλλὰ τῶν ψυχρῶν ἀεὶ τέθηλεν. ἔνιοι μὲν οὖν ὁμαλότητι κράσεως οἴονται παραμένειν τὸ φύλλον· Ἐμπεδοκλῆς δὲ πρὸς τούτῳ καὶ πόρων τινὰ συμμετρίαν αἰτιᾶται, τεταγμένως καὶ ὁμαλῶς τὴν τροφὴν διιέντων, ὥστʼ ἀρκούντως ἐπιρρεῖν. τοῖς δὲ φυλλορροοῦσιν οὐκ ἔστι διὰ μανότητα τῶν ἄνω καὶ στενότητα τῶν κάτω πόρων, ὅταν οἱ μὲν μὴ ἐπιπέμπωσιν οἱ δὲ μὴ φυλάττωσιν ἀλλʼ ὀλίγην λαβόντες ἄθρουν ἐκχέωσιν, ὥσπερ ἐν ἀνδήροις τισὶν οὐχ ὁμαλοῖς· τὰ δʼ ὑδρευόμενα ἀεὶ τὴν τροφὴν διαρκῆ καὶ σύμμετρον ἀντέχει καὶ παραμένει ἀγήρω καὶ χλοερά. ἀλλʼ ἐν Βαβυλῶνι φυτευόμενος ἐξίστατο καὶ ἀπηγόρευεν, εὖ γε ποιῶν ὁ γενναῖος οὗτος, ὅτι Βοιωτίου θεοῦ πελάτης καὶ παράσιτος ὢν οὐκ ἐβούλετο μετοικεῖν ἐν βαρβάροις, οὐδʼ Ἀλέξανδρον ἐζήλωσεν ἐξοικειούμενον ἐκείνοις τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, ἀλλʼ ἔφευγε καὶ διεμάχετο πρὸς τὴν ἀποξένωσιν. αἰτία δʼ οὐχ ἡ θερμότης ἦν, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον ἡ ψυχρότης, οὐχ ὑποφέρουσα τὴν ἐναντίαν κρᾶσιν· οὐ γὰρ φθείρει τὸ οἰκεῖον, ἀλλὰ προσίεται καὶ φέφει, καθάπερ τὸ θύμον ἡ ξηρὰ γῆ, καίτοι θερμὸν ὄν, τὴν δὲ Βαβυλωνίαν οὕτω φασὶν ἀέρα πνιγώδη καὶ βαρὺν περιέχειν, ὥστε πολλοὺς τῶν εὐπόρων, ὅταν ἐμπλήσωσιν ἀσκοὺς ὕδατος, ἐπὶ τούτων καθεύδειν ἀναψυχομένους. [¶6] 3.1. FLORUS thought it strange that Aristotle in his discourse of Drunkenness, affirming that old men are easily, women hardly, overtaken, did not assign the cause, since he seldom failed on such occasions. He therefore proposed it to us (we were a great many acquaintance met at supper) as a fit subject for our enquiry. Sylla began: One part will conduce to the discovery of the other; and if we rightly hit the cause in relation to the women, the difficulty, as it concerns the old men, will be easily despatched; for their two natures are quite contrary. Moistness, smoothness, and softness belong to the one; and dryness, roughness, and hardness are the accidents of the other. As for women, I think the principal cause is the moistness of their temper; this produceth a softness in the flesh, a shining smoothness, and their usual purgations. Now when wine is mixed with a great deal of weak liquor, it is overpowered by that, loses its strength, and becomes flat and waterish. Some reason likewise may be drawn from Aristotle himself; for he affirms that those that drink fast, and take a large draught without drawing breath, are seldom overtaken, because the wine doth not stay long in their bodies, but having acquired an impetus by this greedy drinking, suddenly runs through; and women are generally observed to drink after that manner. Besides, it is probable that their bodies, by reason of the continual defluction of the moisture in order to their usual purgations, are very porous, and divided as it were into many little pipes and conduits; into which when the wine falls, it is quickly conveyed away, and doth not lie and fret the principal parts, from whose disturbance drunkenness proceeds. But that old men want the natural moisture, even the name γέροντες, in my opinion, intimates; for that name was given them not as inclining to the earth (ῥέοντες εἰς γῆν), but as being in the habit of their body γεώδεις and γεηροί, earthlike and earthy. Besides, the stiffness and roughness prove the dryness of their nature. Therefore it is probable that, when they drink, their body, being grown spongy by the dryness of its nature, soaks up the wine, and that lying in the vessels it affects the senses and prevents the natural motions. For as floods of water glide over the close grounds, nor make them slabby, but quickly sink into the open and chapped fields; thus wine, being sucked in by the dry parts, lies and works in the bodies of old men. But besides, it is easy to observe, that age of itself hath all the symptoms of drunkenness. These symptoms every body knows; shaking of the joints, faltering of the tongue, babbling, passion, forgetfulness, and distraction of the mind; many of which being incident to old men, even whilst they are well and in perfect health, are heightened by any little irregularity and accidental debauch. So that drunkenness doth not beget in old men any new and proper symptoms, but only intend and increase the common ones. And an evident sign of this is, that nothing is so like an old man as a young man drunk. > Greek: 3.1. ἐθαύμαζε δὲ Φλῶρος, εἰ γεγραφὼς Ἀριστοτέλης ἐν τῷ περὶ μέθης, ὅτι μάλιστα μὲν οἱ γέροντες ἣκιστα δʼ αἱ γυναῖκες ὑπὸ μέθης ἁλίσκονται, τὴν αἰτίαν οὐκ ἐξειργάσατο, μηδὲν εἰωθὼς προΐεσθαι τῶν τοιούτων. εἶτα μέντοι προὔβαλεν ἐν μέσῳ σκοπεῖν τοῖς παροῦσιν. ἦν δὲ τῶν συνήθων τὸ δεῖπνον. ἔφη τοίνυν ὁ Σύλλας θατέρῳ θάτερον ἐμφαίνεσθαι· κἂν εἰ περὶ τῶν γυναικῶν ὀρθῶς τὴν αἰτίαν λάβοιμεν, οὐκ ἔτι πολλοῦ λόγου δεήσεσθαι περὶ τῶν γερόντων· ἐναντίας γὰρ εἶναι μάλιστα τὰς φύσεις τῇ θʼ ὑγρότητι καὶ ξηρότητι καὶ λειότητι καὶ τραχύτητι καὶ μαλακότητι καὶ σκληρότητι. καὶ τοῦτʼ ἔφη λαμβάνειν κατὰ τῶν γυναικῶν πρῶτον, ὅτι τὴν κρᾶσιν ὑγρὰν ἔχουσιν, ἣ καὶ τὴν ἁπαλότητα τῆς σαρκὸς ἐμμεμιγμένη παρέχει καὶ τὸ στίλβον ἐπὶ λειότητι καὶ τὰς καθάρσεις· ὅταν οὖν ὁ οἶνος εἰς ὑγρότητα πολλὴν ἐμπέσῃ, κρατούμενος ἀποβάλλει τὴν βαφὴν καὶ γίγνεται παντάπασιν ἀβαφὴς καὶ ὑδατώδης. ἔστι δέ τι καὶ παρʼ αὐτοῦ λαβεῖν Ἀριστοτέλους· τοὺς γὰρ ἄθρουν καὶ ἀπνευστὶ πίνοντας, ὅπερ ἀμυστίζειν ὠνόμασαν οἱ παλαιοί, φησὶν ἥκιστα περιπίπτειν μέθαις· οὐ γὰρ ἐνδιατρίβειν τὸν ἄκρατον αὐτοῖς, ἀλλʼ ἐξωθούμενον ῥύμῃ διαπορεύεσθαι διὰ τοῦ σώματος. ἐπιεικῶς δὲ τὰς γυναῖκας ὁρῶμεν οὕτω πινούσας. εἰκὸς δʼ αὐτῶν καὶ τὸ σῶμα, διὰ τὸν ἐνδελεχῆ τῶν ὑγρῶν κατασπασμὸν ἐπὶ τὰς ἀποκαθάρσεις πολύπορον γεγονέναι καὶ τετμῆσθαι καθάπερ ἀνδήροις καὶ ὀχετοῖς· εἰς οὓς ἐμπίπτοντα τὸν ἄκρατον ὑπάγειν ταχέως καὶ μὴ προσίστασθαι τοῖς κυρίοις μέρεσιν, ὧν διαταραττομένων συμβαίνει τὸ μεθύειν. οἱ δὲ γέροντες ὅτι μέν εἰσιν ἐνδεεῖς ἰκμάδος οἰκείας, τοὔνομά μοι δοκεῖ φράζειν πρῶτον· οὐ γὰρ ὡς ῥέοντες εἰς γῆν, ἀλλʼ ὡς γεώδεις καὶ γεηροί τινες·, ἤδη γιγνόμενοι τὴν ἕξιν οὕτω προσαγορεύονται. δηλοῖ δὲ καὶ τὸ δυσκαμπὲς αὐτῶν καὶ σκληρόν, ἔτι δʼ ἡ τραχύτης·, τὴν ξηρότητα τῆς φύσεως. ὅταν οὖν ἐμπίνωσιν, εἰκὸς ἀναλαμβάνεσθαι τὸν οἶνον, τοῦ σώματος σπογγώδους διὰ τὸν αὐχμὸν ὄντος· εἶτʼ ἐμμένοντα πληγὰς καὶ βαρύτητας ἐμποιεῖν. ὡς γὰρ τὰ ῥεύματα τῶν μὲν πυκνῶν ἀποκλύζεται χωρίων καὶ πηλὸν οὐ ποιεῖ τοῖς δʼ ἀραιοῖς ἀναμίγνυται μᾶλλον, οὕτως ὁ οἶνος ἐν τοῖς τῶν γερόντων σώμασιν ἔχει διατριβὴν ἑλκόμενος ὑπὸ τῆς ξηρότητος, ἄνευ δὲ τούτων ἰδεῖν ἔστι τὰ συμπτώματα τῆς μέθης τὴν τῶν γερόντων φύσιν ἐξ ἑαυτῆς ἔχουσαν· ἔστι γὰρ συμπτώματα μέθης ἐπιφανέστατα, τρόμοι μὲν ἄρθρων ψελλισμοὶ δὲ γλώσσης, πλεονασμοὶ δὲ λαλιᾶς ὀξύτητες δʼ ὀργῆς, λῆθαί τε καὶ παραφοραὶ διανοίας· ὧν τὰ πολλὰ καὶ περὶ τοὺς ὑγιαίνοντας ὄντα πρεσβύτας ὀλίγης ῥοπῆς δεῖται καὶ σάλου τοῦ τυχόντος· ὥστε μὴ γένεσιν ἰδίων ἀλλὰ κοινῶν ἐπίτασιν συμπτωμάτων γίγνεσθαι τὴν μέθην τῷ γέροντι· τεκμήριον δὲ τούτου τὸ μηδὲν εἶναι γέροντι νέου μεθυσθέντος ὁμοιότερον. [¶7] 4.1. THUS Sylla said, and Apollonides the marshal subjoined: Sir, what you discoursed of old men I willingly admit; but in my opinion you have omitted a considerable reason in relation to the women, the coldness of their temper, which quencheth the heat of the strongest wine, and makes it lose all its destructive force and fire. This reflection seeming reasonable, Athryilatus the Thasian, a physician, kept us from a hasty conclusion in this matter, by saying that some supposed the female sex was not cold, but hotter than the male; and others thought wine rather cold than hot. > Greek: 4.1. ὁ μὲν οὖν Σύλλας ταῦτʼ εἶπεν. ὁ δὲ τακτικὸς Ἀπολλωνίδης ἔφη τὸν μὲν περὶ τῶν γερόντων ἀποδέχεσθαι λόγον· ἐν δὲ ταῖς γυναιξὶν αὐτῷ δοκεῖν παραλελεῖφθαι τὸ τῆς ψυχρότητος, ᾗ θερμότατον ἄκρατον ἀποσβέννυσθαι καὶ ἀποβάλλειν τὸ πλῆττον καὶ πυρῶδες. πιθανοῦ δὲ καὶ τούτου δοκοῦντος, Ἀθρΐλατος ὁ Θάσιος; ἰατρὸς ἐμβαλών τινα τῇ ζητήσει διατριβὴν εἶναί τινας ἔφησεν, οἳ τὰς γυναῖκας οὐ ψυχρὰς ἀλλὰ θερμοτέρας τῶν ἀνδρῶν ὑπολαμβάνουσιν, ἑτέρους δὲ μᾶλλον οἳ τὸν οἶνον οὐ θερμὸν ἀλλὰ καὶ ψυχρὸν ἡγοῦνται. [¶8] 4.2. When Florus seemed surprised at this discourse, Athryliatus continued: Sir, what I mention about wine I shall leave to this man to make out (pointing to me, for a few days before we had handled the same matter). But that women are of a hot constitution, some suppose, may be proved, first, from their smoothness, for their heat wastes all the superfluous nourishment which breeds hair; secondly from their abundance of blood, which seems to be the fountain and source of all the heat that is in the body;—now this abounds so much in females, that they would be all on fire, unless relieved by frequent and sudden evacuations. Thirdly, from a usual practice of the sextons in burning the bodies of the (lead, it is evident that females are hotter than males; for the beds-men are wont to put one female body with ten males upon the same pile, for that contains some inflammable and oily parts, and serves for fuel to the rest. Besides, if that that is soonest fit for generation is hottest, and a maid begins to be furious sooner than a boy, this is a strong proof of the hotness of the female sex. But a more convincing proof follows: women endure cold better than men, they are not so sensible of the sharpness of the weather, and are contented with a few clothes. > Greek: 4.2. θαυμάσαντος δὲ τοῦ Φλώρου, τὸν μὲν περὶ τοῦ οἴνου λόγον εἶπεν ἀφίημι τούτῳ δείξας ἐμέ· καὶ γὰρ ἐτυγχάνομεν ὀλίγαις ἡμέραις πρότερον εἰς τοῦτο διειλεγμένοι· τῶν δὲ γυναικῶν ἔφη τὴν θερμότητα πρῶτον ἀπὸ τῆς ψιλότητος οἴονται δεικνύναι, καταναλισκομένου τοῦ περιττώματος ὑπὸ τῆς θερμότητος, ὃ πλεονάζον εἰς τρίχας τρέπεται· δεύτερον δὲ τῷ πλήθει τοῦ αἵματος, ὃ πηγὴ μὲν εἶναι τῆς ἐν τῷ σώματι θερμότητος, ἔστι δὲ τοσοῦτον ταῖς γυναιξίν, ὥστʼ αὐτὰς καταπιμπράναι καὶ περιφλέγειν, εἰ μὴ πολλαὶ καὶ ταχεῖαι συμβαίνοιεν καθάρσεις. τρίτον τοῦτο τὸ περὶ τὰς ταφὰς αἱρεῖ θερμότερα τὰ θήλεα τῶν ἀρρένων εἶναι· λέγεται γὰρ ὑπὸ τῶν σκευωρουμένων τάδε συντίθεσθαι παρὰ δέκα νεκροὺς; ἀνδρῶν ἕνα γυναικὸς καὶ συνεξάπτειν, δᾳδῶδές τι καὶ λιπαρὸν αὐτῶν τῆς σαρκὸς ἐχούσης, ὥσθʼ ὑπέκκαυμα γίγνεσθαι τῶν ἄλλων. ἔτι δʼ, εἰ θερμότερον τὸ γονιμώτερον αἱ δὲ παρθένοι τῶν παίδων ὀργῶσι πρότερον καὶ σαλεύονται πρὸς τὸ γεννᾶν, οὐδʼ αὕτη τις ἀσθενὴς ἀπόδειξις ἂν εἴη τῆς θερμότητος. ἔτι δὲ μείζων καὶ πιθανωτέρα τὸ πρὸς τὰ κρύη καὶ τοὺς χειμῶνας εὐφόρως ἔχειν· ἧττον γὰρ αἱ πλεῖσται ῥιγοῦσι τῶν ἀνδρῶν καὶ παντάπασιν ἱματίων ὀλίγων δέονται. [¶9] 4.3. And Florus replied: Methinks, sir, from the same topics I could draw conclusions against your assertion. For, first, they endure cold better, because one similar quality doth not so readily act upon another; and then again, their seed is not active in generation, but passive matter and nourishment to that which the male injects. But more, women grow effete sooner than men; that they burn better than the males proceeds from their fat, which is the coldest part of the body; and young men, or such as use exercise, have but little fat. Their monthly purgations do not prove the abundance, but the corruption and badness, of their blood; for being the superfluous and undigested part, and having no convenient vessel in the body, it flows out, and appears languid and feculent, by reason of the weakness of its heat. And the shivering that seizes them at the time of their purgations sufficiently proves that which flows from them is cold and undigested. And who will believe their smoothness to be an effect of heat rather than cold, when every body knows that the hottest parts of a man’s body are the most hairy? For all such excrements are thrust out by the heat, which opens and makes passages through the skin; but smoothness is a consequent of that closeness of the superficies which proceeds from condensing cold. And that the flesh of women is closer than that of men, you may be informed by those that lie with women that have anointed themselves with oil or other perfumes; for though they do not touch the women, yet they find themselves perfumed, their bodies by reason of their heat and rarety drawing the odor to them. But I think we have disputed plausibly and sufficiently of this matter.... > Greek: 4.3. ἀλλʼ ἀπʼ αὐτῶν οἶμαι τούτων ὁ Φλῶρος ἔφη τῶν ἐπιχειρημάτων ἐλέγχεσθαι τὸ δόγμα. πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ ἀντέχουσι τῷ ψύχει μᾶλλον, ὅτι πολλάκις τὸ ὅμοιον ὑπὸ τοῦ ὁμοίου δυσπαθέστερόν ἐστιν· ἔπειτα μέντοι καὶ τὸ σπέρμα μὴ προγεγονέναι τὸ γόνιμον διὰ κατάψυξιν, ἀλλʼ ὕλην μόνον καὶ τροφὴν παρέχειν τῷ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἄρρενος. ἔπειτα λήγουσι τίκτουσαι πολὺ πρότερον ἢ γεννῶντες οἱ ἄνδρες. κάονται δὲ βέλτιον ὑπὸ πιμελῆς, ὃ δοκεῖ ψυχρότερον εἶναι τοῦ σώματος· ἥκιστα γοῦν οἱ νέοι· καὶ γυμναστικοὶ πιμελώδεις. ἡ δʼ ἔμμηνος κάθαρσις οὐ πλήθους ἀλλὰ διαφθορᾶς καὶ φαυλότητὸς ἐστιν αἵματος· τὸ γὰρ ἄπεπτον αὐτοῦ καὶ περιττωματικὸν οὐκ ἔχον ἵδρυσιν οὐδὲ σύστασιν ἐν τῷ σώματι διʼ ἀσθένειαν ἐκπίπτει, παντάπασιν ἀμβλὺ καὶ θολερὸν ἀρρωστίᾳ τοῦ θερμοῦ γιγνόμενον. δηλοῖ γοῦν καὶ τὸ ῥιγοῦν καὶ τὸ ὑποφρίττειν ὡς ἐπὶ πολὺ τὰς καθαιρομένας, ὅτι ψυχρόν ἐστι καὶ ἄπεπτον τὸ κεκινημένον καὶ ἀποχωροῦν ἐκ τοῦ σώματος. τὴν δὲ ψιλότητα τίς ἂν εἴποι, ὅτι θερμότητος οὐχὶ μᾶλλον ψυχρότητός ἐστι τὸ πάθος, ὁρῶν τὰ θερμότατα τοῦ σώματος μέρη δασυνόμενα; πάντα γὰρ ἐξωθεῖται τὰ τοιαῦτα τῷ θερμῷ, χαράσσοντι καὶ ἀναστομοῦντι τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν. ἡ δὲ λειότης πυκνότητι γέγονεν ὑπὸ ψυχρότητος· ὅτι δʼ εἰσὶ πυκνότεραι τῶν ἀνδρῶν, ὦ φίλʼ Ἀθρυΐλατε, πυθοῦ παρὰ τῶν ἔτι συναναπαυομένων γυναιξὶν ἢ μύρον ἀληλιμμέναις ἢ ἔλαιον· ἀναπίμπλανται γὰρ αὐτοῦ τοῦ χρίσματος ἐν τῷ συγκαθεύδειν, κἂν μὴ θίγωσι μηδὲ προσάψωνται τῶν γυναικῶν, διὰ θερμότητα καὶ μανότητα τοῦ σώματος ἕλκοντος. … οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν περὶ τῶν γυναικῶν ἔφη καὶ πρὸς τοὐναντίον ἀνδρικῶς ἐπικεχείρηται. [¶10] 5.1. BUT now I would fain know upon what account you can imagine that wine is cold. Then, said I, do you believe this to be my opinion? Yes, said he, whose else? And I replied: I remember a good while ago I met with a discourse of Aristotle’s upon this very question. And Epicurus, in his Banquet, hath a long discourse, the sum of which is that wine of itself is not hot, but that it contains some atoms that cause heat, and others that cause cold; now, when it is taken into the body, it loses one sort of particles and takes the other out of the body itself, according to the person’s nature and constitution; so that some when they are drunk are very hot, and others very cold. > Greek: 5.1. τὸν δʼ οἶνον ἐπιθυμῶ μαθεῖν, ὁπόθεν ὑπόνοιαν ἡμῖν τοῦ ψυχρὸς εἶναι παρέσχενοἴει γάρ ἔφην ἐγὼ τοῦτον ἡμέτερον εἶναι τὸν λόγον;ἀλλὰ τίνος εἶπεν ἑτέρου;μέμνημαι μὲν οὖν ἔφην ἐγὼ καὶ Ἀριστοτέλους ἐντυχὼν οὐ νεωστὶ λόγῳ περὶ τούτου τοῦ προβλήματος ἀλλʼ ἱκανῶς πάλαι. διείλεκται δὲ καὶ Ἐπίκουρος ἐν τῷ Συμποσίῳ πολλοὺς λόγους, ὧν τὸ κεφάλαιόν ἐστιν ὡς ἐγᾦμαι τοιόνδε. φησὶ γὰρ οὐκ εἶναι θερμὸν αὐτοτελῶς τὸν οἶνον, ἀλλʼ ἔχειν τινὰς ἀτόμους ἐν αὑτῷ θερμασίας ἀποτελεστικὰς ἑτέρας δʼ αὖ ψυχρότητος· ὧν τὰς μὲν ἀποβάλλειν, ὅταν εἰς τὸ σῶμα παραγένηται, τὰς δὲ προσλαμβάνειν ἐκ τοῦ σώματος, ὡς ἂν ἔχωσι κράσεως ἡμῖν ἢ φύσεως ὁμιλῆσαι, ὡς τοὺς μὲν ἐκθερμαίνεσθαι τοὺς δὲ τοὐναντίον πάσχειν μεθυσκομένους. [¶11] 5.2. This way of talking, said Florus, leads us by Protagoras directly to Pyrrho; for it is evident that, suppose we were to discourse of oil, milk, honey, or the like, we shall avoid all enquiry into their particular natures, by saying that things are so and so by their mutual mixture with one another. But how do you prove that wine is cold? And I, being forced to speak extempore, replied: By two arguments. The first I draw from the practice of physicians, for when their patients’ stomachs grow very weak, they prescribe no hot things, and yet give them wine as an excellent remedy. Besides, they stop looseness and immoderate sweating by wine; and this shows that they think it more binding and constipating than snow itself. Now if it were potentially hot, I should think it as wise a thing to apply fire to snow as wine to the stomach. Again, most teach that sleep proceeds from the coolness of the parts; and most of the narcotic medicines, as mandrake and opium, are coolers. Those indeed work violently, and forcibly condense, but wine cools by degrees; it gently stops the motion, according as it hath more or less of such narcotic qualities. Besides, heat is generative; for owing to heat the moisture flows easily, and the vital spirit gains intensity and a stimulating force. Now the great drinkers are very dull, inactive fellows, no women’s men at all; they eject nothing strong, vigorous, and fit for generation, but are weak and unperforming, by reason of the bad digestion and coldness of their seed. And it is farther observable that the effects of cold and drunkenness upon men’s bodies are the same,—trembling, heaviness, paleness, shivering, faltering of tongue, numbness, and cramps. In many, a debauch ends in a dead palsy, when the wine stupefies and extinguisheth all the heat. And the physicians use this method in curing the qualms and diseases gotten by debauch; at night they cover them well and keep them warm; and at day they anoint and bathe, and give them such food as shall not disturb, but by degrees recover the heat which the wine hath scattered and driven out of the body. Thus, I added, in these appearances we trace obscure qualities and powers; but as for drunkenness, it is easily discerned what it is. For, in my opinion, as I hinted before, those that are drunk are very much like old men; and therefore great drinkers grow old soonest, and they are commonly bald and gray before their time; and all these accidents certainly proceed from want of heat. But mere vinegar is of a vinous nature and strength, and nothing quenches fire so soon as that; its extreme coldness overcomes and kills the flame presently. And of all fruits physicians use the vinous as the greatest coolers, as pomegranates and apples. Besides, do they not make wine by mixing honey with rain-water or snow; for the cold, because those two qualities are near akin, if it prevails, changes the luscious into a poignant taste? And did not the ancients of all the creeping beasts consecrate the snake to Bacchus, and of all the plants the ivy, because they were of a cold and frozen nature? Now, lest any one should think this is an evidence of its heat, that if a man drinks juice of hemlock, a large dose of wine cures him, I shall on the contrary affirm that wine and hemlock juice mixed are an incurable poison, and kill him that drinks it presently. So that we can no more conclude it to be hot because it resists, than to be cold because it assists, the poison. For cold is the only quality by which hemlock juice works and kills. > Greek: 5.2. ταῦτʼ εἶπεν ὁ Φλῶρος ἄντικρυς εἰς τὸν Πύρρωνα διὰ τοῦ Πρωταγόρου φέρει ἡμᾶς· δῆλον γὰρ ὅτι καὶ περὶ ἐλαίου καὶ περὶ γάλακτος μέλιτὸς τε καὶ ὁμοίως τῶν ἄλλων διεξιόντες ἀποδρασόμεθα τὸ λέγειν περὶ ἑκάστου, ὁποῖον τῇ φύσει ἐστί, μίξεσι ταῖς πρὸς ἄλληλα καὶ κράσεσιν ἕκαστον γίγνεσθαι φάσκοντες. ἀλλὰ σὺ πῶς ἐπιχειρεῖς τὸ ψυχρὸν εἶναι τὸν οἶνον;οὕτως ἔφην ὑπὸ δυεῖν τότε προσηναγκασμένος αὐτοσχεδιάσαι. πρῶτον δʼ ὑπῄει μοι τὸ γιγνόμενον ὑπὸ τῶν ἰατρῶν· τοῖς γὰρ ἐκλελυμένοις καὶ τόνου τινὸς δεομένοις κατὰ τὰς ἀρρωστίας στομάχου θερμὸν μὲν οὐδὲν προσφέρουσιν οἶνον δὲ διδόντες βοηθοῦσιν· ὡς δʼ αὕτως καὶ τὰς ῥύσεις καὶ ἐφιδρώσεις οἴνῳ καταπαύουσιν, ὡς οὐδὲν ἧττον ἀλλὰ καὶ μᾶλλον τῆς χιόνος ἱστάντι καὶ κρατύνοντι τῷ ψύχειν καὶ περιστέλλειν φερομένην τὴν ἕξιν. εἰ δὲ καὶ φύσιν καὶ δύναμιν εἶχε θερμαντικήν, ὅμοιον ἦν οἶμαι χιόνι πῦρ καὶ καρδίᾳ προσφέρειν ἄκρατον. ἔπειτα τὸν μὲν ὕπνον οἱ πλεῖστοι περιψύξει γίγνεσθαι λέγουσι καὶ ψυκτικὰ τὰ πλεῖστα τῶν ὑπνωτικῶν φαρμάκων ἐστίν, ὡς ὁ μανδραγόρας καὶ τὸ μηκώνιον· ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν σφόδρα καὶ βίᾳ πολλῇ συνωθεῖ καὶ πήγνυσιν, ὁ δʼ οἶνος ἠρέμα καταψύχων ἵστησι μεθ’ ἡδονῆς καὶ ἀναπαύει τὴν κίνησιν ἐν τῷ μᾶλλον καὶ ἧττον οὔσης πρὸς ἐκεῖνα τῆς διαφορᾶς. ἔτι δὲ τὸ μὲν θερμὸν γόνιμον· εὔροιαν γὰρ ἡ ὑγρότης ἴσχει, καὶ τόνον τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ δύναμιν ὑπὸ τῆς θερμότητος ἐξοργῶσαν. οἱ δὲ πίνοντες πολὺν ἄκρατον ἀμβλύτεροι πρὸς τὰς συνουσίας εἰσὶ καὶ σπείρουσιν οὐθὲν εἰς γένεσιν ἰσχυρὸν οὐδὲ κεκρατημένον, ἀλλʼ ἐξίτηλοι καὶ ἀτελεῖς εἰσιν αἱ πρὸς τὰς γυναῖκας ὁμιλίαι αὐτῶν διὰ φαυλότητα καὶ κατάψυξιν τοῦ σπέρματος. καὶ μὴν ὅσα πάσχουσιν ἄνθρωποι ὑπὸ κρύους, πάντα συμβαίνει τοῖς μεθυσκομένοις, τρόμοι, βαρύτητες, ὠχριάσεις, σάλοι τοῦ περὶ τὰ γυῖα πνεύματος, ἀσάφεια γλώττης, ἔντασις τῶν περὶ τοῖς ἄκροις νεύρων καὶ ἀπονάρκησις· τοῖς δὲ πλείστοις εἰς πάρεσιν αἱ μέθαι τελευτῶσιν, ὅταν ἐκπλήξῃ παντάπασι καὶ κατασβέσῃ τὸ θερμὸν ὁ ἄκρατος. ἰῶνταὶ γε μὴν τὰς περὶ τὸ σῶμα τῶν μεθυσκομένων καὶ κραιπαλώντων κακώσεις, εὐθὺς μὲν ὡς ἔοικε περιστολῇ καὶ κατακλίσει συνθάλποντες, μεθʼ ἡμέραν δὲ λουτρῷ καὶ ἀλείμματι καὶ σιτίοις, ὅσα μὴ ταράττοντα τὸν ὄγκον ἅμα πράως ἀνακαλεῖται τὸ θερμὸν ὑπὸ τοῦ οἴνου διεσπασμένον καὶ πεφυγαδευμένον ἐκ τοῦ σώματος. ὅλως δʼ εἰπεῖν, ἐν τοῖς φαινομένοις καὶ ὁμοιότητας ἀδήλους ἐξιχνεύομεν καὶ δυνάμεις. οὐδὲν δὲ περὶ τῆς μέθης δεῖ διαπορεῖν, ὁποῖὸν ποτʼ ἐστίν· ὡς γὰρ ἔοικε, μάλιστα, ὡς εἰρήκαμεν, ἐοίκασι τοῖς πρεσβύταις οἱ μεθύοντες· διὸ καὶ πρωιαίτατα γηρῶσιν οἱ φίλοινοι· τοὺς δὲ πολλοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ φαλακρώσεις ἄωροι καὶ πολιαὶ πρὸ ἡλικίας; ἔχουσι· πάντα δὲ ταῦτα δοκεῖ θερμότητος ἐνδείᾳ καταλαμβάνειν τὸν ἄνθρωπον. ἔτι τοίνυν τὸ ὄξος οἴνου τινός ἐστι φύσις καὶ δύναμις· οὐδὲν δὲ τῶν σβεστηρίων ὄξους πυρὶ μαχιμώτερον, ἀλλὰ μάλιστα πάντων ἐπικρατεῖ καὶ συμπιέζει τὴν φλόγα διʼ ὑπερβολὴν ψυχρότητος· καὶ τῶν ἄλλων δὲ καρπῶν τοῖς οἰνώδεσι μᾶλλον ὡς ψυκτικοῖς χρωμένους τοὺς ἰατροὺς ὁρῶμεν ὥσπερ ῥόαις καὶ μήλοις. αὐτὴν δὲ τὴν τοῦ μέλιτος φύσιν οὐχὶ πρὸς ὄμβριον ὕδωρ καὶ χιόνα συμμιγνύοντες οἰνοποιοῦσι, τοῦ ψυχροῦ τὸ γλυκὺ διὰ συγγένειαν εἰς τὸ αὐστηρόν, ὅταν κρατήσῃ, φθείροντος; οἱ παλαιοὶ δʼ οὐχὶ διὰ τοῦτο τῶν ἑρπετῶν τὸν δράκοντα καὶ τῶν φυτῶν τὸν κιττὸν ἀνέθεσαν τῷ θεῷ καὶ καθιέρωσαν, ὥς τινος ψυχρᾶς; καὶ κρυώδους δυνάμεως; ἐὰν δέ, ὅτι τὸ κώνειον ἐπιπινόμενος ἰᾶσθαι δοκεῖ πολὺς ἄκρατος, οἴωνται τοῦτο θερμότητος εἶναι τεκμήριον, ἡμεῖς αὖ φήσομεν ἀναστρέψαντες, ὅτι συγκραθὲν αὐτῷ τοῦτο φάρμακον ἀνίατόν ἐστι καὶ καθάπαξ ἀποκτείνει τοὺς πίνοντας ὥστε μηδὲν μᾶλλον εἶναι δοκεῖν τῷ ἀντιπράττειν θερμὸν ἢ τῷ συνεργεῖν ψυχρόν, εἴ γε δὴ ψυχρότητι τὸ κώνειον οὐκ ἄλλῃ τινὶ φύσει καὶ δυνάμει μᾶλλον πιθανόν ἐστιν ἀναιρεῖν τοὺς πιόντας. ## 6. Book III · chapters 6–10 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/6/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/6/#p-N [¶0] 6.1. SOME young students, that had not gone far in the learning of the ancients, inveighed against Epicurus for bringing in, in his Symposium, an impertinent and unseemly discourse, about what time was best to lie with a woman; for (they said) for an old man at supper in the company of youths to talk of such a subject, and dispute whether after or before supper was the most convenient time, argued him to be a very loose and debauched man. To this some said that Xenophon, after his entertainment was ended, sent all his guests home on horseback, to lie with their wives. But Zopyrus the physician, a man very well read in Epicurus, said, that they had not duly weighed that piece; for he did not propose that question at first, and then discourse of that matter on purpose; but after supper he desired the young men to take a walk, and then discoursed upon it, that he might induce them to continence, and persuade them to abate their desires and restrain their appetites; showing them that it was very dangerous at all times, but especially after they had been eating or making merry. But suppose he had proposed this as the chief topic for discourse, doth it never become a philosopher to enquire which is the convenient and proper time? Ought we not to time it well, and direct our embrace by reason? Or may such discourses be otherwise allowed, and must they be thought unseemly problems to be proposed at table? Indeed I am of another mind. It is true, I should blame a philosopher that in the middle of the day, in the schools, before all sorts of men, should discourse of such a subject; but over a glass of wine between friends and acquaintance, when it is necessary to propose something beside dull serious discourse, why should it be a fault to hear or speak any thing that may inform our judgments or direct our practice in such matters? And I protest I had rather that Zeno had inserted his loose topics in some merry discourses and agreeable table-talk, than in such a grave, serious piece as his politics. > Greek: 6.1. νεανίσκοι τινὲς οὐ πάλαι τοῖς παλαιοῖς λόγοις προσπεφοιτηκότες ἐσπάραττον τὸν Ἐπίκουρον, ὡς οὐ καλὸν οὐδʼ ἀναγκαῖον ἐμβεβληκότα λόγον περὶ καιροῦ συνουσίας εἰς τὸ Συμπόσιον μιμνήσκεσθαι γὰρ ἀφροδισίων ἄνδρα πρεσβύτερον ἐν δείπνῳ μειρακίων παρόντων καὶ διαπορεῖν, πότερον μετὰ δεῖπνον ἢ πρὸ δείπνου χρηστέον, ἐσχάτης ἀκολασίας εἶναι, πρὸς ταῦθʼ οἱ μὲν τὸν Ξενοφῶντα παρέλαβον ὡς ἀπάγοντα τοὺς συμπότας μετὰ δεῖπνον οὐχὶ πεζοὺς ἀλλʼ ἐφʼ ἵππων ἐπὶ συνουσίας πρὸς τὰς γυναῖκας. Ζώπυρος δʼ ὁ ἰατρός, εὖ μάλα τοῖς Ἐπικούρου λόγοις ἐνωμιληκώς, οὐκ ἔφη προσέχοντας αὐτοὺς ἀνεγνωκέναι τὸ Ἐπικούρου Συμπόσιον· οὐ γὰρ ὥσπερ ἐξ ἀρχῆς τινος καὶ καταστάσεως τοῦτο πρόβλημα ποιησάμενον εἶτα λόγους ἐπʼ αὐτῷ περαίνειν, ἀλλὰ τοὺς νέους ἀνιστάντα μετὰ δεῖπνον εἰς περίπατον ἐπὶ σωφρονισμῷ διαλέγεσθαι καὶ ἀνακρούειν ἀπὸ τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν, ὡς ἀεὶ μὲν ἐπισφαλοῦς εἰς βλάβην τοῦ πράγματος ὄντος, κάκιστα δὲ τοὺς παρὰ πότον καὶ ἐδωδὴν χρωμένους αὐτῷ διατιθέντος. εἰ δὲ δὴ καὶ προηγουμένως εἶπεν ἐζητεῖτο περὶ τούτου, πότερον οὐδʼ ὅλως ἐσκέφθαι καλῶς εἶχε τὸν φιλόσοφον περὶ συνουσίας καιροῦ καὶ ὥρας, ἢ βέλτιον μὲν ἐν καιρῷ καὶ μετὰ λογισμοῦ τὰ τοιαῦτα πράττειν, τὸν δὲ καιρὸν ἄλλως μὲν ἐπισκοπεῖν οὐκ ἄτοπον ἐν δὲ συμποσίῳ καὶ περὶ τράπεζαν αἰσχρόν; ἐμοὶ γὰρ δοκεῖ τοὐναντίον ἄν τις ἐγκαλέσαι φιλοσόφῳ, μεθʼ ἡμέραν ἐν τῇ διατριβῇ πολλῶν καὶ παντοδαπῶν ἀνθρώπων παρόντων περὶ τούτου διαλεγομένῳ· κύλικος δὲ προκειμένης ἐν συνήθεσι καὶ φίλοις, ἔνθα καὶ τὸ παραλέξαι μῦθον ἀμβλὺν ὄντα καὶ ψυχρὸν ἐν οἴνῳ συμφέρει, πῶς αἰσχρὸν εἰπεῖν τι καὶ ἀκοῦσαι εἰς συνουσίας χρῆσιν ὠφελίμως λεγόμενον; ὡς ἔγωγε, νὴ τὸν κύνα, καὶ τοὺς Ζήνωνος ἂν ἐβουλόμην ἔφη διαμηρισμοὺς ἐν συμποσίῳ τινὶ καὶ παιδιᾷ μᾶλλον ἢ σπουδῆς τοσαύτης ἐχομένῳ συγγράμματι, τῇ Πολιτείᾳ, κατατετάχθαι. [¶1] 6.2. The youth, startled at this free declaration, sat silent; and the rest of the company desired Zopyrus to deliver Epicurus’s sentiment. He said: The particulars I cannot remember; but I believe he feared the violent agitations of such exercises, because the bodies employed in them are so violently disturbed. For it is certain that wine is a very great disturber, and puts the body out of its usual temper; and therefore, when thus disquieted, if quiet and sleep do not compose it but other agitations seize it, it is likely that those parts which knit and join the members may be loosened, and the whole frame be as it were unsettled from its foundation and overthrown. For then likewise the seed cannot freely pass, but is confusedly and forcibly thrown out, because the liquor hath filled the vessels of the body, and stopped its way. Therefore, says Epicurus, we must use those sports when the body is at quiet, when the meat hath been thoroughly digested, carried about and applied to several parts of the body, but before we begin to want a fresh supply of food. To this of Epicurus we might join an argument taken from physic. At day time, while our digestion is performing, we are not so lusty nor eager to embrace; and presently after supper to endeavor it is dangerous, for the crudity of the stomach, the food being yet undigested, may be increased by a disorderly motion upon this crudity, and so the mischief be double. > Greek: 6.2. πρὸς τοῦτο πληγέντες οἱ νεανίσκοι σιωπῇ κατέκειντο· τῶν δʼ ἄλλων τὸν Ζώπυρον ἀξιούντων τοὺς περὶ τούτου λόγους Ἐπικούρου διελθεῖν, ἔφη τῶν μὲν κατὰ μέρος οὐκ ἀκριβῶς μνημονεύειν, οἴεσθαι δὲ τὸν ἄνδρα τὰς ἐκ τῆς συνουσίας πληγὰς δεδιέναι διὰ τὸν τῶν σωμάτων παλμὸν εἰς ταραχὴν καὶ σάλον ἐν τῷ τοιούτῳ βαδιζόντων. καθόλου μὲν γὰρ ἐξ ἕδρας τὰ σώματα μεθιστάναι πλήκτην ὄντα καὶ κινητικὸν ταραχῆς τὸν ἄκρατον· ἂν δʼ οὕτως ἔχοντα τὸν ὄγκον ἡμῶν γαλήνη μὴ παραλάβῃ καὶ ὕπνος, ἀλλʼ ἕτεραι διὰ τῶν ἀφροδισίων κινήσεις, ἐκθλιβομένων καὶ μοχλευομένων τῶν μάλιστα συνδεῖν καὶ κολλᾶν τὸ σῶμα πεφυκότων, κίνδυνός ἐστιν ἀνέδραστον γίγνεσθαι τὸν ὄγκον, ὥσπερ ἐκ θεμελίων γιγνόμενον· οὐδὲ γὰρ εὖ ῥεῖν τηνικαῦτα τὴν γονήν, σφηνώσεως διὰ τὴν πλησμονὴν οὔσης, ἀλλὰ βίᾳ καὶ συμπεφυρμένην ἀποσπᾶσθαι· διὸ χρῆναί φησιν ὁ ἀνήρ, ὅταν ἡσυχία γένηται περὶ τὸ σῶμα καὶ λωφήσωσιν αἱ τῆς τροφῆς ἀναδόσεις καὶ τὰ ῥεύματα διεξιούσης καὶ φευγούσης, τὰ τοιαῦτα πράττειν, πρὶν ἑτέρας αὖ πάλιν τροφῆς ἐνδεὲς γενέσθαι τὸ σῶμα· συμβάλλοιτο δʼ ἄν τις· τῷ Ἐπικούρῳ καὶ τὸν ἰατρικὸν λόγον. ὁ γὰρ μεθʼ ἡμέραν καιρός, ἤδη τῆς πέψεως κρίσιν ἐχούσης, ἀσφαλέστερός ἐστιν· ἡ δὲ μετὰ τὸ δεῖπνον ὁρμὴ πρὸς τὴν συνουσίαν οὐκ ἀκίνδυνος· ἄδηλον γὰρ εἰ, τῆς τροφῆς μὴ κρατηθείσης, ἀπεψία δέξαιτο τὸν ἐκ τῆς συνουσίας ἄραδον καὶ παλμόν, ὥστε διττὴν τὴν βλάβην γενέσθαι. [¶2] 6.3. Olympicus, continuing the discourse, said: I very much like what Clinias the Pythagorean delivers. For story goes that, being asked when a man should lie with a woman, he replied, when he hath a mind to receive the greatest mischief that he can. For Zopyrus’s discourse seems rational, and other times as well as those he mentions have their peculiar inconveniences. And therefore,—as Thales the philosopher, to free himself from the pressing solicitations of his mother who advised him to marry, said at first,’tis not yet time; and when, now he was growing old, she repeated her admonition, replied, nor is it now time,—so it is best for every man to have the same mind in relation to those sports of Venus; when he goes to bed, let him say,’tis not yet time; and when he rises,’tis not now time. > Greek: 6.3. ὑπολαβὼν δʼ Ὀλύμπιχος ἐμοὶ μέν ἔφη τὸ τοῦ Πυθαγορικοῦ Κλεινίου λίαν ἀρέσκει· λέγεται γὰρ ἐρωτηθείς, ὁπηνίκα δεῖ μάλιστα γυναικὶ προσιέναι· ὅταν φάναι μάλιστα τυγχάνῃς βλαβῆναι βουλόμενος. καὶ γὰρ ὃ Ζώπυρος εἴρηκε νῦν, ἔχει τινὰ λόγον· καὶ τὸν ἕτερον καιρὸν ἄλλας ἀκαιρίας ἔχοντα πρὸς τὸ πρᾶγμα καὶ δυσχερείας ὁρῶ. καθάπερ οὖν Θαλῆς ὁ σοφὸς ὑπὸ τῆς μητρὸς ἐνοχλούμενος γῆμαι κελευούσης, ὑπεξέφυγε πῶς καὶ παρήγαγε λέγων πρὸς ταύτην ἐν ἀρχῇ μὲν οὔπω καιρὸς ὦ μῆτερ; ὕστερον δʼ οὐκέτι καιρὸς ὦ μῆτερ οὕτως ἄρα καὶ πρὸς ἀφροδίσια κράτιστον ἔσται ἔχειν ἕκαστον, ὥστε κατακλινόμενον λέγειν οὔπω καιρός ἀνιστάμενον δʼ οὐκέτι καιρός. [¶3] 6.4. What you say, Olympicus, said Soclarus interposing, befits wrestlers indeed; it smells, methinks, of their cottabus, and their meals of flesh and casks of wine, but is not suitable to the present company, for there are some young married men here, “Whose duty ’tis to follow Venus’ sports.” Nay, we ourselves seem to have some relation to Venus still, when in our hymns to the Gods we pray thus to her, “Fair Venus, keep off feeble age.” But waving this, let us enquire (if you think fit) whether Epicurus does well, when contrary to all right and equity he separates Venus and the Night, though Menander, a man well skilled in love matters, says that she likes her company better than that of any of the Gods. For, in my opinion, night is a very convenient veil, spread over those that give themselves to that kind of pleasure; for it is not fit that day should be the time, lest modesty should be banished from our eyes, effeminacy grow bold, and such vigorous impressions on our memories be left, as might still possess us with the same fancies and raise new inclinations. For the sight (according to Plato) receives a more vigorous impression than any other bodily organ, and joining with imagination, that lies near it, works presently upon the soul, and ever raises a new and fresh desire by those images of pleasure which it brings. But the night, hiding many and the most furious of the actions, quiets and lulls nature, and doth not suffer it to be carried to intemperance by the eye. But besides this, how absurd is it, that a man returning from an entertainment, merry perhaps and jocund, crowned and perfumed, should cover himself up, turn his back to his wife, and go to sleep; and then at day-time, in the midst of his business, send for her out of her apartment to come to him for such a matter; or in the morning, as a cock treads his hens. No, sir, the evening is the end of our labor, and the morning the beginning. Bacchus the Loosener and Terpsichore and Thalia preside over the former; and the latter raiseth us up betimes to attend on Minerva the Work-mistress, and Mercury the merchandiser. And therefore songs, dances, and epithalamiums, merry-meetings, with balls and feasts, and sounds of pipes and flutes, are the entertainment of the one; but in the other, nothing but the noise of hammers and anvils, the scratching of saws, the morning cries of noisy tax-gatherers, citations to court or to attend this or that prince and magistrate, are heard. Then all the sports of pleasure disappear, Then Venus, then gay youth removes; No Thyrsus then which Bacchus loves; But all is clouded and o’erspread with care. Besides, Homer makes not one of the heroes lie with his wife or mistress in the daytime, but only Paris, who, having shamefully fled from the battle, sneaked into the embraces of his wife; intimating that such lasciviousness by day did not befit the sober temper of a man, but the mad lust of an adulterer. But, moreover, the body will not (as Epicurus fancies) be injured more after supper than at any other time, unless a man be drunk or overcharged,—for in those cases, no doubt, it is very dangerous and hurtful. But if a man is only raised and cheered, not overpowered by liquor, if his body is pliable, his mind agreeing, if he interposes some reasonable time between, and then he sports, he need not fear any disturbance from the load he has within him; he need not fear catching cold, or too great a transportation of atoms, which Epicurus makes the cause of all the ensuing harm. For if he lies quiet he will quickly fill again, and new spirits will supply the vessels that are emptied. But this is especially to be taken care of, that, the body being then in a ferment and disturbed, no cares of the soul, no business about necessary affairs, no labor, should distract and seize it, lest they should corrupt and sour its humors, Nature not having time enough for settling what has been disturbed. For, sir, all men have not the command of that happy ease and tranquillity which Epicurus’s philosophy procured him; for many great incumbrances seize almost upon every one every day, or at least some disquiets; and it is not safe to trust the body with any of these, when it is in such a condition and disturbance, presently after the fury and heat of the embrace is over. Let, according to his opinion, the happy and immortal Deity sit at ease and never mind us; but if we regard the laws of our country, we must not dare to enter into the temple and offer sacrifice, if but a little before we have done any such thing. It is fit therefore to let night and sleep intervene, and after there is a sufficient space of time past between, to rise as it were pure and new, and (as Democritus was wont to say) “with new thoughts upon the new day.” > Greek: 6.4. Ἀθλητικὰ ταῦτʼ εἶπεν ὁ Σώκλαρος ὦ Ὀλύμπιχε, παντάπασιν ἔτι τῆς κοτταβίσεως ὄζοντα καὶ τῶν κρεοφαγιῶν ἐκείνων, οὐκ ἐν δέοντι. νέοι τε γὰρ πάρεισι γεγαμηκότες, ὑφʼ ὧν δεῖ φιλοτήσια ἔργα τελεῖσθαι· καὶ ἡμᾶς οὔπω παντάπασιν ἡ Ἀφροδίτη πέφευγεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ προσευχόμεθα δήπουθεν αὐτῇ λέγοντες ἐν τοῖς τῶν θεῶν ὕμνοις ἀνάβαλλʼ ἄνω τὸ γῆρας, ὦ καλὰ Ἀφροδίτα. σκοπῶμεν οὖν, εἰ δοκεῖ, πότερον ἐμμελῶς καὶ προσηκόντως ὁ Ἐπίκουρος ἢ παρὰ πᾶν δίκαιον ἀφαιρεῖ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην τῆς νυκτός· καίτοι κράτιστον αὐτῇ θεῶν μετεῖναί φησιν ἐρωτικὸς ἀνὴρ Μένανδρος. συνετέθη γὰρ οἶμαι καλῶς παρακάλυμμα τῆς ἡδονῆς τὸ σκότος προθεμένους ταῦτα πράσσειν, καὶ μὴ διὰ φωτὸς ἐντυγχάνοντας ἐξελαύνειν τῶν ὀμμάτων τὸ αἰδούμενον καὶ τῷ ἀκολάστῳ θάρσος ἐμποιεῖν καὶ μνήμας ἐναργεῖς, αἷς τὸ ἐνδιατρίβειν αὖθις ἐκριπίζει τὰς ἐπιθυμίας. ὄψις γὰρ ἡμῖν ὀξυτάτη τῶν διὰ τοῦ σώματος ἔρχεται κατὰ τὸν Πλάτωνα παθημάτων, καὶ σφόδρα ταῖς ἐγγὺς φαντασίαις τὴν ψυχὴν ἐγείρουσα πρὸς τὰ εἴδωλα τῆς ἡδονῆς, καινὴν ἀεὶ ποιεῖ καὶ πρόσφατον ἐπιθυμίαν. ἡ δὲ νὺξ τὰ πλεῖστα καὶ μανιωδέστατα τῶν ἔργων ἀφαιροῦσα παράγει καὶ κατευνάζει τὴν φύσιν, οὐκ ἐξοκέλλουσʼ ὑπὸ τῆς ὄψεως εἰς ὕβριν. ἄνευ δὲ τούτων, τίνʼ ἔχει λόγον ἀπὸ δείπνου μὲν ἥκοντα γεγανωμένον, ἂν οὕτω τύχῃ, στέφανον κομίζοντα καὶ μύρῳ κεχριμένον, ἀποστραφέντα καὶ συγκαλυψάμενον καθεύδειν· ἡμέρας δὲ καὶ διὰ μέσου τῶν πράξεων ἐκ τῆς γυναικωνίτιδος τὴν γυναῖκα μεταπέμπεσθαι πρός τι τοιοῦτον ἢ πρωὶ δίκην ἀλεκτρυόνος συμπλέκεσθαι; τὴν γὰρ ἑσπέραν, ὦ ἑταῖρε, τῶν πόνων ἀνάπαυσιν τὸν δʼ ὄρθρον ἀρχήν· καὶ τὴν μὲν ὁ Λύσιος ἐπισκοπεῖ Διόνυσος μετὰ τῆς Τερψιχόρης καὶ Θαλείας, ὁ δὲ πρὸς τὴν ἐργάνην Ἀθηνᾶν καὶ τὸν ἀγοραῖον Ἑρμῆν ἐπανίστησι. διὸ τὴν μὲν ᾠδαὶ κατέχουσι καὶ χορεῖαι καὶ ὑμέναιος κῶμοί τʼ εἰλαπίναι τε καὶ ἠχήεις θρόος αὐλῶν· τὸν δὲ κτύποι ῥαιστήρων καὶ τρισμοὶ πριόνων καὶ τελωνικῶν ἐπορθρισμοὶ κεκραγμῶν καὶ κηρύγματα καλουμένων ἐπὶ δίκας ἢ θεραπείας τινῶν βασιλέων ἢ ἀρχόντων· ἐν ᾧ καιρῷ φροῦδα τὰ τῆς ἡδονῆς, λήγει δὲ Κύπρις θαλίαι τε νέων, οὐδέ τι, θύρσος φύλλα Βακχείου· συντείνουσι γὰρ αἱ φροντίδες. ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ ὁ ποιητὴς τῶν ἡρώων οὔτε γαμετῇ τινα μεθʼ ἡμέραν οὔτε παλλακίδι συγκατέκλινε, πλὴν ἢ τὸν Πάριν δραπετεύσαντα ποιήσας καταδυόμενον εἰς τοὺς κόλπους τῆς γυναικός, ὡς οὐκ ἀνδρὸς ἀλλὰ μοιχοῦ λυσσῶντος οὖσαν τὴν μεθημερινὴν ἀκρασίαν. καὶ μὴν οὐδὲ τὸ σῶμα βλάπτοιτʼ ἂν ὑπὸ τῆς συνουσίας μᾶλλον, ὡς Ἐπίκουρος οἴεται, μετὰ τὸ δεῖπνον, ἄν γε μὴ μεθύων τις ἢ ῥηγνύμενος ὑπὸ πλησμονῆς ἅπτηται καὶ βεβαρημένος· ἀμέλει γὰρ οὕτως ἐπισφαλὲς τὸ πρᾶγμα καὶ βλαβερόν. ἂν δʼ ἱκανῶς ἔχων τις αὑτοῦ καὶ μετρίως διακεχυμένος, τοῦ τε σώματος αὐτοῦ μαλακοῦ γεγονότος καὶ τῆς ψυχῆς παρεστώσης, διὰ χρόνου ποιῆται τὴν ἔντευξιν, οὔτε ταραχὴν ἀπεργάζεται μεγάλην διὰ τὸν ὄγκον οὔτʼ ἄλλο τι ὧν ἐπήγαγεν ἢ ψῦξις ἢ μετάθεσις ἐξ ἕδρας ἀτόμων, φησιν Ἐπίκουρος· ἀλλὰ τῇ φύσει τὸ οἰκεῖον ἀποδούς, ἑαυτὸν δέ πως ἀπογαληνίσας ἀναπληρώσει, νέας ἐπιρροῆς τοῖς κενώμασι γιγνομένης. ἐκεῖνο δὲ μᾶλλον ἄξιον εὐλαβείας, τὸ σύνεγγυς ὄντα τῶν πράξεων ἀφροδισίοις χρῆσθαι, μήποτʼ ἄρα μετέωρον τὸ σῶμα καὶ κεκλονημένον αἵ τε τῆς ψυχῆς φροντίδες αἵ τε περὶ τὰς χρείας πραγματεῖαι καὶ κόποι παραλαβόντες εὐθὺς ἐκτραχύνωσιν, οὐχ ἱκανὸν ἐν μέσῳ διάλειμμα τῆς φύσεως εἰς ἀνάπαυσιν λαβούσης. οὐ γὰρ πάντες, ὦ ἑταῖρε, τὴν Ἐπικούρου σχολὴν καὶ ῥᾳστώνην ὑπὸ λόγου καὶ φιλοσοφίας ἄφθονον εἰς ἀεὶ παρεσκευασμένην ἔχουσι· πολλοὶ δʼ ἕκαστον ἀγῶνες ἐκδέχονται διʼ ἡμέρας, γυμνάσια δʼ ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν ἅπαντας· οἷς οὔτε καλὸν οὔτε συμφέρον οὕτω διακείμενον τὸ σῶμα παρέχειν λυσσώσῃ συνουσίᾳ διακεχυμένον. τὸ δὲ μακάριον καὶ ἄφθαρτον ἔστω μὲν ὂν οἷον αὐτῷ, μὴ φροντίζον τῶν καθʼ ἡμᾶς· ἡμῖν δέ που νόμῳ πόλεως συνεπομένοις ἐξευλαβητέον ἐστὶν εἰς θέρος ἐμβαλεῖν καὶ κατάρχεσθαι θυσιῶν, ὀλίγον ἔμπροσθεν διαπεπραγμένοις τι τοιοῦτον. ὅθεν εὖ ἔχει τὸ τὴν νύκτα καὶ τὸν ὕπνον ἐν μέσῳ θεμένους καὶ ποιήσαντας ἱκανὸν διάλειμμα καὶ διάστημα καθαροὺς αὖθις ὥσπερ ἐξ ὑπαρχῆς καὶ νέα ἐφʼ ἡμέρῃ φρονέοντας κατὰ Δημόκριτον ἀνίστασθαι. [¶4] 7.1. AT Athens on the eleventh day of February (thence called Πιυοίγια, (the barrel-opening), they began to taste their new wine; and in old times (as it appears), before they drank, they offered some to the Gods, and prayed that that cordial liquor might prove good and wholesome. By us Thebans the month is named Προστετήριος, and it is our custom upon the sixth day to sacrifice to our good Genius and taste our new wine, after the zephyr has done blowing; for that wind makes wine ferment more than any other, and the liquor that can bear this fermentation is of a strong body and will keep well. My father offered the usual sacrifice, and when after supper the young men, my fellow-students, commended the wine, he started this question: Why does not new wine inebriate as soon as other? This seemed a paradox and incredible to most of us; but Hagias said, that luscious things were cloying and would presently satiate, and therefore few could drink enough to make them drunk; for when once the thirst is allayed, the appetite would be quickly palled by that unpleasant liquor; for that a luscious is different from a sweet taste, even the poet intimates, when he says, “With luscious wine, and with sweet milk and cheese.” Wine at first is sweet; afterward, as it grows old, it ferments and begins to be pricked a little; then it gets a sweet taste. > Greek: 7.1. τοῦ νέου οἴνου Ἀθήνησι μὲν ἑνδεκάτῃ μηνὸς κατάρχονται, Πιθοίγια τὴν ἡμέραν καλοῦντες· καὶ πάλαι γʼ ὡς ἔοικεν εὔχοντο, τοῦ οἴνου πρὶν ἢ πιεῖν ἀποσπένδοντες, ἀβλαβῆ καὶ σωτήριον αὐτοῖς τοῦ φαρμάκου τὴν χρῆσιν γενέσθαι. παρʼ ἡμῖν δʼ ὁ μὲν μὴν καλεῖται Προστατήριος, ἕκτῃ δʼ ἱσταμένου νομίζεται θύσαντας ἀγαθῷ Δαίμονι γεύεσθαι τοῦ οἴνου μετὰ ζέφυρον· οὗτος γὰρ μάλιστα τῶν ἀνέμων ἐξίστησι καὶ κινεῖ τὸν οἶνον, καὶ ὁ τοῦτον διαφυγὼν ἤδη δοκεῖ παραμένειν βέβαιος. ἔθυσεν οὖν ὁ πατὴρ ὥσπερ εἰώθει τὴν θυσίαν, καὶ μετὰ τὸ δεῖπνον, ἐπαινουμένου τοῦ οἴνου, τοῖς φιλοσοφοῦσι μειρακίοις μεθʼ ἡμῶν προύβαλε ζητεῖν λόγον, ὡς τὸ γλεῦκος ἣκιστα μεθύσκει. τοῖς μὲν οὖν πολλοῖς παράδοξον ἐφάνη καὶ ἄπιστον· ὁ δʼ Ἁγίας ἔφη τὸ γλυκὺ πανταχοῦ προσίστασθαι καὶ πλήσμιον εἶναι· διὸ καὶ γλεύκους οὐκ ἄν τινα πιεῖν ῥᾳδίως; ὅσον εἰς μέθην ἱκανόν ἐστιν· ἀπαγορεύειν γὰρ ἀηδίᾳ τὴν ὄρεξιν ἄχρι τοῦ μὴ διψῆν προελθοῦσαν. ὅτι δὲ τοῦ γλυκέος διαφέρει τὸ ἡδὺ καὶ τὸν ποιητὴν ἐπιστάμενον λέγειν τυρῷ καὶ μέλιτι γλυκερῷ καὶ ἡδέι οἴνῳ· τὸν γὰρ οἶνον ἐν ἀρχῇ μὲν εἶναι γλυκύν, γίγνεσθαι δʼ ἡδὺν ὅταν εἰς τὸ αὐστηρὸν τῇ πέψει μεταβάλῃ παλαιούμενος. [¶5] 7.2. Aristaenetus the Nicaean said, that he remembered he had read somewhere that sweet things mixed with wine make it less heady, and that some physicians prescribe to one that hath drunk freely, before he goes to bed, a crust of bread dipped in honey. And therefore, if sweet mixtures weaken strong wine, it is reasonable that new wine should not be heady till it hath lost its sweetness. > Greek: 7.2. Ἀρισταίνετος δʼ ὁ Νικαεὺς ἔν τισιν ἐνίοις γράμμασιν ἀνεγνωκὼς ἔφη μνημονεύειν, ὅτι γλεῦκος μιχθὲν οἴνῳ παύει μέθην· τῶν δʼ ἰατρῶν τινας λέγει τοὺς πλέον πιόντας κελεύειν ἐμεῖν, εἶθʼ, ὅταν μέλλωσι καθεύδειν, ἄρτον εἰς μέλι καταβάψαντας ἐμφαγεῖν ἔδοσαν. εἴ τι οὖν αἱ γλυκύτητες ἀμβλύνουσι τὸν ἄκρατον, εἰκότως ὁ νέος οἶνος οὐ μεθύσκει, πρὶν ἂν ἡ γλυκύτης μεταβάλῃ. [¶6] 7.3. We admired the acuteness of the young philosophers, and were well pleased to see them propose something out of the common road, and give us their own sentiments on this matter. Now the common and obvious reason is the heaviness of new wine,—which (as Aristotle says) violently presseth the stomach,—or the abundance of airy and watery parts that lie in it; the former of which, as soon as they are pressed, fly out; and the watery parts are naturally fit to weaken the spirituous liquor. Now, when it grows old, the juice is improved, and though by the separation of the watery parts it loses in quantity, it gets in strength. > Greek: 7.3. σφόδρʼ οὖν ἀπεδεξάμεθα τὴν εὑρησιλογίαν τῶν νεανίσκων, ὅτι τοῖς ἐμποδὼν οὐκ ἐπιπεσόντες ἰδίων εὐπόρησαν ἐπιχειρημάτων. ἐπεὶ τά γε πρόχειρα καὶ ῥᾴδια λαβεῖν ἥ τε βαρύτης ἐστὶ τοῦ γλεύκους, ὡς Ἀριστοτέλης φησίν, ἡ διακόπτουσα τὴν κοιλίαν, καὶ τὸ πολὺ συμμἐνειν πνευματῶδες καὶ ὑδατῶδες· ὧν τὸ μὲν εὐθὺς ἐκπίπτει βιαζόμενον, τὸ δὲ πέφυκε τὸ ὑδατῶδες ἀμβλύτερον ποιεῖν τὸν οἶνον· παλαίωσις δʼ ἐπίτασιν ποιεῖ, ἐκκρινομένου τοῦ ὑδατώδους· καὶ γίγνεται μέτρῳ μὲν ἐλάττων ὁ οἶνος δυνάμει δὲ σφοδρότερος. [¶7] 8.1. WELL then, said my father, since we have fallen upon Aristotle, I will endeavor to propose something of my own concerning those that are half drunk; for, in my mind, though he was a very acute man, he is not accurate enough in such matters. They usually say, I think, that a sober man’s understanding apprehends things right and judges well; the sense of one quite drunk is weak and enfeebled; but of them that are half drunk the fancy is vigorous and the understanding weakened, and therefore, following their own fancies, they judge, but judge ill. But pray, sirs, what is your opinion in these matters? > Greek: 8.1. οὐκοῦν εἶπεν ὁ πατήρ ἐπεὶ παρακεκινήκαμεν τὸν Ἀριστοτέλη, καὶ περὶ τῶν ἀκροθωράκων τι καλουμένων ἴδιον ἐπιχειρήσομεν εἰπεῖν· οὐ γὰρ ἱκανῶς μοι δοκεῖ, καίπερ ὀξύτατος ὢν ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις ζητήμασι, διηκριβωκέναι τὴν αἰτίαν. φησὶ γὰρ οἶμαι τοῦ μὲν νήφοντος εὖ καὶ κατὰ τὰ ὄντα κρίνειν τὸν λογισμόν, τοῦ δʼ ἄγαν μεθύοντος ἐκλελυμένην κατέχεσθαι τὴν αἴσθησιν, τοῦ δʼ ἀκροθώρακος ἔτι μὲν ἰσχύειν τὸ φανταστικὸν ἢδη δὲ τεταράχθαι τὸ λογιστικόν· διὸ καὶ κρίνειν καὶ κακῶς κρίνειν ἐπακολουθοῦντα ταῖς φαντασίαις. ἀλλὰ πῶς εἶπεν ὑμῖν δοκεῖ περὶ τούτων; [¶8] 8.2. This reason, I replied, would satisfy me upon a private disquisition; but if you will have my own sentiments, let us first consider, whether this difference doth not proceed from the different temper of the body. For of those that are only half drunk, the mind alone is disturbed, but the body not being quite overwhelmed is yet able to obey its motions; but when it is too much oppressed and the wine has overpowered it, it betrays and frustrates the motions of the mind, for men in such a condition never go so far as action. But those that are half drunk, having a body serviceable to the absurd motions of the mind, are rather to be thought to have greater ability to comply with those they have, than to have worse inclinations than the others. Now if, proceeding on another principle, we consider the strength of the wine itself, nothing hinders but that this may be different and changeable, according to the quantity that is drunk. As fire, when moderate, hardens a piece of clay, but if very strong, makes it brittle and crumble into pieces; and the heat of the spring fires our blood with fevers, but as the summer comes on. the disease usually abates; what hinders then but that the mind, being naturally raised by the power of the wine, when it is come to a pitch, should by pouring on more be weakened again, and its force abated? Thus hellebore, before it purges, disturbs the body; but if too small a dose be given, it disturbs only and purges not at all; and some taking too little of an opiate are more restless than before; and some taking too much sleep well. Besides, it is probable that this disturbance into which those that are half drunk are put, when it comes to a pitch, conduces to that decay. For a great quantity being taken inflames the body and consumes the frenzy of the mind; as a mournful song and melancholy music at a funeral raises grief at first and forces tears, but as it continues, by little and little it takes away all dismal apprehensions and consumes our sorrows. Thus wine, after it hath heated and disturbed, calms the mind again and quiets the frenzy; and when men are dead drunk, their passions are at rest. > Greek: 8.2. ἐμοὶ μέν ἔφην ἐπισκοποῦντι κατʼ ἐμαυτὸν ἀποχρῶν οὗτος ἦν πρὸς τὴν αἰτίαν ὁ λόγος· εἰ δὲ κελεύεις ἴδιόν τι κινεῖν, ὅρα πρῶτον εἰ τὴν εἰρημένην διαφορὰν ἐπὶ τὸ σῶμα μετοιστέον ἐστί. τῶν γὰρ ἀκροθωράκων ἡ διάνοια μόνον τετάρακται, τὸ δὲ σῶμα ταῖς ὁρμαῖς ἐξυπηρετεῖν δύναται, μήπω βεβαπτισμένον· ὅταν δὲ κατασεισθῇ καὶ πιεσθῇ, προδίδωσι τὰς ὁρμὰς καὶ παρεῖται· μέχρι γὰρ ἔργων οὐ πρόεισιν· ἐκεῖνοι δὲ τὸ συνεξαμαρτάνον ἔχοντες οὐ τῷ μᾶλλον ἀλογιστεῖν ἀλλὰ τῷ μᾶλλον ἰσχύειν ἐλέγχονται. ἀπʼ ἄλλης δʼ εἶπον ἀρχῆς σκοποῦντι τοῦ οἴνου τὴν δύναμιν, οὐδὲν κωλύει ποικίλην εἶναι καὶ τῇ ποσότητι συμμεταβάλλουσαν. ὥσπερ τὸ πῦρ τὸν κέραμον, ἂν μὲν μέτριον, συγκρατύνει καὶ πήγνυσιν· ἂν δʼ ὑπερβολῇ πλήξῃ, συνέτηξε καὶ ῥεῖν ἐποίησεν ἀνάπαλιν δʼ ἡ ὥρα τοὺς πυρετοὺς ἀρχομένη μὲν ἀνακινεῖ καὶ ἐκκάει, προϊούσης δέ, μᾶλλον καθίστανται καὶ ἀπολήγουσι· τί οὖν κωλύει καὶ τὴν διάνοιαν ὑπὸ τοῦ οἴνου φυσικῶς κινουμένην, ὅταν ταραχθῇ καὶ παροξυνθῇ, πάλιν ἀνίεσθαι καὶ καθίστασθαι πλεονάζοντος; ὁ γοῦν ἐλλέβορος ἀρχὴν τοῦ καθαίρειν ἔχει τὸ ταράττειν τὸν ὄγκον· ἀλλʼ ἢν ἐλάττων τοῦ μετρίου δοθῇ, ταράττει μὲν οὐδὲν δὲ καθαίρει. καὶ τῶν ὑπνωτικῶν ἔνιοι λαβόντες ἐνδοτέρω τοῦ μετρίου θορυβωδέστερον διατίθενται, πλέον δὲ λαβόντες ἔνιοι καθεύδουσιν. εἰκὸς δέ που καὶ ταύτην τὴν περὶ τὸν ἀκροθώρακα ταραχήν, ὅταν ἀκμὴν λάβῃ, μαραίνεσθαι, καὶ πρὸς τοῦτο συνεργεῖν τὸν οἶνον πολὺς γὰρ εἰσελθὼν τὸ σῶμα συνεξέκαυσε καὶ κατανάλωσε τὸ μανιῶδες τῆς ψυχῆς. ὥσπερ γὰρ ἡ θρηνῳδία καὶ ὁ ἐπικήδειος αὐλὸς ἐν ἀρχῇ πάθος κινεῖ καὶ δάκρυον ἐκβάλλει, προάγων δὲ τὴν ψυχὴν εἰς οἶκτον οὕτω κατὰ μικρὸν ἐξαιρεῖ καὶ ἀναλίσκει τὸ λυπητικόν ὁμοίως; ἴδοις ἂν καὶ τὸν οἶνον, ὅταν σφόδρα ταράξῃ καὶ παροξύνῃ τὸ ἀκμαῖον καὶ θυμοειδές, αὖθις καταδύοντα καὶ καθιστάντα τὴν διάνοιαν, ὡς πορρωτέρω μέθης προϊοῦσαν ἡσυχάζειν. [¶9] 9.1. WHEN I had said this, Aristo cried out aloud, as his manner was, and said: I see well now that there is opened a return again of measures unto feasts and banquets; which measures, although they are most just and democratical, have for a long time (I wot not by what sober reason) been banished from thence, as by a tyrant. For, as they who profess a canonical harmony in sounding of the harp do hold and say, that the sesquialteral proportion produceth the symphony diapente (διὰ πέντε), the double proportion the diapason (διὰ πασῶν), and that the accord called diatessaron (διὰ τεσσάρων), which is of all most obscure and dull, consisteth in the epitrite proportion; even so they that make profession of skill in the harmonies of Bacchus have observed, that three symphonies or accords there are between wine and water, namely, diapente, diatrion (διὰ τριῶν), and diatessaron; and so they say and sing,—Drink either five or three, but not four. For the fifth has the sesquialteral proportion, three cups of water being mingled with two of wine; the third has the double proportion, two cups of water being put to one of wine; but the fourth answereth to the epitrite proportion of three parts of water poured into one of wine. Now this last proportion may be fit for some grave magistrates sitting in the council-hall, or for logicians who pull up their brows when they are busy in watching the unfolding of their arguments; for surely it is a mixture sober and weak enough. As for the other twain; that medley which carrieth the proportion of two for one bringeth in that turbulent tone of those who are half-drunk, “Which stirs the heart-strings never moved before;” for it suffereth a man neither to be fully sober, nor yet to drench himself so deep in wine as to be altogether witless and past his sense; but the other, standing upon the proportion of three to two, is of all the most musical accord, causing a man to sleep peaceably and forget all cares, and, like the corn-field which Hesiod speaks of, Which doth from man all curses drive, And children cause to rest and thrive, stilling and appeasing all proud and disordered passions within the heart, and inducing instead of them a peaceable calm and tranquillity. > Greek: 9.1. ἐμοῦ δὲ ταῦτʼ εἰπόντος, Ἀρίστων ἀναβοήσας ὥσπερ εἰώθει πέφανται εἶπεν εἰς τὰ συμπόσια τῷ δικαιοτάτῳ καὶ δημοκρατικωτάτῳ τῶν μέτρων κάθοδος, ὑπὸ δή τινος καιροῦ νήφοντος ὥσπερ τυράννου πεφυγαδευμένῳ πολὺν χρόνον. καθάπερ γὰρ οἱ περὶ λύραν κανονικοὶ τῶν λόγων φασὶ τὸν μὲν ἡμιόλιον τὴν διὰ πέντε συμφωνίαν παρασχεῖν τὸν δὲ διπλάσιον τὴν διὰ πασῶν, τὴν δὲ διὰ τεσσάρων ἀμυδροτάτην οὖσαν ἐν ἐπιτρίτῳ συνίστασθαι· οὕτως οἱ περὶ τὸν Διόνυσον ἁρμονικοὶ τρεῖς κατεῖδον οἴνου συμφωνίας πρὸς ὕδωρ, διὰ πέντε καὶ διὰ τριῶν καὶ διὰ τεσσάρων, οὕτω μὲν λέγοντες καὶ ᾄδοντες ἢ πέντε πίνειν ἢ τρίʼ ἢ μὴ τέσσαρα. πέντε γὰρ … ἐν ἡμιολίῳ λόγῳ, τριῶν ὕδατος κεραννυμένων πρὸς δύʼ οἴνου· τρία δʼ ἐν διπλασίῳ πρὸς ἕνα μιγνυμένων δυεῖν· τέσσαρα δʼ, εἰς ἕνα τριῶν ὕδατος ἐπιχεομένων, οὗτός ἐστιν ἐπίτριτος λόγος, ἀρχόντων τινῶν ἐν πρυτανείῳ νοῦν ἐχόντων ἢ διαλεκτικῶν τὰς ὀφρῦς ἀνεσπακότων, ὅταν τὰς μεταπτώσεις τῶν λόγων ἀνασκοπῶσι, νηφάλιος καὶ ἀδρανὴς κρᾶσις. ἐκείνων δὲ τῶν ἄλλων ἡ μὲν δυεῖν πρὸς ἕνα τὸν ταρακτικὸν τοῦτον καὶ ἀκροθώρακα τῆς μέθης ἐπάγει τόνον κινοῦντα χορδὰς τὰς ἀκινήτους φρενῶν οὔτε γὰρ ἐᾷ νήφειν οὔτε καταδύειν παντάπασι τὸ ἀνόητον εἰς τὸν ἄκρατον· ἡ δὲ δυεῖν πρὸς τρία μουσικωτάτη, πᾶσʼ ὑπνοφόρος; καὶ λαθικηδὴς καὶ κατὰ τὴν Ἡσιόδειον ἐκείνην ἀλεξιάρην παίδων εὐκηλήτειραν τῶν ἐν ἡμῖν ἀγερώχων καὶ ἀκόσμων παθῶν διὰ βάθους ποιοῦσα γαλήνην καὶ ἡσυχίαν; [¶10] 9.2. These speeches of Aristo no one there would contradict, for it was well known that he spoke in jest. But I willed him to take a cup, and, as if it were a harp, to set and tune it to that accord and harmony which he so highly praised. Then came a boy close unto him, and offered him strong wine; but he refused it, saying with laughter, that his music consisted in theory, and not in practice of the instrument. Then my father added to what had been said, that the ancient poets gave two nurses to Jupiter, namely, Ite and Adrastea; one to Juno, Euboea; two, moreover, to Apollo, Alethea and Corythalea; while they gave many more to Bacchus. For, as it seemed to him, Bacchus was nursed and suckled by many Nymphs, because he had need of many measures of water (νύμφαι), to make him more tame, gentle, witty, and wise. > Greek: 9.2. πρὸς ταῦτα τῷ Ἀρίστωνι ἀντεῖπε μὲν οὐδείς· δῆλος γὰρ ἦν παίζων· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐκέλευσα λαβόντα ποτήριον ὥσπερ λύραν ἐντείνεσθαι τὴν ἐπαινουμένην κρᾶσιν καὶ ἁρμονίαν, καὶ προσελθὼν ὁ παῖς ὑπήχει τὴν ἄκρατον· ὁ δʼ ἀνεδύετο, λέγων ἅμα γέλωτι τῶν λογικῶν εἶναι περὶ μουσικὴν οὐ τῶν ὀργανικῶν. ὁ μέντοι πατὴρ τοσοῦτον ἐπεῖπε τοῖς εἰρημένοις, ὅτι δοκοῦσιν αὐτῷ καὶ οἱ παλαιοὶ τοῦ μὲν Διὸς δύο ποιεῖν τιθήνας, τὴν Ἴτην καὶ τὴν Ἀδράστειαν, τῆς δʼ Ἥρας μίαν, τὴν Εὔβοιαν ἀμέλει δὲ καὶ τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος δύο, τὴν Ἀλήθειαν καὶ τὴν Κορυθάλειαν τοῦ δὲ Διονύσου πλείονας, ὅτι δεῖ τὸν θεὸν τοῦτον ἐν πλείοσι μέτροις νυμφῶν τιθασευόμενον καὶ παιδευόμενον ἡμερώτερον ποιεῖν καὶ φρονιμώτερον. [¶11] 10.1. EUTHYDEMUS of Sunium gave us at an entertainment a very large boar. The guests wondering at the bigness of the beast, he said that he had one a great deal larger, but in the carriage the moon had made it stink; he could not imagine how this should happen, for it was probable that the sun, being much hotter than the moon, should make it stink sooner. But, said Satyrus, this is not so strange as the common practice of the hunters; for, when they send a boar or a doe to a city some miles distant, they drive a brazen nail into it to keep it from stinking. > Greek: 10.1. Εὐθύδημος ὁ Σουνιεὺς ἑστιῶν ἡμᾶς σῦν ἄγριον εὐμεγέθη παρέθηκεν ἐπιθαυμασάντων δὲ τῶν παρόντων, ἄλλον ἔφη πολὺ μείζονα κομιζόμενον ὑπὸ τῆς σελήνης διαφθαρῆναι καὶ σφόδρα γε περὶ τῆς αἰτίας διαπορεῖν οὐ γὰρ εἰκὸς εἶναι μὴ τὸν ἥλιον μᾶλλον τὰ κρέα σήπειν θερμότερον ὄντα τῆς σελήνης. ὁ δὲ Σάτυρος οὐ τοῦτʼ ἔφη μάλιστα θαυμάσειεν ἄν τις, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον τὸ ὑπὸ τῶν κυνηγῶν γιγνόμενον· ὅταν γὰρ ἢ σῦν ἢ ἔλαφον καταβαλόντες πόρρωθεν εἰς πόλιν ἀποστέλλωσι, χαλκοῦν ἐμπηγνύουσιν ἧλον ὡς βοηθοῦντα πρὸς τὴν σῆψιν. [¶12] 10.2. After supper Euthydemus bringing the question into play again, Moschio the physician said, that putrefaction was a colliquation of the flesh, and that every thing that putrefied grew moister than before, and that all heat, if gentle, did stir the humors, though not force them out, but if strong, dry the flesh; and that from these considerations an answer to the question might be easily deduced. For the moon gently warming makes the body moist; but the sun by his violent beams dries rather, and draws all moisture from them. Thus Archilochus spoke like a naturalist, “I hope hot Sirius’s beams will many drain.” And Homer more plainly concerning Hector, over whose body Apollo spread a thick cloud, “Lest the hot sun should scorch his naked limbs.” Now the moon’s rays are weaker; for, as Ion says, “They do not ripen well the clustered grapes.” > Greek: 10.2. ὡς οὖν ἐπαυσάμεθα δειπνοῦντες, καὶ πάλιν ὁ Εὐθύδημος ἐπιμνησθεὶς τοῦ διαπορηθέντος Μοσχίων ἔφη φησὶν ὁ ἰατρὸς τὴν σῆψιν τῆξιν καὶ ῥύσιν σαρκὸς εἰς ὑγρὸν φθορᾷ μεταβαλούσης, καὶ ὅλως ὑγραίνεσθαι τὰ σηπόμενα· θερμασίαν δὲ πᾶσαν, ἂν μὲν ᾖ μαλακὴ καὶ πραεῖα, κινεῖν τὰ ὑγρὰ καὶ κωλύειν· ἂν δʼ πυρώδης, τοὐναντίον ἀπισχναίνειν τὰς σάρκας. ἐκ δὲ τούτων φανερὸν εἶναι τὸ ζητούμενον τὴν γὰρ σελήνην ἠρέμα χλιαίνουσαν ἀνυγραίνειν τὰ σώματα, τὸν δʼ ἣλιον ἀναρπάζειν μᾶλλον ἐκ τῶν σωμάτων τὸ νοτερὸν διὰ τὴν πύρωσιν πρὸς ὃ καὶ τὸν Ἀρχίλοχον εἰρηκέναι φυσικῶς ἔλπομαι, πολλοὺς μὲν αὐτῶν Σείριος καθαυανεῖ ὀξὺς ἐλλάμπων· ἔτι δὲ σαφέστερον Ὅμηρον ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἕκτορος, ᾧ κειμένῳ νεφέλην τινὰ σκιερὰν ὁ Ἀπόλλων ἐπήγαγε, μὴ πρὶν μένος ἠελίοιο σκήλῃ ἀμφὶ περὶ χρόα ἴνεσιν ἠδὲ μέλεσσιν· τὴν δὲ σελήνην ἀδρανεστέρας ἀφιέναι τὰς αὐγάς μέλας γὰρ. αὐταῖς οὐ πεπαίνεται βότρυς κατὰ τὸν Ἴωνα. [¶13] 10.3. When he had done, I said: The rest of the discourse I like very well, but I cannot consent when you ascribe this effect to the strength and degree of heat, and chiefly in the hot seasons; for in winter every one knows that the sun warms little, yet in summer it putrefies most. Now the contrary should happen, if the gentleness of the heat were the cause of putrefaction. And besides, the hotter the season is, so much the sooner meat stinks; and therefore this effect is not to be ascribed to the want of heat in the moon, but to some particular proper quality in her beams. For heat is not different only by degrees; but in fires there are some proper qualities very much unlike one another, as a thousand obvious instances will prove. Goldsmiths heat their gold in chaff fires; physicians use fires of vine-twigs in their distillations; and tamarisk is the best fuel for a glass-house. Olive-boughs in a vapor-bath warm very well, but hurt other baths: they spoil the timbers, and weaken the foundation; and therefore the most skilful of the public officers forbid those that rent the baths to burn olive-tree wood, or throw darnel seed into the fire, because the fumes of it dizzy and bring the headache to those that bathe. Therefore it is no wonder that the moon differs in her qualities from the sun; and that the sun should shed some drying, and the moon some dissolving, influence upon flesh. And upon this account it is that nurses are very cautious of exposing their infants to the beams of the moon; for they being full of moisture, as green plants, are easily wrested and distorted. And everybody knows that those that sleep abroad under the beams of the moon are not easily waked, but seem stupid and senseless; for the moisture that the moon sheds upon them oppresses their faculty and disables their bodies. Besides, it is commonly said, that women brought to bed when the moon is a fortnight old, have easy labors; and for this reason I believe that Diana, which was the same with the moon, was called the goddess of childbirth. And Timotheus appositely says, By the blue heaven that wheels the stars, And by the moon that eases women’s pains. Even in inanimate bodies the power of the moon is very evident. Trees that are cut in the full of the moon carpenters refuse, as being soft, and, by reason of their moistness, subject to corruption; and in its wane farmers usually thresh their wheat, that being dry it may better endure the flail; for the corn in the full of the moon is moist, and commonly bruised in threshing. Besides, they say dough will be leavened sooner in the full, for then, though the leaven is scarce proportioned to the meal, yet it rarefies and leavens the whole lump. Now when flesh putrefies, the combining spirit is only changed into a moist consistence, and the parts of the body separate and dissolve. And this is evident in the very air itself, for when the moon is full, most dew falls; and this Alcman the Poet intimates, when he somewhere calls dew the air’s and moon’s daughter, saying, See how the daughter of the Moon and Jove Does nourish all things. Thus a thousand instances do prove that the light of the moon is moist, and carries with it a softening and corrupting quality. Now the brazen nail that is driven through the flesh, if, as they say, it keeps the flesh from putrefying, doth it by an astringent quality proper to the brass. The rust of brass physicians use in astringent medicines, and they say those that dig brass ore have been cured of a rheum in their eyes, and that the hair upon their eyelids hath grown again; for the dust rising from the ore, being insensibly applied to the eyes, stops the rheum and dries up the humor. Upon this account, perhaps, Homer calls brass εὐήνωρ and νῶροψ. Aristotle says, that wounds made by a brazen dart or a brazen sword are less painful and sooner cured than those that are made of iron weapons, because brass hath something medicinal in itself, which in the very instant is applied to the wound. Now it is manifest that astringents are contrary to putrefying, and healing to corrupting qualities. Some perhaps may say, that the nail driven through draws all the moisture to itself, for the humor still flows to the part that is hurt; and therefore it is said that by the nail there always appears some speck and tumor; and therefore it is rational that the other parts should remain sound, when all the corruption gathers about that. > Greek: 10.3. λεχθέντων δὲ τούτων, ἐγὼ τἄλλα μέν ἔφην εἴρηται καλῶς· τῇ δὲ ποσότητι καὶ τῷ μᾶλλον καὶ ἧττον τῆς θερμασίας κρίνειν τὸ σύμπαν οὐ δεῖ· καὶ γὰρ ἥλιον ὁρῶμεν ἧττον ἐν τῷ χειμῶνι θάλποντα καὶ μᾶλλον ἐν τῷ θέρει σήποντα τὰ σώματα· τοὐναντίον δʼ ὤφειλε ποιεῖν, εἰ μαλακότητι τῆς θερμασίας αἱ σήψεις ἐγίνοντο· νυνὶ δέ, ὅτε μᾶλλον ἐντείνει τὸ καῦμα, θᾶσσον διαφθείρει τὰς σάρκας. οὐκοῦν οὐδʼ ἡ σελήνη διʼ ἔνδειαν ἀλέας καὶ ἀσθένειαν εἰς σῆψιν ἄγει τὰ νεκρὰ τῶν σωμάτων, ἀλλʼ ἰδιότητα μᾶλλον αἰτιατέον τοῦ φερομένου ῥεύματος ἀπʼ αὐτῆς. ὅτι γὰρ οὐ μίαν ἔχει ποιότητα πᾶν τὸ θερμόν, αὐτῷ μόνῳ τῷ μᾶλλον καὶ ἧττον διαφέρουσαν, ἀλλʼ εἰσὶ πάμπολλαι τοῦ πυρὸς δυνάμεις οὐδὲν ἀλλήλαις ἐοικυῖαι, δῆλον ἀπὸ τῶν προχειροτάτων. οἱ μὲν γὰρ χρυσοχόοι διὰ τῆς ἀχυρίνης φλογὸς ἐργάζονται τὸν χρυσόν, οἱ δʼ ἰατροὶ μάλιστα τῇ κληματίνῃ τὰ συνεψόμενα τῶν φαρμάκων ὑποχλιαίνουσι· πρὸς δὲ τὴν τοῦ ὑέλου μάλαξιν καὶ τύπωσιν εὐάρμοστον εἶναι δοκεῖ τὸ μυρίκινον· τὸ δʼ ἀπὸ τῆς ἐλαίας τὰ μὲν σώματα ταῖς πυρίαις εὖ διατίθησι, τοῖς δὲ βαλανείοις πολέμιόν ἐστι καὶ λυμαίνεται τὴν πινάκωσιν αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς θεμελίους ὑποκαόμενον. ὅθεν οἱ χαρίεντες ἀγορανόμοι τοὺς ἐργολαβοῦντας οὐκ ἐῶσιν ἐλαΐνοις ξύλοις χρῆσθαι, καθάπερ οὐδʼ αἴρας ἐμβαλεῖν εἰς τὴν ὑπόκαυσιν· αἱ γὰρ ἀπὸ τούτων ἀναθυμιάσεις καρηβαρίας; καὶ σκοτώματα τοῖς λουομένοις ἐμποιοῦσιν. οὐδὲν οὖν θαυμαστόν ἐστι καὶ τὴν σελήνην τοῦ ἡλίου διαφέρειν, τοῦ μὲν ξηραντικὰ τῆς δὲ χαλαστικὰ καὶ κινητικὰ τῶν ἐν τοῖς σώμασιν ὑγρῶν ἀφιείσης ῥεύματα. διὸ τὰ μὲν νήπια παντάπασιν αἱ τίτθαι δεικνύναι πρὸς τὴν σελήνην φυλάττονται· πλήρη γὰρ ὑγρότητος ὄντα, καθάπερ τὰ χλωρὰ τῶν ξύλων, σπᾶται καὶ διαστρέφεται. τοὺς δὲ κατακοιμηθέντας ἐν αὐγῇ σελήνης μόλις ἐξανισταμένους οἷον ἐμπλήκτους ταῖς αἰσθήσεσι καὶ ναρκώδεις ὁρῶμεν ἡ γὰρ ὑγρότης ὑπὸ τῆς σελήνης διαχεομένη βαρύνει τὰ σώματα. λέγεται δὲ καὶ πρὸς εὐτοκίαν συνεργεῖν, ὅταν ᾖ διχόμηνος, ἀνέσει τῶν ὑγρῶν μαλακωτέρας παρέχουσα τὰς ὠδῖνας. ὅθεν οἶμαι καὶ τὴν Ἄρτεμιν λοχείαν καὶ Εἰλείθυιαν, οὐκ οὖσαν ἑτέραν ἢ τὴν σελήνην, ὠνομάσθαι. Τιμόθεος δʼ ἄντικρὺς διὰ κυάνεον πόλον ἄστρων, διὰ τʼ ὠκυτόκοιο σελάνας. γίγνεται δὲ καὶ περὶ τὰ ἄψυχα τῶν σωμάτων ἐπίδηλος ἡ τῆς σελήνης δύναμις· τῶν τε γὰρ ξύλων τὰ τεμνόμενα ταῖς πανσελήνοις ἀποβάλλουσιν οἱ τέκτονες ὡς ἁπαλὰ καὶ μυδῶντα ταχέως διʼ ὑγρότητα· τοὺς δὲ πυροὺς οἱ γεωργοῦντες σπεύδουσι φθίνοντος τοῦ μηνὸς ἐκ τῆς ἅλω συναίρειν, ἵνα παγέντες τῇ ξηρότητι μᾶλλον πρὸς τὸν χρόνον ἀντέχωσιν· οἱ δʼ ἀκμῇ τῆς σελήνης διακομιζόμενοι κόπτονται μάλιστα· διὰ τὴν ὑγρότητα μαλακώτεροι γιγνόμενοι. λέγουσι δὲ καὶ τἄλευρον ἐν ταῖς πανσελήνοις ζυμοῦσθαι βέλτιον· ἡ γὰρ ζύμωσις ὀλίγον ἀποδεῖ σῆψις εἶναι· κἂν ἀποβάλῃ τὸ μέτρον, ἐπὶ τὴν αὐτὴν φθορὰν ἀραιοῦσα καὶ λεπτύνουσα τὸ φύραμα προήγαγεν. αἱ δὲ σηπόμεναι σάρκες οὐδὲν ἄλλο πάσχουσιν, ἢ, τοῦ συνεκτικοῦ πνεύματος μεταβάλλοντος εἰς ὑγρόν, ἐξαραιοῦνται καὶ ῥέουσι. τοῦτο δὲ καὶ τὸν ἀέρα πάσχοντα θεωροῦμεν δροσοβολεῖ γὰρ ταῖς πανσελήνοις μάλιστα διατηκόμενος, ὥς που καὶ Ἀλκμὰν ὁ μελοποιὸς αἰνιττόμενος τὴν δρόσον ἀέρος θυγατέρα καὶ σελήνης οἷα φησί Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἔρσα τρέφει καὶ δίας σελάνας. οὕτω πανταχόθεν μαρτυρεῖται τὸ τῆς σελήνης φῶς ἄγαν ὑγραντικὴν ἔχον καὶ μαλακτικὴν δύναμιν. ὁ δὲ χαλκοῦς ἧλος, εἴ γε διελαυνόμενος, ὥς φασιν, ἀσηπτότερα διατηρεῖ τὰ κρέα, φαίνεται μὲν ἔχων τι στυπτικὸν ἐν αὑτῷ· τῷ γὰρ ἰῷ πρὸς τὰ τοιαῦτα χρῶνται τῶν φαρμάκων ἰατροί, καὶ τούς γε διατρίβοντας ἐν τοῖς χαλκωρυχείοις ἱστοροῦσιν ὠφελεῖσθαι τὰ ὄμματα καὶ βλεφαρίδας ἐκφύειν τοὺς ἀποβεβληκότας· ἡ γὰρ ἀπιοῦσα τῆς χαλκίτιδος ἄχνη καὶ προσπίπτουσα τοῖς βλεφάροις ἀδήλως ἀναστέλλει τὰ ῥεύματα καὶ περιστύφει τὸ δάκρυον. διὸ καί φασιν εὐήνορα καὶ νώροπα χαλκὸν ὑπὸ τοῦ ποιητοῦ προσαγορεύεσθαι. Ἀριστοτέλης· δὲ καὶ τὰ τραύματὰ φησι τἀπὸ τῶν χαλκῶν ἐπιδορατίδων καὶ μαχαιρῶν ἧττον εἶναι δυσαλγῆ καὶ ῥᾴονʼ ἰᾶσθαι τῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ σιδήρου διὰ τὸ φαρμακῶδες ἔχειν τι τὸν χαλκὸν ἐν ἑαυτῷ καὶ τοῦτο ταῖς πληγαῖς εὐθὺς ἐναπολείπειν. ὅτι δὲ καὶ τῷ σήποντι τὸ στῦφον καὶ τὸ θεραπεῦον τῷ φθείροντι τὴν ἐναντίαν ἔχει δύναμιν, οὐκ ἄδηλον· εἰ μή τις ἄρα τῇ διελάσει φαίη τὸν ἧλον ἐφʼ ἑαυτὸν τὰ ὑγρὰ συνάγειν, ἐπιφορᾶς ἀεὶ γιγνομένης πρὸς τὸ πάσχον. διὸ καὶ περὶ αὐτὸν ἐκεῖνον τὸν τόπον οἷόν τινα μώλωπα καὶ σπῖλον ὁρᾶσθαί φασι· καὶ λόγον ἔχει τὴν ἄλλην σάρκα διαμένειν ἀπαθῆ, τῆς φθορᾶς ἐκεῖ συντρεχούσης. ## 7. Book IV · chapters 1–2 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/7/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/7/#p-N [¶0] 0.1. Polybius, my Sossius Senecio, advised Scipio Africanus never to return from the Forum, where he was conversant about the affairs of the city, before he had gained one new friend. Where I suppose the word friend is not to be taken too nicely, to signify a lasting and unchangeable acquaintance; but, as it vulgarly means, a well-wisher, and as Dicearchus takes it, when he says that we should endeavor to make all men well-wishers, but only good men friends. For friendship is to be acquired by time and virtue; but good-will is produced by a familiar intercourse, or by mirth and trifling amongst civil and genteel men, especially if opportunity assists their natural inclinations to good-nature. But consider whether this advice may not be accommodated to an entertainment as well as the Forum; so that we should not break up the meeting before we had gained one of the company to be a well-wisher and a friend. Other occasions draw men into the Forum, but men of sense come to an entertainment as well to get new friends as to make their old ones merry; indeed to carry away any thing else is sordid and uncivil, but to depart with one friend more than we had is pleasing and commendable. And so, on the contrary, he that doth not aim at this renders the meeting useless and unpleasant to himself, and departs at last, having been a partaker of an entertainment with his belly but not with his mind. For he that makes one at a feast doth not come only to enjoy the meat and drink, but likewise the discourse, mirth, and genteel humor which ends at last in friendship and good-will. The wrestlers, that they may hold fast and lock better, use dust; and so wine mixed with discourse is of extraordinary use to make us hold fast of, and fasten upon, a friend. For wine tempered with discourse carries gentle and kind affections out of the body into the mind; otherwise, it is scattered through the limbs, and serves only to swell and disturb. Thus as a marble, by cooling red-hot iron, takes away its softness and makes it hard, fit to be wrought and receive impression; thus discourse at an entertainment doth not permit the men that are engaged to become altogether liquid by the wine, but confines and makes their jocund and obliging tempers very fit to receive an impression from the seal of friendship if dexterously applied. > Greek: 0.1. ὦ Σόσσιε Σενεκίων, τοῦ Πολυβίου Σκιπίωνι παραινοῦντος Ἀφρικανῷ μὴ πρότερον ἐξ ἀγορᾶς ἀπελθεῖν ἢ φίλον τινὰ ποιήσασθαι τῶν πολιτῶν· φίλον δὲ δεῖ μὴ πικρῶς μηδὲ σοφιστικῶς ἀκούειν ἐκεῖνον τὸν ἀμετάπτωτον καὶ βέβαιον, ἀλλὰ κοινῶς τὸν εὔνουν· ὥσπερ ᾤετο χρῆναι Δικαίαρχος εὔνους μὲν αὑτῷ παρασκευάζειν ἅπαντας, φίλους δὲ ποιεῖσθαι τοὺς ἀγαθούς;. φιλία γὰρ ἐν χρόνῳ πολλῷ καὶ διʼ ἀρετῆς ἁλώσιμον· εὔνοιαν δὲ καὶ χρεία καὶ ὁμιλία καὶ παιδιὰ πολιτικῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐπάγεται, καιρὸν λαβοῦσα πειθοῦς φιλανθρώπου καὶ χάριτος συνεργόν. ἀλλʼ ὅρα τὸ τῆς παραινέσεως, εἰ μὴ μόνον ἔχει δεξιῶς; πρὸς ἀγορὰν ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς συμπόσιον· ὥστε δεῖν μὴ πρότερον ἀναλύειν ἢ κτήσασθαί τινα τῶν συγκατακειμένων καὶ παρόντων εὔνουν ἑαυτῷ καὶ φίλον. εἰς ἀγορὰν μὲν γὰρ ἐμβάλλουσι πραγμάτων εἵνεκεν καὶ χρειῶν ἑτέρων, εἰς δὲ συμπόσιον οἵ γε νοῦν ἔχοντες ἀφικνοῦνται κτησόμενοι φίλους οὐχ ἧττον ἢ τοὺς ὄντας εὐφρανοῦντες. διότι τῶν μὲν ἄλλων ζητεῖν ἐκφορὰν κἀνελεύθερον ἂν εἴη καὶ φορτικόν, τὸ δὲ φίλων πλέον ἔχοντας ἀπιέναι καὶ ἡδὺ καὶ σεμνόν ἐστι. καὶ τοὐναντίον ὁ τούτου παραμελῶν ἄχαριν αὑτῷ καὶ ἀτελῆ τὴν συνουσίαν ποιεῖ καὶ ἄπεισι τῇ γαστρὶ σύνδειπνος οὐ τῇ ψυχῇ γεγονώς· ὁ γὰρ σύνδειπνος οὐκ ὄψου καὶ οἴνου καὶ τραγημάτων μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ λόγων κοινωνὸς ἣκει καὶ παιδιᾶς καὶ φιλοφροσύνης εἰς εὔνοιαν τελευτώσης. αἱ μὲν γὰρ παλαιόντων ἐπιβολαὶ καὶ ἕλξεις κονιορτοῦ δέονται, ταῖς δὲ φιλικαῖς λαβαῖς ὁ οἶνος ἁφὴν ἐνδίδωσι μιγνύμενος λόγῳ λόγος γὰρ αὐτῷ τὸ φιλάνθρωπον καὶ ἠθοποιὸν ἐπὶ τὴν ψυχὴν ἐκ τοῦ σώματος ἐποχετεύει καὶ συνδίδωσιν· εἰ δὲ μή, πλανώμενος ἐν τῷ σώματι πλησμονῆς οὐδὲν σπουδαιότερον παρέσχεν. ὅθεν ὥσπερ ὁ μάρμαρος, τοῦ διαπύρου σιδήρου τῷ καταψύχειν τὴν ἄγαν ὑγρότητα καὶ ῥύσιν ἀφαιρῶν, εὔτονον ποιεῖ τὸ μαλασσόμενον αὐτοῦ καὶ τυπούμενον ὁ· οὕτως ὁ συμποτικὸς λόγος οὐκ ἐᾷ διαφορεῖσθαι παντάπασιν ὑπὸ τοῦ οἴνου τοὺς πίνοντας; ἀλλʼ ἐφίστησι καὶ ποιεῖ τῇ ἀνέσει τὸ ἱλαρὸν καὶ φιλάνθρωπον ἐγκέραστον καὶ κεχαρισμένον, ἄν τις ἐμμελῶς ἅπτηται, καθάπερ σφραγῖδι φιλίας εὐτυπώτων καὶ ἁπαλῶν διὰ τὸν οἶνον ὄντων. [¶1] 1.1. THE first question of my fourth decade of Table Discourses shall be concerning different sorts of food eaten at one meal. When we came to Hyampolis at the feast called Elaphebolia, Philo the physician gave us a very sumptuous entertainment; and seeing some boys who came with Philinus feeding upon dry bread and calling for nothing else, he cried out, O Hercules, well I see the proverb is verified, “They fought midst stones, but could not take up one,” and presently went out to fetch them some agreeable food. He staid some time, and at last brought them dried figs and cheese; upon which I said: It is usually seen that those that provide costly and superfluous dainties neglect, or are not well furnished with, useful and necessary things. I protest, said Philo, I did not mind that Philinus designs to breed us a young Sosastrus, who (they say) never all his lifetime drank or ate any thing beside milk, although it is probable that it was some change in his constitution that made him use this sort of diet; but our Chiron here,— quite contrary to the old one that bred Achilles from his very birth,—feeding his son with unbloody food, gives people reason to suspect that like a grasshopper he keeps him on dew and air. Indeed, said Philinus, I did not know that we were to meet with a supper of a hundred beasts, such as Aristomenes made for his friends; otherwise I had come with some poor and wholesome food about me, as a specific against such costly and unwholesome entertainments. For I have often heard that simple diet is not only more easily provided, but likewise more easily digested, than such variety. At this Marcion said to Philo: Philinus hath spoiled your whole provision by deterring the guests from eating; but, if you desire it, I will be surety for you, that such variety is more easily digested than simple food, so that without fear or distrust they may feed heartily. Philo desired him to do so. > Greek: 1.1. τῆς οὖν τετάρτης τῶν συμποτικῶν ζητημάτων δεκάδος ἡμῖν πρῶτον ἔσται τὸ περὶ τῆς· ποικίλης τροφῆς ζητηθέν. Ἐλαφηβολίων γὰρ ὄντων, εἰς Ὑάμπολιν ἐπὶ τὴν ἑορτὴν ἀφικνουμένους ἡμᾶς εἱστία Φίλων ὁ ἰατρὸς ἐκ παρασκευῆς τινος, ὡς ἐφαίνετο, νεανικῆς. ἰδὼν δὲ τῶν παιδίων τῶν ἅμα τῷ Φιλίνῳ τὸ νέον ἄρτῳ χρώμενον ἄλλου δὲ μηδενὸς δεόμενον, ὦ Ἡράκλεις ἔφη τοῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἦν τὸ λεγόμενον ἐν δὲ λίθοις ἐμάχοντο, λίθον δʼ οὐκ ἦν ἀνελέσθαι· καὶ ἀνεπήδησεν οἰσόμενός τι τῶν χρησίμων ἐκείνοις, εἶθʼ ἧκε μετὰ χρόνον συχνὸν ἰσχάδας αὐτοῖς τινας καὶ τυρὸν κομίζων. ἐμοῦ δʼ εἰπόντος, ὅτι τοῦτο συμβαίνει τοῖς τὰ περιττὰ καὶ πολυτελῆ παρασκευαζομένοις ἀμελεῖν καὶ σπανίζειν τῶν ἀναγκαίων καὶ χρησίμων οὐ γὰρ ἐμεμνήμην εἶπεν ὁ Φίλων ὅτι Σώσαστρον ἡμῖν ὑποτρέφει ὁ Φιλῖνος, ὅν φασι μήτε ποτῷ χρησάμενον ἄλλῳ μήτʼ ἐδέσματι πλὴν γάλακτος διαβιῶσαι πάντα τὸν βίον· ἀλλʼ ἐκείνῳ μὲν ἐκ μεταβολῆς ἀρχὴν γενέσθαι τῆς τοιαύτης διαίτης εἰκός· τὸν δʼ ἡμέτερον ἀντιστρόφως τῷ Ἀχιλλεῖ τρέφων ὁ Χείρων οὗτος, εὐθὺς ἀπὸ τῆς γενέσεως ἀναιμάκτοις καὶ ἀψύχοις τροφαῖς, οὐκ ἂν εἰς μακρὰν ἀποδείξειεν ἀέρι καὶ δρόσῳ, ὡς λέγουσι, καθάπερ οἱ τέττιγες σιτούμενον.ἡμεῖς μὲν οὖν ὁ Φιλῖνος εἶπεν ἠγνοοῦμεν Ἑκατομφόνια δειπνήσοντες, ὥσπερ ἐπʼ Ἀριστομένους· ἐπεὶ παρῆμεν ἂν ὄψα τῶν λιτῶν καὶ ὑγιαινόντων, ὥσπερ ἀλεξιφάρμακα, πρὸς οὕτω πολυτελεῖς καὶ φλεγμαινούσας τραπέζας περιαψάμενοι, καὶ ταῦτα, σοῦ πολλάκις ἀκηκοότες ὅτι τῶν ποικίλων τὰ ἁπλᾶ μᾶλλον εὔπεπτʼ ἐστὶ καὶ εὐπόριστα καὶ ὁ Μαρκίων πρὸς τὸν Φίλωνα διαφθείρει σου Φιλῖνος ἔφη τὴν παρασκευήν, ἀποτρέπων καὶ δεδιττόμενος τοὺς δαιτυμόνας· ἀλλʼ ἂν ἐμοῦ δεηθῇς, ἐγγυήσομαι πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὑπέρ σοῦ τὴν ποικίλην τροφὴν εὐπεπτοτέραν εἶναι τῆς ἁπλῆς, ὥστε θαρροῦντας ἀπολαύειν τῶν παρακειμένων. ὁ μὲν οὖν Φίλων ἐδεῖτο τοῦ Μαρκίωνος οὕτω ποιεῖν. [¶2] 1.2. When after supper we begged Philinus to discover what he had to urge against variety of food, he thus began: I am not the author of this opinion, but our friend Philo here is ever now and then telling us, first, that wild beasts, feeding on one sort only and simple diet, are much more healthy than men are; and that those which are kept in pens are much more subject to diseases and crudities, by reason of the prepared variety we usually give them. Secondly, no physician is so daring, so venturous at new experiments, as to give a feverish patient different sorts of food at once. No, simple food, and without sauce, as more easy to be digested, is the only diet they allow. Now food must be wrought on and altered by our natural powers; in dyeing, cloth of the most simple color takes the tincture soonest; the most inodorous oil is soonest by perfumes changed into an essence; and simple diet is soonest changed, and soonest yields to the digesting power. For many and different qualities, having some contrariety, when they meet disagree and corrupt one another; as in a city, a mixed rout are not easily reduced into one body, nor brought to follow the same concerns; for each works according to its own nature, and is very hardly brought to side with another’s quality. Now this is evident in wine; mixed wine inebriates very soon, and drunkenness is much like a crudity rising from undigested wine; and therefore the drinkers hate mixed liquors, and those that do mix them do it privately, as afraid to have their design upon the company discovered. Every change is disturbing and injurious, and therefore musicians are very careful how they strike many strings at once; though the mixture and variety of the notes would be the only harm that would follow. This I dare say, that belief and assent can be sooner procured by disagreeing arguments, than concoction by various and different qualities. But lest I should seem jocose, waving this, I will return to Philo’s observations again. We have often heard him declare that it is the quality that makes meat hard to be digested; that to mix many things together is hurtful, and begets unnatural qualities; and that every man should take that which by experience he finds most agreeable to his temper. Now if nothing is by its own nature hard to be digested, but it is the quantity that disturbs and corrupts, I think we have still greater reason to forbear that variety with which Philo’s cook, as it were in opposition to his master’s practice, would draw us on to surfeits and diseases. For, by the different sorts of food and new ways of dressing, he still keeps up the unwearied appetite, and leads it from one dish to another, till tasting of every thing we take more than is sufficient and enough; as Hypsipyle’s foster-child, Who, in a garden placed, plucked up the flowers, One after one, and spent delightful hours; But still his greedy appetite goes on, And still he plucked till all the flowers were gone. But more, methinks, Socrates is here to be remembered, who adviseth us to forbear those junkets which provoke those that are not hungry to eat; as if by this he cautioned us to fly variety of meats. For it is variety that in every thing draws us on to use more than bare necessity requires. This is manifest in all sorts of pleasures, either of the eye, ear, or touch; for it still proposeth new provocatives; but in simple pleasures, and such as are confined to one sort, the temptation never carries us beyond nature’s wants. In short, in my opinion, we should more patiently endure to hear a musician praise a disagreeing variety of notes, or a perfumer mixed ointments, than a physician commend the variety of dishes; for certainly such changes and turnings as must necessarily ensue will force us out of the right way of health. > Greek: 1.2. ἐπεὶ δʼ ἡμεῖς παυσάμενοι τοῦ δειπνεῖν προσεκαλούμεθα τὸν Φιλῖνον ἐπιθέσθαι τῇ κατηγορίᾳ τῆς ποικίλης τροφῆς, οὐκ ἐμός εἶπεν ὁ μῦθος ναυξκ. π. 511 ἀλλʼ οὑτοσὶ Φίλων ἑκάστοτε λέγει πρὸς ἡμᾶς, ὅτι πρῶτον μὲν τὰ θηρία τροφαῖς μονοειδέσι καὶ ἁπλαῖς χρώμενα μᾶλλον ὑγιαίνει τῶν ἀνθρώπων· ὅσα δὲ σιτεύουσι καθείρξαντες, ἐπισφαλῆ πρὸς τὰς νόσους ἐστὶ καὶ ῥᾳδίως ταῖς ὠμότησιν ἁλίσκεται διὰ τὸ μικτήν τινα καὶ συνηδυσμένην τροφὴν προσφέρεσθαι. δεύτερον, οὐδεὶς γέγονεν οὕτω τῶν ἰατρῶν παράτολμος ἐν καινοτομίᾳ καὶ ἀνδρεῖος, ὥστε ποικίλην τροφὴν πυρέττοντι προσενεγκεῖν ἀλλὰ τὴν ἁπλῆν καὶ ἄκνισον ὡς ὑπήκοον μάλιστα τῇ πέψει προσφέρουσι. δεῖ γὰρ παθεῖν τὴν τροφὴν καὶ μεταβαλεῖν κρατηθεῖσαν ὑπὸ τῶν ἐν ἡμῖν δυνάμεων. κρατεῖ δὲ καὶ βαφὴ τῶν ἁπλῶν χρωμάτων μᾶλλον, καὶ μυρεψικοῖς φαρμάκοις τρέπεται τάχιστα τὸ ἀωδέστατον ἔλαιον, καὶ τροφῆς εὐπαθέστατον ὑπὸ πέψεως μεταβάλλειν τὸ ἀφελὲς καὶ μονοειδές. αἱ δὲ πολλαὶ καὶ ποικίλαι ποιότητες ὑπεναντιώσεις ἔχουσαι καὶ δυσμαχοῦσαι φθείρονται πρότερον προσπίπτουσαι, καθάπερ ἐν πόλει μιγάδων καὶ συγκλύδων ἀνθρώπων πλῆθος, οὐ ῥᾳδίως μίαν οὐδʼ ὁμοπαθοῦσαν ἴσχουσαι κατάστασιν, ἀλλʼ ἑκάστη πρὸς τὸ οἰκεῖον ἀντιτείνουσα καὶ δυσσύμβατος οὖσα πρὸς τὸ ἀλλόφυλον. ἐμφανὲς δὲ τεκμήριον τὸ περὶ τὸν οἶνον· αἱ γὰρ ἀλλοινίαι λεγόμεναι τάχιστα μεθύσκουσιν, ἀπεψίᾳ δʼ οἴνου προσέοικεν ἡ μέθη. διὸ φεύγουσι τὸν μεμιγμένον οἶνον οἱ πίνοντες, οἱ δὲ μιγνύοντες πειρῶνται λανθάνειν ὡς ἐπιβουλεύοντες· ἐκστατικὸν γὰρ ἡ μεταβολὴ καὶ τὸ ἀνώμαλον. ὅθεν που καὶ τὰς πολυχορδίας μετὰ πολλῆς οἱ μουσικοὶ κινοῦσιν εὐλαβείας, αἷς οὐδὲν ἄλλο κακὸν ἢ τὸ μικτόν ἐστι καὶ ποικίλον. ἐγὼ δʼ ἐκεῖνο ἔχω εἰπεῖν, ὅτι μᾶλλον ἂν … ἐκ λόγων ὑπεναντίων γένοιτʼ ἂν πίστις καὶ συγκατάθεσις ἢ πέψις ἐκ διαφόρων ποιοτήτων. εἰ δὲ δὴ δοκῶ παίζειν, ταῦτʼ ἐάσας ἐπὶ τὰ Φίλωνος ἄνειμι. πολλάκις γὰρ ἀκούομεν αὐτοῦ λέγοντος, ὡς, ἐπεὶ ποικίλῃ ποιότητι τροφῆς γίγνεται τὸ δύσπεπτον, ἥ τε πολυμιγία βλαβερὸν καὶ γόνιμον ἀλλοκότων ποιοτήτων, δεῖ τὸ σύμφυλον ἐκ πείρας λαβόντα χρῆσθαι καὶ στέργειν· εἰ δὲ φύσει δύσπεπτον οὐδέν, ἀλλὰ πλῆθός ἐστι τὸ ταράσσον καὶ φθεῖρον, ἔτι μᾶλλον οἶμαι τὰ παντοδαπὰ ταῦτα καὶ ποικίλα φευκτέον, οἷς ἀρτίως ἡμᾶς ὁ Φίλωνος ὀψοποιὸς ὥσπερ ἀντίτεχνος αὐτοῦ κατεφάρματτεν, ἐξαλλάττων τῇ καινότητι καὶ μεταβολῇ τὴν ὄρεξιν οὐκ ἀπαγορεύουσαν, ἀλλʼ ἀγομένην ἐπʼ ἄλλα καὶ παρεκβαίνουσαν ἐν τῷ ποικίλῳ τὸ μέτριον καὶ αὔταρκες, ὥσπερ ὁ τῆς Ὑψιπύλης τρόφιμος … νος ἕτερον ἀφʼ ἑτέρας ἰέμενος ἄγρευμʼ ἀνθέων ἡδομένᾳ ψυχᾷ, τὸ νήπιον ἄπληστος ἐών ἐπὶ πλεῖστον ἐξανθίζεται τοῦ λειμῶνος. ἐνταῦθα δὲ καὶ τοῦ Σωκράτους ἅμα μνημονευτέον, παρακελευομένου φυλάττεσθαι τῶν βρωμάτων, ὅσα τοὺς μὴ πεινῶντας ἐσθίειν ἀναπείθει, ὡς οὐδὲν ἀλλʼ ἢ τὸ παντοδαπὸν καὶ ποικίλον εὐλαβεῖσθαι καὶ δεδιέναι τῶν σιτίων παραινοῦντος. τοῦτο γὰρ πορρωτέρω ἐξάγει τῆς χρείας τὴν ἀπόλαυσιν ἐν θεάμασιν, ἐν ἀκροάμασιν, ἐν ἀφροδισίοις, ἐν παιδιαῖς ἁπάσαις καὶ διατριβαῖς, ἀναλαμβανομένην ὑπὸ τοῦ περιττοῦ πολλὰς ἀρχὰς ἔχοντος· ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἁπλαῖς καὶ μονοτρόποις ἡδοναῖς οὐ παρεκβαίνει τὴν φύσιν ἡ θέλξις. ὅλως δέ μοι δοκεῖ μᾶλλον ἄν τις ὑπομεῖναι πολυχορδίαν μουσικὸν ἐπαινοῦντα καὶ μυραλοιφίαν ἀλείπτην ἢ πολυοψίαν ἰατρόν· αἱ γὰρ ἐκτροπαὶ καὶ μεταβολαὶ τῆς εἰς ὑγίειαν εὐθείας ἐκβιβάζουσι. [¶3] 1.3. Philinus having ended his discourse, Marcion said: In my opinion, not only those that separate profit from honesty are obnoxious to Socrates’s curse, but those also that separate pleasure from health, as if it were its enemy and opposite, and not its great friend and promoter. Pain we use but seldom and unwillingly, as the most violent instrument. But from all things else, none, though he would willingly, can remove pleasure. It still attends when we eat, sleep, bathe, or anoint, and takes care of and nurses the diseased; dissipating all that is hurtful and disagreeable, by applying that which is proper, pleasing, and natural. For what pain, what want, what poison so quickly and so easily cures a disease as seasonable bathing? A glass of wine, when a man wants it, or a dish of palatable meat, presently frees us from all disturbing particles, and settles nature in its proper state, there being as it were a calm and serenity spread over the troubled humors. But those remedies that are painful do hardly and only by little and little promote the cure, every difficulty pushing on and forcing Nature. And therefore let not Philinus blame us, if we do not make all the sail we can to fly from pleasure, but more diligently endeavor to make pleasure and health, than other philosophers do to make pleasure and honesty, agree. Now, in my opinion, Philinus, you seem to be out in your first argument, where you suppose the beasts use more simple food and are more healthy than men; neither of which is true. The first the goats in Eupolis confute, for they extol their pasture as full of variety and all sorts of herbs, in this manner, We feed almost on every kind of trees, Young firs, the ilex, and the oak we crop: Sweet trefoil, fragrant juniper, and yew, Wild olives, thyme,—all freely yield their store. These that I have mentioned are very different in taste, smell, and other qualities, and he reckons more sorts which I have omitted. The second Homer skilfully refutes, when he tells us that the plague first began amongst the beasts. Besides, the shortness of their lives proves that they are very subject to diseases; for there is scarce any irrational creature long lived, besides the crow and the chough; and those two every one knows do not confine themselves to simple food, but eat any thing. Besides, you take no good rule to judge what is easy and what is hard of digestion from the diet of those that are sick; for labor and exercise, and even to chew our meat well, contribute very much to digestion, neither of which can agree with a man in a fever. Again, that the variety of meats, by reason of the different qualities of the particulars, should disagree and spoil one another, you have no reason to fear. For if Nature chooses from dissimilar bodies what is fit and agree able, the diverse nourishment transmits many and sundry qualities into the mass and bulk of the body, applying to every part that which is meet and fit; so that, as Empedocles words it, The sweet runs to the sweet, the sour combines With sour, the sharp with sharp, the hot with hot; and after the mixture is spread through the mass by the heat which is in the spirit, the proper parts are separated and applied to the proper members. Indeed, it is very probable that such bodies as ours, consisting of parts of different natures, should be nourished and built up rather of various than of simple matter. But if by concoction there is an alteration made in the food, this will be more easily performed when there are different sorts of meat, than when there is only one, in the stomach; for similars cannot work upon similars, and the very contrariety in the mixture considerably promotes the alteration of the enfeebled qualities. But if, Philinus, you are against all mixture, do not chide Philo only for the variety of his dishes and sauces, but also for using mixture in his sovereign antidotes, which Erasistratus calls the Gods’ hands. Convince him of absurdity and vanity, when he mixes things vegetable, mineral, and animal, and things from sea and land, in one potion; and advise him to let these alone, and to confine all physic to barley-broth, gourds, and oil mixed with water. But you urge farther, that variety enticeth the appetite that hath no command over itself. That is, good sir, cleanly, wholesome, sweet, palatable, pleasing diet makes us eat and drink more than ordinary. Why then, instead of fine flour, do not we thicken our broth with coarse bran? And instead of asparagus, why do we not dress nettle-tops and thistles; and leaving this fragrant and pleasant wine, drink sour harsh liquor that gnats have been buzzing about a long while? Because, perhaps you may reply, wholesome feeding doth not consist in a perfect avoiding of all that is pleasing, but in moderating the appetite in that respect, and making it prefer profit before pleasure. But, sir, as a mariner has a thousand ways to avoid a stiff gale of wind, but when it is clear down and a perfect calm, cannot raise it again; thus to correct and restrain our extravagant appetite is no hard matter, but when it grows weak and faint, when it fails as to its proper objects, then to raise it and make it vigorous and active again is, sir, a very difficult and hard task. And therefore variety of viands is as much better than simple food, which is apt to satisfy by being but of one sort, as it is easier to stop Nature when she makes too much speed, than to force her on when languishing and faint. Beside, what some say, that fulness is more to be avoided than emptiness, is not true; but, on the contrary, fulness then only hurts when it ends in a surfeit or disease; but emptiness, though it doth no other mischief, is of itself unnatural. And let this suffice as an answer to what you proposed. But you who stick to salt and cummin have forgot, that variety is sweeter and more desired by the appetite, unless too sweet. For, the sight preparing the way, it is soon assimilated to the eager receiving body; but that which is not desirable Nature either throws off again, or keeps it in for mere want. But pray observe this, that I do not plead for variety in tarts, cakes, or sauces;—those are vain, insignificant, and superfluous things;—but even Plato allowed variety to those fine citizens of his, setting before them onions, olives, leeks, cheese, and all sorts of meat and fish, and besides these, allowed them some dried fruits. > Greek: 1.3. τοῦ δὲ Φιλίνου ταῦτʼ εἰπόντος, ὁ Μαρκίων ἔφη δοκεῖν αὐτῷ τῇ Σωκράτους ἐνέχεσθαι κατάρᾳ μὴ μόνον τοὺς τὸ λυσιτελὲς ἀπὸ τοῦ καλοῦ χωρίζοντας, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς ἡδονὴν διιστάντας ἀπὸ τῆς ὑγιείας, ὡς ἀντιταττομένην αὐτῇ καὶ πολεμοῦσαν οὐχὶ μᾶλλον συνεργοῦσαν σμικρὰ γάρ ἔφη καὶ ἄκοντες ὡς βιαιοτάτῳ τῶν ὀργάνων ἀλγηδόνι προσχρώμεθα· τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὐδεὶς ἂν οὐδὲ βουλόμενος ἀπώσαιτο τὴν ἡδονήν· ἀλλὰ καὶ τροφαῖς καὶ ὕπνοις καὶ περὶ λουτρὰ καὶ ἀλείμματα καὶ κατακλίσεις ἀεὶ πάρεστι καὶ συνεκδέχεται καὶ συνεκτιθηνεῖται τὸν κάμνοντα, πολλῷ τῷ οἰκείῳ καὶ κατὰ φύσιν ἐξαμαυροῦσα τἀλλότριον. ποία γὰρ ἀλγηδών, τίς ἔνδεια, ποῖον δηλητήριον οὕτω ῥᾳδίως καὶ ἀφελῶς νόσον ἔλυσεν, ὡς λουτρὸν ἐν καιρῷ γενόμενον καὶ οἶνος δοθεὶς δεομένοις; καὶ τροφὴ παρελθοῦσα μεθʼ ἡδονῆς εὐθὺς ἔλυσε τὰ δυσχερῆ πάντα καὶ κατέστησεν εἰς τὸ οἰκεῖον τὴν φύσιν, ὥσπερ εὐδίας καὶ γαλήνης γενομένης. αἱ δὲ διὰ τῶν ἐπιπόνων βοήθειαι μόγις καὶ κατὰ μικρὸν ἀνύουσι, χαλεπῶς ἐκμοχλεύουσαι καὶ προσβιαζόμεναι τὴν φύσιν. οὐκ ἂν οὖν ἡμᾶς διαβάλλοι Φιλῖνος, εἰ μὴ τὰ ἱστία ἑκάτερα δἐπαράμενοι τὴν ἡδονὴν φεύγοιμεν, ἀλλὰ πειρῴμεθα τὸ ἡδέως καὶ ὑγιεινῶς ἐμμελέστερον, ἢ ὡς ἔνιοι φιλόσοφοι τὸ ἡδέως καὶ καλῶς, συνοικειοῦν. εὐθὺς οὖν περὶ τὸ πρῶτον, ὦ Φιλῖνε, τῶν ἐπιχειρημάτων δοκεῖς μοι διεψεῦσθαι, τὰ θηρία τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἁπλουστέραις τροφαῖς χρῆσθαι καὶ μᾶλλον ὑγιαίνειν ὑποτιθέμενος. οὐδέτερον γὰρ ἀληθές ἐστιν· ἀλλὰ τῷ μὲν αἱ παρʼ Εὐπόλιδος αἶγες ἀντιμαρτυροῦσιν, ὑμνοῦσαι τὴν τροφὴν ὡς παμμιγῆ καὶ ποικίλην οὖσαν, οὕτω πως λέγουσαι βοσκόμεθʼ ὕλης ἀπὸ παντοδαπῆς, ἐλάτης, πρίνου, κομάρου τε πτόρθους ἁπαλοὺς ἀποτρώγουσαι, καὶ πρὸς τούτοισιν ἔτʼ ἄλλα κύτισὸν τʼ ἠδὲ σφάκον εὐώδη καὶ σμίλακα τὴν λύφυλλον, κότινον, σχῖνον, μελίαν, λεύκην, ἀρίαν, δρῦν, κιττόν, ἐρίκην, πρόμαλον, ῥάμνον, φλόμον, ἀνθέρικον, κισθόν, φηγόν, θύμα, θύμβραν. τὰ γὰρ κατηριθμημένα μυρίας δήπου διαφορὰς ἔχει χυμῶν καὶ ὀδμῶν καὶ δυνάμεων· πλείονα δὲ τῶν εἰρημένων παραλέλειπται. τὸ δὲ δεύτερον Ὅμηρος ἀθετεῖ μᾶλλον ἐμπείρως, τὰ λοιμικὰ πάθη πρῶτον ἅπτεσθαι τῶν ἀλόγων ἀποφαινόμενος. κατηγορεῖ δʼ αὐτῶν καὶ ἡ βραχύτης τοῦ βίου τὸ ἐπίκηρον καὶ νοσῶδες οὐδὲν γὰρ ὡς εἰπεῖν πολυχρόνιόν ἐστι, πλὴν εἰ φαίη τις κόρακα καὶ κορώνην, ἃ δὴ παμφάγα τʼ ὄντα καὶ πάσης ἁπτόμενα τροφῆς ὁρῶμεν. καὶ μὴν καὶ τῇ τῶν νοσούντων διαίτῃ καλῶς; ἐποίεις τὰ εὔπεπτα καὶ δύσπεπτα τεκμαιρόμενος· καὶ γὰρ πόνος καὶ γυμνάσια καὶ τὸ διαιρεῖν τὴν τροφὴν εὔπεπτα μέν ἐστιν, οὐχ ἁρμόζει δὲ τοῖς πυρέττουσι. τὴν δὲ μάχην καὶ τὴν διαφορὰν τῆς ποικίλης τροφῆς ἀλόγως ἐδεδίεις· εἴτε γὰρ ἐξ ὁμοίων ἀναλαμβάνει τὸ οἰκεῖον ἡ φύσις εἰς τὸν ὄγκον αὐτόθεν, ἡ ποικίλη τροφὴ πολλὰς μεθιεῖσα ποιότητας ἐξ ἑαυτῆς ἑκάστῳ μέρει τὸ πρόσφορον ἀναδίδωσιν· ὥστε γίγνεσθαι τὸ τοῦ Ἐμπεδοκλέους ὡς γλυκὺ μὲν γλυκὺ μάρπτε, πικρὸν δʼ ἐπὶ πικρὸν ὄρουσεν, ὀξὺ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀξύ, δαλερὸν δαλεροῦ λαβέτω … δὲ καὶ ἄλλου … ἐπὶ πρόσφορον μένοντος τῇ θερμότητι ἐν τῷ πνεύματι τοῦ μίγματος σκεδασθέντος, τὰ οἰκεῖα τοῖς συγγενέσιν ἕπεται· τὸ γὰρ οὕτω παμμιγὲς σῶμα καὶ πανηγυρικόν, ὡς τὸ ἡμέτερον, ἐκ ποικίλης ὕλης λόγον ἔχει μᾶλλον ἢ ἁπλῆς συνερανίζεσθαι καὶ ἀναπληροῦν τὴν κρᾶσιν. εἴτε μὴ τοῦτʼ ἐστίν, ἀλλʼ ἡ καλουμένη πέψις ἀλλοιοῦν πέφυκε καὶ μεταβάλλειν τὴν τροφήν, ἐν τῷ ποικίλῳ τοῦτο συμβήσεται θᾶττον καὶ κάλλιον· ἀπαθὲς γὰρ ὑπὸ τοῦ ὁμοίου τὸ ὅμοιον, ἡ δʼ ἀντίταξις καὶ διαφορὰ μᾶλλον ἐξίστησι τῇ πρὸς τοὐναντίον μίξει τὰς ποιότητας ἀπομαραινομένας. εἰ δʼ ὅλως τὸ μικτὸν ἀθετεῖς καὶ ποικίλον, ὦ Φιλῖνε, μὴ δειπνίζοντα μηδʼ ὀψοποιοῦντα μόνον λοιδόρει Φίλωνα τοῦτον, ἀλλὰ πολὺ μᾶλλον, ὅταν μιγνύῃ τὰς βασιλικὰς καὶ ἀλεξιφαρμάκους ἐκείνας δυνάμεις, ἃς θεῶν χεῖρας ὠνόμαζεν Ἐρασίστρατος, διέλεγχε τὴν ἀτοπίαν καὶ περιεργίαν, ὁμοῦ μεταλλικὰ καὶ βοτανικὰ καὶ θηριακὰ καὶ τἀπὸ γῆς καὶ θαλάττης εἰς ταὐτὸ συγκεραννύντος καλὸν γὰρ ταῦτʼ ἐάσαντας ἐν πτισάνῃ καὶ σικύᾳ καὶ ἐν ὑδρελαίῳ τὴν ἰατρικὴν ἀπολιπεῖν. ἀλλὰ νὴ Δία τὸ ποικίλον ἐξάγει καὶ γοητεύει τὴν ὄρεξιν οὐ κρατοῦσαν ἑαυτῆς καὶ γὰρ τὸ καθάριον, ὦ δαιμόνιε, καὶ τὸ εὐστόμαχον καὶ τὸ εὐῶδες καὶ ὅλως τὸ ἥδιον ἐφέλκεται καὶ ποιεῖ βρωτικωτέρους ἡμᾶς καὶ ποτικωτέρους. τί οὖν οὐχὶ κρίμνον μὲν ἡμεῖς ἀντὶ πόλτου μάττομεν ἀντὶ δʼ ἀσπαράγου γήτεια καὶ σκολύμους παρασκευάζομεν, τὸν δʼ ἀνθοσμίαν ἀπωσάμενοι τουτονὶ καὶ ἡμερίδην ἀγριώτερον πίνομεν ἐκ πίθου, κωνώπων χορῷ περιᾳδόμενον; ὅτι φαίης ἂν οὐ φυγὴν οὐδʼ ἀπόδρασιν ἡδονῆς εἶναι τὴν ὑγιεινὴν δίαιταν, ἀλλὰ περὶ ἡδονὰς μετριότητα καὶ τάξιν ὑπηκόῳ χρωμένην ὀρέξει τοῦ συμφέροντος. ὡς δὲ λάβρον πνεῦμα κυβερνῆται πολλαῖς μηχαναῖς ὑποφεύγουσι, παυσάμενον δὲ καὶ μαρανθὲν οὐδεὶς πάλιν ἐκριπίσαι καὶ διασεῖσαι δυνατός ἐστιν· οὕτω πρὸς ὄρεξιν ἐνστῆναι μὲν καὶ κολάσαι τὸ πλεονάζον αὐτῆς οὐ μέγʼ ἔργον, ἤδη δὲ κάμνουσαν πρὸ καιροῦ καὶ μαλθακιζομένην καὶ ἀπολείπουσαν τὸ οἰκεῖον ἐντεῖναι καὶ ἀναζωπυρῆσαι παγχάλεπον, ὦ ἑταῖρε, καὶ δύσεργον. ὅθεν ἡ ποικίλη τροφὴ βελτίων τῆς ἁπλῆς καὶ τὸ μονοειδὲς ἐχούσης πλήσμιον, ὅσῳ ῥᾷον ἱστάναι φερομένην τὴν φύσιν ἢ κινεῖν ἀπειποῦσαν. καὶ μήν, ὅ γε λέγουσὶ τινες ὡς πλησμονὴ φευκτότερον ἐνδείας, οὐκ ἀληθὲς ἐστιν ἀλλὰ τοὐναντίον· εἴ γε πλησμονὴ μέν, ὅταν εἰς φθοράν τινα τελευτήσῃ καὶ νόσον, ἔβλαψεν·· ἔνδεια δέ, κἂν ἄλλο μηδὲν ἐξεργάσηται κακόν, αὐτὴ καθʼ αὑτὴν παρὰ φύσιν ἐστί. καὶ ταῦτα μὲν ὡς ἀντίχορδα κείσθω τοῖς ὑπὸ σοῦ πεφιλοσοφημένοις. ἐκεῖνο δέ πως ὑμᾶς λέληθε τοὺς περὶ ἅλα καὶ κύαμον, ὅτι τὸ μὲν ποικίλον ἥδιόν ἐστι, τὸ δʼ ἣδιον εὐορεκτότερον ἂν τὴν ὑπερβολὴν καὶ τἄγαν ἀφέλῃς·; ης· προσφύεται γὰρ ὀργῶντι καὶ δεχομένῳ τῷ σώματι τῆς ὄψεως προοδοποιούσης τὸ δʼ ἀνόρεκτον πλανώμενον καὶ ῥεμβόμενον ἢ παντάπασιν ἐξέβαλεν ἡ φύσις ἢ μόλις ὑπʼ ἐνδείας ἔστερξεν. ἐκεῖνό μοι μόνον φύλαττε καὶ μέμνησο, τὸ ποικίλον ὡς οὐκ ἐν ἀβυρτάκαις καὶ κανδύλοις καὶ καρύκαις ἐστίν· ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν περίεργα καὶ σπερμολογικά· ποικιλίαν δὲ καὶ Πλάτων παρέχει τοῖς καλοῖς καὶ γενναίοις ἐκείνοις πολίταις, παρατιθεὶς βολβούς, ἐλαίας, λάχανα, τυρόν, ἑψήματα παντοδαπά· πρὸς δὲ τούτοις οὐδὲ τραγημάτων ἀμοίρους περιορᾷ δειπνοῦντας. [¶4] 2.1. AT a supper in Elis, Agemachus set before us very large mushrooms. And when all admired at them, one with a smile said, These are worthy the late thunder, as it were deriding those who imagine mushrooms are produced by thunder. Some said that thunder did split the earth, using the air as a wedge for that purpose, and that by those chinks those that sought after mushrooms were directed where to find them; and thence it grew a common opinion, that thunder engenders mushrooms, and not only makes them a passage to appear; as if one should imagine that a shower of rain breeds snails, and not rather makes them creep forth and be seen abroad. Agemachus stood up stiffly for the received opinion, and told us, we should not disbelieve it only because it was strange, for there are a thousand other effects of thunder and lightning and a thousand omens deduced from them, whose causes it is very hard, if not impossible, to discover; for this laughed-at, this proverbial mushroom doth not escape the thunder because it is so little, but because it hath some antipathetical qualities that preserve it from blasting; as likewise a fig-tree, the skin of a sea-calf (as they say), and that of the hyena, with which sailors cover the ends of their sails. And husbandmen call thunder-showers fertilizing, and think them to be so. Indeed, it is absurd to wonder at these things, when we see the most incredible things imaginable in thunder, as flame rising out of moist vapors, and from soft clouds such astonishing noises. Thus, he continued, I prattle, exhorting you to enquire after the cause; and I shall accept this as your club for these mushrooms. > Greek: 2.1. ὕδνα παμμεγέθη δειπνοῦσιν ἡμῖν Ἀγέμαχος παρέθηκεν ἐν Ἤλιδι. θαυμαζόντων δὲ τῶν παρόντων, ἔφη τις ὑπομειδιάσας ἄξιά γε τῶν βροντῶν τῶν ἔναγχος γενομένων ὡς δὴ καταγελῶν τῶν λεγόντων τὰ ὕδνα τὴν γένεσιν ἐκ βροντῆς λαμβάνειν. ἦσαν οὖν οἱ φάσκοντες ὑπὸ βροντῆς τὴν γῆν διίστασθαι, καθάπερ ἥλῳ τῷ ἀέρι χρωμένην, εἶτα ταῖς ῥωγμαῖς τεκμαίρεσθαι τοὺς τὰ ὕδνα μετιόντας· ἐκ δὲ τούτου δόξαν ἐγγενέσθαι τοῖς πολλοῖς, ὅτι τὸ ὕδνον αἱ βρονταὶ γεννῶσιν οὐ δεικνύουσιν· ὥσπερ εἴ τις οἴοιτο τοὺς κοχλίας ποιεῖν τὸν ὄμβρον, ἀλλὰ μὴ προάγειν μηδʼ ἀναφαίνειν. ὁ δʼ Ἀγέμαχος ἰσχυρίζετο τῇ ἱστορίᾳ καὶ τὸ θαυμαστὸν ἠξίου μὴ ἄπιστον ἡγεῖσθαι. καὶ γὰρ ἄλλα πολλὰ θαυμάσια βροντῆς ἔργα καὶ κεραυνοῦ καὶ τῶν περὶ ταῦτα διοσημιῶν εἶναι, χαλεπὰς καταμαθεῖν ἢ παντελῶς ἀδυνάτους τὰς αἰτίας ἔχοντα. καὶ γὰρ ὁ γελώμενος οὑτοσὶ καὶ παροιμιώδης ἔφη βολβὸς οὐ μικρότητι διαφεύγει τὸν κεραυνὸν, ἀλλʼ ἔχων δύναμιν ἀντιπαθῆ, καθάπερ ἡ συκῆ καὶ τὸ δέρμα τῆς φώκης ὥς φασι καὶ τὸ τῆς ὑαίνης, οἷς τὰ ἄκρα τῶν ἱστίων οἱ ναύκληροι, καταδιφθεροῦσι. τὰ δʼ ἀστραπαῖα τῶν ὑδάτων εὐαλδῆ καλοῦσιν οἱ γεωργοὶ καὶ νομίζουσι. καὶ ὅλως εὔηθές ἐστι ταῦτα θαυμάζειν τὸ πάντων ἀπιστότατον ἐν τοῖς πάθεσι τούτοις καθορῶντας, ἐκ μὲν ὑγρῶν φλόγας, ἐκ δὲ μαλακῶν νεφῶν ψόφους σκληροὺς ἀναδιδομένους. ταῦτα δʼ εἶπεν ἀδολεσχῶ, παρακαλῶν ὑμᾶς ἐπὶ τὴν ζήτησιν τῆς αἰτίας, ἵνα μὴ πικρὸς γένωμαι συμβολὰς τῶν ὕδνων πρασσόμενος. [¶5] 2.2. Then I began: Agemachus himself helps us exceedingly toward this discovery; for nothing at the present seems more probable than that, together with the thunder, oftentimes generative waters fall, which receive that quality from the heat mixed with them. For the piercing pure parts of the fire break away in lightning; but the grosser flatulent part, being wrapped up in the cloud, changes its nature, taking away the coldness and rendering the moisture mild and gentle, and altering and being altered with it, warms it so that it is made fit to enter the pores of plants, and is easily assimilated to them. Besides, such rain gives those things which it waters a peculiar temperature and difference of juice. Thus dew makes the grass sweeter to the sheep, and the clouds from which a rainbow is reflected make those trees on which they fall fragrant. And our priests, distinguishing it by this, call the wood of those trees rainbow-struck, imagining that Iris, or the rainbow, hath rested on them. Now it is probable that when these thunder and lightning showers with a great deal of warmth and spirit descend forcibly into the caverns of the earth, the ground is moved thereby, and knobs and tumors are formed like those produced by heat and noxious humors in our bodies, which we call wens or kernels. For a mushroom is not like a plant, neither is it produced without rain; it hath no root nor sprouts, it depends on nothing, but is a being by itself, having the consistence only of the earth, which hath been a little changed and altered. If this discourse seems frivolous, I assure you that such are most of the effects of thunder and lightning which we see; and upon that account men think them to be immediately directed by Heaven, and not depending on natural causes. > Greek: 2.2. αὐτὸν μὲν οὖν ἐγὼ ἔφην τρόπον τινὰ τῷ λόγῳ δεξιὰν ὀρέγειν τὸν Ἀγέμαχον· οὐδὲν γὰρ ἒν γε τῷ παρόντι φαίνεσθαι πιθανώτερον, ἢ ὅτι ταῖς βρονταῖς πολλάκις ὕδωρ συνεκπίπτει γόνιμον. αἰτία δʼ ἡ τῆς θερμότητος ἀνάμιξις· τὸ μὲν γὰρ ὀξὺ καὶ καθαρὸν τοῦ πυρὸς ἄπεισιν ἀστραπὴ γενόμενον, τὸ δʼ ἐμβριθὲς καὶ πνευματῶδες ἐνειλούμενον τῷ νέφει καὶ συμμεταβάλλον ἐξαιρεῖ τὴν ψυχρότητα καὶ συνεκπονεῖ τὸ ὑγρόν· ὥστε μάλιστα τὸ προσηνὲς ἐνδύεσθαι τοῖς βλαστάνουσι καὶ ταχὺ παχύνειν. ἐπεὶ δὲ καὶ κράσεων ἰδιότητα καὶ χυμοῦ διαφορὰν ἐμποιεῖ τὰ τοιαῦτα τοῖς ἀρδομένοις· ὥσπερ αἵ τε δρόσοι γλυκυτέραν ποιοῦσι τοῖς θρέμμασι τὴν πόαν, καὶ τὰ τὴν ἶριν ἐξανθοῦντα νέφη, καθʼ ὧν ἂν ἐπερείσῃ ξύλων, εὐωδίας ἀναπίμπλησι· καὶ ταύτῃ γνωρίζοντες οἱ παρʼ ἡμῖν ἰρίσκηπτα καλοῦσι, τὴν ἶριν ὑπολαμβάνοντες ἐπισκήπτειν πολλῷ μᾶλλον εἰκός ἐστι τοῖς ἀστραπαίοις καὶ κεραυνίοις ὕδασι καὶ πνεύμασι καὶ θερμότησιν εἰς βάθος ἐλαυνομέναις τὴν γῆν στρέφεσθαι καὶ συστροφὰς ἴσχειν τοιαύτας καὶ χαυνότητας, ὥσπερ ἐν τοῖς σώμασι τὰ χοιραδώδη καὶ ἀδενώδη φύματα θερμότητές τινες καὶ ὑγρότητες αἱματώδεις ἐνδημιουργοῦσιν. οὐ γὰρ ἔοικε φυτῷ τὸ ὕδνον οὐδʼ ἄνευ ὕδατος ἔχει τὴν γένεσιν, ἀλλʼ ἄρριζον καὶ ἀβλαστές ἐστι καὶ ἀπολελυμένον, τῷ καθʼ ἑαυτὸ σύστασιν ἐκ τῆς γῆς ἔχειν παθούσης τι καὶ μεταβαλούσης. εἰ δέ γε γλίσχρος ἔφην ὁ λόγος ὑμῖν δοκεῖ, τοιαῦτά τοι τὰ πλεῖστα τῶν βρονταῖς καὶ κεραυνοῖς συνεπομένων· διὸ καὶ μάλιστα τοῖς πάθεσι τούτοις δόξα θειότητος πρόσεστι. [¶6] 2.3. Dorotheus the rhetorician, one of our company, said: You speak right, sir, for not only the vulgar and illiterate, but even some of the philosophers, have been of that opinion. I remember here in this town lightning broke into a house, and did a great many strange things. It let the wine out of a vessel, though the earthen vessel remained whole; and falling upon a man asleep, it neither hurt him nor blasted his clothes, but melted certain pieces of money that he had in his pocket, defaced them quite, and made them run into a lump. Upon this he went to a philosopher, a Pythagorean, that sojourned in the town, and asked the reason; the philosopher directed him to some expiating rites, and advised him to consider seriously with himself, and go to prayers. And I have been told, that lightning falling upon a sentinel at Rome, as he stood to guard the temple, burned the latchet of his shoe, and did no other harm; and several silver candlesticks lying in wooden boxes, the silver was melted while the boxes lay untouched. These stories you may believe or not as you please. But that which is most wonderful, and which everybody knows, is this,—the bodies of those that are killed by lightning never putrefy. For many neither burn nor bury such bodies, but let them lie above ground with a fence about them, so that every one may see they remain uncorrupted, confuting by this Euripides’s Clymene, who says thus of Phaëton, My best beloved, but now he lies And putrefies in some dark vale. And I believe brimstone is called θεῖον (divine), because its smell is like that fiery offensive scent which rises from bodies that are thunderstruck. And I suppose that, because of this scent, dogs and birds will not prey on such carcasses. Thus far have I gone; let him proceed, since he hath been applauded for his discourse of mushrooms, lest the same jest might be put upon us that was upon Androcydes the painter. For when in his landscape of Scylla he painted fish the best and most to the life of any thing in the whole draught, he was said to use his appetite more than his art, for he naturally loved fish. So some may say that we philosophize about mushrooms, the cause of whose production is confessedly doubtful, for the pleasure we take in eating them.... > Greek: 2.3. παρὼν δʼ ὁ ῥήτωρ Δωρόθεος ὀρθῶς ἔφη λέγεις· οὐ γὰρ μόνον οἱ πολλοὶ καὶ ἰδιῶται τοῦτο πεπόνθασιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν φιλοσόφων τινές. ἐγὼ γοῦν οἶδα, κεραυνοῦ παρʼ ἡμῖν εἰς οἰκίαν ἐμπεσόντος καὶ πολλὰ θαυμαστὰ δράσαντος οἶνόν τε γὰρ ἐκ πίθων διεφόρησε τοῦ κεράμου μηδὲν παθόντος, ἀνθρώπου τε καθεύδοντος διαπτάμενος οὔτʼ αὐτὸν ἠδίκησεν οὔτε τῆς ἐσθῆτος ἔθιγε, ζώνην δὲ χαλκοῦς ἔχουσαν ὑπεζωσμένου διέτηξε τὸ νόμισμα πᾶν καὶ συνέχεε· φιλοσόφῳ δὲ παρεπιδημοῦντι Πυθαγορικῷ προσελθόντα καὶ διαπυνθανόμενον· τὸν δʼ ἀφοσιωσάμενον καὶ κελεύσαντα τὰ καθʼ ἑαυτὸν δρᾶν καὶ προσεύχεσθαι τοῖς θεοῖς. ἀκούω δὲ καὶ στρατιώτου φυλάττοντος ἱερὸν ἐν Ῥώμῃ κεραυνὸν ἐγγὺς πεσόντα διακαῦσαι τῶν ὑποδημάτων τοὺς ἱμάντας, ἄλλο δὲ μηδὲν κακὸν ἐργάσασθαι· καὶ κυλιχνίων ἀργυρῶν ξυλίνοις ἐγκειμένων ἐλύτροις τὸν μὲν ἄργυρον συνιζῆσαι τακέντα, τὸ δὲ ξύλον ἄθικτον καὶ ἀπαθὲς εὑρεθῆναι. καὶ ταῦτα μὲν ἔξεστι πιστεύειν καὶ μή· πάντων δὲ θαυμασιώτατον, ὃ πάντες ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν ἴσμεν, ὅτι τῶν ὑπὸ κεραυνοῦ διαφθαρέντων ἄσηπτα τὰ σώματα διαμένει· πολλοὶ γὰρ οὔτε κάουσιν οὔτε κατορύττουσιν, ἀλλʼ ἐῶσι περιφράξαντες, ὥσθʼ ὁρᾶσθαι τοὺς νεκροὺς ἀσήπτους ἀεί· τὴν Εὐριπίδου Κλυμένην ἐλέγχοντας ἐπὶ τοῦ Φαέθοντος εἰποῦσαν φίλος δέ μοι ἄλουτος ἐν φάραγξι σήπεται νέκυς. ὅθεν οἶμαι καὶ τὸ θεῖον ὠνομάσθαι τῇ ὁμοιότητι τῆς ὀσμῆς, ἣν τὰ παιόμενα τοῖς κεραυνοῖς ἀφίησιν ἐκτριβομένην πυρώδη καὶ δριμεῖαν ὑφʼ ἧς ἐμοὶ δοκοῦσι καὶ κύνες καὶ ὄρνιθες ἀπέχεσθαι τῶν διοβλήτων σωμάτων. ἐμοὶ γὰρ ἄχρι τούτου τῆς αἰτίας ὥσπερ δάφνης παρατετρώχθω· τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ τοῦτον ἔφη παρακαλῶμεν, ἐπεὶ καὶ τοῖς ὕδνοις ἐνευημέρηκεν, ἵνα μὴ πάθωμεν τὸ τοῦ Ἀνδροκύδους. ἐκεῖνος γὰρ ὧν ἐποίησε πάντων ἐναργέστατα καὶ κάλλιστα τοὺς περὶ τὴν Σκύλλαν ἰχθῦς ζωγραφήσας ἔδοξε τῷ πάθει μᾶλλον ἢ τέχνῃ κεχρῆσθαι· φύσει γὰρ ἦν φίλοψος· οὕτω φήσει τις καὶ ἡμᾶς ὑφʼ ἡδονῆς φιλοσοφήσαντας περὶ τῶν ὕδνων ἀμφισβητήσιμον ἐχόντων τὴν γένεσιν, ὡς ὁρᾶς … ἐν δὲ τούτοις ὑποκειμένης τῷ λόγῳ τῆς εὐπειθείας, καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν … προδήλῳ τῷ εἶναι πειθούσης. [¶7] 2.4. And when I put in my advice, saying that it was as seasonable to discourse of thunder and lightning amidst our cups as it would be in a comedy to bring in engines to throw out lightning, the company agreed to set aside all other questions relating to the subject, and desired me only to proceed on this head, Why are men asleep never blasted with lightning? And I, though I knew I should get no great credit by proposing a cause whose reason was common to other things, said thus: Lightning is wonderfully piercing and subtile, partly because it rises from a very pure substance, and partly because by the swiftness of its motion it purges itself and throws off all gross earthy particles that are mixed with it. Nothing, says Democritus, is blasted with lightning, that cannot resist and stop the motion of the pure flame. Thus the close bodies, as brass, silver, and the like, which stop it, feel its force and are melted, because they resist; whilst rare, thin bodies, and such as are full of pores, are passed through and not hurted, as clothes or dry wood. It blasts green wood or grass, the moisture within them being seized and kindled by the flame. Now, if it is true that men asleep are never killed by lightning, from what we have proposed, and not from any thing else, we must endeavor to draw the cause. Now the bodies of those that are awake are stiffer and more apt to resist, all the parts being full of spirits; which as it were in a harp, distending and screwing up the organs of sense, makes the body of the animal firm, close, and compacted. But when men are asleep, the organs are let down, and the body becomes rare, lax, and loose; and the spirits failing, it hath abundance of pores, through which small sounds and smells do flow insensibly. For in that case, there is nothing that can resist, and by this resistance receive any sensible impression from any objects that are presented, much less from such as are so subtile and move so swiftly as lightning. Things that are weak Nature shields from harm, fencing them about with some hard thick covering; but those things that cannot be resisted do less harm to the bodies that yield than to those that oppose their force. Besides, those that are asleep are not startled at the thunder; they have no consternation upon them, which kills a great many that are no otherwise hurt, and we know that thousands die with the very fear of being killed. Even shepherds teach their sheep to run together into a flock when it thunders, for whilst they lie scattered they die with fear; and we see thousands fall, which have no marks of any stroke or fire about them, their souls (as it seems), like birds, flying out of their bodies at the fright. For many, as Euripides says, “A clap hath killed, yet ne’er drew drop of blood.” For certainly the hearing is a sense that is soonest and most vigorously wrought upon, and the fear that is caused by any astonishing noise raiseth the greatest commotion and disturbance in the body; from all which men asleep, because insensible, are secure. But those that are awake are oftentimes killed with fear before they are touched; and fear contracts and condenses the body, so that the stroke must be strong, because there is so considerable a resistance. > Greek: 2.4. ἐμοῦ δὲ παρακελευομένου καὶ λέγοντος καιρὸν εἶναι καθάπερ ἐν κωμῳδίᾳ μηχανὰς αἴροντα καὶ βροντὰς ἐμβάλλοντας παρὰ πότον διαλέγεσθαι περὶ κεραυνῶν, τὰ μὲν ἄλλα παρίεσαν συνομολογοῦντες, περὶ δὲ τῶν ἐν τοῖς καθεύδουσι μὴ κεραυνουμένων ἀκοῦσαί τι βουλόμενοι λιπαρεῖς ἦσαν. ἐμοὶ δὲ πλέον οὐδὲν ἐγίγνετο τῆς αἰτίας ἁψαμένῳ κοινὸν ἐχούσης τὸν λόγον· ὅμως δʼ οὖν ἔφην ὡς τὸ κεραύνιον πῦρ ἀκριβείᾳ καὶ λεπτότητι θαυμαστὸν ἐστιν, αὐτόθεν περὶ τὴν γένεσιν ἐκ καθαρᾶς καὶ ἁγνῆς ἔχον οὐσίας, καὶ πᾶν εἴ τι συμμίγνυται νοτερὸν ἢ γεῶδες αὐτῷ τῆς περὶ τὴν κίνησιν ὀξύτητος; ἀποσειομένης καὶ διακαθαιρούσης. διόβλητον μὲν οὐδέν ὥς φησι Δημόκριτος … παρʼ αἰθρίης στέγειν … σέλας. τὰ μὲν οὖν πυκνὰ τῶν σωμάτων, σίδηρος, χαλκός, ἄργυρος, χρυσός, ἀποστέγει καὶ φθείρεται καὶ τήκεται, πάσχοντα τῷ προσμάχεσθαι καὶ ἀντερείδειν τῶν δʼ ἀραιῶν καὶ πολυπόρων καὶ χαλώντων ὑπὸ μανότητος ἀψαυστὶ διεκθεῖ, καθάπερ ἱματίων καὶ ξύλων αὔων· τὰ δὲ χλωρὰ κάει, τῆς ὑγρότητος ἀντιλαμβανομένης καὶ συνεξαπτομένης. εἴπερ οὖν τὸ τοὺς καθεύδοντας μὴ ἀποθνήσκειν ὑπὸ κεραυνῶν ἀληθές ἐστιν, ἐνταῦθα δεῖ ζητεῖν οὐκ ἀλλαχόθι τὴν αἰτίαν. μᾶλλον γὰρ ἔρρωται καὶ συνέστηκε καὶ ἀντερείδει τὰ σώματα τῶν ἐγρηγορότων, ἅτε δὴ πᾶσι τοῖς μέρεσι πεπληρωμένα πνεύματος· ὑφʼ οὗ καὶ τὰς αἰσθήσεις ἐπιστρέφοντος ὥσπερ ἐν ὀργάνῳ καὶ σφίγγοντος εὔτονον γέγονε καὶ συνεχὲς αὑτῷ καὶ πυκνὸν τὸ ζῷον. ἐν δὲ τοῖς ὕπνοις ἐξανεῖται, καὶ μανὸν καὶ ἀνώμαλον καὶ ἄτονον καὶ διακεχυμένον, καὶ πόρους ἔσχηκε πολλούς, τοῦ πνεύματος ἐνδιδόντος; καὶ ἀπολείποντος, διʼ ὧν φωναί τε καὶ ὀσμαὶ διεκθέουσι μηδεμίαν αἴσθησιν ἑαυτῶν παρέχουσαι. τὸ γὰρ ἀντερεῖδον καὶ τῷ ἀντερείδειν πάσχον οὐκ ἀπαντᾷ τοῖς προσφερομένοις, ἣκιστα δὲ τοῖς ὑπὸ λεπτότητος καὶ ὠκύτητος τοιαύτης ὥσπερ ὁ κεραυνὸς διιπταμένοις. τὰ μὲν γὰρ ἧττον ἰσχυρὰ δυσπαθείαις ἡ φύσις ἀμύνεται, σκληρότητας προβαλλομένη καὶ πυκνότητας· ὧν δʼ ἄμαχος ἡ δύναμίς ἐστιν, ὑπὸ τούτων ἧττον ἀδικεῖται τὰ εἴκοντα τῶν ἀνθισταμένων. πρόσλαβε δὲ τούτοις ἔφην οὔτι μικρὰν ἔκπληξιν πρὸς τὰ τοιαῦτα καὶ φόβον καὶ τάρβος, ὑφʼ ὧν πολλοὶ μηδὲν ἄλλο παθόντες αὐτῷ τῷ δεῖσαι ἀποθανεῖν ἀπέθανον. καὶ γὰρ τὰ θρέμματα διδάσκουσι βροντῆς γενομένης οἱ ποιμένες εἰς ταὐτὸ συνθεῖν καὶ συννεύειν· τὰ γὰρ σποράδην ἀπολειφθέντα διὰ τὸν φόβον ἐκτιτρώσκει. καὶ μυρίους ἤδη τεθνηκότας ἰδεῖν ἔστιν ὑπὸ βροντῆς, οὐδὲν οὔτε πληγῆς; ἴχνος οὔτε καύσεως ἔχοντας, ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ φόβου τῆς ψυχῆς ὡς ἔοικεν ὄρνιθος δίκην ἀποπταμένης τοῦ σώματος πολλοὺς γάρ ὡς ὁ Εὐριπίδης φησὶ βροντῆς πνεῦμʼ ἄναιμον ὤλεσε καὶ γὰρ ἄλλως τῶν αἰσθητηρίων ἡ ἀκοὴ παθητικώτατὸν ἐστι, καὶ μεγίστας οἱ διὰ ψόφου θόρυβοι καὶ φόβοι ταραχὰς ἐπιφέρουσιν ὧν τῷ καθεύδοντι πρόβλημα τὸ ἀναίσθητόν ἐστιν. οἱ δʼ ἐγρηγορότες καὶ ταῖς προπαθείαις ἀναλίσκονται καί, τοῦ δέους τὸ σῶμα συνδέοντος ὡς ἀληθῶς καὶ συνάγοντος καὶ πυκνοῦντος, ἰσχυρὰν ποιοῦσι τὴν πληγὴν τῷ ἀντερείδειν. ## 8. Book IV · chapters 3–6 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/8/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/8/#p-N [¶0] 3.1. AT my son Autobulus’s marriage, Sossius Senecio from Chaeronea and a great many other noble persons were present at the same feast; which gave occasion to this question (Senecio proposed it), why to a marriage feast more guests are usually invited than to any other. Nay even those law-givers that chiefly opposed luxury and profuseness have particularly confined marriage feasts to a set number. Indeed, in my opinion, he continued, Hecataeus the Abderite, one of the old philosophers, hath said nothing to the purpose in this matter, when he tells us that those that marry wives invite a great many to the entertainment, that many may see and be witnesses that they being free born take to themselves wives of the same condition. For, on the contrary, the comedians reflect on those who revel at their marriages, who make a great ado and are pompous in their feasts, as such who are marrying with no great confidence and courage. Thus, in Menander, one replies to a bridegroom that bade him beset the house with dishes,... “Your words are great, but what’s this to your bride?” > Greek: 3.1. ἐν τοῖς Αὐτοβούλου τοῦ υἱοῦ γάμοις συνεώρταζεν ἡμῖν παρὼν ἐκ Χαιρωνείας ὁ Σόσσιος Σενεκίων· καὶ πολλῶν … ἄλλων τε τῇ τόθʼ ἑορτῇ μάλα πρεπόντων παρέσχεν ἀφορμὰς καὶ περὶ τῆς αἰτίας, διʼ ἣν πλεῖστοι τῶν ἄλλων ἐπὶ τὰ γαμικὰ δεῖπνα παραλαμβάνονται, διηπόρησε. καὶ γὰρ τῶν νομοθετῶν τοὺς τῇ πολυτελείᾳ κατὰ κράτος πολεμήσαντας ὁρίσαι μάλιστα τῶν εἰς τοὺς γάμους καλουμένων τὸ πλῆθος. ὁ γὰρ εἰπών ἔφη περὶ τῆς αἰτίας αὐτῆς τῶν παλαιῶν φιλοσόφων οὐδέν, ἐμοὶ γοῦν κριτῇ, πιθανὸν εἴρηκεν, Ἑκαταῖος ὁ Ἀβδηρίτης λέγει δὲ τοὺς ἀγομένους γυναῖκας πολλοὺς; παρακαλεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν ἑστίασιν, ἵνα πολλοὶ συνειδῶσι καὶ μαρτυρῶσιν ἐλευθέροις οὖσι καὶ παρʼ ἐλευθέρων γαμοῦσι. τοὐναντίον γὰρ οἱ κωμικοὶ τοὺς πολυτελῶς καὶ σοβαρῶς λαμπρότητι δείπνων καὶ παρασκευῆς γαμοῦντας, ὡς οὐ βεβαίως οὐδὲ θαρραλέως ἐπισυνάπτουσιν· ὡς ὁ Μένανδρος πρὸς τὸν κελεύοντα ταῖς λοπάσι περιφράττειν … ωπον δεινῶς … οὐ πρᾶγμα νύμφης λέγεις. [¶1] 3.2. But lest I should seem to find fault with those reasons others give, only because I have none of my own to produce, continued he, I begin by declaring that there is no such evident or public notice given of any feast as there is of one at a marriage. For when we sacrifice to the Gods, when we take leave of or receive a friend, a great many of our acquaintance need not know it. But a marriage dinner is proclaimed by the loud sound of the wedding song, by the torches and the music, which as Homer expresseth it, “The women stand before the doors to see and hear.” And therefore when everybody knows it, the persons are ashamed to omit the formality of an invitation, and therefore entertain their friends and kindred, and every one that they are any way acquainted with. > Greek: 3.2. ἀλλʼ ὅπως μή, τὸ ῥᾷστον, ἐγκαλεῖν ἑτέροις δοκῶμεν αὐτοὶ μηδὲν λέγοντες, ἀποφαίνομαι πρῶτος εἶπεν ἐγώ, οὐδεμίαν ἑστιάσεως πρόφασιν οὕτως ἔκδηλον εἶναι καὶ περιβόητον, ὡς τὴν τῶν γαμούντων· καὶ γὰρ θύοντας θεοῖς καὶ προπέμποντας φίλον καὶ ξενίζοντας ἔστι πολλοὺς διαλαθεῖν τῶν ἐπιτηδείων ἡ δὲ γαμήλιος τράπεζα κατήγορον ἔχει τὸν ὑμέναιον μέγα βοῶντα καὶ τὴν δᾷδα καὶ τὸν αὐλόν, ἅ φησιν Ὅμηρος καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας ἱσταμένας ἐπὶ ταῖς θύραις θαυμάζειν καὶ θεᾶσθαι. διὸ μηδενὸς ἀγνοοῦντος τὴν ὑποδοχὴν καὶ τὴν κλῆσιν, αἰσχυνόμενοι παραλιπεῖν πάντας τοὺς συνήθεις καὶ οἰκείους καὶ ἁμωσγέπως προσήκοντας αὑτοῖς παραλαμβάνουσιν. [¶2] 3.3. This being generally approved, Well, said Theo, speaking next, let it be so, for it looks like truth; but let this be added, if you please, that such entertainments are not only friendly, but also kindredly, the persons beginning to have a new relation to another family. But there is something more considerable, and that is this; since by this marriage two families join in one, the man thinks it his duty to be civil and obliging to the woman’s friends, and the woman’s friends think themselves obliged to return the same to him and his; and upon this account the company is doubled. And besides, since most of the little ceremonies belonging to the wedding are performed by women, it is necessary that, where they are entertained, their husbands should be likewise invited. > Greek: 3.3. ἀποδεξαμένων δʼ ἡμῶν, ὑπολαβὼν ὁ Θέων καὶ τοῦτʼ ἔφη κείσθω· οὐκ ἀπίθανον γάρ ἐστι· κἀκεῖνο πρόσθες, εἰ βούλει, τὰς τοιαύτας ἑστιάσεις μὴ μόνον φιλικὰς ἀλλὰ καὶ συγγενικὰς εἶναι, καταμιγνυμένης εἰς τὸ γένος ἑτέρας οἰκειότητος. ὃ δὲ τούτου μεῖζόν ἐστιν, οἴκων εἰς ταὐτὸ συνιόντων δυεῖν, ὅ τε λαμβάνων τοὺς τοῦ διδόντος οἰκείους καὶ φίλους ὅ τε διδοὺς τοὺς τοῦ λαμβάνοντος οἰόμενοι δεῖν φιλοφρονεῖσθαι διπλασιάζουσι τὴν ὑποδοχήν. ἔτι πολλὰ τῶν γαμικῶν ἢ τὰ πλεῖστα δρᾶται διὰ γυναικῶν· ὅπου δὲ γυναῖκες πάρεισι, καὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας ἀναγκαῖόν ἐστι παραλαμβάνεσθαι. [¶3] 4.1. AEDEPSUS in Euboea, where the baths are, is a place by nature every way fitted for free and gentle pleasures, and withal so beautified with stately edifices and dining rooms, that one would take it for no other than the common place of repast for all Greece. Here, though the ’earth and air yield plenty of creatures for the service of men, the sea no less furnisheth the table with variety of dishes, nourishing a store of delicious fish in its deep and clear waters. This place is especially frequented in the spring; for hither at this time of year abundance of people resort, solacing themselves in the mutual enjoyment of all those pleasures the place affords, and at spare hours pass away the time in many useful and edifying discourses. When Callistratus the sophist lived here, it was a hard matter to dine at any place besides his house; for he was so extremely courteous and obliging, that no man whom he invited to dinner could have the face to say him nay. One of his best humors was to pick up all the pleasant fellows he could meet with, and put them in the same room. Sometimes he did, as Cimon one of the ancients used to do, and satisfactorily treated men of all sorts and fashions. But he always (so to speak) followed Celeus, who was the first man, it is said, that daily assembled a number of honorable persons of good mark, and called the place where they met the Prytaneum. > Greek: 4.1. τῆς Εὐβοίας ὁ Αἰδηψός, οὗ τὰ Θερμὰ χωρίον ἐστὶν αὐτοφυὲς πολλὰ πρὸς ἡδονὰς ἔχον ἐλευθερίους καὶ κατεσκευασμένον.,οἰκήσεσι καὶ διαίταις, κοινὸν οἰκητήριον ἀποδέδεικται τῆς Ἑλλάδος· πολλῶν δὲ καὶ πτηνῶν καὶ χερσαίων ἁλισκομένων, οὐχ ἧττον ἡ θάλαττα παρέχει τὴν ἀγορὰν εὐτράπεζον, ἐν τόποις καθαροῖς καὶ ἀγχιβαθέσι γενναῖον ἰχθὺν καὶ πολὺν ἐκτρέφουσα. μάλιστα δʼ ἀνθεῖ τὸ χωρίον ἀκμάζοντος ἔαρος· πολλοὶ γὰρ ἀφικνοῦνται τὴν ὥραν αὐτόθι καὶ συνουσίας ποιοῦνται μετʼ ἀλλήλων ἐν ἀφθόνοις πᾶσι, καὶ πλείστας περὶ λόγους ὑπὸ σχολῆς διατριβὰς ἔχουσι. Καλλιστράτου δὲ τοῦ σοφιστοῦ παρόντος, ἔργον ἦν ἀλλαχόθι δειπνεῖν· ἄμαχος γὰρ ἡ φιλοφροσύνη, καὶ τὸ πάντας εἰς ταὐτὸ συνάγειν ἐπιεικῶς τοὺς χαρίεντας ἣδιστον παρεῖχε πολλάκις μὲν γὰρ ἐμιμεῖτο τῶν παλαιῶν τὸν Κίμωνα, πολλοὺς καὶ παντοδαποὺς ἑστιῶν ἡδέως· ἀεὶ δʼ ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν τὸν Κελεόν, ὃν πρῶτον ἱστοροῦσιν εὐδοκίμων καὶ ἀγαθῶν ἀνδρῶν κατασκευάσαντα σύνοδον καθημερινὴν ὀνομάσαι πρυτανεῖον. [¶4] 4.2. Several times at these public meetings divers agreeable discourses were raised; and it fell out that once a very splendid treat, adorned with variety of dainties, gave occasion for enquiries concerning food, whether the land or sea yielded better. Here when a great part of the company were highly commending the land, as abounding with many choice, nay, an infinite variety of all sorts of creatures, Polycrates calling to Symmachus, said to him: But you, sir, being an animal bred between two seas, and brought up among so many which surround your sacred Nicopolis, will not you stand up for Neptune? Yes, I will, replied Symmachus, and therefore command you to stand by me, who enjoy the most pleasant part of all the Achaean Sea. Well, says Polycrates, the beginning of my discourse shall be grounded upon custom; for as of a great number of poets we usually give one, who far excels the rest, the famous name of poet; so though there be many sorts of dainties, yet custom has so prevailed, that the fish alone, or above all the rest, is called ὄψον, because it is more excellent than all others. For we do not call those gluttonous and great eaters who love beef, as Hercules, who after flesh used to eat green figs; nor those that love figs, as Plato; nor lastly, those that are for grapes, as Arcesilaus; but those who frequent the fish-market, and soonest hear the market-bell. Thus when Demosthenes told Philocrates that the gold he got by treachery was spent upon whores and fish, he upbraids him as a gluttonous and lascivious fellow. And Ctesiphon said pat enough, when a certain glutton cried aloud in the Senate that he should burst asunder: No, by no means let us be baits for your fish! And what was his meaning, do you think, who made this verse, “You capers gnaw, when you may sturgeon eat?” And what, for God’s sake, do those men mean who, inviting one another to sumptuous collations, usually say: To-day we will dine upon the shore? Is it not that they suppose, what is certainly true, that a dinner upon the shore is of all others most delicious? Not by reason of the waves and stones in that place,—for who upon the sea-coast would be content to feed upon a pulse or a caper?—but because their table is furnished with plenty of fresh fish. Add to this, that sea-food is dearer than any other. Wherefore Cato, inveighing against the luxury of the city, did not exceed the bounds of truth, when he said that at Rome a fish was sold for more than an ox. For they sell a small pot of fish for a price which a hecatomb of sheep with an ox would hardly bring. Besides, as the physician is the best judge of physic, and the musician of songs; so he is able to give the best account of the goodness of meat who is the greatest lover of it. For I will not make Pythagoras and Xenocrates arbitrators in this case; but Antagoras the poet, and Philoxenus the son of Eryxis, and Androcydes the painter, of whom it was reported that, when he drew a landscape of Scylla, he drew fish in a lively manner swimming round her, because he was a great lover of them. So Antigonus the king, surprising Antagoras the poet in the habit of a cook, broiling congers in his tent, said to him: Dost thou think that Homer was dressing congers when he writ Agamemnon’s famous exploits? And he as smartly replied: Do you think that Agamemnon did so many famous exploits when he was enquiring who dressed congers in the camp? These arguments, says Polycrates, I have urged in behalf of fishmongers, drawing them from testimony and custom. > Greek: 4.2. ἐγίγνοντο δὴ λόγοι τοιαύτῃ συνουσίᾳ πρέποντες ἑκάστοτε· καί ποτε παρέσχον αἱ τράπεζαι, ποικιλώταται γενόμεναι, ζήτησιν ὑπὲρ ὄψων, πότερον τὰ ἐκ γῆς ἢ τὰ ἐκ θαλάττης ἐπιτηδειότερα καὶ τῶν ἄλλων σχεδὸν ἁπάντων ὑμνούντων τὰ ἐκ γῆς πολλὰ καὶ παντοδαπὰ καὶ δυσεξαρίθμητα τοῖς γένεσι καὶ ταῖς διαφοραῖς, τὸν Σύμμαχον ὁ Πολυκράτης προσαγορεύσας σὺ δʼ εἶπεν ἀμφίαλον ὢν ζῷον καὶ τοσαύταις ἐντεθραμμένος θαλάτταις, αἳ τὴν ἱερὰν πέριξ ὑμῶν ἑλίττουσι Νικόπολιν, οὐκ ἀμύνεις τῷ Ποσειδῶνι;βούλομαί γε νὴ Δίʼ ὁ Σύμμαχος εἶπε, καὶ σὲ παραλαμβάνω καὶ παρακαλῶ, τὰ ἥδιστα τῆς Ἀχαϊκῆς καρπούμενον θαλάττης. οὐκοῦν ἔφη πρῶτον ὁ Πολυκράτης ἴωμεν ἐπὶ τὴν συνήθειαν. ὡς γὰρ πολλῶν ὄντων ποιητῶν ἕνα τὸν κράτιστον ἐξαιρέτως ποιητὴν καλοῦμεν, οὕτω πολλῶν ὄντων ὄψων ἐκνενίκηκεν ὁ ἰχθὺς μόνος ἢ μάλιστὰ γʼ ὄψον καλεῖσθαι διὰ τὸ πολὺ πάντων ἀρετῇ κρατεῖν. καὶ γὰρ ὀψοφάγους καὶ φιλόψους λέγομεν οὐχὶ τοὺς βοείοις χαίροντας, ὥσπερ Ἡρακλῆς ὃς τοῖς κρέασι χλωρὰ σῦκʼ ἐπήσθιεν οὐδὲ τὸν φιλόσυκον οἷος ἦν Πλάτων, οὐ φιλόβοτρυν οἷος Ἀρκεσίλαος· ἀλλὰ τοὺς περὶ τὴν ἰχθυοπωλίαν ἀναδιδόντας ἑκάστοτε καὶ τοῦ κώδωνος ὀξέως ἀκούοντας. καὶ ὁ Δημοσθένης τὸν Φιλοκράτην φησὶν ἐκ τοῦ προδοτικοῦ χρυσίου πόρνας καὶ ἰχθῦς ἀγοράζειν, ἐπʼ ὀψοφαγίᾳ καὶ ἀσελγείᾳ τὸν ἄνδρα λοιδορῶν. ὁ δὲ Κτησιφῶν οὐ κακῶς, ὀψοφάγου τινὸς ἐν τῇ βουλῇ βοῶντος ῥαγήσεσθαι, μηδαμῶς εἶπεν ὦ ἄνθρωπε ποιήσῃς ἡμᾶς ἰχθυοβρώτους. ὁ δὲ τὸ στιχίδιον τοῦτο ποιήσας πρὸς καππάριον ζῇς δυνάμενος πρὸς ἀνθίαν τί ποτε βούλεται; τί δʼ οἱ πολλοὶ βούλονται, πρὸς θεῶν, ὅταν ἡδέως γενέσθαι παρακαλοῦντες ἀλλήλους λέγωσι σήμερον ἀκτάσωμεν οὐχὶ τὸ παρʼ ἀκτῇ δεῖπνον ἥδιστον ἀποφαίνουσιν ὥσπερ ἔστιν; οὐ διὰ τὰ κύματα καὶ τὰς ψηφῖδας τί γάρ; ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς τις λέκυθον ὀψᾶται καὶ κάππαριν;ʼ ἀλλʼ ὡς ἰχθύος ἀφθόνου καὶ νεαροῦ τὴν παράλιον τράπεζαν εὐποροῦσαν. καὶ μέντοι καὶ πιπράσκεται παρὰ λόγον ἁπάντων τιμιώτατον τὸ θαλάττιον ὄψον· ὁ γοῦν Κάτων οὐχ ὑπερβολικῶς ἀλλʼ ἀληθῶς πρὸς τὴν τρυφὴν καὶ πολυτέλειαν τῆς πόλεως δημηγορῶν εἶπεν, ὅτι πλείονος πιπράσκεται ἐν Ῥώμῃ ἰχθὺς ἢ βοῦς. κεράμιόν τε γὰρ πωλοῦσι τιμῆς, ὅσην οὐκ ἂν ἑκατόμβη βούπρῳρος ἄλφοι κατακοπεῖσα. καίτοι φαρμάκων δυνάμεως ὁ ἰατρικώτατος ἄριστος κριτὴς καὶ μελῶν ἀρετῆς ὁ φιλομουσότατος, οὐκοῦν καὶ ἀρετῆς ὄψων ὁ φιλοψότατος· οὐ γὰρ Πυθαγόρᾳ γε τούτων οὐδὲ Ξενοκράτει διαιτητῇ χρηστέον, Ἀνταγόρᾳ δὲ τῷ ποιητῇ καὶ Φιλοξένῳ τῷ Ἐρύξιδος καὶ τῷ ζωγράφῳ Ἀνδροκύδει, ὅν φασι τὴν Σκύλλαν ζωγραφοῦντα τοὺς περὶ αὐτὴν ἰχθῦς ἐμπαθέστατα καὶ ζωτικώτατα διʼ ὀψοφαγίαν ἐξεργάσασθαι. Ἀνταγόρᾳ δʼ ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀντίγονος ἐν τῷ στρατοπέδῳ λοπάδα γόγγρων ἕψοντι περιεζωσμένῳ παραστὰς ἆρά γʼ εἶπε τὸν Ὅμηρον οἴει τὰς τοῦ Ἀγαμέμνονος πράξεις ἀναγράφειν γόγγρους ἕψοντα; κἀκεῖνος οὐ φαύλως σὺ δʼ οἴει ἔφησε τὸν Ἀγαμέμνονα τὰς πράξεις ἐκείνας ἐργάσασθαι πολυπραγμονοῦντα, τίς ἐν τῷ στρατοπέδῳ γόγγρον ἕψει; ταῦτʼ εἶπεν ὁ Πολυκράτης ἔγωγε συμβάλλομαι καὶ ὑμῖν καὶ νὴ Δία τοῖς ἰχθυοπώλαις ἀπὸ τῶν μαρτύρων καὶ τῆς συνηθείας. [¶5] 4.3. But, says Symmachus, I will go more seriously to work, and more like a logician. For if that may truly be said to be a dainty which gives meat the best relish, it will evidently follow, that that is the best sort of dainty which gets men the best stomach to their meat. Therefore, as those philosophers who were called Elpistics (from the Greek word signifying hope, which above all others they cried up) averred that there was nothing in the world which concurred more to the preservation of life than hope, without whose gracious influence life would be a burden and altogether intolerable; in the like manner that of all things may be said to get us a stomach to our meat, without which all meat would be unpalatable and nauseous. And among all those things the earth yields, we find no such things as salt, which we can have only from the sea. First of all, there would be nothing eatable without salt, which mixed with flour seasons bread also. Hence it was that Neptune and Ceres had both the same temple. Besides, salt is the most pleasant of all relishes. For those heroes who, like champions, used themselves to a spare diet, banishing from their tables all vain and superfluous delicacies, to such a degree that when they encamped by the Hellespont they abstained from fish, yet for all this could not eat flesh without salt; which is a sufficient evidence that salt is the most desirable of all relishes. For as colors need light, so tastes need salt, that they may affect the sense, unless you would have them very nauseous and unpleasant. For, as Heraclitus used to say, a carcass is more abominable than dung. Now all flesh is dead, and part of a lifeless carcass; but the virtue of salt, being added to it, like a soul, gives it a pleasing relish and poignancy. Hence it comes to pass that before meat men use to take sharp things, and such as have much salt in them; for these beguile us into an appetite. And whoever has his stomach sharpened with these sets cheerfully and freshly upon all other sorts of meat. But if he begin with any other kind of food, all on a sudden his stomach grows dull and languid. And therefore salt doth not only make meat but drink palatable. For Homer’s onion, which, he tells us, they were used to eat before they drank, was fitter for seamen and boatmen than kings. Things moderately salt, by being agreeable to the mouth, make all sorts of wine mild and palatable, and water itself of a pleasing taste. Besides, salt creates none of those troubles which an onion does, but digests all other kinds of meat, making them tender and fitter for concoction; so that at the same time it is sauce to the palate and physic to the body. But all other sea-food, besides this pleasantness, is also very innocent; for though it be fleshly, yet it does not load the stomach as all other flesh does, but is easily concocted and digested. This Zeno will’ avouch for me, and Crato too, who confine sick persons to a fish diet, as of all others the lightest sort of meat. And it stands with reason, that the sea should produce the most nourishing and wholesome food, seeing it yields us the most refined, the purest, and therefore the most agreeable air. > Greek: 4.3. ἐγὼ δʼ ὁ Σύμμαχος ἔφη τῷ πράγματι μετὰ σπουδῆς πρόσειμι καὶ διαλεκτικώτερον. εἰ γὰρ ὄψον ἐστὶ τὸ τὴν τροφὴν ἐφηδῦνον, ἄριστον ἂν ὄψον εἴη τὸ μάλιστα τὴν ὄρεξιν ἐπὶ τῷ σίτῳ κατασχεῖν δυνάμενον. ὥσπερ οὖν οἱ προσαγορευθέντες Ἐλπιστικοὶ φιλόσοφοι συνεκτικώτατον εἶναι τοῦ βίου τὸ ἐλπίζειν ἀποφαίνονται τῷ ἀπούσης ἐλπίδος οὐδʼ ἡδυνούσης οὐκ ἀνεκτὸν εἶναι τὸν βίον, οὕτω καὶ τῆς ἐπὶ τὴν τροφὴν ὀρέξεως συνεκτικὸν θετέον, οὗ μὴ παρόντος ἄχαρις γίγνεται τροφὴ πᾶσα καὶ δυσπρόσοιστος. τῶν μὲν οὖν ἐκ γῆς τοιοῦτον οὐδὲν εὑρήσεις, τῶν δὲ θαλαττίων τὸν ἅλα πρῶτον, οὗ χωρὶς οὐδὲν ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν ἐστιν ἐδώδιμον· ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν ἄρτον οὗτος ἐμμιγνύμενος συνηδύνει· διὸ καὶ Δήμητρος σύνναος ὁ Ποσειδῶν, καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ὄψων οἱ ἅλες ἥδιστον ὄψον εἰσίν. οἱ γοῦν ἥρωες εὐτελοῦς καὶ λιτῆς ἐθάδες ὥσπερ ἀσκηταὶ διαίτης ὄντες καὶ τῆς τροφῆς πᾶσαν ἡδονὴν ἐπίθετον καὶ περίεργον ἀφελόντες, ὡς μηδʼ ἰχθύσι χρῆσθαι παρὰ τὸν Ἑλλήσποντον στρατοπεδεύοντες, οὐχ ὑπέμενον τὰ κρέα χωρὶς ἁλῶν προσφέρεσθαι, μαρτυροῦντες ὅτι τοῦτο τῶν ὄψων μόνον ἀπαραίτητόν ἐστιν. ὡς γὰρ τὰ χρώματα τοῦ φωτός, οὕτως οἱ χυμοὶ τοῦ ἁλὸς δέονται πρὸς τὸ κινῆσαι τὴν αἴσθησιν εἰ δὲ μή, βαρεῖς τῇ γεύσει προσπίπτουσι καὶ ναυτιώδεις. νέκυες γὰρ κοπρίων ἐκβλητότεροι καθʼ Ἡράκλειτον, κρέας δὲ πᾶν νεκρόν ἐστι καὶ νεκροῦ μέρος· ἡ δὲ τῶν ἁλῶν δύναμις, ὥσπερ ψυχὴ παραγενομένη, χάριν αὐτῷ καὶ ἡδονὴν προστίθησι. διὸ καὶ προλαμβάνουσι τῆς ἄλλης τροφῆς τὰ δριμέα καὶ τὰ ἁλμυρά, καὶ ὅλως ὅσα μάλιστα τῶν ἁλῶν μετέσχηκε· γίγνεται γὰρ φίλτρα ταῦτα τῇ ὀρέξει πρὸς τἄλλα ὄψα, καὶ δελεασθεῖσα διὰ τούτων ἐπʼ ἐκεῖνα πρόσεισι νεαλὴς καὶ πρόθυμος· ἐὰν δʼ ἀπʼ ἐκείνων ἄρξηται, ταχέως ἀπαγορεύει. οὐ μόνον τοίνυν πρὸς τὴν τροφὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς ποτὸν ὄψον εἰσὶν οἱ ἅλες. τὸ μὲν γὰρ Ὁμηρικὸν ἐκεῖνο κρόμυον ποτῷ ὄψον ναύταις καὶ κωπηλάταις μᾶλλον ἢ βασιλεῦσιν ἐπιτήδειον ἦν· τὰ δʼ ὑφαλμυρίζοντα μετρίως τῶν σιτίων διʼ εὐστομίαν πᾶν μὲν οἴνου γένος ἡδὺ τῇ γεύσει καὶ λεῖον ἐπάγει, πᾶν δʼ ὕδωρ προσφιλὲς παρέχεσθαι ἄλκιμον· ἀηδίας δὲ καὶ δυσχερείας, ἣν ἐμποιεῖ τὸ κρόμμυον, οὐδʼ ὀλίγον μετέσχηκεν ἀλλὰ καὶ διαφορεῖ τὴν ἄλλην τροφὴν καὶ παραδίδωσιν εὐπειθῆ καὶ μαλακωτέραν τῇ πέψει, εὔχαριν μὲν χάριν ὄψου δύναμιν δὲ φαρμάκου τῷ σώματι τῶν ἁλῶν προσφερομένων. καὶ μὴν τὰ γʼ ἄλλα θαλάττης ὄψα πρὸς τῷ ἡδίστῳ καὶ τὸ ἀβλαβέστατον ἔχει· κρεώδη μὲν γάρ ἐστιν οὐ βαρύνει δʼ ὁμοίως, ἀλλὰ καταπέττεται καὶ διαφορεῖται ῥᾳδίως. μαρτυρήσει δʼ οὑτοσὶ Ζήνων καὶ νὴ Δία Κράτων, οἳ τοὺς ἀσθενοῦντας πρὸ τῶν ἄλλων ἁπάντων ἐπὶ τὸν ἰχθὺν ἄγουσιν ὡς κουφότατον ὄψων. καὶ λόγον ἔχει τὴν θάλατταν ὑγιεινὰ καὶ διαπεπονημένα τοῖς σώμασιν ἐκτρέφειν, εἴ γε καὶ ἡμῖν ἀέρα λεπτότητι καὶ καθαρότητι πρόσφορον ἀναδίδωσιν. [¶6] 4.4. You say right, says Lamprias, but let us think of something else to confirm what you have spoken. I remember my old grandfather was used to say in derision of the Jews, that they abstained from most lawful flesh; but we will say that that is most lawful meat which comes from the sea. For we can claim no great right over land creatures, which are nourished with the same food, draw the same air, wash in and drink the same water, that we do ourselves; and when they are slaughtered, they make us ashamed of what we are doing, with their hideous cries; and then again, by living amongst us, they arrive at some degree of familiarity and intimacy with us. But sea creatures are altogether strangers to us, and are born and brought up as it were in another world; neither does their voice, look, or any service they have done us plead for their life. For this kind of creatures are of no use at all to us, nor is there any necessity that we should love them. But that place which we inhabit is hell to them, and as soon as ever they enter upon it they die. > Greek: 4.4. ὀρθῶς ἔφη λέγεις ὁ Λαμπρίας, ἀλλʼ ἔτι τῷ λόγῳ προσφιλοσοφήσωμεν. ὁ γὰρ ἐμὸς πάππος εἰώθει λέγειν ἑκάστοτε τοὺς Ἰουδαίους ἐπισκώπτων, ὅτι τὸ δικαιότατον κρέας οὐκ ἐσθίουσιν· ἡμεῖς δὲ φήσομεν δικαιότατον ὄψον εἶναι τὸ ἐκ θαλάττης· πρὸς μὲν γὰρ ταυτὶ τὰ χερσαῖα κἂν ἄλλο μηδὲν ἡμῖν δίκαιον, ἀλλὰ τρέφεταί γε τοῖς αὐτοῖς καὶ λαμβάνει τὸν αὐτὸν ἀέρα, καὶ λουτρὰ καὶ ποτὸν αὐτοῖς ἅπερ ἡμῖν ἔστιν· καὶ σφάττοντες ἐδυσωποῦντο φωνὴν ἀφιέντα γοερὰν καὶ τὰ πλεῖστα πεποιημένοι συνήθη καὶ σύντροφα ταῖς διαίταις. τὸ δὲ τῶν ἐναλίων γένος ἔκφυλον ὅλως καὶ ἄποικον ἡμῶν, ὥσπερ ἐν ἄλλῳ τινὶ κόσμῳ γεγονότων καὶ ζώντων, οὔτʼ ὄψις οὔτε φωνή τις οὔθʼ ὑπουργία παραιτεῖται τῆς προσφορᾶς, οὐδὲν γὰρ ἄν τις ἔχοι χρήσασθαι ζῶσιν, ἃ μηδʼ ὅλως ζῇ παρʼ ἡμῖν· οὐδὲ δεῖ τινος ἐπʼ αὐτὰ στοργῆς, ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ Ἅιδης αὐτοῖς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ παρʼ ἡμῖν τόπος· ἐλθόντα γὰρ εἰς αὐτὸν εὐθέως τέθνηκεν. [¶7] 5.1. AFTER these things were spoken, and some in the company were minded to say something in defence of the contrary opinion, Callistratus interrupted their discourse and said: Sirs, what do you think of that which was spoken against the Jews, that they abstain from the most lawful flesh? Very well said, quoth Polycrates, for that is a thing I very much question, whether it was that the Jews abstained from swine’s flesh because they conferred divine honor upon that creature, or because they had a natural aversion to it. For whatever we find in their own writings seems to be altogether fabulous, except they have some more solid reasons which they have no mind to discover. > Greek: 5.1. ἐπεὶ δὲ ταῦτʼ ἐρρήθη, βουλομένων τινῶν ἀντικατατείνειν, τὸν ἕτερον λόγον ἐκκρούων ὁ Καλλίστρατος ἔφη πῶς ὑμῖν δοκεῖ λελέχθαι τὸ πρὸς τοὺς Ἰουδαίους, ὅτι τὸ δικαιότατον κρέας οὐκ ἐσθίουσιν; ὑπερφυῶς ἔφη ὁ Πολυκράτης, ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ προσδιαπορῶ, πότερον οἱ ἄνδρες τιμῇ τινι τῶν ὑῶν ἢ μυσαττόμενοι τὸ ζῷον ἀπέχονται τῆς βρώσεως αὐτοῦ· τὰ γὰρ παρʼ ἐκείνοις λεγόμενα μύθοις ἔοικεν, εἰ μή τινας ἄρα λόγους σπουδαίους ἔχοντες οὐκ ἐκφέρουσιν. [¶8] 5.2. Hence it is, says Callistratus, that I am of an opinion that this nation has that creature in some veneration; and though it be granted that the hog is an ugly and filthy creature, yet it is not quite so vile nor naturally stupid as a beetle, griffin, crocodile, or cat, most of which are worshipped as the most sacred things by some priests amongst the Egyptians. But the reason why the hog is had in so much honor and veneration amongst them is, because, as the report goes, that creature breaking up the earth with its snout showed the way to tillage, and taught them how to use the ploughshare, which instrument for that very reason, as some say, was called hynis from ὖς, a swine. Now the Egyptians inhabiting a country situated low, and whose soil is naturally soft, have no need of the plough; but after the river Nile hath retired from the grounds it overflowed, they presently let all their hogs into the fields, and they with their feet and snouts break up the ground, and cover the sown seed. Nor ought this to seem strange to any one, that there are in the world those who abstain from swine’s flesh upon such an account as this; when it is evident that among barbarous nations there are other animals had in greater honor and veneration for lesser, if not altogether ridiculous, reasons. For the field-mouse only for its blindness was worshipped as a God among the Egyptians, because they were of an opinion that darkness was before light, and that the latter had its birth from mice about the fifth generation at the new moon; and moreover that the liver of this creature diminishes in the wane of the moon. But they consecrate the lion to the sun, because the lioness alone, of all clawed quadrupeds, brings forth her young with their eyesight; for they sleep a moment, and when they are asleep their eyes sparkle. Besides, they place gaping lions’ heads for the spouts of their fountains, because Nilus overflows the Egyptian fields when the sign is Leo: they give it out that their bird ibis, as soon as hatched, weighs two drachms, which are of the same weight with the heart of a new-born infant; and that its legs being spread with the bill make an exact equilateral triangle. And yet who can find fault with the Egyptians for these trifles, when it is left upon record that the Pythagoreans worshipped a white cock, and of sea creatures abstained especially from the mullet and urtic. The Magi that descended from Zoroaster adored the land hedgehog above other creatures, but had a deadly spite against water-rats, and thought that man was dear in the eyes of the Gods who destroyed most of them. But I should think that if the Jews had such an antipathy against a hog, they would kill it as the magicians do mice; when, on the contrary, they are by their religion as much prohibited to kill as to eat it. And perhaps there may be some reason given for this; for as the ass is worshipped by them as the first discoverer of fountains, so perhaps the hog may be had in like veneration, which first taught them to sow and plough. Nay, some say that the Jews also abstain from hares, as abominable and unclean. > Greek: 5.2. ἐγὼ μὲν τοίνυν εἶπεν ὁ Καλλίστρατος οἶμαί τινα τιμὴν τὸ ζῷον ἔχειν παρὰ τοῖς ἀνδράσιν· εἰ δὲ δύσμορφον ἡ ὗς καὶ θολερόν, ἀλλʼ οὐ κανθάρου καὶ γυπὸς καὶ κροκοδείλου καὶ αἰλούρου τὴν ὄψιν ἀτοπώτερον ἢ τὴν φύσιν ἀμουσότερον οἷς ὡς ἁγιωτάτοις ἱερεῖς Αἰγυπτίων ἄλλοις ἄλλοι προσφέρονται. τὴν δʼ ὗν ἀπὸ χρηστῆς αἰτίας τιμᾶσθαι λέγουσι· πρώτη γὰρ σχίσασα τῷ προύχοντι τῆς ὀρυχῆς, ὥς φασι, τὴν γῆν ἴχνος ἀρόσεως ἔθηκε καὶ τὸ τῆς ὕνεως ὑφηγήσατο ἔργον· ὅθεν καὶ τοὔνομα γενέσθαι τῷ ἐργαλείῳ λέγουσιν ἀπὸ τῆς ὑός. οἱ δὲ τὰ μαλθακὰ καὶ κοῖλα τῆς χώρας Αἰγύπτιοι γεωργοῦντες οὐδʼ ἀρότρου δέονται τὸ παράπαν ἀλλʼ ὅταν ὁ Νεῖλος ἀπορρέῃ καταβρέξας τὰς ἀρούρας, ἐπακολουθοῦντες τὰς ὗς κατέβαλον αἱ δὲ χρησάμεναι πάτῳ καὶ ὀρυχῇ ταχὺ τὴν γῆν ἔστρεψαν ἐκ βάθους καὶ τὸν σπόρον ἀπέκρυψαν. οὐ δεῖ δὲ θαυμάζειν, εἰ διὰ τοῦτό τινες ὗς οὐκ ἐσθίουσιν, ἑτέρων ζῴων μείζονας ἐπʼ αἰτίαις γλίσχραις, ἐνίων δὲ καὶ πάνυ γελοίαις, τιμὰς ἐχόντων παρὰ τοῖς βαρβάροις. τὴν μὲν γὰρ μυγαλῆν ἐκτεθειάσθαι λέγουσιν ὑπʼ Αἰγυπτίων τυφλὴν οὖσαν, ὅτι τὸ σκότος τοῦ φωτὸς ἡγοῦντο πρεσβύτερον τίκτεσθαι δʼ αὐτὴν ἐκ μυῶν πέμπτῃ γενεᾷ νουμηνίας οὔσης· ἔτι δὲ μειοῦσθαι τὸ ἧπαρ ἐν τοῖς ἀφανισμοῖς τῆς σελήνης. τὸν δὲ λέοντα τῷ ἡλίῳ συνοικειοῦσιν, ὅτι τῶν γαμψωνύχων τετραπόδων βλέποντα τίκτει μόνος· κοιμᾶται δʼ ἀκαρὲς χρόνου καὶ ὑπολάμπει τὰ ὄμματα καθεύδοντος· κρῆναι δὲ κατὰ χασμάτων λεοντείων ἐξιᾶσι κρουνούς, ὅτι Νεῖλος ἐπάγει νέον ὕδωρ ταῖς Αἰγυπτίων ἀρούραις, ἡλίου τὸν λέοντα παροδεύοντος. τὴν δʼ ἶβίν φασιν ἐκκολαφθεῖσαν εὐθὺς ἕλκειν δύο δραχμάς, ὅσον ἄρτι παιδίου γεγονότος καρδίαν· ποιεῖ δὲ τῇ τῶν ποδῶν ἀποτάσει πρὸς ἀλλήλους καὶ πρὸς τὸ ῥύγχος ἰσόπλευρον τρίγωνον. καὶ τί ἄν τις Αἰγυπτίους αἰτιῷτο τῆς τοσαύτης ἀλογίας, ὅπου καὶ τοὺς Πυθαγορικοὺς ἱστοροῦσι καὶ ἀλεκτρυόνα λευκὸν σέβεσθαι καὶ τῶν θαλαττίων μάλιστα τρίγλης καὶ ἀκαλήφης ἀπέχεσθαι, τοὺς δʼ ἀπὸ Ζωροάστρου μάγους τιμᾶν μὲν ἐν τοῖς μάλιστα τὸν χερσαῖον ἐχῖνον, ἐχθαίρειν δὲ τοὺς ἐνύδρους μῦς καὶ τὸν ἀποκτείνοντα πλείστους θεοφιλῆ καὶ μακάριον νομίζειν; οἶμαι δὲ καὶ τοὺς Ἰουδαίους, εἴπερ ἐβδελύττοντο τὴν ὗν, ἀποκτείνειν ἄν, ὥσπερ οἱ μάγοι τοὺς μῦς ἀποκτείνουσι· νῦν δʼ ὁμοίως τῷ φαγεῖν τὸ ἀνελεῖν ἀπόρρητόν ἐστιν αὐτοῖς. καὶ ἴσως ἔχει λόγον, ὡς τὸν ὄνον ἀναφήναντα πηγὴν αὐτοῖς ὕδατος τιμῶσιν, οὕτω καὶ τὴν ὗν σέβεσθαι σπόρου καὶ ἀρότου διδάσκαλον γενομένην εἰ μή, νὴ Δία, καὶ τοῦ λαγωοῦ φήσει τις ἀπέχεσθαι τοὺς ἄνδρας, ὡς μυσαρὸν καὶ ἀκάθαρτον δυσχεραίνοντας τὸ ζῷον. [¶9] 5.3. They have reason for that, said Lamprias, because a hare is so like an ass which they detest; for in its color, ears, and the sparkling of its eyes, it is so like an ass, that I do not know any little creature that represents a great one so much as a hare doth an ass; unless in this likewise they imitate the Egyptians, and suppose that there is something of divinity in the swiftness of this creature, as also in its quickness of sense; for the eyes of hares are so unwearied that they sleep with them open. Besides they seem to excel all other creatures in quickness of hearing; whence it was that the Egyptians painted the ear of a hare amongst their other hieroglyphics, as an emblem of hearing. But the Jews do hate swine’s flesh, because all the barbarians are naturally fearful of a scab and leprosy, which they presume comes by eating such kind of flesh. For we may observe that all pigs under the belly are overspread with a leprosy and scab; which may be supposed to proceed from an ill disposition of body and corruption within, which breaks out through the skin. Besides, swine’s feeding is commonly so nasty and filthy, that it must of necessity cause corruptions and vicious humors; for, setting aside those creatures that are bred from and live upon dung, there is no other creature that takes so much delight to wallow in the mire, and in other unclean and stinking places. Hogs’ eyes are said to be so flattened and fixed upon the ground, that they see nothing above them, nor ever look up to the sky, except when forced upon their back they turn their eyes to the sun against nature. Therefore this creature, at other times most clamorous, when laid upon his back, is still, as astonished at the unusual sight of the heavens; while the greatness of the fear he is in (as it is supposed) is the cause of his silence. And if it be lawful to intermix our discourse with fables, it is said that Adonis was slain by a boar. Now Adonis is supposed to be the same with Bacchus; and there are a great many rites in both their sacrifices which confirm this opinion. Others will have Adonis to be Bacchus’s paramour; and Phanocles an amorous love-poet writes thus, Bacchus on hills the fair Adonis saw, And ravished him, and reaped a wondrous joy. > Greek: 5.3. οὐ δῆτʼ ἔφη ὁ Λαμπρίας ὑπολαβών ἀλλὰ τοῦ μὲν λαγωοῦ φείδονται διὰ τὴν πρὸς τὸν μένον ὑπʼ αὐτῶν μυ … στα θηρίον ἐμφερέστατον. ὁ γὰρ λαγὼς μεγέθους ἔοικε καὶ πάχους ἐνδεὴς ὄνος εἶναι· καὶ γὰρ ἡ χρόα καὶ τὰ ὦτα καὶ τῶν ὀμμάτων ἡ λιπαρότης καὶ τὸ λαμυρὸν ἔοικε θαυμασίως· ὥστε μηδὲν οὕτω μηδὲ μικρὸν μεγάλῳ τὴν μορφὴν ὅμοιον γεγονέναι. εἰ μὴ νὴ Δία, καὶ πρὸς τὰς ὁμοιότητας αἰγυπτιάζοντες τὴν ὠκύτητα τοῦ ζῴου θεῖον ἡγοῦνται καὶ τὴν ἀκρίβειαν τῶν αἰσθητηρίων· ὅ τε γὰρ ὀφθαλμὸς ἄτρυτός ἐστιν αὐτῶν, ὥστε καὶ καθεύδειν ἀναπεπταμένοις τοῖς ὄμμασιν ὀξυηκοΐᾳ δὲ δοκεῖ διαφέρειν, ἣν Αἰγύπτιοι θαυμάσαντες ἐν τοῖς ἱεροῖς γράμμασιν ἀκοὴν σημαίνουσιν οὖς λαγωοῦ γράφοντες. τὸ δʼ ὕειον κρέας οἱ ἄνδρες ἀφοσιοῦσθαι δοκοῦσιν, ὅτι μάλιστα … οἱ βάρβαροι τὰς ἐπιλευκίας καὶ λέπρας δυσχεραίνουσι, καὶ τῇ προσβολῇ τὰ τοιαῦτα καταβόσκεσθαι πάθη τοὺς ἀνθρώπους οἴονται. πᾶσαν δʼ ὗν ὑπὸ τὴν γαστέρα λέπρας ἀνάπλεων καὶ ψωρικῶν ἐξανθημάτων ὁρῶμεν· ἃ δή, καχεξίας τινὸς ἐγγενομένης τῷ σώματι καὶ φθορᾶς, ἐπιτρέχειν δοκεῖ τοῖς σώμασιν. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ θολερὸν περὶ τὴν δίαιταν τοῦ θρέμματος ἔχει τινὰ πονηρίαν οὐδὲν γὰρ ἄλλο βορβόρῳ χαῖρον οὕτω καὶ τόποις ῥυπαροῖς καὶ ἀκαθάρτοις ὁρῶμεν, ἔξω λόγου τιθέμενοι τὰ τὴν γένεσιν καὶ τὴν φύσιν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἔχοντα τούτοις. λέγουσι δὲ καὶ τὰ ὄμματα τῶν ὑῶν οὕτως ἐγκεκλάσθαι καὶ κατεσπάσθαι ταῖς ὄψεσιν, ὥστε μηδενὸς ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι μηδέποτε τῶν ἄνω μηδὲ προσορᾶν τὸν οὐρανόν, ἂν μὴ φερομένων ὑπτίων ἀναστροφήν τινα παρὰ φύσιν αἱ κόραι λάβωσι· διὸ καὶ μάλιστα κραυγῇ χρώμενον τὸ ζῷον ἡσυχάζειν, ὅταν οὕτω φέρηται, καὶ σιωπᾶν κατατεθαμβημένον ἀηθίᾳ τὰ οὐράνια καὶ κρείττονι, φόβῳ τοῦ βοᾶν συνεχόμενον. εἰ δὲ δεῖ καὶ τὰ μυθικὰ προσλαβεῖν, λέγεται μὲν ὁ Ἄδωνις ὑπὸ τοῦ συὸς διαφθαρῆναι· τὸν δʼ Ἄδωνιν οὐχ ἕτερον ἀλλὰ Διόνυσον εἶναι νομίζουσι, καὶ πολλὰ τῶν τελουμένων ἑκατέρῳ περὶ τὰς ἑορτὰς βεβαιοῖ τὸν λόγον. οἱ δὲ παιδικὰ τοῦ Διονύσου γεγονέναι· καὶ Φανοκλῆς, ἐρωτικὸς ἀνήρ, ὧδέ που πεποίηκεν εἰδὼς θεῖον Ἄδωνιν ὀρειφοίτης Διόνυσος ἥρπασεν, ἠγαθέην Κύπρον ἐποιχόμενος. [¶10] 6.1. HERE Symmachus, greatly wondering at what was spoken, says: What, Lamprias, will you permit our tutelar God, called Evius, the inciter of women, famous for the honors he has conferred upon him by madmen, to be inscribed and enrolled in the mysteries of the Jews? Or is there any solid reason that can be given to prove Adonis to be the same with Bacchus? Here Moeragenes interposing, said: Do not be so fierce upon him, for I who am an Athenian answer you, and tell you, in short, that these two are the very same. And no man is able or fit to hear the chief confirmation of this truth, but those amongst us who are initiated and skilled in the triennial παντέλεια, or great mysteries of the God. But what no religion forbids to speak of among friends, especially over wine, the gift of Bacchus, I am ready at the command of these gentlemen to disclose. > Greek: 6.1. θαυμάσας δὲ τὸ ἑπιρρηθὲν ὁ Σύμμαχος ἆρʼ ἔφη σὺ τὸν πατριώτην θεόν, ὦ Λαμπρία εὔιον, ὀρσιγύναικα, μαινομέναις ἀνθέοντα τιμαῖσι Διόνυσον ἐγγράφεις καὶ ὑποποιεῖς τοῖς Ἑβραίων ἀπορρήτοις; ἢ τῷ ὄντι λόγος ἔστι τις ὁ τοῦτον ἐκείνῳ τὸν αὐτὸν ἀποφαίνων; ὁ δὲ Μοιραγένης ὑπολαβών ἔα τοῦτον εἶπεν· ἐγὼ γὰρ Ἀθηναῖος ὢν ἀποκρίνομαί σοι καὶ λέγω μηδένʼ ἄλλον εἶναι· καὶ τὰ μὲν πολλὰ τῶν εἰς τοῦτο τεκμηρίων μόνοις ἐστὶ ῥητὰ καὶ διδακτὰ τοῖς μυουμένοις παρʼ ἡμῖν εἰς τὴν τριετηρικὴν παντέλειαν· ἃ δὲ λόγῳ διελθεῖν οὐ κεκώλυται πρὸς φίλους ἄνδρας, ἄλλως τε καὶ παρʼ οἶνον ἐπὶ τοῖς τοῦ θεοῦ δώροις, ἂν οὗτοι κελεύωσι, λέγειν ἕτοιμος. [¶11] 6.2. When all the company requested and earnestly begged it of him; first of all (says he), the time and manner of the greatest and most holy solemnity of the Jews is exactly agreeable to the holy rites of Bacchus; for that which they call the Fast they celebrate in the midst of the vintage, furnishing their tables with all sorts of fruits, while they sit under tabernacles made of vines and ivy; and the day which immediately goes before this they call the day of Tabernacles. Within a few days after they celebrate another feast, not darkly but openly, dedicated to Bacchus, for they have a feast amongst them called Kradephoria, from carrying palm-trees, and Thyrsophoria, when they enter into the temple carrying thyrsi. What they do within I know not; but it is very probable that they perform the rites of Bacchus. First they have little trumpets, such as the Grecians used to have at their Bacchanalia to call upon their Gods withal. Others go before them playing upon harps, which they call Levites, whether so named from Lusius or Evius,—either word agrees with Bacchus. And I suppose that their Sabbaths have some relation to Bacchus; for even at this day many call the Bacchi by the name of Sabbi, and they make use of that word at the celebration of Bacchus’s orgies. And this may be made appear out of Demosthenes and Menander. Nor would it be absurd, were any one to say that the name Sabbath was imposed upon this feast from the agitation and excitement (σόβησις) which the priests of Bacchus indulged in. The Jews themselves testify no less; for when they keep the Sabbath, they invite one another to drink till they are drunk; or if they chance to be hindered by some more weighty business, it is the fashion at least to taste the wine. Some perhaps may surmise that these are mere conjectures. But there are other arguments which will clearly evince the truth of what I assert. The first may be drawn from their High-priest, who on holidays enters their temple with his mitre on, arrayed in a skin of a hind embroidered with gold, wearing buskins, and a coat hanging down to his ankles; besides, he has a great many little bells hanging at his garment which make a noise as he walks the streets. So in the nightly ceremonies of Bacchus (as the fashion is amongst us), they make use of musical instruments, and call the God’s nurses χαλκοδρυσταί. High up on the wall of their temple is a representation of the thyrsus and timbrels, which surely can belong to no other God than Bacchus. Moreover they are forbidden the use of honey in their sacrifices, because they suppose that a mixture of honey corrupts and deads the wine. And honey was used for sacrificing in former days, and with it the ancients were wont to make themselves drunk, before the vine was known. And at this day barbarous people who want wine drink metheglin, allaying the sweetness of the honey by bitter roots, much of the taste of our wine. The Greeks offered to their Gods these sober offerings or honey-offerings, as they called them, because that honey was of a nature quite contrary to wine. But this is no inconsiderable argument that Bacchus was worshipped by the Jews, in that, amongst other kinds of punishment, that was most remarkably odious by which malefactors were forbid the use of wine for so long a time as the judge was pleased to prescribe. Those thus punished … … … … … What is your opinion at present, Sossius Senecio, of the pleasures of mind and body, is not evident to me; Because us two a thousand things divide, Vast shady hills, and the rough ocean’s tide. > Greek: 6.2. πάντων οὖν κελευόντων καὶ δεομένων πρῶτον μέν ἔφη τῆς μεγίστης καὶ τελειοτάτης ἑορτῆς παρʼ αὐτοῖς ὁ καιρός ἐστι καὶ ὁ τρόπος Διονύσῳ προσήκων. τὴν γὰρ λεγομένην νηστείαν ἄγοντες ἀκμάζοντι τρυγητῷ τραπέζας τε προτίθενται παντοδαπῆς ὀπώρας ὑπὸ σκηναῖς καὶ καλιάσιν ἐκ κλημάτων μάλιστα καὶ κιττοῦ διαπεπλεγμέναις· καὶ τὴν προτέραν τῆς ἑορτῆς σκηνὴν ὀνομάζουσιν. ὀλίγαις δʼ ὕστερον ἡμέραις ἄλλην ἑορτήν, οὐκ ἂν διʼ αἰνιγμάτων ἀλλʼ ἄντικρυς Βάκχου καλουμένην, τελοῦσιν. ἔστι δὲ καὶ κραδηφορία τις ἑορτὴ καὶ θυρσοφορία παρʼ αὐτοῖς, ἐν θύρσους ἔχοντες εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν εἰσίασιν. εἰσελθόντες δέ, ὅ τι δρῶσιν, οὐκ ἴσμεν· εἰκὸς δὲ βακχείαν εἶναι τὰ ποιούμενα· καὶ γὰρ σάλπιγξι μικραῖς, ὥσπερ Ἀργεῖοι τοῖς Διονυσίοις, ἀνακαλούμενοι τὸν θεὸν χρῶνται· καὶ κιθαρίζοντες ἕτεροι προΐασιν, οὓς αὐτοὶ Λευίτας προσονομάζουσιν, εἴτε παρὰ τὸν Λύσιον εἴτε μᾶλλον παρὰ τὸν Εὔιον τῆς ἐπικλήσεως γεγενημένης. οἶμαι δὲ καὶ τὴν τῶν σαββάτων ἑορτὴν μὴ παντάπασιν ἀπροσδιόνυσον εἶναι. Σάβους γὰρ καὶ νῦν ἔτι πολλοὶ τοὺς Βάκχους καλοῦσι καὶ ταύτην ἀφιᾶσι τὴν φωνὴν ὅταν ὀργιάζωσι τῷ θεῷ· βεβαίωσιν δʼ ἔστι δήπου καὶ παρὰ Δημοσθένους λαβεῖν καὶ παρὰ Μενάνδρου. καὶ οὐκ ἀπὸ τρόπου τις ἂν φαίη τοὔνομα πεποιῆσθαι πρός τινα σόβησιν, ἣ κατέχει τοὺς βακχεύοντας. αὐτοὶ δὲ τῷ λόγῳ μαρτυροῦσιν, ὅταν σάββατον τιμῶσι, μάλιστα μὲν πίνειν καὶ οἰνοῦσθαι παρακαλοῦντες ἀλλήλους· ὅταν δὲ κωλύῃ τι μεῖζον, ἀπογεύεσθαί γε πάντως ἀκράτου νομίζοντες. καὶ ταῦτα μὲν εἰκότα φαίη τις ἂν εἶναι· κατὰ κράτος δὲ τοὺς ἐναντίους πρῶτον μὲν ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς ἐλέγχει, μιτρηφόρος τε προϊὼν ἐν ταῖς ἑορταῖς καὶ νεβρίδα χρυσόπαστον ἐνημμένος, χιτῶνα δὲ ποδήρη φορῶν καὶ κοθόρνους· κώδωνες δὲ πολλοὶ κατακρέμανται τῆς ἐσθῆτος, ὑποκομποῦντες ἐν τῷ βαδίζειν, ὡς καὶ παρʼ ἡμῖν· ψόφοις δὲ χρῶνται περὶ τὰ νυκτέλια, καὶ χαλκοκρότους τὰς τοῦ θεοῦ τιθήνας προσαγορεύουσι· καὶ ὁ δεικνύμενος ἐν τοῖς ἐναντίοις τοῦ νεὼ θύρσος ἐντετυπωμένος καὶ τύμπανα· ταῦτα γὰρ οὐδενὶ δήπουθεν ἄλλῳ θεῶν ἢ Διονύσῳ προσῆκει. ἔτι τοίνυν μέλι μὲν οὐ προσφέρουσι ταῖς ἱερουργίαις, ὅτι δοκεῖ φθείρειν τὸν οἶνον κεραννύμενον, καὶ τοῦτʼ ἦν σπονδὴ καὶ μέθυ, πρὶν ἄμπελον φανῆναι. καὶ μέχρι νῦν τῶν τε βαρβάρων οἱ μὴ ποιοῦντες οἶνον μελίτειον πίνουσιν, ὑποφαρμάσσοντες τὴν γλυκύτητα οἰνώδεσι ῥίζαις καὶ αὐστηραῖς Ἕλληνές τε νηφάλια ταὐτὰ καὶ μελίσπονδα θύουσιν, ὡς ἀντίθετον φύσιν μάλιστα τοῦ μέλιτος πρὸς τὸν οἶνον ἔχοντος, ὅτι δὲ τοῦτο νομίζουσι, κἀκεῖνο σημεῖον οὐ μικρόν ἐστι, τὸ πολλῶν τιμωριῶν οὐσῶν παρʼ αὐτοῖς μίαν εἶναι μάλιστα διαβεβλημένην, τὴν οἴνου τοὺς κολαζομένους ἀπείργουσαν, ὅσον ἂν τάξῃ χρόνον ὁ κύριος τῆς κολάσεως· τοὺς δʼ οὕτω κολα … λείπει τὰ λοιπὰ τοῦ τετάρτου. … … … … περὶ τῶν τῆς ψυχῆς καὶ σώματος ἡδονῶν, ὦ Σόσσιε Σενεκίων, ἣν σὺ νῦν ἔχεις γνώμην, ἐμοὶ γοῦν ἄδηλόν ἐστιν, ἐπειὴ μάλα πολλὰ μεταξὺ οὔρεά τε σκιόεντα θάλασσά τε ἠχήεσσα· ## 9. Book V · chapters 1–5 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/9/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/9/#p-N [¶0] 0.1. But formerly, I am sure, you did not lean to nor like their opinion, who will not allow the soul to have any proper agreeable pleasure, which without respect to the body she desires for herself; but define that she lives as a form assistant to the body, is directed by the passions of it, and, as that is affected, is either pleased or grieved, or, like a looking-glass, only receives the images of those sensible impressions made upon the body. This sordid and debas ing opinion is especially in this way confuted; for at a feast, the genteel well-bred men after supper fall upon some topic or another as second course, and cheer one another by their pleasant talk. Now the body hath very little or no share in this; which evidently proves that this is a particular banquet for the soul, and that those pleasures are peculiar to her, and different from those which pass to her through the body and are vitiated thereby. Now, as nurses, when they feed children, taste a little of their pap, and have but small pleasure therefrom, but when the infants are satisfied, leave crying, and go to sleep, then being at their own disposal, they take such meat and drink as is agreeable to their own bodies; thus the soul partakes of the pleasures that arise from eating and drinking, like a nurse, being subservient to the appetites of the body, kindly yielding to its necessities and wants, and calming its desires; but when that is satisfied and at rest, then being free from her business and servile employment, she seeks her own proper pleasures, revels on discourse, problems, stories, curious questions, or subtle resolutions. Nay, what shall a man say, when he sees the dull unlearned fellows after supper minding such pleasures as have not the least relation to the body? They tell tales, propose riddles, or set one another a guessing at names, comprised and hid under such and such numbers. Thus mimics, drolls, Menander and his actors were admitted into banquets, not because they can free the eye from any pain, or raise any tickling motion in the flesh; but because the soul, being naturally philosophical and a lover of instruction, covets its own proper pleasure and satisfaction, when it is free from the trouble of looking after the body. > Greek: 0.1. πάλαι γε μὴν ἐδόκεις μὴ πάνυ τι συμφέρεσθαι μηδʼ ἐπαινεῖν τοὺς οὐδὲν ἴδιον τῇ ψυχῇ τερπνὸν οὐδὲ χαρτὸν οὐδʼ αἱρετὸν ὅλως ἀλλʼ ἀτεχνῶς τῷ σώματι παραζῶσαν αὐτὴν οἰομένους τοῖς ἐκείνου συνεπιμειδιᾶν πάθεσι καὶ πάλιν αὖ συνεπισκυθρωπάζειν, ὥσπερ ἐκμαγεῖον ἢ κάτοπτρον εἰκόνας καὶ εἴδωλα τῶν ἐν σαρκὶ γιγνομένων αἰσθήσεων ἀναδεχομένην. ἄλλοις τε γὰρ πολλοῖς ἁλίσκεται ψεύδους τὸ ἀφιλόκαλον τοῦ δόγματος, ἔν τε τοῖς πότοις οἱ ἀστεῖοι καὶ χαρίεντες εὐθὺς μετὰ τὸ δεῖπνον ἐπὶ τοὺς λόγους ὥσπερ δευτέρας τραπέζας φερόμενοι καὶ διὰ λόγων εὐφραίνοντες ἀλλήλους, ὧν σώματι μέτεστιν οὐδὲν ἢ βραχὺ παντάπασιν, ἴδιόν τι τοῦτο τῇ ψυχῇ ταμιεῖον εὐπαθειῶν ἀποκεῖσθαι μαρτυροῦσι, καὶ ταύτας ἡδονὰς μόνας εἶναι τῆς ψυχῆς, ἐκείνας δʼ ἀλλοτρίας, προσαναχρωννυμένας τῷ σώματι. ὥσπερ οὖν αἱ τὰ βρέφη ψωμίζουσαι τροφοὶ μικρὰ μετέχουσι τῆς ἡδονῆς ὅταν δʼ ἐκεῖνα κορέσωσι καὶ κοιμίσωσι παυσάμενα κλαυθμυρισμῶν, τηνικαῦτα καθʼ ἑαυτὰς γιγνόμεναι τὰ πρόσφορα σιτία καὶ ποτὰ λαμβάνουσι καὶ ἀπολαύουσιν· οὕτως ἡ ψυχὴ τῶν περὶ πόσιν καὶ βρῶσιν ἡδονῶν μετέχει, ταῖς τοῦ σώματος ὀρέξεσι δίκην τίτθης ὑπηρετοῦσα καὶ χαριζομένη δεομένῳ καὶ πραΰνουσα τὰς ἐπιθυμίας ὅταν δʼ ἐκεῖνο μετρίως ἔχῃ καὶ ἡσυχάσῃ, πραγμάτων ἀπαλλαγεῖσα καὶ λατρείας ἤδη τὸ λοιπὸν ἐπὶ τὰς αὑτῆς ἡδονὸις τρέπεται, λόγοις εὐωχουμένη καὶ μαθήμασι καὶ ἱστορίαις καὶ τῷ ζητεῖν τι ἀκούειν τῶν περιττῶν. καί τί ἄν τις λέγοι περὶ τούτων, ὁρῶν ὅτι καὶ οἱ φορτικοὶ καὶ ἀφιλόλογοι μετὰ τὸ δεῖπνον ἐφʼ ἡδονὰς ἑτέρας τοῦ σώματος ἀπωτάτω τὴν διάνοιαν ἀπαίρουσιν, αἰνίγματα καὶ γρίφους καὶ θέσεις ὀνομάτων ἐν ἀριθμοῖς ὑποσύμβολα προβάλλοντες; ἐκ τούτου δὲ καὶ μίμοις καὶ ἠθολόγοις καὶ Μενάνδρῳ καὶ τοῖς Μενάνδρῳ ὑποκρινομένοις τὰ συμπόσια χώραν ἔδωκεν, οὐδεμίαν ἀλγηδόνα τοῦ σώματος ὑπεξαιρουμένοις οὐδὲ ποιοῦσι λείαν ἐν σαρκὶ καὶ προσηνῆ κίνησιν, ἀλλʼ ὅτι τὸ φύσει φιλοθέαμον ἐν ἑκάστῳ καὶ φιλόσοφον τῆς ψυχῆς ἰδίαν χάριν ζητεῖ καὶ τέρψιν, ὅταν τῆς περὶ τὸ σῶμα θεραπείας καὶ ἀσχολίας ἀπαλλαγῶμεν. [¶1] 1.1. OF this we discoursed in your company at Athens, when Strato the comedian (for he was a man of great credit) flourished. For being entertained at supper by Boethus the Epicurean, with a great many more of the sect, as it usually happens when learned and inquisitive men meet together, the remembrance of the comedy led us to this enquiry,—Why we are disturbed at the real voices of men, either angry, pensive, or afraid, and yet are delighted to hear others represent them, and imitate their gestures, speeches, and exclamations. Every one in the company gave almost the same reason. For they said, he that only represents excels him that really feels, inasmuch as he doth not suffer the misfortunes; which we knowing are pleased and delighted on that account. > Greek: 1.1. περὶ ὧν ἐγένοντο λόγοι καὶ σοῦ παρόντος ἐν Ἀθήναις ἡμῖν, ὅτε Στράτων ὁ κωμῳδὸς εὐημέρησεν ἦν γὰρ αὐτοῦ πολὺς λόγος, ἑστιωμένων ἡμῶν παρὰ Βοήθῳ τῷ Ἐπικουρείῳ συνεδείπνουν δʼ οὐκ ὀλίγοι τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς αἱρέσεως. εἶθʼ οἱονεὶ φιλολόγοις περιέστησεν ἡ τῆς κωμῳδίας μνήμη τὸν λόγον εἰς ζήτησιν αἰτίας, διʼ ἣν ὀργιζομένων ἢ λυπουμένων ἢ δεδιότων φωνὰς ἀκούοντες ἀχθόμεθα. καὶ δυσκολαίνομεν, οἱ δʼ ὑποκρινόμενοι ταῦτα τὰ πάθη καὶ μιμούμενοι τὰς φωνὰς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς διαθέσεις εὐφραίνουσιν ἡμᾶς. ἐκείνων μὲν οὖν ἁπάντων σχεδὸν εἷς ἦν λόγος· ἔφασαν γάρ, ἐπειδὴ κρείττων ὁ μιμούμενός ἐστι τοῦ πάσχοντος ἀληθῶς καὶ τῷ μὴ πεπονθέναι διαφέρει, συνιέντας ἡμᾶς τούτου τέρπεσθαι καὶ χαίρειν. [¶2] 1.2. But I, though it was not properly my talent, said that we, being by nature rational and lovers of ingenuity, are delighted with and admire every thing that is artificially and ingeniously contrived. For as a bee, naturally loving sweet things, seeks after and flies to any thing that has any mixture of honey in it; so man, naturally loving ingenuity and elegancy, is very much inclined to embrace and highly approve every word or action that is seasoned with wit and judgment. Thus, if any one offers a child a piece of bread, and at the same time a little dog or ox made in paste, we shall see the boy run eagerly to the latter; so likewise if any one offers him silver in the lump, and another a beast or a cup of the same metal, he will rather choose that in which he sees a mixture of art and reason. Upon the same account it is that children are much in love with riddles, and such fooleries as are difficult and intricate; for whatever is curious and subtle doth attract and allure human nature, as antecedently to all instruction agreeable and proper to it. And therefore, because he that is really affected with grief or anger presents us with nothing but the common bare passion, but in the imitation some dexterity and persuasiveness appears, we are naturally inclined to be disturbed at the former, whilst the latter delights us. It is unpleasant to see a sick man, or one that is at his last gasp; yet with content we can look upon the picture of Philoctetes, or the statue of Jocasta, in whose face it is commonly said that the workmen mixed silver, so that the brass might represent the face and color of one ready to faint and yield up the ghost. And this, said I, the Cyrenaics may use as a strong argument against you Epicureans, that all the sense of pleasure which arises from the working of any object on the ear or eye is not in those organs, but in the intellect itself. Thus the continual cackling of a hen or cawing of a crow is very ungrateful and disturbing; yet he that imitates those noises well pleases the hearers. Thus to behold a consumptive man is no delightful spectacle; yet with pleasure we can view the pictures and statues of such persons, because the very imitating hath something in it very agreeable to the mind, which allures and captivates its faculties. For upon what account, for God’s sake, from what external impression upon our organ, should men be moved to admire Parmeno’s sow so much as to pass it into a proverb? Yet it is reported, that Parmeno being very famous for imitating the grunting of a pig, some endeavored to rival and outdo him. And when the hearers, being prejudiced, cried out, Very well indeed, but nothing comparable to Parmeno’s sow; one took a pig under his arm and came upon the stage. And when, though they heard the very pig, they still continued, This is nothing comparable to Parmeno’s sow; he threw his pig amongst them, to show that they judged according to opinion and not truth. And hence it is very evident, that like motions of the sense do not always raise like affections in the mind, when there is not an opinion that the thing done was not neatly and ingeniously performed. > Greek: 1.2. ἐγὼ δέ, καίπερ ἐν ἀλλοτρίῳ χορῷ πόδα τιθείς, εἶπον ὅτι φύσει λογικοὶ καὶ φιλότεχνοι γεγονότες πρὸς τὸ λογικῶς καὶ τεχνικῶς πραττόμενον οἰκείως διακείμεθα καὶ θαυμάζομεν, ἂν ἐπιτυγχάνηται. καθάπερ γὰρ ἡ μέλιττα τῷ φιλόγλυκυς εἶναι πᾶσαν ὕλην, ᾗ τι μελιτῶδες ἐγκέκραται, περιέπει καὶ διώκει· οὕτως ὁ ἄνθρωπος, γεγονὼς φιλότεχνος καὶ φιλόκαλος, πᾶν ἀποτέλεσμα καὶ πρᾶγμα νοῦ καὶ λόγου μετέχον ἀσπάζεσθαι καὶ ἀγαπᾶν πέφυκεν. εἰ γοῦν παιδίῳ μικρῷ προθείη τις ὁμοῦ μικρὸν μὲν ἄρτον, ὁμοῦ δὲ πεπλασμένον ἐκ τῶν αὐτῶν ἀλεύρων κυνίδιον ἢ βοΐδιον, ἐπὶ τοῦτʼ ἂν ἴδοις φερόμενον καὶ ὁμοίως εἴ τις ἀργύριον ἄσημον, ἕτερος δὲ ζῴδιον ἀργυροῦν ἢ ἔκπωμα παρασταίη διδούς, τοῦτʼ ἂν λάβοι μᾶλλον, ᾧ τὸ τεχνικὸν καὶ λογικὸν ἐνορᾷ καταμεμιγμένον. ὅθεν καὶ τῶν λόγων τοῖς ᾐνιγμένοις χαίρουσι μᾶλλον οἱ τηλικοῦτοι καὶ τῶν παιδιῶν ταῖς περιπλοκήν τινα καὶ δυσκολίαν ἐχούσαις ἕλκει γὰρ ὡς οἰκεῖον ἀδιδάκτως τὴν φύσιν τὸ γλαφυρὸν καὶ πανοῦργον. ἐπεὶ τοίνυν ὁ μὲν ἀληθῶς ὀργιζόμενος ἢ λυπούμενος ἔν τισι κοινοῖς πάθεσι καὶ κινήμασιν ὁρᾶται, τῇ δὲ μιμήσει πανουργία τις ἐμφαίνεται καὶ πιθανότης ἄνπερ ἐπιτυγχάνηται, τούτοις μὲν ἥδεσθαι πεφύκαμεν ἐκείνοις δʼ ἀχθόμεθα. καὶ γὰρ ἐπὶ τῶν θεαμάτων ὅμοια πεπόνθαμεν ἀνθρώπους μὲν γὰρ ἀποθνήσκοντας. καὶ νοσοῦντας ἀνιαρῶς ὁρῶμεν· τὸν δὲ γεγραμμένον Φιλοκτήτην καὶ τὴν πεπλασμένην Ἰοκάστην, ἧς φασιν εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον ἀργύρου τι συμμῖξαι τὸν τεχνίτην, ὅπως ἐκλείποντος ἀνθρώπου καὶ μαραινομένου λάβῃ περιφάνειαν ὁ χαλκός, ἡδόμεθα καὶ θαυμάζομεν. τοῦτο δʼ εἶπον ἄνδρες Ἐπικούρειοι, καὶ τεκμήριόν ἐστι μέγα τοῖς Κυρηναϊκοῖς πρὸς ὑμᾶς τοῦ μὴ περὶ τὴν ὄψιν εἶναι μηδὲ περὶ τὴν ἀκοὴν ἀλλὰ περὶ τὴν διάνοιαν ἡμῶν τὸ ἡδόμενον ἐπὶ τοῖς ἀκούσμασι καὶ θεάμασιν. ἀλεκτορὶς γὰρ βοῶσα συνεχῶς καὶ κορώνη λυπηρὸν ἄκουσμα καὶ ἀηδές ἐστιν, ὁ δὲ μιμούμενος ἀλεκτορίδα βοῶσαν καὶ κορώνην εὐφραίνει. καὶ φθισικοὺς μὲν ὁρῶντες δυσχεραίνομεν, ἀνδριάντας δὲ καὶ γραφὰς φθισικῶν ἡδέως θεώμεθα τῷ τὴν διάνοιαν ὑπὸ τῶν μιμημάτων ἄγεσθαι κατὰ τὸ οἰκεῖον. ἐπεὶ τί πάσχοντες ἢ τίνος ἔξωθεν γενομένου πάθους τὴν ὗν τὴν Παρμένοντος οὕτως ἐθαύμασαν, ὥστε παροιμιώδη γενέσθαι; καίτοι φασὶ τοῦ Παρμένοντος εὐδοκιμοῦντος ἐπὶ τῇ μιμήσει, ζηλοῦντας ἑτέρους ἀντεπιδείκνυσθαι· προκατειλημμένων δὲ τῶν ἀνθρώπων καὶ λεγόντων εὖ μὲν ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν πρὸς τὴν Παρμένοντος ὗν, ἕνα λαβόντα δελφάκιον ὑπὸ μάλης λης, προελθεῖν· ἐπεὶ δὲ καὶ τῆς ἀληθινῆς φωνῆς ἀκούοντες ὑπεφθέγγοντο τί οὖν αὕτη πρὸς τὴν Παρμένοντος ὗν; ἀφεῖναι τὸ δελφάκιον εἰς τὸ μέσον, ἐξελέγχοντα τῆς κρίσεως τὸ πρὸς δόξαν οὐ πρὸς ἀλήθειαν. ᾧ μάλιστα δῆλόν ἐστιν, ὅτι ταὐτὸ τῆς αἰσθήσεως πάθος οὐχ ὁμοίως διατίθησι τὴν ψυχήν, ὅταν μὴ προσῇ δόξα τοῦ λογικῶς ἢ φιλοτίμως περαίνεσθαι τὸ γενόμενον. [¶3] 2.1. AT the solemnity of the Pythian Games, there was a consult about taking away all such sports as had lately crept in and were not of ancient institution. For after they had taken in the tragedian in addition to the three ancient, which were as old as the solemnity itself, the Pythian piper, the harper, and the singer to the harp, as if a large gate were opened, they could not keep out an infinite crowd of plays and musical entertainments of all sorts that rushed in after him. Which indeed made no unpleasant variety, and increased the company, but yet impaired the gravity and neatness of the solemnity. Besides it must create a great deal of trouble to the umpires, and considerable dissatisfaction to very many, since but few could obtain the prize. It was chiefly agreed upon, that the orators and poets should be removed; and this determination did not proceed from any hatred to learning, but forasmuch as such contenders are the most noted and worthiest men of all, therefore they reverenced them, and were troubled that, when they must judge every one deserving, they could not bestow the prize equally upon all. I, being present at this consult, dissuaded those who were for removing things from their present settled order, and who thought this variety as unsuitable to the solemnity as many strings and many notes to an instrument. And when at supper, Petraeus the president and director of the sports entertaining us, the same subject was discoursed on, I defended music, and maintained that poetry was no upstart intruder, but that it was time out of mind admitted into the sacred games, and crowns were given to the best performer. Some straight imagined that I intended to produce some old musty stories, like the funeral solemnities of Oeolycus the Thessalian or of Amphidamas the Chalcidean, in which they say Homer and Hesiod contended for the prize. But passing by these instances as the common theme of every grammarian, as likewise their criticisms who, in the description of Patroclus’s obsequies in Homer, read ῥήμονες, orators, and not ῥ’ ἥμοντες, darters, as if Achilles had proposed a prize for the best speaker,—omitting all these, I said that Acastus at his father Pelias’s funeral set a prize for contending poets, and Sibylla won it. At this, a great many demanding some authority for this unlikely and incredible relation, I happily recollecting myself produced Acesander, who in his description of Africa hath this relation; but I must confess this is no common book. But Polemo the Athenian’s Commentary of the Treasures of the City Delphi I suppose most of you have diligently perused, he being a very learned man, and diligent in the Greek antiquities. In him you shall find that in the Sicyonian treasure there was a golden book dedicated to the God, with this inscription: Aristomache, the poetess of Erythraea, dedicated this after she had got the prize at the Isthmian games. Nor is there any reason, I continued, why we should so admire and reverence the Olympic games, as if, like Fate, they were unalterable, and never admitted any change since the first institution. For the Pythian, it is true, hath had three or four musical prizes added; but all the exercises of the body were for the most part the same from the beginning. But in the Olympian all beside racing are late additions. They instituted some, and abolished them again; such were the races of mules, either rode or in a chariot, as likewise the crown appointed for boys that were victorious in the five contests. And, in short, a thousand things in those games are mere novelties. And I fear to tell you how at Pisa they had a single combat, where he that yielded or was overcome was killed upon the place, lest again you may require an author for my story, and I may appear ridiculous if amidst my cups I should forget the name. > Greek: 2.1. ἐν Πυθίοις ἐγίγνοντο λόγοι περὶ τῶν ἐπιθέτων ἀγωνισμάτων, ὡς ἀναιρετέα. παραδεξάμενοι γὰρ ἐπὶ τρισὶ τοῖς καθεστῶσιν ἐξ ἀρχῆς, αὐλητῇ Πυθικῷ καὶ κιθαριστῇ καὶ κιθαρῳδῷ, τὸν τραγῳδόν, ὥσπερ πύλης ἀνοιχθείσης οὐκ ἀντέσχον ἀθρόοις συνεπιτιθεμένοις καὶ συνεισιοῦσι παντοδαποῖς ἀκροάμασιν ὑφʼ ὧν ποικιλίαν μὲν ἔσχεν οὐκ ἀηδῆ καὶ πανηγυρισμὸν ὁ ἀγών, τὸ δʼ αὐστηρὸν καὶ μουσικὸν οὐ διεφύλαξεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πράγματα τοῖς κρίνουσι παρέσχε καὶ πολλὰς ὡς εἰκὸς ἡττωμένων πολλῶν ἀπεχθείας. οὐχ ἥκιστα δὲ τὸ τῶν λογογράφων καὶ ποιητῶν ἔθνος ᾤοντο δεῖν ἀποσκευάσασθαι τοῦ ἀγῶνος, οὐχ ὑπὸ μισολογίας, ἀλλὰ πολὺ πάντων τῶν ἀγωνιστῶν γνωριμωτάτους ὄντας ἐδυσωποῦντο τούτους καὶ ἤχθοντο, πάντας ἡγούμενοι χαρίεντας, οὐ πάντων δὲ νικᾶν δυναμένων. ἡμεῖς οὖν ἐν τῷ συνεδρίῳ παρεμυθούμεθα τοὺς τὰ καθεστῶτα κινεῖν βουλομένους καὶ τῷ ἀγῶνι καθάπερ ὀργάνῳ πολυχορδίαν καὶ πολυφωνίαν ἐπικαλοῦντας. καὶ παρὰ τὸ δεῖπνον, ἐστιῶντος ἡμᾶς Πετραίου τοῦ ἀγωνοθέτου, πάλιν ὁμοίων λόγων προσπεσόντων, ἠμύνομεν τῇ μουσικῇ· τήν τε ποιητικὴν ἀπεφαίνομεν οὐκ ὄψιμον οὐδὲ νεαρὰν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἱεροὺς ἀγῶνας ἀφιγμένην, ἀλλὰ πρόπαλαι στεφάνων ἐπινικίων τυγχάνουσαν. ἐνίοις μὲν οὖν ἐπίδοξος ἤμην ἕωλα παραθήσειν πράγματα, τὰς Οἰολύκου τοῦ Θετταλοῦ ταφὰς καὶ τὰς Ἀμφιδάμαντος τοῦ Χαλκιδέως ἐν αἷς Ὅμηρον καὶ Ἡσίοδον ἱστοροῦσιν ἔπεσι διαγωνίσασθαι. καταβαλὼν δὲ ταῦτα τῷ διατεθρυλῆσθαι πάνθʼ ὑπὸ τῶν γραμματικῶν, καὶ τοὺς ἐπὶ ταῖς Πατρόκλου ταφαῖς ἀναγιγνωσκομένους ὑπό τινων οὐχ ἥμονας ἀλλὰ ῥήμονας, ὡς δὴ καὶ λόγων ἆθλα τοῦ Ἀχιλλέως προθέντος, ἀφείς, εἶπον ὅτι καὶ Πελίαν θάπτων Ἄκαστος ὁ υἱὸς ἀγῶνα ποιήματος παράσχοι καὶ Σίβυλλα νικήσειεν. ἐπιφυομένων δὲ πολλῶν καὶ τὸν βεβαιωτὴν ὡς ἀπίστου καὶ παραλόγου τῆς ἱστορίας ἀπαιτούντων, ἐπιτυχῶς ἀναμνησθεὶς ἀπέφαινον Ἀκέσανδρον ἐν τῷ περὶ Λιβύης ταῦθʼ ἱστοροῦντα. καὶ τοῦτο μέν ἔφην τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα τῶν οὐκ ἐν μέσῳ ἐστί· τοῖς δὲ Πολέμωνος τοῦ Ἀθηναίου περὶ τῶν ἐν Δελφοῖς θησαυρῶν οἶμαι ὅτι πολλοῖς ὑμῶν ἐντυγχάνειν ἐπιμελές ἐστι, καὶ χρή, πολυμαθοῦς καὶ οὐ νυστάζοντος ἐν τοῖς Ἑλληνικοῖς πράγμασιν ἀνδρός· ἐκεῖ τοίνυν εὑρήσετε γεγραμμένον, ὡς ἐν τῷ Σικυωνίῳ θησαυρῷ χρυσοῦν ἀνέκειτο βιβλίον Ἀριστομάχης ἀνάθημα τῆς Ἐρυθραίας ἐπικῷ ποιήματι δὶς Ἴσθμια νενικηκυίας. οὐ μὴν οὐδὲ τὴν Ὀλυμπίαν ἔφην ἄξιόν ἐστιν ὥσπερ εἱμαρμένην ἀμετάστατον καὶ, ἀμετάθετον ἐν τοῖς ἀθλήμασιν ἐκπεπλῆχθαι. τὰ μὲν γὰρ Πύθια τῶν μουσικῶν ἔσχε τρεῖς ἢ τέτταρας ἐπεισοδίους ἀγῶνας, ὁ δὲ γυμνικὸς ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς ὡς ἐπὶ τὸ πλεῖστον οὕτω κατέστη, τοῖς δʼ Ὀλυμπίοις πάντα προσθήκη πλὴν τοῦ δρόμου γέγονε· πολλὰ δὲ καὶ θέντες ἔπειτʼ ἀνεῖλον, ὥσπερ τὸν τῆς κάλπης ἀγῶνα καὶ τὸν τῆς ἀπήνης· ἀνῃρέθη δὲ καὶ παισὶ πεντάθλοις στέφανος τεθείς· καὶ ὅλως πολλὰ περὶ τὴν πανήγυριν νενεωτέρισται. δέδια δʼ εἰπεῖν ὅτι πάλαι καὶ μονομαχίας ἀγὼν περὶ Πῖσαν ἤγετο μέχρι φόνου καὶ σφαγῆς τῶν ἡττωμένων καὶ ὑποπιπτόντων, μή με πάλιν ἀπαιτῆτε τῆς ἱστορίας βεβαιωτήν, κἂν διαφύγῃ τὴν μνήμην ἐν οἴνῳ τοὔνομα, καταγέλαστος γένωμαι. [¶4] 3.1. THIS question was started, why the Isthmian garland was made of pine. We were then at supper in Corinth, in the time of the Isthmian games, with Lucanius the chief priest. Praxiteles the commentator brought this fable for a reason; it is said that the body of Melicertes was found fixed to a pine-tree by the sea; and not far from Megara, there is a place called the Race of a Fair Lady, through which the Megarians say that Ino, with her son Melicertes in her arms, ran to the sea. And when many advanced the common opinion, that the pine-tree garland peculiarly belongs to Neptune, and Lucanius added that it is sacred to Bacchus too, but yet, for all that, it might also be appropriated to the honor of Melicertes, this began the question, why the ancients dedicated the pine to Neptune and Bacchus. As for my part, it did not seem incongruous to me, for both the Gods seem to preside over the moist and generative principle; and almost all the Greeks sacrifice to Neptune the nourisher of plants, and to Bacchus the preserver of trees. Beside, it may be said that the pine peculiarly agrees to Neptune, not, as Apollodorus thinks, because it grows by the sea-side, or because it loves a bleak place (for some give this reason), but because it is used in building ships; for the pine together with the like trees, as fir and cypress, affords the best and the lightest timber, and likewise pitch and rosin, without which the compacted planks would be altogether unserviceable at sea. To Bacchus they dedicate the pine, because it gives a pleasant seasoning to wine, for amongst pines they say the sweetest and most delicious grapes grow. The cause of this Theophrastus thinks to be the heat of the soil; for pines grow most in chalky grounds. Now chalk is hot, and therefore must very much conduce to the concoction of the wine; as a chalky spring affords the lightest and sweetest water; and if chalk is mixed with corn, by its heat it makes the grains swell, and considerably increases the heap. Besides, it is probable that the vine itself is bettered by the pine, for that contains several things which are good to preserve wine. All cover the insides of wine-casks with pitch, and many mix rosin with wine, as the Euboeans in Greece, and in Italy those that live about the river Po. From the parts of Gaul about Vienna there is a sort of pitched wine brought, which the Romans value very much; for such things mixed with it do not only give it a good flavor, but make the wine generous, taking away by their gentle heat all the crude, watery, and undigested particles. > Greek: 3.1. ἡ πίτυς ἐζητεῖτο καθʼ ὃν λόγον ἐν Ἰσθμίοις στέμμα γέγονε· καὶ γὰρ ἦν τὸ δεῖπνον ἐν Κορίνθῳ, Ἰσθμίων ἀγομένων ἑστιῶντος ἡμᾶς Λουκανίου τοῦ ἀρχιερέως. Πραξιτέλης μὲν οὖν ὁ περιηγητὴς τὸ μυθῶδες ἐπῆρεν, ὡς· λεγόμενον εὑρεθῆναι τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Μελικέρτου πίτυι προσβεβρασμένον ὑπὸ τῆς θαλάττης καὶ γὰρ οὐ πρόσω Μεγάρων εἶναι τόπον, ὃς καλῆς δρόμος ἐπονομάζεται, διʼ οὗ φάναι Μεγαρεῖς τὴν Ἰνὼ τὸ παιδίον ἔχουσαν δραμεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν. κοινῶς δʼ ὑπὸ πολλῶν λεγόμενον ὡς ἴδιόν ἐστι στέμμα Ποσειδῶνος ἡ πίτυς, Λουκανίου δὲ προστιθέντος ὅτι καὶ τῷ Διονύσῳ καθωσιωμένον τὸ φυτὸν οὐκ ἀπὸ τρόπου ταῖς περὶ τὸν Μελικέρτην συνῳκείωται τιμαῖς, αὐτὸ τοῦτο ζήτησιν παρεῖχεν, ᾧτινι λόγῳ Ποσειδῶνι καὶ Διονύσῳ τὴν πίτυν οἱ παλαιοὶ καθωσίωσαν. ἐδόκει δʼ ἡμῖν μηδὲν εἶναι παράλογον· ἀμφότεροι γὰρ οἱ θεοὶ τῆς ὑγρᾶς καὶ γονίμου κύριοι δοκοῦσιν ἀρχῆς εἶναι· καὶ Ποσειδῶνί γε Φυταλμίῳ Διονύσῳ δὲ Δενδρίτῃ πάντες ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν Ἕλληνες θύουσιν. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ κατʼ ἰδίαν τῷ Ποσειδῶνι φαίη τις ἂν τὴν πίτυν προσήκειν, οὐχ ὡς Ἀπολλόδωρος οἴεται παράλιον φυτὸν οὖσαν οὐδʼ ὅτι φιλήνεμός ἐστιν ὥσπερ ἡ θάλασσα καὶ γὰρ τοῦτό τινες λέγουσιν, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὰς ναυπηγίας μάλιστα, καὶ γὰρ αὐτὴ καὶ τὰ ἀδελφὰ δένδρα, πεῦκαι καὶ στρόβιλοι, τῶν τε ξύλων παρέχει τὰ πλοϊμώτατα, πίττης τε καὶ ῥητίνης ἀλοιφήν, ἧς ἄνευ τῶν συμπαγέντων ὄφελος οὐδὲν ἐν τῇ θαλάττῃ. τῷ δὲ Διονύσῳ τὴν πίτυν ἀνιέρωσαν, ὡς ἐφηδύνουσαν τὸν οἶνον· τὰ γὰρ πιτυώδη χωρία λέγουσιν ἡδύοινον τὴν· ἄμπελον φέρειν. καὶ τὴν θερμότητα τῆς γῆς Θεόφραστος αἰτιᾶται· καθόλου γὰρ ἐν ἀργιλώδεσι τόποις φύεσθαι τὴν πίτυν· εἶναι δὲ τὴν ἄργιλον θερμήν, διὸ καὶ συνεκπέττειν τὸν οἶνον, ὥσπερ καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ ἐλαφρότατον καὶ ἥδιστον ἡ ἄργιλος ἀναδίδωσιν. ἔτι δὲ καὶ καταμιγνυμένη πρὸς σῖτον ἐπίμετρον ποιεῖ δαψιλές, ἁδρύνουσα καὶ διογκοῦσα τῇ θερμότητι τὸν πυρόν. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς πίτυος αὐτῆς εἰκὸς ἀπολαύειν τὴν ἄμπελον, ἐχούσης ἐπιτηδειότητα πολλὴν πρὸς σωτηρίαν οἴνου καὶ διαμονήν· τῇ τε γὰρ πίττῃ πάντες ἐξαλείφουσι τὰ ἀγγεῖα, καὶ τῆς ῥητίνης ὑπομιγνύουσι πολλοὶ τῷ οἴνῳ καθάπερ Εὐβοεῖς τῶν Ἑλλαδικῶν καὶ τῶν Ἰταλικῶν οἱ περὶ τὸν Πάδον οἰκοῦντες· ἐκ δὲ τῆς περὶ Βίενναν Γαλατίας ὁ πισσίτης οἶνος κατακομίζεται, διαφερόντως; τιμώμενος ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίων, οὐ γὰρ μόνον εὐωδίαν τινὰ τὰ τοιαῦτα προσδίδωσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν οἶνον εὔποτον παρίστησι ταχέως ἐξαιροῦντα τῇ θερμότητι τοῦ οἴνου τὸ νεαρὸν καὶ ὑδατῶδες. [¶5] 3.2. When I had said thus much, a rhetorician in the company, a man well read in all sorts of polite learning, cried out: Good Gods! was it not but the other day that the Isthmian garland began to be made of pine? And was not the crown anciently of twined parsley? I am sure in a certain comedy a covetous man is brought in speaking thus: The Isthmian garland I will sell as cheap As common wreaths of parsley may be sold. And Timaeus the historian says that, when the Corinthians were marching to fight the Carthaginians in the defence of Sicily, some persons carrying parsley met them, and when several looked upon this as a bad omen,—because parsley is accounted unlucky, and those that are dangerously sick we usually say have need of parsley,—Timoleon encouraged them by putting them in mind of the Isthmian parsley garland with which the Corinthians used to crown the conquerors. And besides, the admiral-ship of Antigonus’s navy, having by chance some parsley growing on its poop, was called Isthmia. Besides, a certain obscure epigram upon an earthen vessel stopped with parsley intimates the same thing. It runs thus: The Grecian earth, now hardened by the flame, Holds in its hollow belly Bacchus’ blood; And hath its mouth with Isthmian branches stopped. Sure, he continued, they never read these authors, who cry up the pine as anciently wreathed in the Isthmian garlands, and would not have it some upstart intruder. The young men yielded presently to him, as being a man of various reading and very learned. > Greek: 3.2. ὡς δὲ ταῦτʼ ἐρρήθη, τῶν ῥητόρων ὁ μάλιστα δοκῶν ἀναγνώσμασιν ἐντυγχάνειν ἐλευθερίοις ὦ πρὸς θεῶν εἶπεν, οὐ γὰρ ἐχθὲς ἡ πίτυς ἐνταῦθα καὶ πρῴην στέμμα γέγονε τῶν Ἰσθμίων, πρότερον δὲ τοῖς σελίνοις ἐστέφοντο; καὶ τοῦτʼ ἔστι μὲν ἐν τῇ κωμῳδίᾳ φιλαργύρου τινὸς ἀκοῦσαι λέγοντος τὰ δʼ Ἴσθμιʼ ἀποδοίμην ἂν ἡδέως ὅσου ὁ τῶν σελίνων στέφανός ἐστιν ὤνιος. ἱστορεῖ δὲ καὶ Τίμαιος ὁ συγγραφεύς, ὅτι Κορίνθιοι ὁπηνίκα μαχούμενοι πρὸς Καρχηδονίους ἐβάδιζον ὑπὲρ τῆς Σικελίας, ἐνέβαλόν τινες οὐ σέλινα κομίζοντες· οἰωνισαμένων δὲ τῶν πολλῶν τὸ σύμβολον ὡς οὐ χρηστόν, ὅτι δοκεῖ τὸ σέλινον ἐπικήδειον εἶναι, καὶ τοὺς ἐπισφαλῶς νοσοῦντας δεῖσθαι τοῦ σελίνου φαμένων, ὁ Τιμολέων ἐθάρρυνεν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀνεμίμνησκε τῶν Ἰσθμοῖ σελίνων, οἷς ἀναστέφουσι Κορίνθιοι τοὺς νικῶντας. ἔτι τοίνυν ἡ Ἀντιγόνου ναυαρχὶς ἀναφύσασα περὶ πρύμναν αὐτομάτως σέλινον Ἰσθμία ἐπωνομάσθη. καὶ τοῦτο δὴ τὸ σκολιὸν ἐπίγραμμα δῆλον κεραμέα νομίζει διαβεβυσμένην σελίνῳ· σύγκειται δʼ οὕτω χθὼν ἡ παλὰς γῆ, πυρὶ κατῃθαλωμένη κεύθει κελαινὸν αἷμα Διονύσου θεοῦ, ἔχουσα κλῶνας Ἰσθμικοὺς ἀνὰ στόμα. ἦ ταῦθʼ εἶπεν οὐκ ἀνεγνώκαθʼ ὑμεῖς οἱ τὴν πίτυν ὡς οὐκ ἐπείσακτον οὐδὲ νέον ἀλλὰ πάτριον καὶ παλαιὸν δὴ στέμμα τῶν Ἰσθμίων σεμνύνοντες; ἐκίνησεν οὖν τοὺς νέους ὡς ἂν πολυμαθὴς ἀνὴρ καὶ πολυγράμματος ὁ μέντοι Λουκάνιος εἰς ἐμὲ βλέψας ἅμα καὶ μειδιῶν ὦ Πόσειδον· [¶6] 3.3. But Lucanius, with a smile looking upon me, cried out: Good God! here’s a deal of learning. But others have taken advantage of our ignorance and unacquaintedness with such matters, and, on the contrary, persuaded us that the pine was the first garland, and that afterwards in honor of Hercules the parsley was received from the Nemean games, which in a little time prevailing, thrust out the pine, as if it were its right to be the wreath; but a little while after the pine recovered its ancient honor, and now flourishes in its glory. I was satisfied, and upon consideration found that I had met with a great many authorities for it. Thus Euphorion writes of Melicertes, They mourned the youth, and him on pine boughs laid Of which the Isthmian victors’ crowns are made. Fate had not yet seized beauteous Mene’s son By smooth Asopus; since whose fall the crown Of parsley wreathed did grace the victor’s brow. And Callimachus is plainer and more express, when he makes Hercules speak thus of parsley, This at Isthmian games To Neptune’s glory now shall be the crown; The pine shall be disused, which heretofore In Corinth’s plains successful victors wore. And beside, if I am not mistaken, in Procles’s history of the Isthmian games I met with this passage; at first a pine garland crowned the conqueror, but when this game began to be reckoned amongst the sacred, then from the Nemean solemnity the parsley was received. And this Procles was one of Xenocrates’s fellow-students at the Academy. > Greek: 3.3. ἔφη τοῦ πλήθους τῶν γραμμάτων· ἕτεροι δʼ ἡμῶν τῆς ἀμαθίας ὡς ἔοικε καὶ τῆς ἀνηκοΐας ἀπέλαυον ἀναπείθοντες τοὐναντίον, ὡς ἡ μὲν πίτυς ἦν στέμμα τῶν ἀγώνων πάτριον, ἐκ δὲ Νεμέας κατὰ ζῆλον ὁ τοῦ σελίνου στέφανος ξένος ὢν ἐπεισῆλθε διʼ Ἡρακλέα, καὶ κρατήσας ἠμαύρωσεν ἐκεῖνον ὡς ἱερὸν ἐπιτήδειον· εἶτα μέντοι χρόνῳ πάλιν ἀνακτησαμένη τὸ πάτριον γέρας ἡ πίτυς ἀνθεῖ τῇ τιμῇ. ἐγὼ γοῦν ἀνεπειθόμην καὶ προσεῖχον, ὥστε καὶ τῶν μαρτυρίων ἐκμαθεῖν πολλὰ καὶ μνημονεύειν, Εὐφορίωνα μὲν οὕτω πως περὶ Μελικέρτου λέγοντα κλαίοντες δέ τε κοῦρον ἐπ αἰλίσι πιτύεσσι κάτθεσαν, ὁκκότε δὴ στεφάνων ἄθλοις φορέονται. οὐ γάρ πω τρηχεῖα λαβὴ κατεμήσατο χειρῶν μήνης παῖδα χάρωνα παρʼ Ἀσωποῦ γενετείρῃ, ἐξότε πυκνὰ σέλινα κατὰ κροτάφων ἐβάλοντο· Καλλίμαχον δὲ μᾶλλον διασαφοῦντα· λέγει δʼ ὁ Ἡρακλῆς αὐτῷ περὶ τοῦ σελίνου καί μιν Ἀλητιάδαι, πουλὺ γεγειότερον τοῦδε παρʼ Αἰγαίωνι θεῷ τελέοντες ἀγῶνα, θήσουσιν νίκης σύμβολον Ἰσθμιάδος, ζήλῳ τῶν Νεμέηθε· πίτυν δʼ ἀποτιμήσουσιν, ἣ πρὶν ἀγωνιστὰς ἔστεφε τοὺς Ἐφύρῃ. ἔτι δʼ οἶμαι Προκλέους ἐντετυχηκέναι γραφῇ, περὶ τῶν Ἰσθμίων ἱστοροῦντος, ὅτι τὸν πρῶτον ἀγῶνα ἔθεσαν περὶ στεφάνου πιτυΐνου· ὕστερον δέ, τοῦ ἀγῶνος ἱεροῦ γενομένου, ἐκ τῆς Νεμεακῆς πανηγύρεως; μετήνεγκαν ἐνταῦθα τὸν τοῦ σελίνου στέφανον. ὁ δὲ Προκλῆς οὗτος ἦν εἷς τῶν ἐν Ἀκαδημείᾳ Εενοκράτει συσχολασάντων. [¶7] 4.1. SOME at the table were of opinion that Achilles talked nonsense when he bade Patroclus “mix the wine stronger,” subjoining this reason, “For now I entertain my dearest friends.” But Niceratus a Macedonian, my particular acquaintance, maintained that ζωρόν did not signify pure but hot wine; as if it were derived from ζωτικός and ζέσις (life-giving and boiling), and it were requisite at the coming of his friends to temper a fresh bowl, as every one of us in his offering at the altar pours out fresh wine. But Socicles the poet, remembering a saying of Empedocles, that in the great universal change those things which before were ἀκρατα, unmixed, should then be ζωρά, affirmed that ζωρόν there signified εὔκρατον, well tempered, and that Achilles might with a great deal of reason bid Patroclus provide well-tempered wine for the entertainment of his friends; and it was not absurd (he said) to use ζωρότερον for ζωρόν, any more than δεξιτερόν for δεξιόν, or θηλύτερον for θῆλυ, for the comparatives are very properly put for the positives. My friend Antipater said that years were anciently called ὧροι, and that the particle ζα in composition signified greatness; and therefore old wine, that had been kept for many years, was called by Achilles ζωρόν. > Greek: 4.1. γελοῖος ἐδόκει τισὶ τῶν συνδειπνούντων ὁ Ἀχιλλεύς, ἀκρατότερον ἐγχεῖν τὸν Πάτροκλον κελεύων, εἶτʼ αἰτίαν τοιαύτην ἐπιλέγων οἱ γὰρ φίλτατοι ἄνδρες ἐμῷ ὑπέασι μελάθρῳ. Νικήρατος μὲν οὖν ὁ ἑταῖρος ἡμῶν, ὁ Μακεδὼν, ἄντικρυς ἀπισχυρίζετο μὴ ἄκρατον ἀλλὰ θερμὸν εἰρῆσθαι τὸ ζωρόν ἀπὸ τοῦ ζωτικοῦ καὶ τῆς ζέσεως, ὃ δὴ καὶ λόγον ἔχειν, ἀνδρῶν ἑταίρων παρόντων, νέον ἐξ ὑπαρχῆς κεράννυσθαι κρατῆρα· καὶ γὰρ ἡμᾶς, ὅταν τοῖς θεοῖς ἀποσπένδειν μέλλωμεν, νεοκρᾶτα ποιεῖν. Σωσικλῆς δʼ ὁ ποιητὴς, τοῦ Ἐμπεδοκλέους ἐπιμνησθεὶς εἰρηκότος ἐν τῇ καθόλου μεταβολῇ γίγνεσθαι ζωρά τε τὰ πρὶν ἄκρητα, μᾶλλον ἔφη τὸ εὔκρατον ἢ τὸ ἄκρατον ὑπὸ τἀνδρὸς ζωρὸν λέγεσθαι, καὶ μηδέν γε κωλύειν ἐπικελεύεσθαι τῷ Πατρόκλῳ τὸν Ἀχιλλέα παρασκευάζειν ᾖ εὔκρατον εἰς πόσιν τὸν οἶνον· εἰ δʼ ἀντὶ τοῦ ζωροῦ ζωρότερον εἶπεν, ὥσπερ δεξιτερὸν ἀντὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ καὶ θηλύτερον ἀντὶ τοῦ θήλεος, οὐκ ἄτοπον εἶναι χρῆσθαι γὰρ ἐπιεικῶς ἀντὶ τῶν ἁπλῶν τοῖς συγκριτικοῖς, Ἀντίπατρος δʼ ὁ ἑταῖρος ἔφη τοὺς μὲν ἐνιαυτοὺς ἀρχαϊκῶς ὥρους λέγεσθαι, τὸ δὲ ζα μέγεθος εἰωθέναι σημαίνειν· ὅθεν τὸν πολυετῆ καὶ οἶνον ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἀχιλλέως ζωρὸν ὠνομάσθαι. [¶8] 4.2. I put them in mind that some imagine that θερμόν, hot, is signified by ζωρότερον, and that hotter means simply faster, as when we command servants to bestir themselves more hotly or in hotter haste. But I must confess, your dispute is frivolous, since it is raised upon this supposition, that if ζωρότερον signifies more pure wine, Achilles’s command would be absurd, as Zoilus of Amphipolis imagined. For first he did not consider that Achilles saw Phoenix and Ulysses to be old men, who are not pleased with diluted wine, and upon that account forbade any mixture. Besides, having been Chiron’s scholar, and from him having learned the rules of diet, he considered that weaker and more diluted liquors were fittest for those bodies that lay at ease, and were not employed in their customary exercise or labor. Thus with the other provender he gave his horses smallage, and this upon very good reason; for horses that lie still grow sore in their feet, and smallage is the best remedy in the world against that. And you will not find smallage or any thing of the same nature given to any other horses in the whole Iliad. Thus Achilles, being skilled in physic, provided suitable provender for his horses, and used the lightest diet himself, as the fittest whilst he lay at ease. But those that had been wearied all day in fight he did not think convenient to treat like those that had lain at ease, but commanded more pure and stronger wine to be prepared. Besides, Achilles doth not appear to be naturally addicted to drinking, but he was of a haughty inexorable temper. No pleasant humor, no soft mind he bore, But was all fire and rage. And in another place very plainly Homer says, that “Many a sleepless night he knew.” Now little sleep cannot content those that drink strong liquors; and in his railing at Agamemnon, the first ill name he gives him is drunkard, proposing his great drinking as the chiefest of his faults. And for these reasons it is likely that, when they came, he thought his usual mixture too weak and not convenient for them. > Greek: 4.2. ἐγὼ δʼ ἀνεμίμνησκον αὐτούς, ὅτι τῷ ζωρότερον τὸ θερμὸν ἔνιοι σημαίνεσθαι λέγουσι τῷ δὲ θερμοτέρῳ τὸ τάχιον· ὥσπερ ἡμεῖς ἐγκελευόμεθα πολλάκις τοῖς διακονοῦσι θερμότερον ἅπτεσθαι τῆς διακονίας. ἀλλὰ μειρακιώδη τὴν φιλοτιμίαν αὐτῶν ἀπέφαινον, δεδιότων ὁμολογεῖν ἀκρατότερον εἰρῆσθαι τὸ ζωρότερον, ὡς ἐν ἀτόπῳ τινὶ τοῦ Ἀχιλλέως; ἐσομένου καθάπερ ὁ Ἀμφιπολίτης Ζωίλος ὑπελάμβανεν, ἀγνοῶν ὅτι πρῶτον μὲν ὁ Ἀχιλλεὺς τὸν Φοίνικα καὶ τὸν Ὀδυσσέα πρεσβυτέρους ὄντας εἰδὼς οὐχ ὑδαρεῖ χαίροντας ἀλλʼ ἀκρατοτέρῳ καθάπερ οἱ ἄλλοι γέροντες, ἐπιτεῖναι κελεύει τὴν κρᾶσιν. ἔπειτα Χείρωνος ὢν μαθητὴς καὶ τῆς περὶ τὸ σῶμα διαίτης οὐκ ἄπειρος ἐλογίζετο δήπουθεν, ὅτι τοῖς ἀργοῦσι καὶ σχολάζουσι παρὰ τὸ εἰωθὸς σώμασιν ἀνειμένη καὶ μαλακωτέρα κρᾶσις ἁρμόζει. καὶ γὰρ τοῖς ἵπποις ἐμβάλλει μετὰ τῶν ἄλλων χορτασμάτων τὸ σέλινον οὐκ ἀλόγως, ἀλλʼ ὅτι βλάπτονται μὲν οἱ σχολάζοντες ἀσυνήθως; ἵπποι τοὺς πόδας· ἔστι δὲ τούτου μάλιστʼ ἴαμα τὸ σέλινον. ἄλλοις γοῦν οὐκ ἂν εὕροις παραβαλλόμενον ἵπποις ἐν Ἰλιάδι σέλινον ἤ τινα. τοιοῦτον χιλόν. ἀλλʼ ἰατρὸς ὢν ὁ Ἀχιλλεὺς τῶν θʼ ἵππων πρὸς τὸν καιρὸν οἰκείως ἐπεμέλετο καὶ τῷ σώματι τὴν ἐλαφροτάτην δίαιταν, ὡς ὑγιεινοτάτην ἐν τῷ σχολάζειν, παρεσκεύαζεν· ἄνδρας δʼ ἐν μάχῃ καὶ ἀγῶνι διʼ ἡμέρας γεγενημένους οὐχ ὁμοίως ἀξιῶν διαιτᾶν τοῖς ἀργοῦσιν ἐπιτεῖναι τὴν κρᾶσιν ἐκέλευσε. καὶ μὴν οὐδὲ φύσει φαίνεται φίλοινος ἀλλʼ ἀπηνὴς ὁ Ἀχιλλεύς οὐ γάρ τι γλυκύθυμος ἀνὴρ ἦν οὐδʼ ἀγανόφρων, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐμμεμαώς· καί που παρρησιαζόμενος ὑπὲρ αὑτοῦ πολλάς φησὶν ἀύπνους νύκτας ἰαῦσαι· βραχὺς δʼ ὕπνος οὐκ ἐξαρκεῖ τοῖς χρωμένοις ἀκράτῳ. λοιδορούμενος δὲ τῷ Ἀγαμέμνονι πρῶτον αὐτὸν οἰνοβαρῆ προσείρηκεν, ὡς μάλιστα τῶν νοσημάτων τὴν οἰνοφλυγίαν προβαλλόμενος. διὰ ταῦτα δὴ πάντα λόγον· εἶχεν αὐτὸν ἐννοῆσαι, τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐπιφανέντων, μή ποτε ἡ συνήθης κρᾶσις αὐτῷ τοῦ οἴνου πρὸς ἐκείνους ἀνειμένη καὶ ἀνάρμοστός ἐστιν. [¶9] 5.1. AT my return from Alexandria all my friends by turns treated me, inviting all such too as were any way acquainted, so that our meetings were usually tumultuous and suddenly dissolved; which disorders gave occasion to discourses concerning the inconveniences that attend such crowded entertainments. But when Onesicrates the physician in his turn invited only the most familiar acquaintance, and men of the most agreeable temper, I thought that what Plato says concerning the increase of cities might be applied to entertainments. For there is a certain number which an entertainment may receive, and still be an entertainment; but if it exceeds that, so that by reason of the number there cannot be a mutual conversation amongst all, if they cannot know one another nor partake of the same jollity, it ceaseth to be such. For we should not need messengers there, as in a camp, or boatswains, as in a galley; but we ourselves should immediately converse with one another. As in a dance, so in an entertainment, the last man should be placed within hearing of the first. > Greek: 5.1. τὸ περὶ τὰς κατακλίσεις φαινόμενον ἄτοπον πλείονα λόγον παρέσχεν ἐν ταῖς ὑποδοχαῖς, ἃς ἐποιεῖτο τῶν φίλων ἕκαστος ἑστιῶν ἡμᾶς ἣκοντας ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀλεξανδρείας· ἐκαλοῦντο γὰρ ἀεὶ πολλοὶ τῶν ὁπωσοῦν προσήκειν δοκούντων, καὶ τὰ συμπόσια θορυβώδεις εἶχε τὰς συμπεριφορὰς καὶ τὰς διαλύσεις ταχείας. ἐπειδὴ δʼ Ὀνησικράτης ὁ ἰατρὸς οὐ πολλοὺς ἀλλὰ τοὺς σφόδρα συνήθεις καὶ οἰκειοτάτους παρέλαβεν ἐπὶ τὸ δεῖπνον, ἐφάνη μοι τὸ λεγόμενον ὑπὸ Πλάτωνος αὐξομένην πόλιν οὐ πόλιν συμποσίω δεδόσθαι. καὶ γὰρ συμποσίου μέγεθος ἱκανόν ἐστιν, ἄχρι οὗ συμπόσιον ἐθέλει μένειν· ἐὰν δʼ ὑπερβάλῃ διὰ πλῆθος, ὡς μηκέτι προσήγορον ἑαυτῷ μηδὲ συμπαθὲς εἶναι ταῖς φιλοφροσύναις μηδὲ γνώριμον, οὐδὲ συμπόσιόν ἐστι. δεῖ γὰρ οὐχ ὥσπερ ἐν στρατοπέδῳ διαγγέλοις οὐδʼ ὥσπερ ἐν τριήρει χρῆσθαι κελευσταῖς· αὐτοὺς δὲ διʼ ἑαυτῶν ἐντυγχάνειν ἀλλήλοις, ὥσπερ χοροῦ τοῦ συμποσίου τὸν κρασπεδίτην τῷ κορυφαίῳ συνήκοον ἔχοντος. [¶10] 5.2. As I was speaking, my grandfather Lamprias cried out: Then it seems there is need of temperance not only in our feasts, but also in our invitations. For methinks there is even an excess in kindness, when we pass by none of our friends, but draw them all in, as to see a sight or hear a play. And I think, it is not so great a disgrace for the entertainer not to have bread or wine enough for his guests, as not to have room enough, with which he ought always to be provided, not only for invited guests, but strangers and chance visitants. For suppose he hath not wine and bread enough, it may be imputed either to the carelessness or dishonesty of his servants; but the want of room must be imputed to the imprudence of the inviter. Hesiod is very much admired for beginning thus, “A vast chaos first was made.” For it was necessary that there should be first a place and room provided for the beings that were afterward to be produced; and not what was seen yesterday at my son’s entertainment, when, as Anaxagoras said, “All lay jumbled together.” But suppose a man hath room and provision enough, yet a multitude itself is to be avoided for its own sake, as hindering all familiarity and conversation; and it is more tolerable to let the company have no wine, than to exclude all converse from a feast. And therefore Theophrastus jocularly called the barbers’ shops feasts without wine; because those that sit there usually prattle and discourse. But those that invite a crowd at once deprive all of free communication of discourse, or rather make them divide into cabals, so that two or three privately talk together, and neither know nor look on those that sit, as it were, half a mile distant. Some took this way to valiant Ajax’ tent, And some the other to Achilles’ went. And therefore some rich men are foolishly profuse, who build rooms big enough for thirty tables or more at once; for such a preparation certainly is for unsociable and unfriendly entertainments, and such as are fit for a panegyriarch rather than a symposiarch to preside over. But this may be pardoned in those; for wealth would not be wealth, it would be really blind and imprisoned, unless it had witnesses, as tragedies would be without spectators. Let us entertain few and often, and make that a remedy against having a crowd at once. For those that invite but seldom are forced to have all their friends, and all that upon any account they are acquainted with together; but those that invite frequently, and but three or four, render their entertainments like little barks, light and nimble. Besides, the very reason why we invite teaches us to select some out of the number of our many friends. For as when we are in want we do not call all together, but only those that can best afford help in that particular case,—when we would be advised, the wiser part; and when we are to have a trial, the best pleaders; and when we are to go a journey, those that can live pleasantly and are at leisure,—thus to our entertainments we should call only those that are at the present agreeable. Agreeable, for instance, to a prince’s entertainment will be the magistrates, if they are his friends, or chiefest of the city; to marriage or birth-day feasts, all their kindred, and such as are under the protection of the same Jupiter the guardian of consanguinity; and to such feasts and merry-makings as this those are to be invited whose tempers are most suitable to the occasion. When we offer sacrifice to one God, we do not worship all the others that belong to the same temple and altar at the same time; but suppose we have three bowls, out of the first we pour oblations to some, out of the second to others, and out of the third to the rest, and none of the Gods take distaste. And in this a company of friends may be likened to the company of Gods; none takes distaste at the order of the invitation, if it be prudently managed and every one allowed a turn. > Greek: 5.2. ἐμοῦ δὲ ταῦτʼ εἰπόντος, εἰς μέσον ἤδη φθεγξάμενος ὁ πάππος ἡμῶν Λαμπρίας ἆρʼ οὖν εἶπεν οὐ περὶ τὰ δεῖπνα μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ τὰς κλήσεις δεόμεθα τῆς ἐγκρατείας; ἔστι γάρ τις οἶμαι καὶ φιλανθρωπίας ἀκρασία, μηδένα παρερχομένης τῶν συμποτῶν ἀλλὰ πάντας ἑλκούσης ὡς ἐπὶ θέαν ἢ ἀκρόασιν. ἔμοιγʼ οὖν οὔτʼ ἄρτος οὔτʼ οἶνος ἐπιλείπων τοῖς κεκλημένοις οὕτω δοκεῖ τὸν κεκληκότα ποιεῖν γελοῖον, ὡς χώρα καὶ τόπος· ὧν καὶ μὴ κεκλημένοις ἀλλʼ ἐπελθοῦσιν αὐτομάτως ξένοις καὶ ἀλλοτρίοις ἀεὶ παρεσκευασμένην ἀφθονίαν ὑπάρχειν δεῖ. ἔτι δʼ ἄρτου μὲν καὶ οἴνου ἐπιλιπόντων, ἔστι καὶ τοὺς οἰκέτας ὡς κλέπτοντας αἰτιᾶσθαι· τόπου δὲ πενία καὶ κατανάλωσις εἰς πλῆθος ὀλιγωρία τίς ἐστι τοῦ καλοῦντος. εὐδοκιμεῖ δὲ θαυμαστῶς καὶ Ἡσίοδος εἰπών ἤτοι μὲν πρώτιστα χάος γένετʼ· χώραν γὰρ ἔδει καὶ τόπον προϋποκεῖσθαι τοῖς γενομένοις, οὐχ ὡς χθὲς οὑμὸς υἱός ἔφη τὸ Ἀναξαγόρειον ἦν ὁμοῦ πάντα χρήματα τὸ σύνδειπνον ἐποίησεν. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ κἂν τόπος ὑπάρχῃ καὶ παρασκευή, τὸ πλῆθος αὐτὸ φυλακτέον, ὡς ἄμικτον τὴν συνουσίαν ποιοῦν καὶ ἀπροσήγορον· οἴνου γὰρ ἀνελεῖν ἧττόν ἐστι κακὸν ἢ λόγου κοινωνίαν ἐκ δείπνου. διὸ καὶ Θεόφραστος ἄοινα συμπόσια παίζων ἐκάλει τὰ κουρεῖα διὰ τὴν λαλιὰν τῶν προσκαθιζόντων. λόγων δὲ κοινωνίαν ἀναιροῦσιν οἱ πολλοὺς εἰς ταὐτὸ συμφοροῦντες, μᾶλλον δʼ ὀλίγους ποιοῦσιν ἀλλήλοις συνεῖναι· καὶ κατὰ δύο γὰρ ἢ τρεῖς ἀπολαμβάνοντες ἐντυγχάνουσι καὶ προσδιαλέγονται, τοὺς δὲ πόρρω κατακειμένους οὐδʼ ἴσασιν οὐδὲ προσορῶσιν ἵππου δρόμον ἀπέχοντας ἠμὲν ἐπʼ Αἴαντος κλισίας Τελαμωνιάδαο ἠδʼ ἐπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος. ὅθεν οὐκ ὀρθῶς οἱ πλούσιοι νεανιεύονται κατασκευάζοντες οἴκους τριακοντακλίνους καὶ μείζους· ἀμίκτων γὰρ αὕτη καὶ ἀφίλων δείπνων ἡ παρασκευὴ καὶ πανηγυριάρχου μᾶλλον ἢ συμποσιάρχου δεομένων. ἀλλʼ ἐκείνοις μὲν ταῦτα συγγνώμη ποιεῖν· ἄπλουτον γὰρ οἴονται τὸν πλοῦτον καὶ τυφλὸν ἀληθῶς καὶ ἀνέξοδον, ἂν μὴ μάρτυρας ἔχῃ, καθάπερ τραγῳδία, θεατάς· ἡμῖν δʼ ἂν ἴαμα γένοιτο τοῦ πολλοὺς ὁμοῦ συνάγειν τὸ πολλάκις κατʼ ὀλίγους παραλαμβάνειν. οἱ γὰρ σπανίως καί διʼ Ἅρματος ὥς φασιν ἑστιῶντες ἀναγκάζονται τὸν ὁπωσοῦν ἐπιτήδειον ἢ γνώριμον καταγράφειν οἱ δὲ συνεχέστερον κατὰ τρεῖς ἤ τέτταρας ἀναλαμβάνοντες, ὥσπερ πορθμεῖα τὰ συμπόσια κοῦφά τε ποιοῦσι. ποιεῖ δέ τινα τοῦ πολλοῦ τῶν φίλων πλήθους διάκρισιν καὶ ὁ τῆς αἰτίας διηνεκὴς ἐπιλογισμός· ὡς γὰρ ἐπὶ τὰς χρείας οὐ πάντας ἀλλὰ τοὺς ἁρμόττοντας ἑκάστῃ παρακαλοῦμεν, βουλευόμενοι μὲν τοὺς φρονίμους δικαζόμενοι δὲ τοὺς λέγοντας, ἀποδημοῦντες δὲ τοὺς ἐλαφροὺς μάλιστα τοῖς βιωτικοῖς καὶ σχολὴν ἄγοντας· οὕτως ἐν ταῖς ὑποδοχαῖς ἑκάστοτε τοὺς ἐπιτηδείους παραληπτέον. ἐπιτήδειοι δὲ τῷ μὲν ἡγεμόνι δειπνίζοντι συνδειπνεῖν οἵ τʼ ἄρχοντες, ἐὰν ὦσι φίλοι, καὶ οἱ πρῶτοι τῆς πόλεως ἐν δὲ γάμοις ἢ καὶ γενεθλίοις οἱ κατὰ γένος προσήκοντες καὶ Διὸς ὁμογνίου κοινωνοῦντες· ἐν δὲ ταῖς τοιαύταις ὑποδοχαῖς ἢ προπομπαῖς τοὺς ἐκείνων μάλιστα κεχαρισμένους εἰς ταὐτὸ συνακτέον. οὐδὲ γὰρ θεῷ θύοντες πᾶσι τοῖς ἄλλοις θεοῖς, μάλιστα καὶ συννάοις καὶ συμβώμοις, κατευχόμεθα, ἀλλὰ τριῶν κρατήρων κιρναμένων, τοῖς μὲν ἀπὸ τοῦ πρώτου σπένδομεν τοῖς δʼ ἀπὸ τοῦ δευτέρου τοῖς δʼ ἀπὸ τοῦ τελευταίου· φθόνος γὰρ ἔξω θείου χοροῦ ἵσταται· θεῖος δέ που καὶ ὁ τῶν φίλων χορὸς εὐγνωμόνως διανεμόμενος ἐν ταῖς συμπεριφοραῖς. ## 10. Book V · chapters 6–10 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/10/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/10/#p-N [¶0] 6.1. AFTER this it was presently asked, why the room which at the beginning of supper seems too narrow for the guests is afterwards wide enough; when the contrary is most likely, after they are filled with the supper. Some said, the posture of our sitting was the cause; for they sit, when they eat, with their full breadth to the table, that they may command it with their right hand; but after they leave supped, they sit more sideways, and make an acute figure with their bodies, and do not touch the place according to the superficies, if I may so say, but the line Now as cockal bones do not take up as much room when they fall upon one end as when they fall flat, so every one of us at the beginning sitting broadwise, and with a full face to the table, afterwards changes the figure. and turns his depth, not his breadth, to the board. Some attribute it to the beds whereon we sat, for those when pressed stretch; as strait shoes after a little wearing have their pores widened, and grow fit for—sometimes too big for— the foot. An old man in the company merrily said, that the same feast had two very different presidents and directors; in the beginning, Hunger, that is not the least skilled in ordering and disposing, but afterward Bacchus, whom all acknowledge to be the best orderer of an army in the world. As therefore Epaminondas, when the unskilful captains had led their forces into narrow disadvantageous straits, relieved the phalanx that was fallen foul on itself and all in disorder, and brought it into good rank and file again; thus we in the beginning being like greedy hounds confused and disordered by hunger, the God (hence named the looser and the dance-arranger) settles us in a friendly and agreeable order. > Greek: 6.1. ῥηθέντων δὲ τούτων, εὐθὺς ἐζητεῖτο περὶ τῆς ἐν ἀρχῇ στενοχωρίας τῶν κατακειμένων εἶτʼ ἀνέσεως· οὗ τοὐναντίον εἰκὸς ἦν συμβαίνειν διὰ τὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ δείπνου πλήρωσιν. ἔνιοι μὲν οὖν ἡμῶν τὸ σχῆμα τῆς κατακλίσεως ᾐτιῶντο πλατεῖς γὰρ ὡς ἐπίπαν κατακειμένους δειπνεῖν, ἅτε δὴ τὴν δεξιὰν προτείνοντας ἐπὶ τὰς τραπέζας· δειπνήσαντας δʼ ἀναστρέφειν αὑτοὺς μᾶλλον ἐπὶ πλευράν, ὀξὺ τὸ σχῆμα ποιοῦντας τοῦ σώματος καὶ οὐκέθʼ ὡς εἰπεῖν κατʼ ἐπίπεδον, ἀλλὰ κατὰ γραμμὴν τῆς χώρας ἁπτομένους· ὥσπερ οὖν οἱ ἀστράγαλοι τόπον ἐλάττω κατέχουσιν ὀρθοὶ πίπτοντες ἢ πρηνεῖς, οὕτως ἡμῶν ἕκαστον ἐν ἀρχῇ μὲν ἐπὶ στόμα προνεύειν ἀποβλέποντα πρὸς τὴν τράπεζαν ὕστερον δὲ μετασχηματίζειν ἐπὶ βάθος ἐκ πλάτους τὴν κατάκλισιν. οἱ δὲ πολλοὶ τὴν συνένδοσιν τῆς στρωμνῆς προυφέροντο· θλιβομένην γὰρ ἐν τῇ κατακλίσει πλατύνεσθαι καὶ διαχωρεῖν, ὥσπερ τῶν ὑποδημάτων τὰ τριβόμενα, κατὰ μικρὸν ἐνδιδόντα καὶ χαλῶντα τοῖς πόροις, εὐρυχωρίαν τῷ ποδὶ καὶ ἀναστροφὴν παρέχει. ὁ δὲ πρεσβύτης ἅμα παίζων δύʼ ἔφη ταὐτὸ συμπόσιον ἀνομοίους ἔχειν ἐπιστάτας τε καὶ ἡγεμόνας, ἐν ἀρχῇ μὲν τὸν λιμὸν ᾧ τῶν τακτικῶν οὐδὲν μέτεστιν, ὕστερον δὲ τὸν Διόνυσον ὃν πάντες ἄριστον γεγονέναι στρατηγὸν ὁμολογοῦσιν ὥσπερ οὖν ὁ Ἐπαμεινώνδας, εἴς τινα δυσχωρίαν τῶν στρατηγῶν ὑπʼ ἀπειρίας εἰσβαλλόντων τὴν φάλαγγα περιπίπτουσαν ἑαυτῇ καὶ ταρασσομένην ὑπολαβών, ἐξέλυσε καὶ κατέστησεν εἰς τάξιν· οὕτως ἡμᾶς ἐν ἀρχῇ συμπεφορημένους ὑπὸ τοῦ λιμοῦ κυνηδὸν ἄρτι παραλαμβάνων ὁ Λυαῖος θεὸς καὶ Χορεῖος εἰς τάξιν ἱλαρὰν καὶ φιλάνθρωπον καθίστησιν. [¶1] 7.1. A DISCOURSE happening at supper concerning those that are said to bewitch or have a bewitching eye, most of the company looked upon it as a whim, and laughed at it. But Metrius Florus, who then gave us a supper, said that the strange events wonderfully confirmed the report; and because we cannot give a reason for the thing, therefore to disbelieve the relation was absurd, since there are a thousand things which evidently are, the reasons of which we cannot readily assign. And, in short, he that requires every thing should be probable destroys all wonder and admiration; and where the cause is not obvious, there we begin to doubt, that is, to philosophize. So that they who disbelieve all wonderful relations do in some measure take away philosophy. The cause why any thing is so, reason must find out; but that a thing is so, testimony is a sufficient evidence; and we have a thousand instances of this sort attested. We know that some men by looking upon young children hurt them very much, their weak and soft temperature being wrought upon and perverted, whilst those that are strong and firm are not so liable to be wrought upon. And Phylarchus tells us that the Thibians, the old inhabitants about Pontus, were destructive not only to little children, but to some also of riper years; for those upon whom they looked or breathed, or to whom they spake, would languish and grow sick. And this, likely, those of other countries perceived who bought slaves there. But perhaps this is not so much to be wondered at, for in touching and handling there is some apparent principle and cause of the effect. And as when you mix other birds’ wings with the eagles’, the plumes waste and suddenly consume; so there is no reason to the contrary, but that one man’s touch may be good and advantageous, and another’s hurtful and destructive. But that some, by being barely looked upon, are extremely prejudiced is certain; though the stories are disbelieved, because the reason is hard to be given. > Greek: 7.1. περὶ τῶν καταβασκαίνειν, καὶ βάσκανον ἔχειν ὀφθαλμὸν ἐμπεσόντος λόγου παρὰ δεῖπνον, οἱ μὲν ἄλλοι παντάπασιν ἐξεφλαύριζον τὸ πρᾶγμα καὶ κατεγέλων· ὁ δʼ ἑστιῶν ἡμᾶς Μέστριος Φλῶρος ἔφη τὰ μὲν γιγνόμενα τῇ φήμῃ θαυμαστῶς βοηθεῖν· τῷ δʼ αἰτίας ἀπορεῖν ἀπιστεῖσθαι τὴν ἱστορίαν οὐ δικαίως, ὅπου, μυρίων ἐμφανῆ τὴν οὐσίαν ἐχόντων, ὁ τῆς αἰτίας λόγος ἡμᾶς διαπέφευγεν· ὅλως δʼ εἶπεν ὁ ζητῶν ἐν ἑκάστῳ τὸ εὔλογον ἐκ πάντων ἀναιρεῖ τὸ θαυμάσιον. ὅπου γὰρ ὁ τῆς αἰτίας ἐπιλείπει λόγος, ἐκεῖθεν ἄρχεται τὸ ἀπορεῖν, τουτέστι τὸ φιλοσοφεῖν· ὥστε τρόπον τινὰ φιλοσοφίαν ἀναιροῦσιν οἱ τοῖς θαυμασίοις ἀπιστοῦντες. δεῖ δʼ ἔφη τὸ μὲν διὰ τί γίγνεται τῷ λόγῳ μετιέναι, τὸ δʼ ὅτι γίγνεται παρὰ τῆς ἱστορίας λαμβάνειν. ἱστορεῖται δὲ πολλὰ τοιαῦτα· γιγνώσκομεν γὰρ ἀνθρώπους τῷ καταβλέπειν τὰ παιδία μάλιστα βλάπτοντας, ὑγρότητι τῆς ἕξεως καὶ ἀσθενείᾳ τρεπομένης ὑπʼ αὐτῶν καὶ κινουμένης ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον, ἧττον δὲ τῶν στερεῶν καὶ πεπηγότων ἤδη τοῦτο πασχόντων. καίτοι τούς γε περὶ τὸν Πόντον οἰκοῦντας πάλαι Θιβεῖς προσαγορευομένους ἱστορεῖ Φύλαρχος οὐ παιδίοις μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ τελείοις ὀλεθρίους εἶναι· καὶ γὰρ τὸ βλέμμα καὶ τὴν ἀναπνοὴν καὶ τὴν διάλεκτον αὐτῶν παραδεχομένους τήκεσθαι καὶ νοσεῖν· ᾔσθοντο δʼ ὡς ἔοικε τὸ γιγνόμενον οἱ μιγάδες, οἰκέτας ἐκεῖθεν ὠνίους ἐξάγοντες. ἀλλὰ τούτων τὸ μὲν ἴσως ἧττόν ἐστι θαυμαστὸν ἡ γὰρ ἐπαφὴ καὶ συνανάχρωσις ἔχει τινὰ φαινομένην πάθους ἀρχήν· καὶ καθάπερ τὰ τῶν ἄλλων ὀρνέων πτερὰ τοῖς τοῦ ἀετοῦ συντεθέντα διόλλυται ψηχόμενα καὶ ἀπανθεῖ τῶν πτίλων μυδώντων, οὕτως οὐδὲν ἀπέχει καὶ ἀνθρώπου ψαῦσιν τὴν μὲν ὠφέλιμον εἶναι τὴν δʼ ἀπηνῆ καὶ βλαβεράν· τὸ δὲ καὶ προσβλεφθέντας ἀδικεῖσθαι συμβαίνει μὲν ὥσπερ εἴρηκα, τῷ δὲ τὴν αἰτίαν ἔχειν δυσθήρατον ἀπιστεῖται. [¶2] 7.2. True, said I, but methinks there is some small track to the cause of this effect, if you come to the effluvia of bodies. For smell, voice, breath, and the like, are effluvia from animal bodies, and material parts that move the senses, which are wrought upon by their impulse. Now it is very likely that such effluvia must continually part from animals, by reason of their heat and motion; for by that the spirits are agitated, and the body, being struck by those, must continually send forth effluvia. And it is probable that these pass chiefly through the eye. For the sight, being very vigorous and active, together with the spirit upon which it depends, sends forth a strange fiery power; so that by it men act and suffer very much, and are always proportionably pleased or displeased, according as the visible objects are agreeable or not. Love, that greatest and most violent passion of the soul, takes its be ginning from the eye; so that a lover, when he looks upon the fair, flows out, as it were, and seems to mix with them. And therefore why should any one, that believes men can be affected and prejudiced by the sight, imagine that they cannot act and hurt as well? For the mutual looks of mature beauties, and that which comes from the eye, whether light or a stream of spirits, melt and dissolve the lovers with a pleasing pain, which they call the bittersweet of love. For neither by touching or hearing the voice of their beloved are they so much wounded and wrought upon, as by looking and being looked upon again. There is such a communication, such a flame raised by one glance, that those must be altogether unacquainted with love that wonder at the Median naphtha, that takes fire at a distance from the flame. For the glances of a fair one, though at a great distance, quickly kindle a fire in the lover’s breast. Besides everybody knows the remedy for the jaundice; if they look upon the bird called charadrios, they are cured. For that animal seems to be of that temperature and nature as to receive and draw away the disease, that like a stream flows out through the eyes; so that the charadrios will not look on one that hath the jaundice; he cannot endure it, but turns away his head and shuts his eyes, not envying (as some imagine) the cure he performs, but being really hurted by the effluvia of the patient. And of all diseases, soreness of the eyes is the most infectious; so strong and vigorous is the sight, and so easily does it cause infirmities in another. > Greek: 7.2. καὶ μήν ἔφην ἐγώ τρόπον τινὰ τῆς αἰτίας αὐτὸς ἴχνος τι καὶ τρίβον ἀνεύρηκας, ἐπὶ τὰς ἀπορροὰς τῶν σωμάτων ἀφικόμενος· καὶ γὰρ ἡ ὀσμὴ καὶ ἡ φωνὴ καὶ τὸ ῥεῦμα τῆς ἀναπνοῆς ἀποφοραὶ τινές εἰσι τῶν ζῴων καὶ μέρη κινοῦντα τὰς αἰσθήσεις, ὅταν ὑπʼ αὐτῶν προσπεσόντων πάθωσι. πολὺ δὲ μᾶλλον εἰκός ἐστι τῶν ζῴων ἀποφέρεσθαι τὰ τοιαῦτα διὰ τὴν θερμότητα καὶ τὴν κίνησιν, οἱονεί τινα σφυγμὸν καὶ κλόνον ἔχοντος τοῦ πνεύματος, ὑφʼ οὗ τὸ σῶμα κρουόμενον ἐνδελεχῶς ἐκπέμπει τινὰς ἀπορροάς;.· μάλιστα δὲ τοῦτο γίγνεσθαι διὰ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν εἰκός ἐστι· πολυκίνητος γὰρ ἡ ὄψις οὖσα μετὰ πνεύματος αὐγὴν ἀφιέντος πυρώδη θαυμαστήν τινα διασπείρει δύναμιν, ὥστε πολλὰ καὶ πάσχειν καὶ ποιεῖν διʼ αὐτῆς τὸν ἄνθρωπον. ἡδοναῖς τε γὰρ συμμέτροις καὶ ἀηδίαις ὑπὸ τῶν ὁρατῶν τρεπόμενος συνέχεται· καὶ τῶν ἐρωτικῶν, ἃ δὴ μέγιστα καὶ σφοδρότατα παθήματα τῆς ψυχῆς ἐστιν, ἀρχὴν ἡ ὄψις ἐνδίδωσιν ὥστε ῥεῖν καὶ λείβεσθαι τὸν ἐρωτικόν, ὅταν ἐμβλέπῃ τοῖς καλοῖς, οἷον ἑλκόμενον εἰς αὐτούς. διὸ καὶ θαυμάσειεν ἄν· τις οἶμαι μάλιστα τῶν πάσχειν μὲν καὶ κακοῦσθαι τὸν ἄνθρωπον διὰ τῆς ὄψεως οἰομένων, οὐκέτι δὲ δρᾶν καὶ βλάπτειν. αἱ γὰρ ἀντιβλέψεις τῶν ἐν ὥρᾳ καὶ τὸ διὰ τῶν ὀμμάτων ἐκπῖπτον, εἴτʼ ἄρα φῶς εἴτε ῥεῦμα, τοὺς ἐρῶντας ἐκτήκει καὶ ἀπόλλυσι μεθʼ ἡδονῆς ἀλγηδόνι μεμιγμένης, ἣν αὐτοὶ γλυκύπικρον ὀνομάζουσιν· οὔτε γὰρ ἁπτομένοις οὔτʼ ἀκούουσιν οὕτω τιτρώσκεσθαι συμβαίνει καὶ πάσχειν, ὡς προσβλεπομένοις καὶ προσβλέπουσι. τοιαύτη γὰρ γίγνεται διάδοσις καὶ ἀνάφλεξις ἀπὸ τῆς ὄψεως, ὥστε παντελῶς ἀπειράτους ἔρωτος ἡγεῖσθαι τοὺς τὸν Μη Μηδικὸν νάφθαν θαυμάζοντας ἐκ διαστήματος ὑπὸ τοῦ πυρὸς ἀναφλεγόμενον αἱ γὰρ τῶν καλῶν ὄψεις, κἂν πάνυ πόρρωθεν ἀντιβλέπωσι, πῦρ ἐν ταῖς τῶν ἐρωτικῶν ψυχαῖς ἀνάπτουσι. καὶ μὴν τό γε τῶν ἰκτερικῶν βοήθημα πολλάκις ἱστοροῦμεν· ἐμβλέποντες γὰρ τῷ χαραδριῷ θεραπεύονται· τοιαύτην ἔοικε τὸ ζῷον φύσιν καὶ κρᾶσιν ἔχειν, ὥσθʼ ἕλκειν καὶ δέχεσθαι τὸ πάθος ἐκπίπτον, ὥσπερ ῥεῦμα, διὰ τῆς ὄψεως· ὅθεν οὐ προσβλέπουσιν οἱ χαραδριοὶ τοὺς τὸν ἴκτερον ἔχοντας οὐδὲ καρτεροῦσιν, ἀλλʼ ἀποστρέφονται καὶ τὰ ὄμματα συγκλείσαντες ἔχουσιν· οὐ φθονοῦντες·, ὡς ἔνιοι νομίζουσι, τῆς ἀπʼ αὐτῶν ἰάσεως ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ ὑπὸ πληγῆς τιτρωσκόμενοι. τῶν δʼ ἄλλων νοσημάτων μάλιστα καὶ τάχιστα τὰς ὀφθαλμίας ἀναλαμβάνουσιν οἱ συνόντες· οὕτω δύναμιν ἔχει ὀξεῖαν ἡ ὄψις ἐνδοῦναι καὶ προσβαλεῖν ἑτέρῳ πάθους ἀρχήν. [¶3] 7.3. Very right, said Patrocles, and you reason well as to changes wrought upon the body; but as to the soul, which in some measure exerts the power of witchcraft, how can this give any disturbance by the eye? Sir, I replied, do not you consider, that the soul, when affected, works upon the body? Thoughts of love excite lust, and rage often blinds dogs as they fight with wild beasts. Sorrow, covetousness, or jealousy makes us change color, and destroys the habit of the body; and envy more than any passion, when fixed in the soul, fills the body full of ill humors, and makes it pale and ugly; which deformities good painters in their pictures of envy endeavor to represent. Now, when men thus perverted by envy fix their eyes upon another, and these, being nearest to the soul, easily draw the venom from it, and send out as it were poisoned darts, it is no wonder, in my mind, if he that is looked upon is hurt. Thus the biting of a dog when mad is most dangerous; and then the seed of a man is most prolific, when he embraces one that he loves; and in general the affections of the mind strengthen and invigorate the powers of the body. And therefore people imagine that those amulets that are preservative against witchcraft are likewise good and efficacious against envy; the sight by the strangeness of the spectacle being diverted, so that it cannot make so strong an impression upon the patient. This, Florus, is what I can say; and pray, sir, accept it as my club for this entertainment. > Greek: 7.3. καὶ μάλʼ ἔφη λέγεις ὀρθῶς ὁ Πατροκλέας ἐπί γε τῶν σωματικῶν τὰ δὲ τῆς ψυχῆς, ὧν ἐστι καὶ τὸ βασκαίνειν, τίνα τρόπον καὶ πῶς διὰ τῆς ὄψεως τὴν βλάβην εἰς τοὺς ὁρωμένους διαδίδωσιν; οὐκ οἶσθʼ ἔφην ὅτι πάσχουσʼ ἡ ψυχὴ τὸ σῶμα συνδιατίθησιν; ἐπίνοιαι γὰρ ἀφροδισίων ἐγείρουσιν αἰδοῖα, καὶ θυμοὶ κυνῶν ἐν ταῖς πρὸς τὰ θηρία γιγνομέναις ἁμίλλαις ἀποσβεννύουσι τὰς ὁράσεις πολλάκις καὶ τυφλοῦσι· λῦπαι δὲ καὶ φιλαργυρίαι καὶ ζηλοτυπίαι τὰ χρώματα τρέπουσι καὶ καταξαίνουσι τὰς ἕξεις· ὧν οὐδενὸς ὁ φθόνος ἧττον ἐνδύεσθαι τῇ ψυχῇ πεφυκὼς ἀναπίμπλησι καὶ τὸ σῶμα πονηρίας, ἣν οἱ ζωγράφοι καλῶς ἐπιχειροῦσιν ἀπομιμεῖσθαι τὸ τοῦ φθόνου πρόσωπον ὑπογράφοντες. ὅταν οὖν οὕτως ὑπὸ τοῦ φθονεῖν διατεθέντες ἀπερείδωσι τὰς ὄψεις, αἱ δʼ ἔγγιστα τεταγμέναι τῆς ψυχῆς σπάσασαι τὴν κακίαν ὥσπερ πεφαρμαγμένα βέλη προσπίπτωσιν, οὐδὲν οἶμαι συμβαίνει παράλογον οὐδʼ ἄπιστον, εἰ κινοῦσι τοὺς προσορωμένους· καὶ γὰρ τὰ δήγματα τῶν κυνῶν χαλεπώτερα γίγνεται μετʼ ὀργῆς δακνόντων· καὶ τὰ σπέρματα τῶν ἀνθρώπων μᾶλλον ἅπτεσθαί φασιν, ὅταν ἐρῶντες πλησιάζωσι· καὶ ὅλως τὰ πάθη τὰ τῆς ψυχῆς ἐπιρρώννυσι καὶ ποιεῖ σφοδροτέρας τὰς τοῦ σώματος δυνάμεις. διὸ καὶ τὸ τῶν λεγομένων προβασκανίων γένος οἴονται πρὸς τὸν φθόνον ὠφελεῖν, ἑλκομένης διὰ τὴν ἀτοπίαν τῆς ὄψεως, ὥσθʼ ἧττον ἐπερείδειν τοῖς πάσχουσιν. αὗταί σοι εἶπον ὦ Φλῶρε, συμβολαὶ τῆς εὐωχίας ἀπηριθμήσθωσαν. [¶4] 7.4. Well, said Soclarus, but let us try whether the money be all good or no; for, in my mind, some of it seems brass. For if we admit the general report about these matters to be true, you know very well that it is commonly supposed that some have friends, acquaintance, and even fathers, that have such evil eyes; so that the mothers will not show their children to them, nor for a long time suffer them to be looked upon by such; and how can the effects wrought by these proceed from envy? But what, for God’s sake, wilt thou say to those that are reported to bewitch themselves?—for I am sure you have heard of such. or at least read these lines: Curls once on Eutel’s head in order stood; But when he viewed his figure in a flood, He overlooked himself, and now disease... For they say that this Eutelidas, appearing very delicate and beauteous to himself, was affected with that sight and grew sick upon it, and lost his beauty and his health. Now, pray sir, what reason can you find for these wonderful effects? > Greek: 7.4. καὶ ὁ Σώκλαρος ἂν γʼ ἔφη πρότερον ἡμεῖς αὐτὰ δοκιμάσωμεν· ἔστι γὰρ ὅ τι τοῦ λόγου καταφαίνεται κίβδηλον. εἰ γὰρ ἃ λέγουσι πολλοὶ περὶ τῶν βασκαινομένων ὡς ἀληθῆ τίθεμεν, οὐκ ἀγνοεῖς δήπουθεν ὅτι καὶ φίλους καὶ οἰκείους, ἔνιοι δὲ καὶ πατέρας ἔχειν ὀφθαλμὸν βάσκανον ὑπολαμβάνουσιν, ὥστε μὴ δεικνύναι τὰς γυναῖκας αὐτοῖς τὰ παιδία μηδὲ πολὺν ἐᾶν χρόνον ὑπὸ τῶν τοιούτων καταβλέπεσθαι· πῶς οὖν ἔτι δόξει φθόνου τὸ πάθος εἶναι; τί δʼ, πρὸς τοῦ Διός, ἐρεῖς περὶ τῶν ἑαυτοὺς καταβασκαίνειν λεγομένων; καὶ γὰρ τοῦτʼ ἀκήκοας· εἰ δὲ μή, πάντως ταῦτʼ ἀνέγνωκας καλαὶ μέν ποτʼ ἔσαν, καλαί, φόβαι Εὐτελίδαο· ἀλλʼ αὑτὸν βάσκαινεν ἰδὼν ὀλοφώιος ἀνὴρ δίνῃ ἐν ποταμῷ· τὸν δʼ αὐτίκα νοῦσος ἀεικής … ὁ γὰρ Εὐτελίδας λέγεται, καλὸς ἑαυτῷ φανεὶς· καὶ παθών τι πρὸς τὴν ὄψιν, ἐκ τούτου νοσῆσαι καὶ τὴν εὐεξίαν μετὰ τῆς ὥρας ἀποβαλεῖν. ἀλλʼ ὅρα πῶς ἔχεις εὑρησιλογίας πρὸς τὰς τοιαύτας ἀτοπίας. [¶5] 7.5. At any other time, I replied, I question not but I shall give you full satisfaction. But now, sir, after such a large pot as you have seen me take, I boldly affirm, that all passions which have been fixed in the soul a long time raise ill humors in the body, which by continuance growing strong enough to be, as it were, a new nature, being excited by any intervening accident, force men, though unwilling, to their accustomed passions. Consider the timorous, they are afraid even of those things that preserve them. Consider the pettish, they are angry with their best and dearest friends. Consider the amorous and lascivious, in the height of their fury they dare violate a Vestal. For custom is very powerful to draw the temper of the body to any thing that is suitable to it; and he that is apt to fall will stumble at every thing that lies in his way. So that we need not wonder at those that have raised in themselves an envious and bewitching habit, if according to the peculiarity of their passion they are carried on to suitable effects; for when they are once moved, they do that which the nature of the thing, not which their will, leads them to. For as a sphere must necessarily move spherically, and a cylinder cylindrically, according to the difference of their figures; thus his dis position makes an envious man move enviously to all things; and it is likely they should chiefly hurt their most familiar acquaintance and best beloved. And that fine fellow Eutelidas you mentioned, and the rest that are said to overlook themselves, may be easily and upon good rational grounds accounted for; for, according to Hippocrates. a good habit of body, when at height, is easily perverted, and bodies come to their full maturity do not stand at a stay there, but fall and waste down to the contrary extreme. And therefore when they are in very good plight, and see themselves look much better than they expected, they gaze and wonder; but then their body being nigh to change, and their habit declining into a worse condition, they overlook themselves. And this is done when the effluvia are stopped and reflected by the water rather than by any other specular body; for this breathes upon them whilst they look upon it, so that the very same particles which would hurt others must hurt themselves. And this perchance often happens to young children, and the cause of their diseases is falsely attributed to those that look upon them. > Greek: 7.5. ἄλλως μέν ἔφην οὐ μάλʼ ἱκανῶς· πίνων δ’ ὡς ὁρᾷς ἐκ τῆς τηλικαύτης κύλικος, οὐκ ἀτόλμως· λέγω δʼ ὅτι τὰ μὲν πάθη πάντα, ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἐμμείναντα πολὺν χρόνον, ἕξεις ἐνεργάζεται πονηράς· αὗται δʼ, ὅταν ἰσχὺν φύσεως λάβωσιν, ὑπὸ τῆς τυχούσης κινούμεναι προφάσεως, πολλάκις καὶ ἄκοντας ἐπὶ τὰ οἰκεῖα καὶ συνήθη καταφέρουσι πάθη. σκόπει δὲ τοὺς δειλοὺς ὅτι καὶ τὰ σῴζοντα φοβοῦνται, καὶ τοὺς ὀργίλους ὅτι καὶ τοῖς φιλτάτοις δυσκολαίνουσι, καὶ τοὺς ἐρωτικοὺς καὶ ἀκολάστους ὅτι τελευτῶντες οὐδὲ τῶν ἁγιωτάτων ἀπέχεσθαι δύνανται σωμάτων. ἡ γὰρ συνήθεια δεινὴ πρὸς τὸ οἰκεῖον ἐξάγειν τὴν διάθεσιν, καὶ τὸν ἀκροσφαλῶς ἔχοντα πᾶσι προσπταίειν ἀνάγκη τοῖς ὑποπίπτουσιν· ὥστʼ οὐκ ἄξιον θαυμάζειν τοὺς τὴν φθονητικὴν καὶ βασκαντικὴν ἀπειργασμένους ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἕξιν, εἰ καὶ πρὸς τὰ οἰκεῖα κατὰ τὴν τοῦ πάθους ἰδιότητα κινοῦνται· κινούμενοι δʼ οὕτως ὃ πεφύκασιν οὐχ ὃ βούλονται ποιοῦσιν. ὡς γὰρ ἡ σφαῖρα κινεῖσθαι σφαιρικῶς καὶ κυλινδρικῶς ὁ κύλινδρος ἀναγκάζετει κατὰ τὴν τοῦ σχήματος διαφοράν, οὕτως τὸν οὕτω φθονερὸν ἡ διάθεσις φθονητικῶς πρὸς ἅπαντα κινεῖ. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ καταβλέπειν εἰκός ἐστιν αὐτοὺς τὰ οἰκεῖα καὶ ποθούμενα μᾶλλον· διὸ καὶ βλάπτουσι μᾶλλον. ὁ δὲ βέλτιστος Εὐτελίδας καὶ ὅσοι λέγονται καταβασκαίνειν ἑαυτοὺς οὐκ ἀλόγως μοι δοκοῦσι τοῦτο πάσχειν. σφαλερὸν γὰρ ἡ ἐπʼ ἄκρον εὐεξία κατὰ τὸν Ἱπποκράτην, καὶ τὰ σώματα προελθόντα μέχρι τῆς ἄκρας ἀκμῆς οὐχ ἕστηκεν, ἀλλὰ ῥέπει καὶ ταλαντεύεται πρὸς τοὐναντίον· ὅταν οὖν ἐπίδοσιν ἀθρόαν λάβωσι καὶ βέλτιον ἢ προσεδόκων ἔχοντας ἑαυτοὺς; ἐπιβλέπωσιν, ὥστε θαυμάζειν καὶ κατασκοπεῖν τὸ σῶμα τῆς μεταβολῆς, ἐγγὺς εἰσι καταφερόμενοι ταῖς ἕξεσι πρὸς τὸ χεῖρον, ἑαυτοὺς καταβασκαίνειν. τοῦτο δὲ γίγνεται μᾶλλον ἀπὸ τῶν πρὸς ὕδασιν ἤ τισιν ἄλλοις ἐσόπτροις ὑφισταμένων ῥευμάτων ἀναπνεῖ γὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς τοὺς ὁρῶντας, ὥσθʼ οἷς ἑτέρους ἔβλαπτον, αὐτοὺς κακοῦσθαι. τοῦτο δʼ ἴσως καὶ περὶ τὰ παιδία γιγνόμενον καταψεύδεται πολλάκις τὴν αἰτίαν τῶν ἐνορώντων. [¶6] 7.6. When I had done, Gaius, Florus’s son-in-law, said: Then it seems you make no more reckoning or account of Democritus’s images, than of those of Aegium or Megara; for he delivers that the envious send out images which are not altogether void of sense or force, but full of the disturbing and poisonous qualities of those from whom they come. Now these being mixed with such qualities, and remaining with and abiding in those persons that are overlooked, disturb and injure them both in mind and body; for this, I think, is the meaning of that philosopher, a man in his opinions and expressions admirable and divine. Very true, said I, and I wonder that you did not observe that I took nothing from those effluvia and images but life and will; lest you should imagine that, now it is almost midnight, I brought in spectres and wise and understanding images to terrify and fright you; but in the morning, if you please, we will talk of those things. > Greek: 7.6. ἐμοῦ δὲ παυσαμένου, Γάιος ὁ Φλώρου γαμβρὸς τῶν δὲ Δημοκρίτου ἔφη εἰδώλων, ὥσπερ Αἰγιέων ἢ Μεγαρέων, ἀριθμὸς οὐδεὶς οὐδὲ λόγος· ἅ φησιν ἐκεῖνος ἐξιέναι τοὺς φθονοῦντας, οὔτʼ αἰσθήσεως ἄμοιρα παντάπασιν οὔτθʼ ὁρμῆς, ἀνάπλεὰ τε τῆς ἀπὸ τῶν προϊεμένων μοχθηρίας καὶ βασκανίας· μεθʼ ἧς ἐμπλασσόμενα καὶ παραμένοντα καὶ συνοικοῦντα τοῖς βασκαινομένοις ἐπιταράττειν καὶ κακοῦν αὐτῶν τό τε σῶμα καὶ τὴν διάνοιαν; οὕτω γὰρ οἶμαί πως τὸν ἄνδρα τῇ δόξῃ, τῇ δὲ λέξει δαιμονίως λέγειν καὶ μεγαλοπρεπῶς.πάνυ μὲν οὖν ἔφην ἀλλὰ θαυμάζω, πῶς ἔλαθον ὑμᾶς οὐδὲν ἄλλο τῶν ῥευμάτων τούτων ἢ τὸ ἔμψυχον ἀφελὼν καὶ προαιρετικὸν ἵνα μή με δόξητε πόρρω νυκτῶν ὑμῖν ἐπάγοντα φάσματα καὶ εἴδωλα πεπνυμένα καὶ φρονοῦντα μορμολύττεσθαι καὶ διαταράττειν. ἕωθεν οὖν, ἐὰν δοκῇ, περὶ τούτων σκεψώμεθα. [¶7] 8.1. As we were at supper in Chaeronea, and had all sorts of fruit at the table, one of the company chanced to speak these verses, The fig-trees sweet, the apple-trees that bear Fair fruit, and olives green through all the year. Upon this there arose a question, why the poet calls apple-trees particularly ἀγλαόκρποι, bearing fair fruit. Trypho the physician said, that this epithet was given comparatively in respect of the tree, because, being small and no goodly tree to look upon, it bears fair and large fruit. Somebody else said, that the particular excellencies that are scattered amongst all other fruits are united in this alone. As to the touch, it is smooth and clean, so that it makes the hand that toucheth it odorous without defiling it; it is sweet to the taste, and to the smell and sight very pleasing; and therefore there is reason that it should be duly praised, as being that which congregates and allures all the senses together. > Greek: 8.1. ἑστιωμένων ἡμῶν ποτʼ ἐν Χαιρωνείᾳ καὶ παρατεθείσης παντοδαπῆς ὀπώρας, ἐπῆλθέ τινι τῶν κατακειμένων ἀναφθέγξασθαι τὸν στίχον ἐκεῖνον συκέαι τε γλυκεραὶ καὶ μηλέαι ἀγλαόκαρποι καὶ ἐλαῖαι τηλεθόωσαι ζήτησις οὖν ἦν, διὰ τί τὰς μηλέας ὁ ποιητὴς ἀγλαοκάρπους ἐξαιρέτως προσεῖπεν. καὶ Τρύφων μὲν ὁ ἰατρὸς ἔλεγε κατὰ τὴν πρὸς τὸ δένδρον εἰρῆσθαι σύγκρισιν, ὅτι μικρὸν ὂν κομιδῇ καὶ τὴν ὄψιν εὐτελὲς καλὸν καὶ μέγαν ἐκφέρει τὸν καρπόν. ἄλλος δέ τις ἔφη τὸ καλὸν ἐκ πάντων συντεθὲν μόνῳ τούτῳ τῶν ἀκροδρύων ὁρᾶν ὑπάρχον καὶ γὰρ τὴν ψαῦσιν ἔχει καθάριον, ὥστε μὴ μολύνειν ἀλλʼ εὐωδίας ἀναπιμπλάναι τὸν ἁπτόμενον, καὶ τὴν γεῦσιν ἡδεῖαν, ὀσφραίνεσθαί τε καὶ ἰδεῖν ἐπιτερπέστατόν ἐστι· διὸ καὶ πάσας ὁμοῦ τι τὰς αἰσθήσεις προσαγόμενον εἰκότως ἐπαινεῖσθαι. [¶8] 8.2. This discourse we liked indifferently well. But whereas Empedocles has thus written, Why pomegranates so late do grow, And apples bear a lovely show; I understand well (said I) the epithet given to pomegranates, because that at the end of autumn, and when the heats begin to decrease, they ripen the fruit; for the sun will not suffer the weak and thin moisture to thicken into a consistence until the air begins to wax colder; therefore, says Theophrastus, this only tree ripens its fruit best and soonest in the shade. But in what sense the philosopher gives the epithet ὑπέρφλοια to apples, I much question, since it is not his custom to strive to adorn his verses with varieties of epithets, as with gay and florid colors. But in every verse he gives some dilucidation of the substance and virtue of the subject upon which he treats; as when he calls the body encircling the soul the mortal-encompassing earth; as also when he calls the air cloud-gathering, and the liver full of blood. > Greek: 8.2. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν ἔφαμεν ἡμεῖς μετρίως λέγεσθαι· τοῦ δʼ Ἐμπεδοκλέους εἰρηκότος οὕνεκεν ὀψίγονοί τε σίδαι καὶ ὑπέρφλοια μῆλα, τὸ μὲν τῶν σιδῶν ἐπίθετον νοεῖν, ὅτι, τοῦ φθινοπώρου λήγοντος ἤδη καὶ τῶν καυμάτων μαραινομένων, ἐκπέττουσι τὸν καρπόν· ἀσθενῆ γὰρ αὐτῶν τὴν ὑγρότητα καὶ γλίσχραν οὖσαν οὐκ ἐᾷ λαβεῖν σύστασιν ὁ ἥλιος, ἂν μὴ μεταβάλλειν ὁ ἀὴρ ἐπὶ τὸ ψυχρότερον ἄρχηται· διὸ καὶ μόνον τοῦτό φησι Θεόφραστος τὸ δένδρον ἐν τῇ σκιᾷ βέλτιον ἐκπέττειν τὸν καρπὸν καὶ τάχιον. τὰ δὲ μῆλα καθʼ ἥντινα διάνοιαν ὁ σοφὸς ὑπέρφλοια προσειρήκοι, διαπορεῖν, καὶ μάλιστα τἀνδρὸς οὐ καλλιγραφίας ἕνεκα τοῖς εὐπροσωποτάτοις τῶν ἐπιθέτων, ὥσπερ ἀνθηροῖς χρώμασι, τὰ πράγματα γανοῦν εἰωθότος, ἀλλʼ ἕκαστον οὐσίας τινὸς ἢ δυνάμεως δήλωμα ποιοῦντος, οἷον ἀμφιβρότην χθόνα τὸ τῇ ψυχῇ περικείμενον σῶμα, καί νεφεληγερέτην τὸν ἀέρα καὶ πολυαίματον τὸ ἧπαρ, εἰπόντος οὖν ἐμοῦ ταῦτα, γραμματικοί τινες ἔφασαν ὑπέρφλοια λελέχθαι τὰ μῆλα διὰ τὴν ἀκμήν· [¶9] 8.3. When now I had said these things myself, certain grammarians affirmed, that those apples were called ὑπέρφλοια by reason of their vigor and florid manner of growing; for to blossom and flourish after an extraordinary manner is by the poets expressed by the word φλοίειν. In this sense, Antimachus calls the city of Cadmeans flourishing with fruit; and Aratus, speaking of the dog-star Sirius, says that he To some gave strength, but others did consume, Their bloom and verdure parching; calling the greenness of the trees and the blossoming of the fruit by the name of φλόος. Nay, there are some of the Greeks also who sacrifice to Bacchus surnamed Φλοῖος. And therefore, seeing the verdure and floridness chiefly recommend this fruit, philosophers call it ὑπέρφλοιον. But Lamprias our grandfather said that the word ὑπέρ did not only denote excess and vehemency, but external and supernal; thus we call the lintel of a door ὑπέρθυρον, and the upper part of the house ὑπερῷον; and the poet calls the outward parts of the victim the upper-flesh, as he calls the entrails the inner-flesh. Let us see therefore, says he, whether Empedocles did not make use of this epithet in this sense, seeing that other fruits are encompassed with an outward rind and with certain skins and membranes, but the only husk that the apple has is a glutinous and smooth tunic (or core) containing the seed, so that the part which is fit to be eaten, and lies without, was properly called ὑπέρφλοιον, that is over or outside of the husk. > Greek: 8.3. τὸ γὰρ ἄγαν ἀκμάζειν καὶ τεθηλέναι φλοίειν ὑπὸ τῶν ποιητῶν λέγεσθαι. καὶ τὸν Ἀντίμαχον οὕτω πως φλοίουσαν ὀπώραις εἰρηκέναι τὴν τῶν Καδμείων πόλιν· ὁμοίως τὸν Ἄρατον ἐπὶ τοῦ Σειρίου λέγοντα καὶ τὰ μὲν ἔρρωσεν, τῶν δὲ φλόον ὤλεσε πάντα, τὴν χλωρότητα καὶ τὸ ἄνθος τῶν καρπῶν φλόον προσαγορεύειν εἶναι δὲ καὶ τῶν Ἑλλήνων τινάς, οἳ Φλοίῳ Διονύσῳ θύουσιν. ἐπεὶ τοίνυν μάλιστα τῶν καρπῶν ἡ χλωρότης καὶ τὸ τεθηλέναι τῷ μήλῳ παραμένει, ὑπέρφλοιον αὐτὸ τὸν φιλόσοφον προσαγορεῦσαι. Λαμπρίας δʼ ὁ πάππος ἡμῶν ἔφη τὴν ὑπὲρ φωνὴν οὐ μόνον τἄγαν καὶ τὸ σφοδρὸν δηλοῦν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ ἔξωθεν καὶ τὸ ἄνωθεν· οὕτω γάρ ὑπέρθυρον καὶ ὑπερῷον καλεῖν ἡμᾶς, τὸν δὲ ποιητὴν καὶ κρέʼ ὑπέρτερα τὰ ἔξω τοῦ ἱερείου, ὥσπερ ἔγκατα τὰ ἐντός. ὅρα τοίνυν ἔφη μὴ πρὸς τοῦτο μᾶλλον ὁ Ἐμπεδοκλῆς πεποίηκε τὸ ἐπίθετον, ὅτι, τῶν ἄλλων καρπῶν τὸ ἔξωθεν ὑπὸ τοῦ φλοιοῦ περιεχομένων καὶ τὰ καλούμενα λεπύχανα καὶ κελύφη καὶ ὑμένας καὶ λοβοὺς ἐπιπολῆς; ἐχόντων, ὁ τοῦ μήλου φλοιὸς ἐντός ἐστι κολλώδης χιτὼν καὶ λιπαρός, ᾧ προσίσχεται τὸ σπέρμα· τὸ δʼ ἐδώδιμον, ἔξωθεν αὐτῷ περικείμενον, εἰκότως ὑπέρφλοιον ὠνόμασται. [¶10] 9.1. THIS discourse ended, the next question was about fig-trees, how so luscious and sweet fruit should come from so bitter a tree. For the leaf from its roughness is called θρίον. The wood of it is full of sap, and as it burns sends forth a very biting smoke; and the ashes of it thoroughly burnt are so acrimonious, that they make a lye extremely detersive. And, which is very strange, all other trees that bud and bear fruit put forth blossoms too; but the fig-tree never blossoms. And if (as some say) it is never thunderstruck, that likewise may be attributed to the sharp juices and bad temper of the stock; for such things are as secure from thunder as the skin of a sea calf or hyena. Then said the old man: It is no wonder that when all the sweetness is separated and employed in making the fruit, that which is left should be bitter and unsavory. For as the liver, all the gall being gathered in its proper place, is itself very sweet; so the fig-tree having parted with its oil and sweet particles to the fruit, reserves no portions for itself. For that this tree hath some good juice, I gather from what they say of rue, which growing under a fig-tree is sweeter than usual, and hath a sweeter and more palatable juice, as if it drew some sweet particles from the tree which mollified its offensive and corroding qualities; unless perhaps, on the contrary, the fig-tree robbing it of its nourishment draws likewise some of its sharpness and bitterness away. > Greek: 9.1. μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα περὶ τῶν σύκων διηπορήθη, τί δήποτε πίων καὶ γλυκὺς οὕτω καρπὸς ἀπὸ δένδρου φύεται πικροτάτου· τῆς γὰρ συκῆς καὶ τὸ φύλλον διὰ τὴν τραχύτητα θρῖον ὠνόμασται, καὶ τὸ ξύλον ὀπῶδές; ἐστιν, ὥστε καόμενον μὲν ἐκδιδόναι δριμύτατον καπνὸν κατακαυθὲν δὲ τὴν ἐκ τῆς τέφρας κονίαν ῥυπτικωτάτην παρέχειν ὑπὸ δριμύτητος. ὃ δʼ ἐστὶ θαυμασιώτατον, ἀνθούντων ἁπάντων ὅσα βεβλάστηκε καὶ καρπογονεῖ, μόνον ἀνανθές ἐστι τὸ τῆς συκῆς φυτόν· εἰ δʼ, ὥς φασιν, οὐ κεραυνοῦται, καὶ τοῦτʼ ἄν τις ἀναθείη τῇ πικρότητι καὶ καχεξίᾳ τοῦ στελέχους· τῶν γὰρ τοιούτων οὐ δοκοῦσιν ἐπιθιγγάνειν οἱ κεραυνοί, καθάπερ οὐδὲ τῆς φώκης τοῦ δέρματος οὐδὲ τῆς ὑαίνης. ὑπολαβὼν οὖν ὁ πρεσβύτης ἔφη, ὅσον ἂν ἐνῇ τῷ φυτῷ γλυκύτητος, ἅπαν τοῦτο συνθλιβόμενον εἰς τὸν καρπὸν. εἰκότως δριμὺ ποιεῖν καὶ ἄκρατον τὸ λειπόμενον· ῶσπερ γὰρ τὸ ἧπαρ, εἰς ἕνα τόπον τοῦ χολώδους ἀποκριθέντος, αὐτὸ γίγνεται γλυκύτατον οὕτω τὴν συκῆν εἰς τὸ σῦκον ἅπαν τὸ λιπαρὸν καὶ νόστιμον ἀφιεῖσαν αὐτὴν ἄμοιρον εἶναι γλυκύτητος. ἐπεί, ὅτι γε μετέχει τινὸς εὐχυμίας τὸ ξύλον, ἐκεῖνο ἔφη ποιοῦμαι σημεῖον, ὃ λέγουσιν οἱ κηπουροί· λέγουσι γουσι δὲ τοῦ πηγάνου τὸ φυόμενον ὑπʼ αὐτῇ καὶ παραφυτευόμενον ἣδιον εἶναι καὶ τῷ χυμῷ μαλακώτερον, ὡς ἂν ἀπολαῦόν τινὸς γλυκύτητος, κατασβέννυται τἄγαν βαρὺ καὶ κατάκορον, εἰ μὴ νὴ Δία τοὐναντίον ἡ συκῆ περισπῶσα τὴν τροφὴν ἐξαιρεῖ τὸ τῆς δριμύτητος. [¶11] 10.1. FLORUS, when we were entertained at his house, put this question, What are those in the proverb who are said to be about the salt and cummin? Apollophanes the grammarian presently satisfied him, saying, by that proverb were meant intimate acquaintance, who could sup together on salt and cummin. Thence we proceeded to enquire how salt should come to be so much honored as it is; for Homer plainly says, “And after that he strewed his salt divine,” and Plato delivers that by man’s laws salt is to be accounted most sacred. And this difficulty was increased by the customs of the Egyptian priests, who professing chastity eat no salt, no, not so much as in their bread. For if it be divine and holy, why should they avoid it? > Greek: 10.1. ἐζήτει Φλῶρος, ἑστιωμένων ἡμῶν παρʼ αὐτῷ, τίνες ἂν εἶεν· οἱ περὶ ἅλα καὶ κύαμον ἐν τῇ παροιμίᾳ λεγόμενοι. καὶ τοῦτο μὲν ἐκ προχείρου διέλυσεν Ἀπολλοφάνης ὁ γραμματικός· οἱ γὰρ οὕτω συνήθεις ἔφη τῶν φίλων, ὥστε καὶ πρὸς ἅλα δειπνεῖν καὶ κύαμον, ὑπὸ τῆς παροιμίας προβάλλονται. τὴν δὲ τῶν ἁλῶν τιμὴν ἀφʼ ὅτου γένοιτο διηποροῦμεν, Ὁμήρου μὲν ἄντικρυς λέγοντος πάσσε δʼ ἁλὸς θείοιο· Πλάτωνος δὲ τῶν ἁλῶν σῶμα κατὰ νόμον ἀνθρώπων θεοφιλέστατον εἶναι φάσκοντος· ἐπέτεινε δὲ τὴν ἀπορίαν τὸ τοὺς Αἰγυπτίους ἱερέας ἁγνεύοντας ἀπέχεσθαι τὸ πάμπαν ἁλῶν, ὥστε καὶ τὸν ἄρτον ἄναλον προσφέρεσθαι. πῶς γάρ, εἰ θεοφιλὲς καὶ θεῖον, ἀφωσιώσαντο; [¶12] 10.2. Florus bade us not mind the Egyptians, but speak according to the Grecian custom on the present subject. But I replied: The Egyptians are not contrary to the Greeks in this matter; for the profession of purity and chastity forbids getting children, laughter, wine, and many other very commendable and lawful things; and perhaps such votaries avoid salt, as being, according to some men’s opinions, by its heat provocative and apt to raise lust. Or they refuse it as the most pleasant of all sauces, for indeed salt may be called the sauce of all sauces; and therefore some call salt χάριτας; because it makes food, which is necessary for life, to be relishing and pleasant. > Greek: 10.2. Φλῶρος μὲν οὖν ἐᾶν ἐκέλευσε τοὺς Αἰγυπτίους, Ἑλληνιστὶ δʼ αὐτοὺς εἰπεῖν τι πρὸς τὸ ὑποκείμενον. ἐγὼ δʼ ἔφην οὐδὲ τοὺς Αἰγυπτίους μάχεσθαι τοῖς Ἕλλησιν· αἱ γὰρ ἁγνεῖαι καὶ παιδοποιίαν καὶ γέλωτα καὶ οἶνον καὶ πολλὰ τῶν ἄλλως ἀξίων σπουδῆς ἀφαιροῦσι· τοὺς δʼ ἅλας τάχα μὲν ὡς ἐπὶ συνουσίαν ἄγοντας ὑπὸ θερμότητος, ὡς ἔνιοι λέγουσι, φυλάττονται καθαρεύοντες· εἰκὸς δὲ καὶ ὡς ὄψον ἣδιστον παραιτεῖσθαι. κινδυνεύουσι γὰρ οἱ ἅλες τῶν ἄλλων ὄψων ὄψον εἶναι καὶ ἥδυσμα διὸ καὶ χάριτας ἔνιοι προσαγορεύουσιν αὐτούς, ὅτι τῆς τροφῆς τὸ ἀναγκαῖον ἡδὺ ποιοῦσιν. [¶13] 10.3. What then, said Florus, shall we say that salt is termed divine for that reason? Indeed that is very considerable, for men for the most part deify those common things that are exceeding useful to their necessities and wants, as water, light, the seasons of the year; and the earth they do not only think to be divine, but a very God. Now salt is as useful as either of these, being a sort of protector to the food as it comes into the body, and making it palatable and agreeable to the appetite. But consider farther, whether its power of preserving dead bodies from rotting a long time be not a divine property, and opposite to death; since it preserves part, and will not suffer that which is mortal wholly to be destroyed. But as the soul, which is our diviner part, connects the limbs of animals, and keeps the composure from dissolution; thus salt applied to dead bodies, and imitating the work of the soul, stops those parts that were falling to corruption, binds and confines them, and so makes them keep their union and agreement with one another. And therefore some of the Stoics say, that swine’s flesh then deserves the name of a body, when the soul like salt spreads through it and keeps the parts from dissolution. Besides, you know that we account lightning to be sacred and divine, because the bodies that are thunder-struck do not rot for a long time; what wonder is it then, that the ancients called salt as well as lightning divine, since it hath the same property and power? > Greek: 10.3. ἆρʼ οὖν ὁ Φλῶρος ἔφη διὰ τοῦτο θεῖον εἰρῆσθαι τὸν ἅλα φῶμεν;ἔστι μὲν δή εἶπον οὐδὲ τοῦτʼ ἐλάχιστον. οἱ γὰρ ἄνθρωποι τὰ κοινὰ καὶ διήκοντα ταῖς χρείαις ἐπὶ τὸ πλεῖστον ἐκθειάζουσιν, ὡς τὸ ὕδωρ, τὸ φῶς, τὰς ὥρας· τὴν δὲ γῆν οὐ μόνον θεῖον, ἀλλὰ καὶ θεὸν ὑπολαμβάνουσιν· ὧν οὐδενὸς λείπεται χρείᾳ τὸ τῶν ἁλῶν, θρίγκωμα τῆς τροφῆς γιγνόμενον εἰς τὸ σῶμα καὶ παρέχον εὐαρμοστίαν αὐτῇ πρὸς τὴν ὄρεξιν. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ σκόπει, μὴ κἀκεῖνο θεῖον αὐτῷ συμβέβηκεν, ὅτι τῶν σωμάτων τὰ νεκρὰ διατηροῦν ἄσηπτα καὶ μόνιμα πολὺν χρόνον ἀντιτάττεται τῷ θανάτῳ καὶ οὐκ ἐᾷ παντελῶς ἐξολέσθαι καὶ ἀφανισθῆναι τὸ θνητόν· ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ ἡ ψυχή, θειότατον οὖσα τῶν ἡμετέρων, τὰ ζῷα συνέχει καὶ ῥεῖν οὐκ ἐᾷ τὸν ὄγκον, οὕτως ἡ τῶν ἁλῶν φύσις τὰ νεκρὰ παραλαμβάνουσα καὶ μιμουμένη τὸ τῆς ψυχῆς ἔργον ἀντιλαμβάνεται φερομένων ἐπὶ τὴν φθορὰν καὶ κρατεῖ καὶ ἵστησιν, ἁρμονίαν παρέχουσα καὶ φιλίαν πρὸς ἄλληλα τοῖς μέρεσι. διὸ καὶ τῶν Στωικῶν ἔνιοι τὴν ὗν σάρκα νεκρὰν γεγονέναι λέγουσι, τῆς ψυχῆς, ὥσπερ ἁλῶν, παρεσπαρμένης ὑπὲρ τοῦ διαμένειν. ὁρᾷς δʼ ὅτι καὶ τὸ κεραύνιον πῦρ ἱερὸν ἡγούμεθα καὶ θεῖον, ὅτι τὰ σώματα τῶν διοβλήτων ἄσηπτα πρὸς πολὺν ἀντέχοντα χρόνον ὁρῶμεν. τί οὖν θαυμαστόν, εἰ ὁ καὶ τὸν ἅλα, τὴν αὐτὴν ἔχοντα τῷ θείῳ δύναμιν πυρί, θεῖον ὑπέλαβον οἱ παλαιοί. [¶14] 10.4. I making no reply, Philinus subjoined: Do you not think that that which is generative is to be esteemed divine, seeing God is the principle of all things? And I assenting, he continued: Salt, in the opinion of some men, for instance the Egyptians you mentioned, is very operative that way; and those that breed dogs, when they find their bitches not apt to be hot, give them salt and seasoned flesh, to stir up and awaken their sleeping lechery and vigor. Besides, the ships that carry salt breed abundance of mice; the females, as some imagine, conceiving without the help of the males, only by licking the salt. But it is most probable that the salt raiseth an itching in animals, and so makes them salacious and eager to couple. And perhaps for the same reason they call a surprising and bewitching beauty, such as is apt to move and entice, ἁλμυρὸν καὶ δριμύ, saltish. And I think the poets had a respect to this generative power of salt in their fable of Venus springing from the sea. And it may be farther observed, that they make all the sea Gods very fruitful, and give them large families. And beside, there are no land animals so fruitful as the sea animals; agreeable to which observation is that verse of Empedocles, “Leading the foolish race of fruitful fish.” > Greek: 10.4. σιωπήσαντος δʼ ἐμοῦ, Φιλῖνος ὑπολαβών τὸ δὲ γόνιμον οὐ δοκεῖ σοι ἔφη θεῖον εἶναι, εἴπερ ἄρχει ὁ θεὸς πάντων; ὁμολογήσαντος δʼ ἐμοῦ καὶ μήν ἔφη τὸν ἅλα οὐκ ὀλίγον πρὸς γένεσιν συνεργεῖν οἴονται, καθάπερ αὐτὸς ἐμνήσθης τῶν Αἰγυπτίων· οἱ γοῦν τὰς κύνας φιλοτροφοῦντες, ὅταν ἀργότεραι πρὸς συνουσίαν ὦσιν, ἄλλοις τε βρώμασιν ἁλμυροῖς καὶ ταριχευτοῖς κρέασι κινοῦσι καὶ παροξύνουσι τὸ σπερματικὸν αὐτῶν ἡσυχάζον. τὰ δʼ ἁληγὰ πλοῖα πλῆθος ἐκφύει μυῶν ἄπλετον, ὡς μὲν ἔνιοι λέγουσι, τῶν θηλειῶν καὶ δίχα συνουσίας κυουσῶν, ὅταν τὸν ἅλα λείχωσιν· εἰκὸς δὲ μᾶλλον ἐμποιεῖν τὴν ἁλμυρίδα τοῖς μορίοις ὀδαξησμοὺς καὶ συνεξορμᾶν τὰ ζῷα πρὸς τοὺς συνδυασμούς. διὰ τοῦτο δʼ ἴσως καὶ κάλλος γυναικὸς τὸ μήτʼ ἀργὸν μήτʼ ἀπίθανον, ἀλλὰ μεμιγμένον χάριτι καὶ κινητικόν, ἁλμυρὸν καὶ δριμὺ καλοῦσιν. οἶμαι δὲ καὶ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην ἁλιγενῆ τοὺς ποιητὰς προσαγορεύειν καὶ μῦθον ἐπʼ αὐτῇ πεπλασμένον ἐξενεγκεῖν, ὡς ἀπὸ θαλάττης ἐχούσης τὴν γένεσιν, εἰς τὸ τῶν ἁλῶν γόνιμον αἰνιττομένους. καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸν τὸν Ποσειδῶνα καὶ ὅλως τοὺς πελαγικοὺς θεοὺς πολυτέκνους καὶ πολυγόνους ἀποφαίνουσιν. αὐτῶν δὲ τῶν ζῴων οὐδὲν ἂν χερσαῖον ἢ πτηνὸν εἰπεῖν ἔχοις οὕτω γόνιμον, ὡς πάντα τὰ θαλάττια· πρὸς ὃ καὶ πεποίηκεν ὁ Ἐμπεδοκλῆς φῦλον ἄμουσον ἄγουσα πολυσπερέων καμασήνων. ## 11. Book VI · chapters 1–6 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/11/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/11/#p-N [¶0] 0.1. Timotheus the son of Conon, Sossius Senecio, after a full enjoyment of luxurious campaign diet, being entertained by Plato in his Academy, at a neat, homely, and (as Ion says) no surfeiting feast (such an one as is constantly followed by sound sleep, and, by reason of the calm and pleasant state the body enjoys, rarely interrupted with dreams and apparitions), the next day, being sensible of the difference, said that those that supped with Plato were well treated, even the day after the feast. For such a temper of a body not over-charged, but expedite and fitted for the ready execution of all its enterprises, is without all doubt a great help for the more comfortable passing away of the day. But there is another benefit not inferior to the former, which does usually accrue to those that sup with Plato, namely, the recollection of those points that were debated at the table. For the remembrance of those pleasures which arise from meat and drink is ungenteel, and short-lived withal, and nothing but the remains of yesterday’s smell. But the subjects of philosophical queries and discourses, being always fresh after they are imparted, are equally relished by all, as well by those that were absent as by those that were present at them; insomuch that learned men even now are as much partakers of Socrates’s feasts as those who really supped with him. But if things pertaining to the body had afforded any pleasure, Xenophon and Plato should have left us an account not of the discourse, but of the great variety of dishes, sauces, and other costly compositions that were prepared in the houses of Callias and Agatho. Yet there is not the least mention made of any such things, though questionless they were as sumptuous as possible; but whatever things were treated of and learnedly discussed by their guests were left upon record and transmitted to posterity as precedents, not only for discoursing at table, but also for remembering the things that were handled at such meetings. > Greek: 0.1. Τιμόθεον τὸν Κόνωνος, ὦ Σόσσιε Σενεκίων, ὡς ἐκ τῶν πολυτελῶν καὶ στρατηγικῶν δείπνων ἀναλαβὼν ὁ Πλάτων ἐδείπνισεν ἐν Ἀκαδημείᾳ μουσικῶς καὶ ἀφελῶς ταῖς ἀφλεγμάντοις ὥς φησιν ὁ Ἴων τραπέζαις αἷς ὕπνοι τε καθαροὶ καὶ βραχυόνειροι φαντασίαι, τοῦ σώματος εὐδίαν καὶ γαλήνην ἔχοντος, ἕπονται· μεθʼ ἡμέραν ὁ Τιμόθεος αἰσθόμενος τῆς διαφορᾶς ἔφη τοὺς παρὰ Πλάτωνι δειπνήσαντας καὶ τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ καλῶς γίγνεσθαι. μέγα γὰρ ὡς ἀληθῶς εὐημερίας ἐφόδιον εὐκρασία σώματος ἀβαπτίστου καὶ ἐλαφροῦ καὶ παρεστῶτος ἀνυπόπτως ἐπὶ πᾶσαν ἐνέργειαν. ἀλλʼ ἕτερον οὐκ ἔλαττον ὑπῆρχε τοῦτο τοῖς παρὰ Πλάτωνι δειπνήσασιν, ἡ τῶν λαληθέντων παρὰ πότον ἀναθεώρησις· αἱ μὲν γὰρ τῶν ποθέντων ἢ βρωθέντων ἡδοναὶ τὴν ἀνάμνησιν ἀνελεύθερον ἔχουσι καὶ ἄλλως ἐξίτηλον, ὥσπερ ὀσμὴν ἕωλον κνῖσαν ἐναπολειπομένην προβλημάτων δὲ καὶ λόγων φιλοσόφων ὑποθέσεις αὐτοὺς τοὺς μεμνημένους εὐφραίνουσιν, ἀεὶ πρόσφατοι παροῦσαι· καὶ τοὺς ἀπολειφθέντας οὐχ ἧττον ἑστιᾶν παρέχουσι τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἀκούοντας καὶ μεταλαμβάνοντας· ὅπου καὶ νῦν τῶν Σωκρατικῶν συμποσίων μετουσία καὶ ἀπόλαυσίς ἐστι τοῖς φιλολόγοις, ὥσπερ αὐτοῖς ἐκείνοις τοῖς τότε δειπνοῦσι. καίτοι, εἰ τὰ σωματικὰ τὰς ἡδονὰς παρεῖχεν, ἔδει καὶ Ξενοφῶντα καὶ Πλάτωνα μὴ τῶν λαληθέντων ἀλλὰ παρατεθέντων ἐν Καλλίου καὶ Ἀγάθωνος ὄψων καὶ πεμμάτων καὶ τραγημάτων ἀπογραφὴν ἀπολιπεῖν· νῦν δʼ ἐκεῖνα μὲν οὐδέποτε, καίπερ ὡς εἰκὸς ἐκ παρασκευῆς γενόμενα καὶ δαπάνης, λόγου τινὸς ἠξιώθη· τὰ δὲ φιλοσοφηθέντα μετὰ παιδιᾶς σπουδάζοντες εἰς γραφὴν ἀπετίθεντο, καὶ κατέλειπον παραδείγματα τοῦ μὴ μόνον συνεῖναι διὰ λόγων ἀλλήλοις παρὰ πότον ἀλλὰ καὶ μεμνῆσθαι τῶν λαληθέντων. [¶1] 1.1. I PRESENT you with this Sixth Book of Table Discourses, wherein the first thing that cometh to be discussed is an enquiry into the reason why those that are fasting are more inclinable to drink than to eat. For the assertion carries in it a repugnancy to the standing rules of reason; forasmuch as the decayed stock of dry nourishment seems more naturally to call for its proper supplies. Whereupon I told the company, that of those things whereof our bodies are composed, heat only—or, however, above all the rest— stands in continual need of such accessions; for the truth of which this may be urged as a convincing argument: neither air, water, nor earth requires any matter to feed upon, or devours whatsoever lies next it; but fire alone doth. Hence it comes to pass that young men, by reason of their greater share of natural heat, have commonly greater stomachs than old men; whereas on the contrary, old men can endure fasting much better, for this only reason, because their natural heat is grown weaker and decayed. Just so we see it fares with bloodless animals, which by reason of the want of heat require very little nourishment. Besides, every one of us finds by experience, that bodily exercises, clamors, and whatever other actions by violent motion occasion heat, commonly sharpen our stomachs and get us a better appetite. Now, as I take it, the most natural and principal nourishment of heat is moisture, as it evidently appears from flames, which increase by the pouring in of oil, and from ashes, which are of the driest things in nature; for after the humidity is consumed by the fire, the terrene and grosser parts remain without any moisture at all. Add to these, that fire separates and dissolves bodies by extracting that moisture which should keep them close and compact. Therefore, when we are fasting, the heat first of all forces the moisture out of the relics of the nourishment that remain in the body, and then, pursuing the other humid parts, preys upon the natural moisture of the flesh itself. Hence the body like clay grows dry, wants drink more than meat; till the heat, receiving strength and vigor by our drinking, excites an appetite for more substantial food. > Greek: 1.1. ἕκτον οὖν τοῦτό σοι πέμπω τῶν Συμποσιακῶν, ἐν ᾧ πρῶτόν ἐστι τὸ περὶ τοῦ διψῆν μᾶλλον ἢ πεινῆν τοὺς νηστεύοντας. ἄλογον γὰρ ἐφαίνετο διψῆν μᾶλλον ἢ πεινῆν τοὺς ἐκνηστεύσαντας· ἡ γὰρ ἔνδεια τῆς ξηρᾶς τροφῆς ἀναπλήρωσιν οἰκείαν ἐδόκει καὶ κατὰ φύσιν ἐπιζητεῖν. ἔλεγον οὖν ἐγὼ τοῖς παροῦσιν, ὅτι τῶν ἐν ἡμῖν ἢ μόνον ἢ μάλιστα δεῖται τροφῆς τὸ θερμόν ὥσπερ ἀμέλει βλέπομεν ἔξω μήτʼ ἀέρα μήθʼ ὕδωρ μήτε γῆν ἐφιέμενα τοῦ τρέφεσθαι μηδʼ ἀναλίσκοντα τὸ πλησιάζον, ἀλλὰ μόνον τὸ πῦρ. ᾗ καὶ τὰ νέα βρωτικώτερα τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ὑπὸ θερμότητος· καὶ τοὐναντίον οἱ γέροντες ῥᾷστα νηστείαν φέρουσιν· ἀμβλὺ γὰρ ἐν αὐτοῖς καὶ μικρὸν ἤδη τὸ θερμόν ἐστιν, ὥσπερ ἐν τοῖς ἀναίμοις τῶν ζῴων, ἃ δὴ καὶ τροφῆς ἣκιστα προσδεῖται διʼ ἔνδειαν θερμότητος· αὐτὸν θʼ ἕκαστον αὑτοῦ γυμνάσια καὶ κραυγαὶ καὶ ὅσα τῷ κινεῖν αὔξει τὸ θερμόν, ἥδιον φαγεῖν ποιεῖ καὶ προθυμότερον τροφὴ δὲ τῷ θερμῷ, καθάπερ νομίζω, ὃ πρῶτον κατὰ φύσιν, μάλιστα τὸ ὑγρόν ἐστιν, ὡς αἵ τε φλόγες αὐξανόμεναι τῷ ἐλαίῳ δηλοῦσι καὶ τὸ πάντων ξηρότατον εἶναι τέφραν· ἐκκέκαυται γὰρ τὸ νοτερόν, τὸ δὲ γεῶδες ἔρημον ἰκμάδος λέλειπται· καὶ ὁμοίως διίστησι καὶ διαιρεῖ τὰ σώματα τὸ πῦρ τῷ ἐξαιρεῖν τὴν κολλῶσαν ὑγρότητα καὶ συνδέουσαν. ὅταν οὖν νηστεύσωμεν, ἐκ τῶν ὑπολειμμάτων τῆς ἐν τῷ σώματι τροφῆς ἀποσπᾶται βίᾳ τὸ ὑγρὸν ὑπὸ τοῦ θερμοῦ τὸ πρῶτον, εἶτʼ ἐπʼ αὐτὴν βαδίζει τὴν σύμφυτον λιβάδα τῆς σαρκὸς ἡ πύρωσις διώκουσα τὸ νοτερόν· γενομένης οὖν ὥσπερ ἐν πηλῷ ξηρότητος, ποτοῦ μᾶλλον τὸ σῶμα δεῖσθαι πέφυκεν, ἄχρι οὗ πιόντων ἀναρρωσθὲν καὶ ἰσχῦσαν τὸ θερμὸν ἐμβριθοῦς τροφῆς ὄρεξιν ἐργάσηται. [¶2] 2.1. AFTER these things were spoke, Philo the physician started the first question, asserting that thirst did not arise from the want of nourishment, but from the different transfiguration of certain passages. For, says he, this may be made evident, partly from what we see happens to those that thirst in the night, who, if sleep chance to steal upon them, though they did not drink before, are yet rid of their thirst; partly from persons in a fever, who, as soon as the disease abates or is removed, thirst no more. Nay, a great many men, after they have bathed or vomited, perceive presently that their thirst is gone; yet none of these add any thing to their former moisture, but only the transfiguration of the pores causeth a new order and disposition. And this is more evident in hunger; for many sick persons, at the same time when they have the greatest need of meat, have no stomach. Others, after they have filled their bellies, have the same stomachs, and their appetites are rather increased than abated. There are a great many besides who loathe all sorts of diet, yet by taking of a pickled olive or caper recover and confirm their lost appetites. This doth clearly evince, that hunger proceeds from some change in the pores, and not from any want of sustenance, forasmuch as such kind of food lessens the defect by adding food, but increases the hunger; and the pleasing relish and poignancy of such pickles, by binding and straitening the mouth of the ventricle, and again by opening and loosening of it, beget in it a convenient disposition to receive meat, which we call by the name of appetite. > Greek: 2.1. λεχθέντων δὲ τούτων, οἱ περὶ Φίλωνα ἰατροὶ τὴν πρώτην θέσιν ἐκίνουν· ἐνδείᾳ γὰρ οὐ γίγνεσθαι τὸ δίψος, ἀλλὰ πόρων τινῶν μετασχηματισμῷ. τοῦτο μὲν γὰρ οἱ νύκτωρ διψῶντες, ἂν ἐπικαταδάρθωσι, παύονται τοῦ διψῆν μὴ πιόντες· τοῦτο δʼ οἱ πυρέττοντες, ἐνδόσεως γενομένης ἢ παντάπασι τοῦ πυρετοῦ λωφήσαντος, καὶ ἅμα τοῦ διψῆν ἀπαλλάττονται· πολλοῖς δὲ λουσαμένοις καὶ νὴ Δίʼ ἐμέσασιν ἑτέροις λήγει τὸ δίψος. ὧν ὑπʼ οὐδενὸς αὔξεται τὸ ὑγρόν, ἀλλὰ μόνον οἱ πόροι παρέχουσι, πάσχοντές τι τῷ μετασχηματίζεσθαι, τάξιν ἑτέραν καὶ διάθεσιν. ἐκδηλότερον δὲ τοῦτο γίγνεται περὶ τὴν πεῖναν· ἐνδεεῖς γὰρ ἅμα πολλοὶ γίνονται καὶ ἀνόρεκτοι τῶν νοσούντων· ἐνίοις δʼ ἐμπιπλαμένοις οὐδὲ ἓν αἱ ὀρέξεις χαλῶσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ κατατείνουσι καὶ παραμένουσιν. ἤδη δὲ πολλοὶ τῶν ἀποσίτων ἐλαίαν ἁλμάδα λαμβάνοντες ἢ κάππαριν γευσάμενοι ταχέως ἀνέλαβον καὶ παρεστήσαντο τὴν ὄρεξιν. ᾧ καὶ μάλιστα δῆλόν ἐστιν, ὅτι πάθει τινὶ πόρων οὐχ ὑπʼ ἐνδείας ἐγγίγνεται τὸ πεινῆν ἡμῖν· τὰ· γὰρ τοιαῦτα βρώματα τὴν μὲν ἔνδειαν ἐλαττοῖ προστιθεμένης τροφῆς, τὸ δὲ πεινῆν ποιοῦσιν· οὕτως αἱ τῶν ἐφάλμων βρωμάτων εὐστομίαι καὶ δριμύτητες ἐπιστρέφουσαι καὶ πυκνοῦσαι τὸν στόμαχον ἢ πάλιν ἀνοίγουσαι καὶ χαλῶσαι δεκτικήν τινα τροφῆς εὐαρμοστίαν περιειργάσαντο περὶ αὐτόν, ἣν ὄρεξιν καλοῦμεν. [¶3] 2.2. I must confess this discourse seemed to carry in it some shadow of reason and probability; but in the main it is directly repugnant to the chief end of nature, to which appetite directs every animal. For that makes it desire a supply of what they stand in need of, and avoid a defect of their proper food. Now to deny that this very thing, which principally distinguishes an animate creature from an inanimate, conduces to the preservation and duration of such a creature, being that which craves and receives those things which the body needs to supply its wants, and, on the contrary, to suppose that such an appetite arises from the transfiguration or the greater or lesser size of the pores, is an absurdity worthy only of such as have no regard at all for Nature. Besides, it is absurd to think that a body through the want of natural heat should be chilled, and should not in like manner hunger and thirst through the want of natural moisture and nourishment. And yet this is more absurd, that Nature when overcharged should desire to disburden herself, and yet should not require to be filled on account of emptiness, but on account of some affection or other, I know not what. Moreover, these needs and supplies in relation to animals have some resemblance to those we see in husbandry. There are a great many like qualities and like provisions on both sides. For in a drought we water our grounds, and in case of excessive heat, we frequently make use of moderate coolers; and when our fruits are too cold, we endeavor to preserve and cherish them, by covering and making fences about them. And for such things as are out of the reach of human power, we implore the assistance of the Gods, that is, to send us softening dews, sunshines qualified with moderate winds; that so Nature, being always desirous of a due mixture, may have her wants supplied. And for this reason I presume it was that nourishment is called τροφή (from τηροῦν), because it watches and preserves Nature. Now Nature is preserved in plants, which are destitute of sense, by the favorable influence of the circumambient air (as Empedocles says), moistening them in such a measure as is most agreeable to their nature. But as for us men, our appetites prompt us on to the chase and pursuance of whatsoever is wanting to our natural temperament. Now let us pass to the examination of the truth of the arguments that seem to favor the contrary opinion. And for the first, I suppose that those meats that are palatable and of a quick and sharp taste do not beget in us an appetite, but rather bite and fret those parts that receive the nourishment, as we find that scratching the skin causes itching. And supposing we should grant that this affection or disposition is the very thing which we call the appetite, it is probable that, by the operation of such kind of food as this, the nourishment may be made small, and so much of it as is convenient for Nature severed from the rest, so that the indigency proceeds not from the transmutation, but front the evacuation and purgation of the passages. For sharp, tart, and salt things grate the inward matter, and by dispersing of it cause digestion, so that by the concoctions of the old there may arise an appetite for new. Nor does the cessation of thirst after a bath spring from the different position of the passages, but from a new supply of moisture received into the flesh, and conveyed from thence to them also. And vomiting, by throwing off whatever is disagreeable to Nature, puts her in a capacity of enjoying what is most suitable for her. For thirst does not call for a superfluity of moisture, but only for so much as sufficeth Nature; and therefore, though a man had plenty of disagreeable and unnatural moisture, yet he wants still, for that stops the course of the natural, which Nature is desirous of, and hinders a due mixture and temperament, till it be cast out and the passages receive what is most proper and convenient for them. Moreover, a fever forces all the moisture downward; and the middle parts being in a flame, it all retires thither, and there is shut up and forcibly detained. And therefore it is usual with a great many to vomit, by reason of the density of the inward parts squeezing out the moisture, and likewise to thirst, by reason of the poor and dry state the rest of the body is in. But after the violence of the distemper is once abated, and the raging heat hath left the middle parts, the moisture begins to disperse itself again; and according to its natural motion, by a speedy conveyance into all the parts, it refreshes the entrails, softens and makes tender the dry and parched flesh. Very often also it causes sweat, and then the defect which occasioned thirst ceases; for the moisture leaving that part of the body wherein it was forcibly detained, and out of which it hardly made an escape, retires to the place where it is wanted. For as it fares with a garden wherein there is a large well,—if nobody draw thereof and water it, the herbs must needs wither and die,—so it fares with a body; if all the moisture be contracted into one part, it is no wonder if the rest be in want and dry, till it is diffused again over the other limbs. Just so it happens to persons in a fever, after the heat of the disease is over, and likewise to those who go to sleep thirsty. For in these, sleep draws the moisture out of the middle parts, and equally distributes it amongst the rest, satisfying them all. But, I pray, what kind of transfiguration of the passages is this which causes hunger and thirst? For my part, I know no other distinction of the passages but in respect of their number, or that some of them are shut, others open. As for those that are shut, they can neither receive meat nor drink; and as for those that are open, they make an empty space, which is nothing but a want of that which Nature requires. Thus, sir, when men dye cloth, the liquor in which they dip it hath very sharp and abstersive particles; which, consuming and scouring off all the matter that filled the pores, make the cloth more apt to receive the dye, because its pores are empty and want something to fill them up. > Greek: 2.2. ἐδόκει δή μοι ταῦτα πιθανῶς μὲν ἐπικεχειρῆσθαι, πρὸς δὲ τὸ μέγιστον ἐναντιοῦσθαι τῆς φύσεως τέλος, ἐφʼ ὃ πᾶν ἄγει ζῷον ὄρεξις, ἀναπλήρωσιν τοῦ ἐνδεοῦς ποθοῦσα καὶ τὸ ἐκλεῖπον ἀεὶ τοῦ οἰκείου διώκουσα· τὸ γὰρ ᾧ διαφέρει μάλιστα τὸ ζῷον τοῦ ἀψύχου, τοῦτο μὴ φάναι πρὸς σωτηρίαν καὶ διαμονὴν ὑπάρχειν ἡμῖν, ὥσπερ ὄμμα τῶν οἰκείων τῷ σώματι καὶ δεόντων ἐγγεγενημένον, ἀλλὰ πάθος εἶναι καὶ τροπήν τινα πόρων οἴεσθαι μεγέθεσι καὶ μικρότησι συμβαίνουσαν, εἰς οὐδένʼ ἦν λόγον ἁπλῶς τιθεμένων τὴν φύσιν. ἔπειτα ῥιγοῦν ἐνδείᾳ θερμότητος οἰκείας τὸ σῶμα, μηκέτι δὲ διψῆν μηδὲ πεινῆν ὑγρότητος ἐνδείᾳ τῆς κατὰ φύσιν καὶ τροφῆς, ἄλογόν ἐστι· τούτου δʼ ἀλογώτερον, εἰ κενώσεως μὲν ἐφίεται διὰ πλήρωσιν ἡ φύσις, πληρώσεως δʼ οὐ διὰ κένωσιν, ἀλλʼ ἑτέρου τινὸς πάθους ἐγγενομένου. καὶ μὴν αἵ γε τοιαῦται περὶ τὰ ζῷα χρεῖαι καὶ ἀναπληρώσεις οὐθέν τι τῶν περὶ τὰς γεωργίας γιγνομένων διαφέρουσι· πολλὰ γὰρ ὅμοια πάσχει καὶ βοηθεῖται· πρὸς μὲν γὰρ τὰς ξηρότητας ἀρδείαις ποτιζόμενα, καὶ ψυχόμενα μετρίως, ὅταν φλέγηται· ῥιγοῦντα δʼ αὐτὰ θάλπειν πειρώμεθα καὶ σκέπειν πόλλʼ ἄττα περιβάλλοντες· καὶ ὅσα μὴ παρʼ ἡμᾶς ἐστιν, εὐχόμεθα τὸν θεὸν διδόναι, δρόσους μαλακὰς καὶ εἰλήσεις ἐν πνεύμασι μετρίοις, ὡς ἀεὶ τοῦ ἀπολείποντος ἀναπλήρωσιν ἡ φύσις ἔχοι, διατηροῦσα τὴν κρᾶσιν. οὕτω γὰρ οἶμαι καὶ τροφὴν ὠνομάσθαι τὸ τηροῦν τὴν φύσιν· τηρεῖται δὲ τοῖς μὲν φυτοῖς ἀναισθήτως ἐκ τοῦ περιέχοντος, ὥς φησιν Ἐμπεδοκλῆς, ὑδρευομένοις τὸ πρόσφορον· ἡμᾶς δʼ ἡ ὄρεξις ζητεῖν διδάσκει καὶ διώκειν τὸ ἐκλεῖπον τῆς κράσεως. οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν εἰρημένων ἕκαστον ἴδωμεν ὡς οὐκ ἀληθές ἐστι. τὰ μὲν γὰρ εὐστομίαν ἔχοντα καὶ δριμύτητα τάχα μὲν οὐκ ὄρεξιν, ἀλλὰ δηγμὸν ἐμποιεῖ τοῖς δεκτικοῖς μέρεσι τῆς τροφῆς, οἷον κνησμοὶ κατὰ θίξιν ἐνίων ἀμυσσόντων· εἰ δὲ καὶ τοῦτο τὸ πάθος ὀρεκτικόν ἐστιν, εἰκός ἐστιν ὑπὸ τῶν τοιούτων βρωμάτων λεπτυνόμενα διακρίνεσθαι τὰ προϋπόντα, καὶ ποιεῖν μὲν ἔνδειαν, οὐ μεταρρυθμιζομένων δὲ τῶν πόρων ἀλλὰ κενουμένων καὶ καθαιρομένων τὰ γὰρ ὀξέα καὶ δριμέα καὶ ἁλμυρὰ θρύπτοντα τὴν ὕλην διαφορεῖ καὶ σκίδνησιν, ὥστε νεαρὰν ποιεῖν τὴν ὄρεξιν ἐκθλιβομένων τῶν ἑώλων καὶ χθιζῶν. τῶν δὲ λουομένων οὐ μετασχηματιζόμενοι παύουσιν οἱ πόροι τὸ δίψος, ἀλλʼ ἰκμάδα διὰ τῆς σαρκὸς ἀναλαμβάνοντες καὶ ἀναπιμπλάμενοι νοτερᾶ ἀτμίδος. οἱ δʼ ἔμετοι τἀλλότριον ἐκβάλλοντες ἀπόλαυσιν τῇ φύσει τοῦ οἰκείου παρέσχον. οὐ γὰρ ἁπλῶς τοῦ ὑγροῦ τὸ δίψος, ἀλλὰ τοῦ κατὰ φύσιν καὶ οἰκείου διό, κἂν πολὺ παρῇ τὸ ἀλλόφυλον, ἐνδεὴς ὁ ἄνθρωπός ἐστιν· ἐνίσταται γὰρ τοῖς κατὰ φύσιν ὑγροῖς, ὧν ἡ ὄρεξίς ἐστι, καὶ οὐ δίδωσιν ἀνάμιξιν οὐδὲ κατάκρασιν, ἄχρι ἂν ἐκστῇ καὶ ἀποχωρήσῃ· τότε δʼ οἱ πόροι τὸ σύμφυλον ἀναλαμβάνουσιν. οἱ δὲ πυρετοὶ τὸ ὑγρὸν εἰς βάθος ἀπωθοῦσι· καὶ τῶν μέσων φλεγομένων, ἐκεῖ πᾶν ἀποκεχώρηκε καὶ κρατεῖται πεπιεσμένον ὅθεν ἐμεῖν τε πολλοὺς ἅμα συμβαίνει, πυκνότητι τῶν ἐντὸς ἀναθλιβόντων τὰ ὑγρά, καὶ διψῆν διʼ ἔνδειαν καὶ ξηρότητα τοῦ λοιποῦ σώματος. ὅταν οὖν ἄνεσις γένηται καὶ τὸ θερμὸν ἐκ τῶν μέσων ἀπίῃ, σκιδνάμενον αὖθις ὑπονοστεῖ καὶ διιόν, ὡς πέφυκε, πάντῃ τὸ νοτερὸν ἅμα τοῖς· τε μέσοις ῥᾳστώνην παρέσχε, καὶ τὴν σάρκα λείαν καὶ ἁπαλὴν ἀντὶ τραχείας καὶ αὐχμώδους γενομένην ἐμάλαξε, πολλάκις δὲ καὶ ἱδρῶτας ἐπήγαγεν· ὅθεν ἡ ποιοῦσα διψῆν ἔνδεια λήγει καὶ παύεται, τῆς ὑγρότητος ἀπὸ τοῦ βαρυνομένου καὶ δυσαναβλαυτοῦντος ἐπὶ τὸν δεόμενον καὶ ποθοῦντα μεθισταμένης τόπον. ὡς γὰρ ἐν κήπῳ, φρέατος ἄφθονον ὕδωρ ἔχοντος, εἰ μὴ τις ἐπαντλοῖ καὶ ἄρδοι τὰ φυτά, διψῆν καὶ ἀτροφεῖν ἀναγκαῖόν ἐστιν· οὕτως ἐν σώματι, τῶν ὑγρῶν εἰς ἕνα κατασπωμένων τόπον, οὐ θαυμαστὸν ἔνδειαν εἶναι περὶ τὰ λοιπὰ καὶ ξηρότητα, μέχρι οὗ πάλιν ἐπιρροὴ καὶ διάχυσις γένηται· καθάπερ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν πυρεττόντων, ὅταν ἀνεθῶσι, συμβαίνει καὶ τῶν ἐγκαταδαρθανόντων τῷ διψῆν· καὶ γὰρ τούτοις ὁ ὕπνος ἐκ μέσων ἐπανάγων τὰ ὑγρὰ καὶ διανέμων πάντῃ τοῖς μέρεσιν ὁμαλισμὸν ἐμποιεῖ καὶ ἀναπλήρωσιν. ὁ γὰρ δὴ λεγόμενος τῶν πόρων μετασχηματισμὸς οὗτος, ᾧ τὸ πεινῆν ἢ τὸ διψῆν ἐγγίνηται, ποῖὸς τίς ἐστιν; ἐγὼ μὲν γὰρ οὐχ ὁρῶ περὶ πόρους διαφορὰς ἄλλας κατὰ πάθος ἢ τὸ συμπίπτειν καὶ τὸ διίστασθαι· καὶ συμπίπτοντες μὲν· οὔτε ποτὸν οὔτε τροφὴν δέχεσθαι δύνανται, διιστάμενοι δὲ κενότητα καὶ χώραν ποιοῦσιν, ἔνδειαν οὖσαν τοῦ κατὰ φύσιν καὶ οἰκείου. καὶ γὰρ αἱ στύψεις, ὦ βέλτιστε, τῶν βαπτομένων ἔφην τόπων ἔχουσι τὸ δριμὺ καὶ ῥυπτικόν, ᾧ τῶν περισσῶν ἐκκρινομένων καὶ ἀποτηκομένων, οἱ πόροι δέχονται μᾶλλον καὶ στέγουσι δεξάμενοι τὴν βαφὴν ὑπʼ ἐνδείας καὶ κενότητος. [¶4] 3.1. AFTER we had gone thus far, the master of the feast told the company that the former points were reasonably well discussed; and waiving at present the discourse concerning the evacuation and repletion of the pores, he requested us to fall upon another question, that is, how it comes to pass that hunger is staid by drinking, when, on the contrary, thirst is more violent after eating. Those who assign the reason to be in the pores seem with a great deal of ease and probability, though not with so much truth, to explain the thing. For seeing the pores in all bodies are of different sorts and sizes, the more capacious receive both dry and humid nourishment, the lesser take in drink, not meat; but the vacuity of the former causes hunger, of the latter thirst. Hence it is that men that thirst are never the better after they have eaten, the pores by reason of their straitness denying admittance to grosser nourishment, and the want of suitable supply still remaining. But after hungry men have drunk, the moisture enters the greater pores, fills the empty spaces, and in part assuages the violence of the hunger. > Greek: 3.1. ῥηθέντων δὲ τούτων, ὁ ἑστιῶν ἡμᾶς καὶ ταῦτʼ ἔφη μετρίως λέγεσθαι καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἄλλην ἀπορίαν, τὰς τῶν πόρων κενώσεις καὶ ἀναπληρώσεις, ἐν τῷ παραυτίκα … τοῖς δὲ διψῶσι τοὐναντίον, ἐὰν ἐμφάγωσιν, ἐπιτείνειν συμβαίνει τὸ δίψος. τοῦτο δὲ τὸ πάθος οἱ τοὺς πόρους διαφόρους ὑποτιθέμενοι ῥᾷστα καὶ πιθανώτατά μοι δοκοῦσιν, εἰ καὶ μὴ τἄλλα μόνον πιθανῶς, αἰτιολογεῖν. πᾶσι γὰρ ὄντων πόρων, ἄλλος πόρος ἄλλας συμμετρίας ἔχει· ὧν οἱ μὲν εὐρύτεροι τὴν ξηρὰν ἅμα καὶ τὴν ὑγρὰν τροφὴν ἀναλαμβάνουσιν, οἱ δʼ ἰσχνότεροι τὸ μὲν ποτὸν παραδέχονται, ποιεῖ δὲ τὴν μὲν δίψαν ἡ τούτων κένωσις, ἡ δʼ ἐκείνων τὴν πεῖναν. ὅθεν, ἐὰν μὲν φάγωσιν οἱ διψῶντες, οἱ μὲν οὐ βοηθοῦνται, τῶν πόρων διὰ λεπτότητα τὴν ξηρὰν τροφὴν μὴ δεχομένων, ἀλλʼ ἐπιδεῶν τοῦ οἰκείου διαμενόντων· οἱ δὲ πεινῶντες ἐὰν πίνωσιν, ἐνδυόμενα τὰ ὑγρὰ τοῖς μείζοσι πόροις καὶ ἀναπληροῦντα τὰς κενότητας αὐτῶν ἀνίησι τὸ σφοδρὸν ἄγαν τῆς πείνης. [¶5] 3.2. Of this effect, said I, I do not in the least doubt, but I do not approve of the reason they give for it. For if any one should admit these pores (which some are so unreasonably fond of) to be in the flesh, he must needs make it a very soft, loose, flabby substance; and that the same parts do not receive the meat and drink, but that they run through different canals and strainers in them, seems to me to be a very strange and unaccountable opinion. For the moisture mixes with the dry food, and by the assistance of the natural heat and spirits cuts the nourishment far smaller than any cleaver or chopping-knife, to the end that every part of it may be exactly fitted to each part of the body, not applied, as they would have it, to little vessels and pores, but united and incorporated with the whole substance. And unless the thing were explained after this manner, the hardest knot in the question would still remain unsolved. For a man that has a thirst upon him, supposing he eats and doth not drink, is so far from quenching, that he does highly increase it. This point is yet untouched. But mark, said I, whether the positions on my side be clear and evident or not. In the first place, we take it for granted that moisture is wasted and destroyed by dryness, that the drier parts of the nourishment, qualified and softened by moisture, are diffused and fly away in vapors. Secondly, we must by no means suppose that all hunger is a total privation of dry, and thirst of humid nutriment, but only a moderate one, and such as is sufficient to cause the one or the other; for whoever are wholly deprived of either of these, they neither hunger nor thirst, but die instantly. These things being laid down as a foundation, it will be no hard matter to find out the cause. Thirst is increased by eating for this reason, because that meat by its natural siccity contracts and destroys all that small quantity of moisture which remained scattered here and there through the body; just as it happens in things obvious to our senses; we see the earth, dust, and the like presently suck in the moisture that is mixed with them. Now, on the contrary, drink must of necessity assuage hunger; for the moisture watering and diffusing itself through the dry and parched relics of the meat we ate last, by turning them into thin juices, conveys them through the whole body, and succors the indigent parts. And therefore with very good reason Erasistratus called moisture the vehicle of the meat; for as soon as this is mixed with things which by reason of their dryness, or some other quality, are slow and heavy, it raises them up and carries them aloft. Moreover, several men, when they have drunk nothing at all, but only washed themselves, all on a sudden are freed from a violent hunger, because the extrinsic moisture entering the pores makes the meat within more succulent and of a more nourishing nature, so that the heat and fury of the hunger declines and abates; and therefore a great many of those who have a mind to starve themselves to death live a long time only by drinking water; that is, as long as the siccity does not quite consume whatever may be united to and nourish the body. > Greek: 3.2. ἐμοὶ δὲ τὸ μὲν συμβαῖνον ἀληθὲς ἐφαίνετο, τῇ δʼ ὑποθέσει τῆς αἰτίας οὐ προσεῖχον. καὶ γὰρ εἰ τοῖς πόροις τούτοις ἔφην, ὧν ἔνιοι περιέχονται καὶ ἀγαπῶσι, κατατρήσειέ τις τὴν σάρκα, πλαδαρὰν καὶ τρομώδη καὶ σαθρὰν ποιήσει· τό γε μὴ ταὐτὰ τοῦ σώματος μόρια τὸ ποτὸν προσδέχεσθαι καὶ τὸ σιτίον ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ ἠθμοῖς καταρρεῖσθαι καὶ ἀποκρίνεσθαι, κομιδῇ πλασματῶδες καὶ ἀλλόκοτον. αὕτη γὰρ ἡ πρὸς τὸ ὑγρὸν ἀνάμιξις, θρύπτουσα τὰ σιτία καὶ συνεργὰ λαμβάνουσα τὸ θερμὸν τὸ ἐντὸς καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα, πάντων ὀργάνων ἀκριβέστατα πάσαις τομαῖς καὶ διαιρέσεσι λεπτύνει τὴν τροφὴν ὥστε πᾶν μόριον αὐτῆς παντὶ μορίῳ γίγνεσθαι φίλον καὶ οἰκεῖον, οὐκ ἐναρμόττον ὥσπερ ἀγγείοις καὶ τρήμασιν ἀλλʼ ἑνούμενον καὶ προσφυόμενον. ἄνευ δὲ τούτων οὐδὲ λέλυται τῆς ἀπορίας τὸ μέγιστον· οἱ γὰρ ἐμφαγόντες, ἂν μὴ πίωσιν, οὐ μόνον οὐ λύουσιν ἀλλὰ καὶ προσεπιτείνουσι τὸ δίψος πρὸς τοῦτο δʼ οὐδὲν εἴρηται. σκόπει δὲ καὶ τὰ παρʼ ἡμῶν ἔφην εἰ φαινομένας ὑποθέσεις λαμβάνομεν, πρῶτον μὲν λαμβάνοντες τὸ ὑγρὸν ὑπὸ τοῦ ξηροῦ διαφθείρεσθαι δαπανώμενον, τῷ δʼ ὑγρῷ τὸ ξηρὸν βρεχόμενον καὶ μαλασσόμενον διαχύσεις ἴσχειν καὶ ἀναθυμιάσεις· δεύτερον δὲ μὴ νομίζοντες ἔκθλιψιν εἶναι παντάπασι μήτε τῆς ξηρᾶς τροφῆς τὴν πεῖναν μήτε τῆς ὑγρᾶς τὴν δίψαν, ἀλλὰ τοῦ μετρίου καὶ ἀρκοῦντος ἔνδειαν· οἷς γὰρ ὅλως ἂν ἐλλίπῃ θάτερον, οὔτε πεινῶσιν οὔτε διψῶσιν ἀλλʼ εὐθὺς ἀποθνήσκουσιν. ὑποκειμένων δὲ τούτων, οὐ χαλεπὸν ἤδη τὴν αἰτίαν συνιδεῖν. ἡ μὲν γὰρ δίψα τοῖς φαγοῦσιν ἐπιτείνεται, τῶν σιτίων τῇ ξηρότητι, εἴ τι διεσπαρμένον ὑγρὸν καὶ ἀπολειπόμενον ἀσθενὲς καὶ ὀλίγον ἐν τῷ σώματι, συλλεγόντων καὶ προσεξικμαζόντων ὥσπερ ἔξω γῆν ὁρῶμεν καὶ κόνιν καὶ ἄμμον τὰ μιγνύμενα τῶν ὑγρῶν ἀναλαμβάνουσαν εἰς ἑαυτὴν καὶ ἀφανίζουσαν. τὴν δὲ πεῖναν αὖ πάλιν ἀναγκαίως; τὸ ποτὸν ἀνίησιν· ἡ γὰρ ὑγρότης τὰ ὑπόντα σιτία περισκελῆ καὶ γλίσχρα βρέξασα καὶ διαχέασα, χυμῶν ἐγγενομένων καὶ ἀτμῶν, ἀναφέρει τούτους εἰς τὸ σῶμα καὶ προστίθησι τοῖς δεομένοις. ὅθεν οὐ κακῶς ὄχημα τῆς τροφῆς τὸ ὑγρὸν ὁ Ἐρασίστρατος προσεῖπε· τὰ γὰρ ὑπὸ ξηρότητος ἢ πάθους ἀργὰ καὶ βαρέα μιγνύμενον ἀναπέμπει καὶ συνεξαίρει. πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ μὴ πιόντες ἀλλὰ λουσάμενοι μόνον ἐπαύσαντο συντόνως σφόδρα πεινῶντες· ἐνδυομένη ἔξωθεν ἡ εὐχυμότερα ποιεῖ καὶ τροφιμώτερα τῷ ἐγχαλᾶσθαι τὰ ἐντός, ὥστε τῆς πείνης τὸ σφόδρα πικρὸν καὶ θηριῶδες ἐνδιδόναι καὶ παρηγορεῖσθαι. διὸ καὶ πολὺν ζῶσιν ἔνιοι τῶν ἀποκαρτερούντων χρόνον, ἂν ὕδωρ μόνον λαμβάνωσιν, ἄχρι ἂν οὗ πᾶν ἐξικμασθῇ τὸ τρέφειν καὶ προστίθεσθαι τῷ σώματι δυνάμενον. [¶6] 4.1. ONE of the strangers at the table, who took wonderful great delight in drinking of cold water, had some brought to him by the servants, cooled after this manner; they had hung in the well a bucket full of the same water, so that it could not touch the sides of the well, and there let it remain all night: the next day, when it was brought to table, it was colder than the water that was new-drawn. Now this gentleman was an indifferent good scholar, and therefore told the company he had learned this from Aristotle, who gives the reason of it. The reason which he assigned was this. All water, when it hath been once hot, is afterwards more cold; as that which is prepared for kings, when it hath boiled a good while upon the fire, is afterwards put into a vessel set round with snow, and so made cooler; just as we find our bodies more cool after we have bathed, because the body, after a short relaxation from heat, is rarefied and more porous, and therefore so much the more fitted to receive a larger quantity of air, which causes the alteration. Therefore the water, when it is drawn out of the well, being first warmed in the air, grows presently cold. > Greek: 4.1. Ψυχροπότῃ ξένῳ τρυφῶντι παρεσκεύασαν οἱ θεράποντες τοῦ ἐκ φρέατος ὕδωρ ψυχρότερον ἀρυσάμενοι γὰρ ἀγγείῳ καὶ κρεμάσαντες τὸ ἀγγεῖον ἐν τῷ φρέατι τῆς πηγῆς μὴ ἁπτόμενον εἴασαν ἐπινυκτερεῦσαι, καὶ πρὸς τὸ δεῖπνον ἐκομίζετο τοῦ προσφάτου ψυχρότερον. ἦν δʼ ὁ ξένος φιλόλογος ἐπιεικῶς, καὶ τοῦτʼ ἔφη λαβεῖν ἐκ τῶν Ἀριστοτέλους; μετὰ λόγου κείμενον· εἶναι δὲ τοιόνδε τὸν λόγου. πᾶν ὕδωρ προθερμανθὲν ψύχεται μᾶλλον, ὥσπερ τὸ τοῖς βασιλεῦσι παρασκευαζόμενον ὅταν γὰρ ἑψηθῇ μέχρι ζέσεως, περισωρεύουσι τῷ ἀγγείῳ χιόνα πολλὴν καὶ γίγνεται ψυχρότερον ὥσπερ ἀμέλει καὶ τὰ ἡμέτερα σώματα λουσαμένων περιψύχεται μᾶλλον· ἡ γὰρ ὑπὸ τῆς θερμότητος ἄνεσις πολύπορον τὸ σῶμα καὶ μανὸν ἀπειργασμένη πολὺν δέχεται τὸν ἔξωθεν ἀέρα καὶ βιαιοτέραν ποιεῖ τὴν μεταβολὴν ὅταν οὖν ὑποπλασθῇ ὑπὸ τῆς πηγῆς τὸ ὕδωρ, ἐν τῷ ἀέρι, προθερμανθέν, περιψύχεται ταχέως. [¶7] 4.2. Whereupon we began to commend the man very highly for his happy memory; but we called in question the pretended reason. For if the air wherein the vessel hangs be cold, how, I pray, does it heat the water? If hot, how does it afterwards make it cold? For it is absurd to say, that the same thing is affected by the same thing with contrary qualities, no difference at all intervening. While the gentleman held his peace, as not knowing what to say; there is no cause, said I, that we should raise any scruple concerning the nature of the air, forasmuch as we are ascertained by sense that it is cold, especially in the bottom of a well; and therefore we can never imagine that it should make the water hot. But I should rather judge this to be the reason: the cold air, though it cannot cool the great quantity of water which is in the well, yet can easily cool each part of it, separate from the whole. > Greek: 4.2. τὸν μὲν οὖν ξένον ἐπῃνέσαμεν ὡς ἀνδρικῶς καταμνημονεύσαντα· περὶ δὲ τοῦ λόγου διηποροῦμεν. ὁ γὰρ ἀήρ, ἐν ᾧ κρέμαται τὸ ἀγγεῖον, εἰ μὲν ψυχρός ἐστι, πῶς θερμαίνει τὸ ὕδωρ; εἰ δὲ θερμός, πῶς περιψύχει πάλιν; ἄλογον γὰρ ὑπὸ ταὐτοῦ ταὐτὸ πάσχειν τἀναντία, μηδεμιᾶς διαφορᾶς γενομένης. σιωπῶντος δʼ αὐτοῦ καὶ διαποροῦντος, οὐδὲν ἔφην δεῖν περὶ τοῦ ἀέρος διαπορεῖν ἡ γὰρ αἴσθησις λέγει ὅτι ψυχρός ἐστι, καὶ μάλιστά τῶν ἐν βάθει φρεάτων ὥστʼ ἀμήχανον ὑπʼ ἀέρος ψυχροῦ θερμαίνεσθαι τὸ ὕδωρ· ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον ὁ ψυχρὸς οὗτος ἀὴρ τὴν μὲν πηγὴν διὰ πλῆθος οὐ δύναται μεταβάλλειν ἂν δέ τις ἀφαιρῇ κατʼ ὀλίγον, μᾶλλον κρατῶν περιψύξει. [¶8] 5.1. I SUPPOSE you may remember what Aristotle says in his problems, of little stones and pieces of iron, how it hath been observed by some that being thrown into the water they temper and cool it. This is no more than barely asserted by him; but we will go farther and enquire into the reason of it, the discovery of which will be a matter of difficulty. Yes, says I, it will so, and it is much if we hit upon it; for do but consider, first of all, do not you suppose that the air which comes in from without cools the water? But now air has a great deal more power and force, when it beats against stones and pieces of iron. For they do not, like brazen and earthen vessels, suffer it to pass through; but, by reason of their solid bulk, beat it back and reflect it into the water, so that upon all parts the cold works very strongly. And hence it comes to pass that rivers in the winter are colder than the sea, because the cold air has a power over them, which by reason of its depth it has not over the sea, where it is scattered without any reflection. But it is probable that for another reason thinner waters may be made colder by the air than thicker, because they are not so strong to resist its force. Now whetstones and pebbles make the water thinner by drawing to them all the mud and other grosser substances that be mixed with it, that so by taking the ’strength from it it may the more easily be wrought upon by the cold. But besides, lead is naturally cold, as that which, being dissolved in vinegar, makes the coldest of all poisons, called white-lead; and stones, by reason of their density, raise cold in the bottom of the water. For every stone is nothing else but a congealed lump of frozen earth, though some more or less than others; and therefore it is no absurdity to say that stones and lead, by reflecting the air, increase the coldness of the water. > Greek: 5.1. ἀλλὰ μὴν περὶ τῶν χαλίκων ἔφην ἢ τῶν ἀκμόνων, οὓς ἐμβάλλοντες εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ ψύχειν αὐτὸ καὶ στομοῦν δοκοῦσιν, εἰρημένον Ἀριστοτέλει μνημονεύεις.αὐτὸ τοῦτʼ ἔφη μόνον ἐν προβλήμασιν εἴρηκε τὸ γιγνόμενον· εἰς δὲ τὴν αἰτίαν ἐπιχειρήσομεν ἡμεῖς· ἔστι γὰρ μάλιστα δυσθεώρητος.πάνυ μὲν οὖν ἔφην καὶ θαυμάσαιμʼ ἄν, εἰ μὴ διαφύγοι ὁ λόγος ἡμᾶς· ὅρα δʼ ὅμως. πρῶτον οὐ δοκεῖ σοι περιψύχεσθαι μὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀέρος τὸ ὕδωρ ἔξωθεν ἐμπίπτοντος, ὁ δʼ ἀὴρ μᾶλλον ἰσχύειν πρὸς τοὺς λίθους καὶ τοὺς ἄκμονας ἀπερειδόμενος; οὐ γὰρ ἐῶσιν αὐτόν, ὥσπερ τὰ χαλκᾶ καὶ τὰ κεραμεᾶ τῶν ἀγγείων, διεκπίπτειν, ἀλλὰ τῇ πυκνότητι στέγοντες ἀνακλῶσιν εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ ἀπʼ αὐτῶν, ὥστε διʼ ὅλου καὶ ἰσχυρὰν γίγνεσθαι τὴν περίψυξιν. διὸ καὶ χειμῶνος οἱ ποταμοὶ ψυχρότεροι γίγνονται τῆς θαλάττης· ἰσχύει γὰρ ἐν αὐτοῖς ὁ ψυχρὸς ἀὴρ ἀνακλώμενος, ἐν δὲ τῇ θαλάττῃ διὰ βάθος ἐκλύεται πρὸς μηδὲν ἀντερείδων. κατʼ ἄλλον δὲ τρόπον εἰκός ἐστι τὰ λεπτότερα τῶν ὑδάτων περιψύχεσθαι μᾶλλον ὑπὸ τοῦ ψυχροῦ· κρατεῖται γὰρ διʼ ἀσθένειαν. αἱ ἐάήἶκνι δʼ ἀκόναι καὶ οἱ χάλικες λεπτύνουσι τὸ ὕδωρ, ὅ τι θολερὸν καὶ γεῶδες ἀναμέμικται, τοῦτο συνάγοντες καὶ κατασπῶντες ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ, ὥστε λεπτότερον καὶ ἀσθενέστερον τὸ ὕδωρ γενόμενον μᾶλλον ὑπὸ περιψύξεως κρατεῖσθαι. καὶ μὴν ὅ τε μόλιβδος τῶν φύσει ψυχρῶν ἐστιν, ὅς γε τριβόμενος ὄξει τὸ ψυκτικώτατον τῶν θανασίμων φαρμάκων ἐξανίησι ψιμύθιον οἵ τε χάλικες τῆ πυκνότητι τὸ ψυχρὸν διὰ βάθους ποιοῦσι· πᾶς μὲν γὰρ λίθος κατεψυγμένης καὶ πεπιλημένης ὑπὸ κρύους γῆς πάγος ἐστί, μᾶλλον δʼ ὁ μᾶλλον πεπυκνωμένος· ὥστʼ οὐκ ἄτοπον, εἰ τὴν ψυχρότητα τοῦ ὕδατος ἀντερείδων συνεπιτείνει καὶ ὁ λίθος καὶ ὁ μόλιβδος. [¶9] 6.1. THEN the stranger, after he had made a little pause, said: Men in love are ambitious to be in company with their sweethearts; when that is denied them, they desire at least to talk of them. This is my case in relation to snow; and, because I cannot have it at present, I am desirous to learn the reason why it is commonly preserved by the hottest things. For, when covered with’ chaff and cloth that has never been at the fuller’s, it is preserved a long time. Now it is strange that the coldest things should be preserved by the hottest. > Greek: 6.1. μικρὸν οὖν ὁ ξένος διαλιπών οἱ ἐρῶντες ἔφη μάλιστα μὲν αὐτοῖς τοῖς παιδικοῖς, εἰ δὲ μή, περὶ αὐτῶν ἐπιθυμοῦσι διαλέγεσθαι· τοῦτο πέπονθα περὶ τῆς χιόνος. ἐπεὶ γὰρ οὐ πάρεστιν οὐδʼ ἔχομεν, ἐπιθυμοίην ἂν μαθεῖν τίς αἰτία, διʼ ἣν ὑπὸ τῶν θερμοτάτων φυλάσσεται. καὶ γὰρ ἀχύροις σπαργανοῦντες αὐτὴν καὶ περιστέλλοντες ἱματίοις ἀγνάπτοις ἐπὶ πολὺν χρόνον ἄπταιστον διατηροῦσι. θαυμαστὸν οὖν, εἰ συνεκτικὰ τὰ θερμότατα τῶν ψυχροτάτων ἐστί. [¶10] 6.2. Yes, said I, it is a very strange thing, if true. But it is not so; and we cozen ourselves by presently concluding a thing to be hot if it have a faculty of causing heat, when yet we see that the same garment causes heat in winter, and cold in summer. Thus the nurse in the tragedy, In garments thin doth Niobe’s children fold, And sometimes heats and sometimes cools the babes. The Germans indeed make use of clothes only against the cold, the Ethiopians only against the heat; but they are useful to us upon both accounts. Why therefore should we rather say the clothes are hot, because they cause heat, than cold, because they cause cold? Nay, if we must be tried by sense, it will be found that they are more cold than hot. For at the first putting on of a coat it is cold, and so is our bed when we lie down; but afterwards they grow hot with the heat of our bodies, because they both keep in the heat and keep out the cold. Indeed, feverish persons and others that have a violent heat upon them often change their clothes, because they perceive that fresh ones at the first putting on are much colder; but within a very little time their bodies make them as hot as the others. In like manner, as a garment heated makes us hot, so a covering cooled keeps snow cold. Now that which causes this cold is the continual emanations of a subtile spirit the snow has in it, which spirit, as long as it remains in the snow, keeps it compact and close; but, after once it is gone, the snow melts and dissolves into water, and instantly loses its whiteness, occasioned by a mixture of this spirit with a frothy moisture. Therefore at the same time, by the help of these clothes, the cold is kept in, and the external air is shut out, lest it should thaw the concrete body of the snow. The reason why they make use of cloth that has not yet been at the fuller’s is this, because that in such cloth the hair and coarse flocks keep it off from pressing too hard upon the snow, and bruising it. So chaff lying lightly upon it does not dissolve the body of the snow, besides the chaff lies close and shuts out the warm air, and keeps in the natural cold of the snow. Now that snow melts by the evaporating of this spirit, we are ascertained by sense; for when snow melts it raises a vapor. > Greek: 6.2. κομιδῇ γʼ ἔφην εἴπερ ἀληθές ἐστιν· οὐκ ἔχει δʼ οὕτως, ἀλλʼ αὑτοὺς παραλογιζόμεθα, θερμὸν εὐθὺς εἶναι τὸ θερμαῖνον ὑπολαμβάνοντες· καὶ ταῦθʼ ὁρῶντες ὅτι ταὐτὸν ἱμάτιον ἐν χειμῶνι θερμαίνειν ἐν δʼ ἡλίῳ ψύχειν γέγονεν· ὥσπερ ἡ τραγικὴ τροφὸς ἐκείνη τὰ τῆς Νιόβης τέκνα τιθηνεῖται λεπτοσπαθήτων χλανιδίων ἐρειπίοις θάλπουσα καὶ ψύχουσα. Γερμανοὶ μὲν οὖν κρύους πρόβλημα ποιοῦνται τὴν ἐσθῆτα μόνον, Αἰθίοπες δὲ θάλπους μόνον, ἡμεῖς δʼ ἀμφοῖν. ὥστε τί μᾶλλον, εἰ θάλπει, θερμὴν ἤπερ ψυχρὰν ἀπὸ τοῦ περιψύχειν λεκτέον; εἰ δὲ δεῖ τῇ αἰσθήσει τεκμαίρεσθαι, μᾶλλον ἂν ψυχρὰ γένοιτο· καὶ γὰρ ὁ χιτὼν ψυχρὸς ἡμῖν προσπίπτει τὸ πρῶτον ἐνδυσαμένοις καὶ τὰ στρώματα κατακλινεῖσιν εἶτα μέντοι συναλεαίνει τῆς ἀφʼ ἡμῶν πιμπλάμενα θερμασίας, καὶ ἅμα μὲν περιστέλλοντα καὶ κατέχοντα τὸ θερμόν, ἅμα δʼ ἀπείργοντα τὸ κρύος καὶ τὸν ἔξωθεν ἀέρα τοῦ σώματος. οἱ μὲν οὖν πυρέττοντες καυματιζόμενοι συνεχῶς ἀλλάττουσι τὰ ἱμάτια τῷ ψυχρὸν εἶναι τὸ ἐπιβαλλόμενον ἂν δʼ ἐπιβληθῇ, παραχρῆμα γίγνεται θερμὸν ὑπὸ τοῦ σώματος. ὥσπερ οὖν ἡμᾶς θερμαινόμενον θερμαίνει θοἰμάτιον, οὕτω τὴν χιόνα ψυχόμενον ἀντιπεριψύχει· ψύχεται δʼ ὑπʼ αὐτῆς ἀφιείσης πνεῦμα λεπτόν· τοῦτο γὰρ συνέχει τὴν πῆξιν αὐτῆς ἐγκατακεκλεισμένον· ἀπελθόντος δὲ τοῦ πνεύματος, ὕδωρ οὖσα ῥεῖ καὶ διατήκεται, καὶ ἀπανθεῖ τὸ λευκὸν ὅπερ ἡ τοῦ πνεύματος πρὸς τὸ ὑγρὸν ἀνάμιξις ἀφρώδης; γενομένη παρεῖχεν ἅμα τʼ οὖν τὸ ψυχρὸν ἐγκατέχεται περιστεγόμενον τῷ ἱματίῳ, καὶ ὁ ἔξωθεν ἀὴρ ἀπειργόμενος οὐ τέμνει τὸν πάγον οὐδʼ ἀνίησιν. ἀγνάπτοις δὲ τούτοις πρὸς τοῦτο διὰ τὴν τραχύτητα καὶ ξηρότητα τῆς κροκύδος οὐκ ἐώσης ἐπιπεσεῖν βαρὺ θοἰμάτιον οὐδὲ συνθλῖψαι τὴν χαυνότητα τῆς χιόνος· ὥσπερ καὶ τὸ ἄχυρον διὰ κουφότητα μαλακῶς περιπῖπτον οὐ θρύπτει τὸν πάγον, ἄλλως δὲ πυκνόν ἐστι καὶ στεγανόν, ὥστε καὶ τὴν θερμότητα τοῦ ἀέρος ἀπείργειν καὶ τὴν ψυχρότητα κωλύειν ἀπιέναι τῆς χιόνος. ὅτι δʼ ἡ τοῦ πνεύματος διάκρισις ἐμποιεῖ τὴν τῆξιν, ἐμφανές ἐστι τῇ αἰσθήσει τηκομένη γὰρ ἡ χιὼν πνεῦμα ποιεῖ. ## 12. Book VI · chapters 7–10 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/12/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/12/#p-N [¶0] 7.1. NIGER, a citizen of ours, was lately come from school, after he had spent some time under the discipline of a renowned philosopher, but had learned nothing but those faults by which his master was offensive and odious to others, especially his habit of reproving and of carping at whatever upon any occasion chanced to be spoke in company. And therefore, when we were at supper one time at Aristio’s, not content to assume to himself a liberty to rail at all the rest of the preparations as too profuse and extravagant, he had a pique at the wine too, and said that it ought not to be brought to table strained, but that, observing Hesiod’s rule, we ought to drink it new out of the vessel, while it has its natural strength and force. Moreover, he added that this way of purging wine takes the strength from it, and robs it of its natural heat, which, when wine is poured out of one vessel into another, evaporates and dies. Besides he would needs persuade us that it showed too much of a vain curiosity, effeminacy, and luxury, to convert what is wholesome into that which is palatable. For as the riotous, not the temperate, use to cut cocks and geld pigs, to make their flesh tender and delicious, even against Nature; just so (if we may use a metaphor, says he) those that strain wine geld and emasculate it, whilst their squeamish stomachs will neither suffer them to drink pure wine, nor their intemperance to drink moderately. Therefore they make use of this expedient, to the end that it may render the desire they have of drinking plentifully more excusable. So they take all the strength from the wine, leaving the palatableness still; as we use to deal with those with whose constitution cold water does not agree, to boil it for them. For they certainly take off all the strength from the wine, by straining of it. And this is a great argument, that the wine deads, grows flat, and loses its virtue, when it is separated from the lees, as from its root and stock; for the ancients for very good reason called wine lees, as we use to signify a man by his head or soul, as the principal part of him. So in Greek, grape-gatherers are said τρυγᾶν, the word being derived from τρύξ, which signifies lees; and Homer in one place calls the fruit of the wine διατρύγιον, and the wine itself high-colored and red,—not pale and yellow, such as Aristio gives us to supper, after all goodness is purged out of it. > Greek: 7.1. Νίγρος ὁ πολίτης ἡμῶν ἀπὸ σχολῆς ἀφῖκτο συγγεγονὼς ἐνδόξῳ φιλοσόφῳ χρόνον οὐ πολύν, ἀλλʼ ἐν ὅσῳ τὰ τάνδρὸς οὐ καταλαμβάνοντες ἀνεπίμπλαντο τῶν ἐπαχθῶν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ μιμούμενοι τὸ ἐπιτιμητικὸν καὶ ἐλέγχοντες ἐπὶ παντὶ πράγματι τοὺς συνόντας. ἑστιῶντος οὖν ἡμῖἱς Ἀριστίωνος, τὴν τʼ ἄλλην χορηγίαν ὡς πολυτελῆ καὶ περίεργον ἐμέμφετο καὶ τὸν οἶνον οὐκ ἔφη δεῖν ἐγχεῖσθαι διηθημένον, ἀλλʼ, ὥσπερ Ἡσίοδος ἐκέλευσεν, ἀπὸ τοῦ πίθου πίνεσθαι τὴν σύμφυτον ἔχοντα ῥώμην καὶ δύναμιν. ἡ δὲ τοιαύτη κάθαρσις αὐτοῦ πρῶτον μὲν ἐκτέμνει τὰ νεῦρα καὶ τὴν θερμότητα κατασβέννυσιν· ἐξανθεῖ γὰρ καὶ ἀποπνεῖ διερωμένου πολλάκις· ἔπειτα περιεργίαν καὶ καλλωπισμὸν ἐμφαίνει καὶ τρυφὴν εἰς τὸ ἡδὺ καταναλίσκουσα τὸ χρήσιμον. ὥσπερ γὰρ τὸ τοὺς ἀλεκτρυόνας ἐκτεμεῖν καὶ τοὺς χοίρους, ἁπαλὴν αὐτῶν παρὰ φύσιν τὴν σάρκα ποιοῦντας καὶ θήλειαν, οὐχ ὑγιαινόντων ἐστὶν ἀνθρώπων ἀλλὰ διεφθαρμένων ὑπὸ λιχνείας· οὕτως, εἰ δεῖ μεταφορᾷ χρησάμενον λέγειν, ἐξευνουχίζουσι τὸν ἄκρατον καὶ ἀποθηλύνουσιν οἱ διηθοῦντες, οὔτε φορεῖν ὑπʼ ἀσθενείας οὔτε πίνειν τὸν μέτριον δυνάμενοι διὰ τὴν ἀκρασίαν· ἀλλὰ σόφισμα τοῦτʼ ἐστὶν αὐτοῖς καὶ μηχάνημα πολυποσίας ἐξαιροῦσι δὲ τοῦ οἴνου τὸ ἐμβριθές, τὸ λεῖον ἀπολιπόντες, ὥσπερ οἱ τοῖς ἀκρατῶς ἔχουσι πρὸς ψυχροποσίαν ἀρρώστοις ἀφεψημένον διδόντες· ὅ τι γὰρ στόμωμα τοῦ οἴνου καὶ κράτος ἐστί, τοῦτʼ ἐν τῷ διυλίζειν ἐξαιροῦσι καὶ ἀποκρίνουσι. μέγα δὲ τεκμήριον ἡ διαφθορὰ καὶ τὸ μὴ διαμένειν, ἀλλʼ ἐξίστασθαι καὶ μαραίνεσθαι, καθάπερ ἀπὸ ῥίζης κοπέντα τῆς τρυγός· οἱ δὲ παλαιοὶ καὶ τρύγα τὸν οἶνον ἄντικρυς ἐκάλουν, ὥσπερ ψυχὴν καὶ κεφαλὴν τὸν ἄνθρωπον εἰώθαμεν ἀπὸ τῶν κυριωτάτων ὑποκορίζεσθαι, καὶ τρυγᾶν λέγομεν τοὺς δρεπομένους τὴν ἀμπελίνην ὀπώραν, καὶ διατρύγιόν που Ὅμηρος εἴρηκεν, αὐτὸν δὲ τὸν οἶνον αἴθοπα καί ἐρυθρὸν εἴωθε· καλεῖν· οὐχ ὡς Ἀριστίων ἡμῖν ὠχριῶντα καὶ χλωρὸν ὑπὸ τῆς πολλῆς καθάρσεως παρέχεται. [¶1] 7.2. Then Aristio smiling presently replied: Sir, the wine I bring to table does not look so pale and lifeless as you would have it; but it appears at first sight to be mild and well qualified. But for your part, you would glut yourself with night wine, which raises melancholy vapors; and upon this account you cry out against purgation, which, by carrying off whatever might cause melancholy or load men’s stomachs, and make them drunk or sick, makes it mild and pleasant to those that drink it, such as heroes (as Homer tells us) were formerly wont to drink. And it was not dark-colored wine which he called αἶθοψ, but clear and transparent; for otherwise he would never have called brass αἶθοψ, after he had given it the epithets man-exalting and resplendent. Therefore as the wise Anacharsis, discommending some things that the Grecians enjoined, commended their coals, because they leave the smoke without doors, and bring the fire into the house; so you judicious men might blame me for some other reason than this. But what hurt, I pray, have I done to the wine, by taking from it a turbulent and noisome quality, and giving it a better taste, though a paler color? Nor have I brought you wine to the table which, like a sword, hath lost its edge and vigorous relish, but such as is only purged of its dregs and filth. But you will say that wine not strained hath a great deal more strength. Why so, my friend? One that is frantic and distracted has more strength than a man in his wits; but when, by the help of hellebore or some other fit diet, he is come to himself, that rage and frenzy leave him and quite vanish, and the true use of his reason and health of body presently comes into its place. In like manner, purging of wine takes from it all the strength that inflames and enrages the mind, and gives it instead thereof a mild and wholesome temper; and I think there is a great deal of difference between gaudiness and cleanliness. For women, while they paint, perfume, and adorn themselves with jewels and purple robes, are accounted gaudy and profuse; yet nobody will find fault with them for washing their faces, anointing themselves, or platting their hair. Homer very neatly expresses the difference of these two habits, where he brings in Juno dressing herself:— With sweet ambrosia first she washed her skin, And after did anoint herself with oil. So much was allowable, being no more than a careful cleanliness. But when she comes to call for her golden buttons, her curiously wrought ear-rings, and last of all puts on her bewitching girdle, this appears to be an extravagant and idle curiosity, and betrays too much of wantonness, which by no means becomes a married woman. Just so they that sophisticate wine by mixing it with aloes, cinnamon, or saffron bring it to the table like a gorgeous-apparelled woman, and there prostitute it. But those that only take from it what is nasty and no way profitable do only purge it and improve it by their labor. Otherwise you may find fault with all things whatsoever as vain and extravagant, beginning at the house you live in. As first, you may say, why is it plastered? Why does it open especially on that side where it may have the best convenience for receiving the purest air, and the benefit of the evening sun? What is the reason that our cups are washed and made so clean that they shine and look bright? Now if a cup ought to have nothing that is nasty or loathsome in it, ought that which is drunk out of the cup to be full of dregs and filth? What need is there for mentioning any thing else? The making corn into bread is a continual cleansing; and yet what a great ado there is before it is effected! There is not only threshing, winnowing, sifting, and separating the bran, but there must be kneading the dough to soften all parts alike, and a continual cleansing and working of the mass till all the parts become edible alike. What absurdity is it then by straining to separate the lees, as it were the filth of the wine, especially since the cleansing is no chargeable or painful operation? > Greek: 7.2. καὶ ὁ Ἀριστίων γελάσας οὐκ ὠχριῶντʼ εἶπεν ὦ τᾶν, οὐδʼ ἀναίμον,, ἀλλὰ μειλίχιον καὶ ἡμερίδην, ἀπὸ τῆς ὄψεως αὐτῆς πρῶτον. σὺ δʼ ἀξιοῖς τοῦ νυκτερινοῦ καὶ μελαναιγίδος ἐμφορεῖσθαι, καὶ ψέγεις τὴν κάθαρσιν ὥσπερ χολημεσίαν διʼ ἧς τὸ βαρὺ καὶ μεθυστικὸν ἀφιεὶς καὶ νοσῶδες ἐλαφρὸς καὶ ἄνευ ὀργῆς; ἀναμίγνυται ἡμῖν, οἷον Ὅμηρός φησι πίνειν τοὺς ἥρωας αἴθοπα γὰρ οὐ καλεῖ τὸν ζοφερόν, ἀλλὰ τὸν διαυγῆ καὶ λαμπρόν· οὐ γὰρ ἂν ὁ λέγων εὐήνορα καὶ νώροπα χαλκὸν αἴθοπα προσηγόρευεν. ὥσπερ οὖν ὁ σοφὸς Ἀνάχαρσις ἄλλʼ ἄττα τῶν Ἑλλήνων μεμφόμενος ἐπῄνει τῶν ἀνθρακέων ὅτι τὸν καπνὸν ἔξω καταλιπόντες οἴκαδε πῦρ κομίζουσιν· οὕτως ἡμᾶς ἐφʼ ἑτέροις ἂν ψέγοιτε μᾶλλον οἱ σοφοὶ ὑμεῖς. εἰ δὲ τοῦ οἴνου τὸ ταρακτικὸν καὶ ὀχλῶδες ἐξωθούμενοι καὶ ἀποσκεδάσαντες, αὐτὸν δʼ εὐφραίνοντες οὐ καλλωπίσαντες οὐδʼ ὥσπερ σιδήρου στόμωμα καὶ ἀκμὴν ἀποκόψαντες, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον ὥσπερ ἰὸν ἢ ῥύπον ἀποκαθήραντες προσφερόμεθα, τί πλημμελοῦμεν; ὅτι νὴ Δία πλέον ἰσχύει μὴ διηθούμενος. καὶ γὰρ ἄνθρωπος, ὦ φίλε, φρενετίζων καὶ μαινόμενος· ἀλλʼ ὅταν ἐλλεβόρῳ χρησάμενος ἢ διαίτῃ καταστῇ, τὸ μὲν σφοδρὸν ἐκεῖνο καὶ σύντονον οἴχεται καὶ γέγονεν ἐξίτηλον, ἡ δʼ ἀληθινὴ δύναμις καὶ σωφροσύνη παραγίγνεται τῷ σώματι· οὕτω δὴ καὶ ἡ κάθαρσις τοῦ οἴνου τὸ πληκτικὸν ἀφαιροῦσα καὶ μανικόν, εἰς πραεῖαν ἕξιν καὶ ὑγιαίνουσαν καθίστησι. περιεργίαν δʼ οἶμαι πάμπολυ διαφέρειν καθαριότητος· καὶ γὰρ αἱ γυναῖκες φυκούμεναι καὶ μυριζόμεναι καὶ χρυσὸν φοροῦσαι καὶ πορφύραν περίεργοι δοκοῦσι· λουτρὸν δὲ καὶ ἄλειμμα καὶ κόμης θρύψιν οὐδεὶς αἰτιᾶται. χαριέντως δὲ τὴν διαφορὰν ὁ ποιητὴς ἐπιδείκνυσιν ἐπὶ τῆς κοσμουμένης Ἥρας ἀμβροσίῃ μὲν πρῶτον ἀπὸ χροὸς ἀθανάτοιο λύματα πάντα κάθηρεν, ἀλείψατο δὲ λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ μέχρι τούτων ἐπιμέλεια καὶ καθαριότης ἐστιν· ὅταν δὲ τὰς χρυσᾶς περόνας ἀναλαμβάνῃ καὶ τὰ διηκριβωμένα τέχνῃ ἐλλόβια καὶ τελευτῶσα τῆς περὶ τὸν κεστὸν ἅπτηται γοητείας, περιεργία τὸ χρῆμα καὶ λαμυρία μὴ πρέπουσα γαμετῇ γέγονεν. οὐκοῦν καὶ τὸν οἶνον οἱ μὲν ἀλόαις χρωτίζοντες ἢ κινναμώμοις καὶ κρόκοις ἐφηδύνοντες ὥσπερ γυναῖκα καλλωπίζουσιν εἰς τὰ συμπόσια καὶ προαγωγεύουσιν οἱ δʼ ἀφαιροῦντες τὸ ῥυπαρὸν καὶ ἄχρηστον ἐξ αὐτοῦ θεραπεύουσι καὶ καθαίρουσιν. ἐπεὶ πάντʼ ἂν εἴποις ταῦτα περιεργίαν, ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴκου· τί γὰρ οὕτω κεκονίαται; τί δʼ ἀνέῳγε τοῦ περιέχοντος ὅθεν ἂν μάλιστα πνεῦμα λαμβάνοι καθαρὸν καὶ τοῦ φωτὸς ἀπολαύοι περιιόντος ἐπὶ τὰς δύσεις; τί δὲ τῶν ἐκπωμάτων ἕκαστον ἐκτέτριπται καὶ διέσμηκται πανταχόθεν ὥστε λάμπειν καὶ περιστίλβειν; ἢ τὸ μὲν ἔκπωμʼ ἔδει μὴ ῥύπου μηδὲ μοχθηρίας ὀδωδὸς εἶναι, τὸ δʼ ἐξ αὐτοῦ πινόμενον εὐρῶτος ἢ κηλίδων ἀναπεπλῆσθαι; καὶ τί δεῖ τἄλλα λέγειν; ἡ γὰρ αὐτοῦ τοῦ πυροῦ διαπόνησις εἰς τὸν ἄρτον οὐδὲν ἕτερον ἢ κάθαρσις οὖσα, θέασαι μεθʼ ὅσης γίγνεται πραγματείας· οὐ γὰρ μόνον ὑποσκαφισμοὶ καὶ διαττήσεις καὶ ἀποκρίσεις καὶ διακρίσεις εἰσὶ τῶν σιτίων καὶ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων, ἀλλʼ ἡ τρῖψις ἐκθλίβουσα τοῦ φυράματος τὸ τραχὺ καὶ ἡ πέψις ἐξικμάζουσα τὸ ὑγρὸν καθαίρουσι καὶ συστέλλουσι τὴν ὕλην εἰς αὐτὸ τὸ ἐδώδιμον. τί οὖν ἄτοπον, εἰ καὶ τοῦ οἴνου τὸ τρυγῶδες ὡς κρίμνον ἢ σκύβαλον ἡ διήθησις ἐξαιρεῖ, μήτε δαπάνης τινὸς τῇ καθάρσει μήτʼ ἀσχολίας πολλῆς προσούσης; [¶2] 8.1. THERE is a certain sacrifice of very ancient institution, which the chief magistrate or archon performs always in the common-hall, and every private person in his own house.’Tis called the driving out of bulimy; for they whip out of doors some one of their servants with a bunch of willow rods, repeating these words, Get out of doors, bulimy; and enter riches and health. Therefore in my year there was a great concourse of people present at the sacrifice; and, after all the rights and ceremonies of the sacrifice were over, when we had seated ourselves again at the table, there was an enquiry made first of all into the signification of the word bulimy, then into the meaning of the words which are repeated when the servant is turned out of doors. But the principal dispute was concerning the nature of it, and all its circumstances. First, as for the word bulimy, it was agreed upon by all to denote a great and public famine, especially among us who use the Aeolic dialect, putting π for β. For it was not called by the ancients βούλιμος but πούλιμος, that is, πολὺς λιμὸς, much hunger. We concluded that it was not the same with the disease called Bubrostis, by an argument fetched out of Metrodorus’s Ionics. For the said Metrodorus informs us that the Smyrnaeans, who were once Aeolians, sacrificed to Bubrostis a black bull cut into pieces with the skin on, and so burnt it. Now, forasmuch as every species of hunger resembles a disease, but more particularly bulimy, which is occasioned by an unnatural disposition of the body, these two differ as riches and poverty, health and sickness. But as the word nauseate (ναυτιπαν) first took its name from men who were stomach-sick in a ship, and afterwards custom prevailed so far that the word was applied to all persons that were any way in like sort affected; so the word bulimy, rising at first from hence, was at last extended to a more large and comprehensive signification. What has been hitherto said was a general club of the opinions of all those who were at table. > Greek: 8.1. θυσία τις ἔστι πάτριος, ἣν ὁ μὲν ἄρχων ἐπὶ τῆς κοινῆς ἑστίας δρᾷ τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ἕκαστος ἐπʼ οἴκου· καλεῖται δὲ βουλίμου ἐξέλασις· καὶ τῶν οἰκετῶν ἕνα τύπτοντες ἀγνίναις ῥάβδοις διὰ θυρῶν ἐξελαύνουσιν, ἐπιλέγοντες ἔξω Βούλιμον ἔσω δὲ πλοῦτον καὶ ὑγίειαν ἄρχοντος οὖν ἐμοῦ, πλείονες ἐκοινώνουν τῆς θυσίας· κᾆθʼ ὡς ἐποιήσαμεν τὰ νενομισμένα καὶ πάλιν κατεκλίνημεν, ἐζητεῖτο πρῶτον ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ τοῦ ὀνόματος ἔπειτα τῆς φωνῆς, ἣν ἐπιλέγουσι τῷ διωκομένῳ, μάλιστα δʼ ὑπὲρ τοῦ πάθους καὶ τῶν κατʼ αὐτὸ γιγνομένων. τὸ μὲν οὖν βούλιμον λιμὸν ἐδόκει μέγαν ἢ δημόσιον ἀποσημαίνειν, καὶ μάλιστα παρʼ ἡμῖν τοῖς Αἰολεῦσιν ἀντὶ τοῦ β τῷ π χρωμένοις· οὐ γὰρ βούλιμον, ἀλλὰ πούλιμον, οἷον πολὺν ὄντα λιμόν, ὀνομάζομεν. ἐδόκει δʼ ἡ βούβρωστις ἕτερον εἶναι· τὸ δὲ τεκμήριον ἐλαμβάνομεν ἐκ τῶν Μητροδώρου Ἰωνικῶν· ἱστορεῖ γάρ, ὅτι Σμυρναῖοι τὸ παλαιὸν Αἰολεῖς ὄντες θύουσι Βουβρώστει ταῦρον μέλανα, καὶ κατακόψαντες αὐτόδορον ὁλοκαυτοῦσιν. ἐπεὶ δὲ πᾶς μὲν ἔοικεν ὁ λιμὸς νόσῳ, μάλιστα δʼ ὁ βούλιμος, ἐπιγίγνεσθαι, παθόντος παρὰ φύσιν τοῦ σώματος, εἰκότως ἀντιτάττουσιν ὡς μὲν ἐνδείᾳ τὸν πλοῦτον ὡς δὲ νόσῳ τὴν ὑγίειαν. ὡς δὲ ναυτιᾶν ὠνομάσθη μὲν ἐπὶ τῶν ἐν νηὶ καὶ κατὰ πλοῦν τὸν στόμαχον ἐκλυομένων, ἔθει δʼ ἴσχυκεν ἤδη καὶ κατὰ τῶν ὁπωσοῦν τοῦτο πασχόντων ὄνομα τοῦ πάθους εἶναι· οὕτως ἄρα καὶ τὸ βουλιμιᾶν ἐκεῖθεν ἀρξάμενον ἐνταῦθα διέτεινε. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν ἔρανον κοινὸν ἐκ πάντων συνεπλήρουν λόγων. [¶3] 8.2. But after we began to enquire after the cause of this disease, the first thing that puzzled us was to find out the reason why bulimy seizes upon those that travel in the snow. As Brutus, one time marching from Dyrrachium to Apollonia in a deep snow, was endangered of his life by bulimy, whilst none of those that carried the provisions for the army followed him; just when the man was ready to faint and die, some of his soldiers were forced to run to the walls of the enemies’ city, and beg a piece of bread of the sentinels, by the eating of which he was presently refreshed; for which cause, after Brutus had made himself master of the city, he treated all the inhabitants very mercifully. Asses and horses are frequently troubled with bulimy, especially when they are loaden with dry figs and apples; and, which is yet more strange, of all things that are eaten, bread chiefly refreshes not only men but beasts; so that, by taking a little quantity of bread, they regain their strength and go forward on their journey. > Greek: 8.2. ἐπειδὴ δʼ ἡπτόμεθα τῆς αἰτίας τοῦ πάθους, πρῶτον μὲν ἠπορήθη τὸ μάλιστα βουλιμιᾶν τοὺς διὰ χιόνος πολλῆς βαδίζοντας, ὥσπερ καὶ Βροῦτος ἐκ Δυρραχίου πρὸς Ἀπολλωνίαν ἰὼν ἐκινδύνευσεν ὑπὸ τοῦ πάθους· ἦν δὲ νιφετὸς πολὺς καὶ τῶν τὰ σιτία κομιζόντων οὐδεὶς ἐξηκολούθει· λιποθυμοῦντος οὖν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπολιπόντος, ἠναγκάσθησαν οἱ στρατιῶται προσδραμόντες τοῖς τείχεσιν ἄρτον αἰτῆσαι παρὰ τῶν τειχοφυλάκων πολεμίων· καὶ λαβόντες εὐθὺς ἀνεκτήσαντο τὸν Βροῦτον· διὸ καὶ φιλανθρώπως ἐχρήσατο πᾶσι κύριος τῆς πόλεως γενόμενος. πάσχουσι δὲ τοῦτο καὶ ἵπποι καὶ ὄνοι, καὶ μάλισθʼ ὅταν ἰσχάδας ἢ μῆλα κομίζωσιν. ὃ δὲ θαυμασιώτατόν ἐστιν, οὐκ ἀνθρώπους μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ κτήνη μάλιστα πάντων ἐδωδίμων ἀναρρώννυσιν ἄρτος ὥστε, κἂν ἐλάχιστον ἐμφάγωσιν, ἰῶνται καὶ βαδίζουσι. [¶4] 8.3. After all were silent, I (who had observed that dull fellows and those of a less piercing judgment were satisfied with and did acquiesce in the reasons the ancients gave for bulimy, but to men of ingenuity and industry they only pointed out the way to a more clear discovery of the truth of the business) mentioned Aristotle’s opinion, who says, that extreme cold without causes extreme heat and consumption within; which, if it fall into the legs, makes them lazy and heavy, but if it come to the fountain of motion and respiration, occasions faintings and weakness. When I had said that, some of the company opposed it, others held with me, as was natural. > Greek: 8.3. γενομένης δὲ σιωπῆς, ἐγὼ συννοῶν ὅτι τὰ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ἐπιχειρήματα τοὺς μὲν ἀργοὺς καὶ ἀφυεῖς οἷον ἀναπαύει καὶ ἀναπίμπλησι, τοῖς δὲ φιλοτίμοις καὶ φιλολόγοις ἀρχὴν ἐνδίδωσιν οἰκείαν καὶ τόλμαν ἐπὶ τὸ ζητεῖν καὶ ἀνιχνεύειν τὴν ἀλήθειαν, ἐμνήσθην τῶν Ἀριστοτελικῶν ἐν οἷς λέγεται, ὅτι, πολλῆς περιψύξεως γενομένης ἔξωθεν, ἐκθερμαίνεται σφόδρα τὰ ἐντὸς καὶ πολὺ σύντηγμα ποιεῖ· τοῦτο δʼ, ἐὰν μὲν ἐπὶ τὰ σκέλη ῥυῇ, κόπους ἀπεργάζεται καὶ βαρύτητας, ἐὰν δʼ ἐπὶ τὰς τῆς κινήσεως καὶ τῆς ἀναπνοῆς ἀρχάς, ἀψυχίαν ἢ καὶ ἀσθένειαν. ὅπερ οὖν εἰκός, τοῦ λόγου λεχθέντος, ἐπεραίνετο, τῶν μὲν ἐπιφυομένων τῷ δόγματι τῶν δʼ ὑπερδικούντων. [¶5] 8.4. At length says Soclarus: I like the beginning of this reason very well, for the bodies of travellers in a great snow must of necessity be surrounded and condensed with cold; but that from the heat within there should arise such a consumption as invades the principle of respiration, I can no way imagine. I rather think, says he, that abundance of heat penned up in the body consumes the nourishment, and that failing, the fire as it were goes out. Here it comes to pass, that men troubled with this bulimy, when they are ready to starve with hunger, if they eat never so little meat, are presently refreshed. The reason is, because meat digested is like fuel for the heat to feed upon. > Greek: 8.4. Σώκλαρος δὲ τὴν ἀρχὴν ἔφη τοῦ λόγου κάλλιστα κεῖσθαι· περιψύχεσθαι γὰρ ἱκανῶς καὶ πυκνοῦσθαι τὰ σώματα τῶν βαδιζόντων διὰ χιόνος· τὸ δὲ σύντηγμα τὴν θερμότητα ποιεῖν καὶ τοῦτο καταλαμβάνειν τὰς ἀρχὰς τῆς ἀναπνοῆς αἰτηματῶδες εἶναι μᾶλλον οὖν δοκεῖν αὐτῷ τὴν θερμότητα συστελλομένην καὶ πλεονάζουσαν ἐντὸς ἀναλίσκειν τὴν τροφήν, εἶτʼ, ἐπιλειπούσης καὶ αὐτὴν, ὥσπερ πῦρ ἀπομαραίνεσθαι· διὸ πεινῶσι σφόδρα καὶ βραχὺ παντελῶς ἐμφαγόντες εὐθὺς ἀναλάμπουσι· γίγνεται γὰρ ὥσπερ ὑπέκκαυμα τῆς θερμότητος τὸ προσφερόμενον. [¶6] 8.5. But Cleomenes the physician would have the word λιμός (which signifies hunger) to be added to the making up of the word βούλιμος without any reason at all; as πίνειν, to drink, has crept into καταπίνειν, to swallow; and κύπτειν, to incline, into άνακύπτειν to raise the head. Nor is bulimy, as it seems, a kind of hunger, but a fault in the stomach, which concurring with heat causes a faintness. Therefore as things that have a good smell recall the spirits of those that are faint, so bread affects those that are almost overcome with a bulimy; not that they have any need of food (for the least piece of it restores them their strength), but the bread calls back their vigor and languishing spirits. Now that bulimy is not hunger but a faintness, is manifest from all laboring beasts, which are seized with it very often through the smell of dry figs and apples; for a smell does not cause any want of food, but rather a pain and agitation in the stomach. > Greek: 8.5. Κλεομένης δʼ ὁ ἰατρὸς ἄλλως ἔφη τῷ ὀνόματι τὸν λιμὸν συντετάχθαι δίχα τοῦ πράγματος, ὥσπερ τῷ καταπίνειν τὸ πίνειν καὶ τῷ ἀνακύπτειν τὸ κύπτειν· οὐ γὰρ εἶναι λιμόν, ὥσπερ δοκεῖ, τὴν βουλιμίαν, ἀλλὰ πάθος ἐν τῷ στομάχῳ διὰ συνδρομὴν θερμοῦ λιποψυχίαν ποιοῦν. ὥσπερ οὖν τὰ ὀσφραντὰ πρὸς τὰς λιποθυμίας βοηθεῖν, καὶ τὸν ἄρτον ἀναλαμβάνειν τοὺς βουλιμιῶντας, οὐχ ὅτι τροφῆς ἐνδεεῖς εἰσι μικρὸν γοῦν παντάπασι λαβόντες ἀναζωπυροῦσιν, ἀλλʼ ὅτι τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ τὴν δύναμιν ἀνακαλεῖται καταφερομένην. ὅτι δʼ ἔστι λιποθυμία καὶ οὐ πεῖνα, μηνύει τὸ τῶν ὑποζυγίων· ἥ τε γὰρ τῶν ἰσχάδων ἀποφορὰ καὶ ἡ τῶν μήλων ἔνδειαν μὲν οὐ ποιεῖ, καρδιωγμὸν δέ τινα μᾶλλον καὶ νὴ Δίʼ εἴλιγγον. [¶7] 8.6. These things seemed to be reasonably well urged; and yet we thought that much might be said in the defence of the contrary opinion, and that it was possible enough to maintain that bulimy ariseth not from condensation but rarefication of the stomach. For the spirit which flows from the snow is nothing but the sharp point and finest scale of the congealed substance, endued with a virtue of cutting and dividing not only the flesh, but also silver and brazen vessels; for we see that these are not able to keep in the snow, for it dissolves and evaporates, and glazes over the outmost superficies of the vessels with a thin dew, not unlike to ice, which this spirit leaves as it secretly passes through the pores. Therefore this piercing spirit, like a flame, seizing upon those that travel in the snow, seems to burn their outsides, and like fire to enter and penetrate the flesh. Hence it is that the flesh is more rarefied, and the heat is extinguished by the cold spirit that lies upon the superficies of the body; therefore the body evaporates a dewy thin sweat, which melts away and decays the strength. Now if a man should sit still at such a time, there would not much heat fly out of his body. But when the motion of the body doth quickly heat the nourishment, and that heat bursts through the thin skin, there must necessarily be a great loss of strength. Now we know by experience, that cold hath a virtue not only to condense but also to loosen bodies; for in extreme cold winters pieces of lead are found to sweat. And when we see that bulimy happens where there is no hunger, we may conclude that at that time the body is rather in a fluid than condensed state. The reason that bodies are rarefied in winter is because of the subtility of the spirit; especially when the moving and tiring of the body excites the heat, which, as soon as it is subtilized and agitated, flies apace, and spreads itself through the whole body. Lastly, it is very possible that apples and dry figs exhale some such thing as this, which rarefies and attenuates the heat of the beasts; for different things have a natural tendency as well to weaken as to refresh different creatures. > Greek: 8.6. ἡμῖν δὲ καὶ ταῦτα μετρίως ἐδόκει λέγεσθαι, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς ἐναντίας ἀρχῆς δυνατὸν εἶναι, μὴ πύκνωσιν ἀλλʼ ἀραίωσιν ὑποθεμένοις, διασῶσαι τὸ πιθανόν· τὸ γὰρ ἀπορρέον πνεῦμα τῆς χιόνος ἐστὶ μὲν οἷον ἀθὴρ τοῦ πάγου καὶ ψῆγμα λεπτομερέστατον, ἔχει δέ τι τομὸν καὶ διαιρετικὸν οὐ σαρκὸς μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀργυρῶν καὶ χαλκῶν ἀγγείων ὁρῶμεν γὰρ ταῦτα μὴ στέγοντα τὴν χιόνα· πνεομένη γὰρ ἀναλίσκεται καὶ τὴν ἐκτὸς ἐπιφάνειαν τοῦ ἀγγείου νοτίδος ἀναπίμπλησι λεπτῆς καὶ κρυσταλλοειδοῦς, ἣν ἀπολείπει τὸ πνεῦμα διὰ τῶν πόρων ἀδήλως ἀπερχόμενον τοῦτο δὴ τοῖς βαδίζουσι διὰ χιόνος ὀξὺ καὶ φλογοειδὲς προσπῖπτον ἐπικάειν δοκεῖ τὰ ἄκρα τῷ τέμνειν καὶ παρελθεῖν τῇ σαρκί, καθάπερ πῦρ· ὅθεν ἀραίωσις γίγνεται περὶ τὸ σῶμα πολλὴ καὶ ῥεῖ τὸ θερμὸν ἔξω διὰ τὴν ψυχρότητα τοῦ πνεύματος, καὶ περὶ τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν σβεννύμενον ἱδρῶτα δροσώδη διατμίζει καὶ λεπτόν, ὥστε τήκεσθαι καὶ ἀναλίσκεσθαι τὴν δύναμιν. ἐὰν μὲν οὖν ἡσυχάζῃ τις, οὐ πολλὴ τοῦ σώματος ἀπέρχεται θερμότης· ὅταν δὲ τὴν μὲν τροφὴν τοῦ σώματος ἡ κίνησις εἰς τὸ θερμὸν ὀξέως μεταβάλλῃ τὸ δὲ θερμὸν ἔξω φέρηται, διακρινομένης τῆς σαρκός, ἀθρόαν ἀνάγκη τῆς δυνάμεως ἐπίλειψιν γενέσθαι. ὅτι δὲ τὸ ἐκψύχεσθαι οὐ πήγνυσι μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ τήκει τὰ σώματα, δῆλόν ἐστιν ἐν μὲν γὰρ τοῖς μεγάλοις χειμῶσιν ἀκόναι μολίβδου διατηκόμεναι τό τε τῆς ἐφιδρώσεως καὶ τὸ πολλοῖς μὴ πεινῶσι συμπίπτειν τὴν βουλιμίασιν ἀραίωσιν κατηγορεῖ μᾶλλον καὶ ῥύσιν ἢ πύκνωσιν τοῦ σώματος. ἀραιοῦνται δὲ χειμῶνος μέν, ὥσπερ εἴρηται, τῇ λεπτότητι, ἄλλως δὲ τοῦ κόπου καὶ τῆς κινήσεως ἀποξυνούσης τὴν ἐν τῷ σώματι θερμότητα· λεπτὴ γὰρ γενομένη καὶ κοπιῶσα ῥεῖ πολλὴ καὶ διασπείρεται διὰ τοῦ σώματος. τὰ δὲ μῆλα καὶ τὰς ἰσχάδας εἰκὸς ἀποπνεῖν τι τοιοῦτον, ὥστε τῶν ὑποζυγίων τὸ θερμὸν ἀπολεπτύνειν καὶ κατακερματίζειν· ἄλλα γὰρ ἄλλοις ὥσπερ ἀναλαμβάνειν καὶ καταλύεσθαι πέφυκεν. [¶8] 9.1. IT was the subject once of a discourse, why, when there are several sorts of liquids, the poet should give every one of them a peculiar epithet, calling milk white, honey yellow, wine red, and yet for all this bestow no other upon oil but what it hath in common with all other liquids. To this it was answered that, as that is said to be most sweet which is perfectly sweet, and to be most white which is perfectly white (I mean here by perfectly that which hath nothing of a contrary quality mixed with it), so that ought to be called perfectly humid whereof never a part is dry; and this is proper to oil. > Greek: 9.1. ἠπορήθη ποτὲ καὶ διὰ τί πολλῶν ὑγρῶν ὄντων τὰ μὲν ἄλλα τοῖς ἰδίοις ἐπιθέτοις ὁ ποιητὴς εἰώθει κοσμεῖν, τὸ γάλα τε λευκὸν καὶ τὸ μέλι χλωρὸν καὶ τὸν οἶνον ἐρυθρὸν καλῶν, τὸ δʼ ἔλαιον ἀπὸ κοινοῦ τοῦ πᾶσι συμβεβηκότος μόνον ἐπιεικῶς ὑγρὸν προσαγορεύει. εἰς τοῦτʼ ἐλέχθη, ὅτι ὡς γλυκύτατόν ἐστι τὸ διʼ ὅλου γλυκύ, καὶ λευκότατον τὸ διʼ ὅλου λευκόν· διʼ ὅλου δὲ τοιοῦτόν ἐστιν, ᾧ μηδὲν ἐμμέμικται τῆς ἐναντίας φύσεως· οὕτω δὴ καὶ τὸ ὑγρὸν μάλιστα ῥητέον, οὗ μηθὲν μέρος ξηρόν ἐστι· τοῦτο δὲ τῷ ἐλαίῳ συμβέβηκε. [¶9] 9.2. First of all, its smoothness shows the evenness of its parts; for touch it where you please, it is all alike. Besides, you may see your face in it as perfectly as in a mirror; for there is nothing rough in it to hinder the reflection, but by reason of its humidity it reflects to the eyes the least particle of light from every part of it. As, on the contrary, milk, of all other liquids, does not return our images, because it hath too many terrene and gross parts mixed with it; again, oil of all liquids makes the least noise when moved, for it is perfectly humid. When other liquids are moved or poured out, their hard and grosser parts fall and dash one against another, and so make a noise by reason of their roughness. Moreover, oil only is pure and unmixed; for it is of all other liquids most compact, nor has it any empty spaces and pores between the dry and earthy parts, to receive what chances to fall upon it. Besides, because of the similitude of parts, it is closely joined together, and unfit to be joined to any thing else. When oil froths, it does not let any wind in, by reason of the contiguity and subtility of its parts; and this is also the cause why fire is nourished by it. For fire feeds upon nothing but what is moist, for nothing is combustible but what is so; for when the fire is kindled, the air turns to smoke, and the terrene and grosser parts remain in the ashes. Fire preys only upon the moisture, which is its natural nourishment. Indeed water, wine, and other liquors, having abundance of earthy and heavy parts in them, by falling into fire part it, and by their roughness and weight smother and extinguish it. But oil, because purely liquid, by reason of its subtility, is overcome by the fire, and so changed into flame. > Greek: 9.2. πρῶτον μὲν ἡ λειότης αὐτοῦ τὴν ὁμαλότητα τῶν μορίων ἐπιδείκνυται· διʼ ὅλου γὰρ αὑτῷ συμπαθεῖ πρὸς τὴν ψαῦσιν. ἔπειτα τῇ ὄψει παρέχει καθαρώτατον ἐνοπτρίσασθαι· τραχὺ γὰρ οὐδέν ἐστιν ὥστε διασπᾶν τὴν ἀνταύγειαν, ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ παντὸς μέρους διʼ ὑγρότητα καὶ σμικρότατον ἀνακλᾷ τὸ φῶς ἐπὶ τὴν ὄψιν· ὥσπερ αὖ τοὐναντίον, τὸ γάλα τῶν ὑγρῶν μόνον οὐκ ἐσοπτρίζει, πολλῆς ἀναμεμιγμένης αὐτῷ γεώδους συστάσεως. ἔτι δὲ κινούμενον, ἥκιστα ψοφεῖ ψἑἶζῖ τῶν ὑγρῶν· ὑγρὸν γάρ ἐστι διʼ ὅλου· τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ἐν τῷ ῥεῖν καὶ φέρεσθαι τὰ σκληρὰ καὶ γεώδη μέρη προσκρούσεις λαμβάνοντα καὶ πληγὰς ψοφεῖ διὰ τραχύτητα. καὶ μὴν μόνον ἄκρατητον διαμένει καὶ ἄμικτον· ἔστι γὰρ πυκνότατον οὐ γὰρ ἔχει μεταξὺ τῶν ξηρῶν καὶ γεωδῶν ἐν αὑτῷ μερῶν κενώματα καὶ πόρους, οἷς δέξεται τὸ παρεμπῖπτον ἀλλὰ διʼ ὁμοιότητα τῶν μερῶν εὐάρμοστόν ἐστι καὶ συνεχές· ὅταν δʼ ἀφρίζῃ τοὔλαιον, οὐ δέχεται τὸ πνεῦμα διὰ λεπτότητα καὶ συνέχειαν. τοῦτο δʼ αἴτιον καὶ τοῦ τρέφεσθαι τὸ πῦρ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ· τρέφεται μὲν γὰρ οὐδενὶ πλὴν ὑγρῷ, καὶ τοῦτο μόνον καυστόν ἐστιν· ἐκ γοῦν τῶν ξύλων ὁ μὲν ἀὴρ ἄπεισι καπνὸς γενόμενος, τὸ δὲ γεῶδες ἐκτεφρωθὲν ὑπολείπεται· μόνον δʼ ὑπὸ τοῦ πυρὸς τὸ νοτερὸν ἀναλοῦται· τούτῳ γὰρ τρέφεσθαι πέφυκεν. ὕδωρ μὲν οὖν καὶ οἶνος καὶ τὰ λοιπά, πολλοῦ μετέχοντα τοῦ θολεροῦ καὶ γεώδους, ἐμπίπτοντα τὴν φλόγα διασπᾷ καὶ τῇ τραχύτητι, καὶ τῷ βάρει θλίβει καὶ κατασβέννυσι· τὸ δʼ ἔλαιον, ὅτι μάλιστα εἰλικρινῶς ὑγρόν ἐστι, διὰ λεπτότητα μεταβάλλει καὶ κρατούμενον ἐκπυροῦται. [¶10] 9.3. It is the greatest argument that can be of its humidity, that the least quantity of it spreads itself a great way; for so small a drop of honey, water, or any other liquid does not extend itself so far, but very often, by reason of the dry mixed parts, is presently wasted. Because oil is ductile and soft, men are wont to make use of it for anointing their bodies; for it runs along and spreads itself through all the parts, and sticks so firmly to them that it is not easily washed off. We find by experience, that a garment wet with water is presently dried again; but it is no easy matter to wash out the spots and stains of oil, for it enters deep, because of its most subtile and humid nature. Hence it is that Aristotle says, the drops of diluted wine are the hardest to be got out of clothes, because they are most subtile, and run farther into the pores of the cloth. > Greek: 9.3. μέγιστον δʼ αὐτοῦ τῆς ὑγρότητος τεκμήριον ἡ ἐπὶ πλεῖστον ἐξ ὀλιγίστου διανομὴ καὶ χύσις· οὔτε γὰρ μέλιτος οὔθʼ ὕδατος οὔτʼ ἄλλου τινὸς ὑγροῦ βραχὺς οὕτως ὀπὸς ἐπίδοσιν λαμβάνει τοιαύτην, ἀλλʼ εὐθὺς ἐπιλείπων καταναλίσκεται διὰ ξηρότητα. τὸ δʼ ἔλαιον, ὅλκιμον πανταχῆ καὶ μαλακόν, ἄγεται περὶ τὸ σῶμα χριομένοις καὶ συνεπιρρεῖ πορρωτάτω διʼ ὑγρότητα τῶν μερῶν μηκυνομένων, ὥστε καὶ παραμένειν δυσεξίτηλον. ὕδατι μὲν γὰρ βρεχθὲν ἱμάτιον ἀποξηραίνεται ῥᾳδίως, ἐλαίου δὲ κηλῖδας οὐ τῆς τυχούσης ἐστὶ πραγματείας ἐκκαθῆραι· μάλιστα γὰρ ἐνδύεται τῷ μάλιστα λεπτὸν καὶ ὑγρὸν εἶναι. καὶ γὰρ οἶνον κεκραμένον δυσχερέστερον ἐξαιροῦσι τῶν ἱματίων, ὡς Ἀριστοτέλης φησίν, ὅτι λεπτότερός ἐστι καὶ μᾶλλον ἐνδύεται τοῖς πόροις. [¶11] 10.1. AT supper we were commending Aristio’s cook, who, amongst other dishes that he had dressed very curiously, brought a cock to table just killed as a sacrifice to Hercules, as tender as though it had been killed a day or two before. When Aristio told us that this was no wonder, —seeing such a thing might be very easily done, if the cock, as soon as he was killed, was hung upon a fig-tree, —we began to enquire into the reason of what he asserted. Indeed, I must confess, our eye assures us that a fig-tree sends out a fierce and strong spirit; which is yet more evident, from what we have heard said of bulls. That is, a bull, after he is tied to a fig-tree, though never so mad before, grows presently tame, and will suffer you to touch him, and on a sudden all his rage and fury cool and die. But the chiefest cause that works this change is the sharp acrimonious quality of the tree. For of all trees this is the fullest of sap, and so are its figs, wood, and bark; and hence it comes to pass, that the smoke of fig-wood is most offensive to the eyes; and when it is burned, its ashes make the best lye to scour withal. But all these effects proceed from heat. Now there are some that say, when the sap of this tree thrown into milk curds it, that this effect does not arise from the irregular figures of the parts of the milk, which the sap unites and (as it were) glues into one body, the smooth and globose parts being squeezed out, but that by its heat it loosens the unstable and watery parts of the liquid body. And we may use as an argument the unprofitableness of the sap of this tree, which, though it is very sweet, yet makes the worst liquor in the world. For it is not the inequality in the parts that affects the smooth part, but what is cold and raw is contracted by heat. And salt helps to produce the same effect; for it is hot, and works in opposition to the uniting of the parts just mentioned, causing rather a dissolution; for to it, above all other things, Nature has given a dissolving faculty. Therefore the fig-tree sends forth a hot and sharp spirit, which cuts and boils the flesh of the bird. The very same thing may be effected by placing the flesh upon a heap of corn, or near nitre; the heat will produce the same that the fig-tree did. Now it may be made manifest that wheat is naturally hot, in that wine, put into a hogshead and placed among wheat, is presently consumed. > Greek: 10.1. ὁ Ἀριστίωνος εὐημέρει παρὰ τοῖς δειπνοῦσι μάγειρος, ὡς τὰ τʼ ἄλλα χαριέντως ὀψοποιήσας καὶ τὸν ἄρτι τῷ Ἡρακλεῖ τεθυμένον ἀλεκτρυόνα παραθεὶς ἁπαλὸν ὥσπερ χθιζόν, νεαρὸν ὄντα καὶ πρόσφατον. εἰπόντος; οὖν τοῦ Ἀριστίωνος, ὅτι τοῦτο γίγνεται ταχέως, εἰ σφαγεὶς εὐθὺς ἀπὸ τῆς συκῆς κρεμασθείη, τὴν αἰτίαν ἐζητοῦμεν. ὅτι μὲν δὴ πνεῦμα τῆς συκῆς ἄπεισιν ἰσχυρὸν καὶ σφοδρόν, ἥ τʼ ὄψις ἐκμαρτυρεῖ καὶ τὸ περὶ τῶν ταύρων λεγόμενον, ὡς ἄρα συκῇ προσδεθεὶς ὁ χαλεπώτατος, ἡσυχίαν ἄγει καὶ ψαύσεως ἀνέχεται, καὶ ὅλως ἀφίησι τὸν θυμὸν ὥσπερ ἀπομαραινόμενον. τὴν δὲ πλείστην αἰτίαν καὶ δύναμιν ἡ δριμύτης εἶχε· τὸ γὰρ φυτὸν ἁπάντων ὀπωδέστατον, ὥστε καὶ τὸ σῦκον αὐτὸ καὶ τὸ ξύλον καὶ τὸ θρῖον ἀναπεπλῆσθαι· διὸ καόμενόν τε τῷ καπνῷ δάκνει μάλιστα καὶ κατακαυθέντος ἡ τέφρα ῥυπτικωτάτην παρέχει κόνιν· ταὐτὰ δὲ πάντα θερμότητος. καὶ τὴν πῆξιν ἐμποιεῖν τῷ γάλακτι τὸν ὀπὸν οἴονταί τινες, οὐ σκαληνίᾳ σχημάτων περιπλέκοντα καὶ κολλῶντα τὰ μέρη τοῦ γάλακτος, ἐκθλιβομένων ἐπιπολῆς τῶν λείων καὶ περιφερῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὑπὸ θερμότητος ἐκτήκοντα τοῦ ὑγροῦ τὸ ἀσύστατον καὶ ὑδατῶδες. τεκμήριον δὲ καὶ τὸ ἄχρηστον γλυκὺ εἶναι τὸν ὀπόν, ἀλλὰ πωμάτων φαυλότατον· οὐ γὰρ τὸ λεῖον ὑπὸ τῶν σκαληνῶν, ἀλλὰ τὸ ψυχρὸν ἔστη καὶ ἄπεπτον ὑπὸ τῆς θερμότητος. καὶ πρὸς τοῦτο συνεργοῦσιν οἱ ἅλες· θερμοὶ γάρ εἰσι· πρὸς δὲ τὴν λεγομένην περιπλοκὴν καὶ σύνδεσιν ἀντιπράττουσι διάλυσιν διαλύειν γὰρ μάλιστα πεφύκασι. θερμὸν οὖν πνεῦμα καὶ δριμὺ καὶ τμητικὸν ἀφίησιν ἡ συκῆ· καὶ τοῦτο θρύπτει καὶ πεπαίνει τὴν σάρκα τοῦ ὄρνιθος. ταὐτὸ δὲ πάσχει καὶ πυρῶν ἐντεθεὶς σιρῷ καὶ νίτρῳ συνημμένος, ὑπὸ θερμότητος. ὅτι δ’ ὁ πυρὸς ἔχει τι θερμόν, τεκμαίρονται τοῖς ἀμφορεῦσιν, ὧν ἐντιθεμένων εἰς σιρὸν ἐξαναλίσκεται ταχέως ὁ οἶνος. ## 13. Book VII · chapters 1–4 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/13/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/13/#p-N [¶0] 0.1. THE Romans, Sossius Senecio, remember a pretty saying of a pleasant man and good companion, who supping alone said that he had eaten to-day, but not supped; as if a supper always wanted company and agreement to make it palatable and pleasing. Evenus said that fire was the sweetest of all sauces in the world. And Homer calls salt θεῖον, divine; and most call it χάριτας, graces, because, mixed with most part of our food, it makes it palatable and agreeable to the taste. Now indeed the best and most divine sauce that can be at an entertainment or a supper is a familiar and pleasant friend; not because he eats and drinks with a man, but because he participates of and communicates discourse, especially if the talk be profitable, pertinent, and instructive. For commonly loose talk over a glass of wine raiseth passions and spoils company, and therefore it is fit that we should be as critical in examining what discourses as what friends are fit to be admitted to a supper; not following either the saying or opinion of the Spartans, who, when they entertained any young man or a stranger in their public halls, showed him the door, with these words, “No discourse goes out this way.” What we use to talk of may be freely disclosed to everybody, because we have nothing in our discourses that tends to looseness, debauchery, debasing of ourselves, or back-biting others. Judge by the examples, of which this seventh book contains ten. > Greek: 0.1. χαρίεντος ἀνδρός, ὦ Σόσσιε Σενεκίων, καὶ φιλανθρώπου λόγον ἔχουσι Ῥωμαῖοι διὰ στόματος, ὅστις ἦν ὁ εἰπών, ἐπεὶ μόνος ἐδείπνησε, βεβρωκέναι, μὴ δεδειπνηκέναι σήμερον· ὡς τοῦ δείπνου κοινωνίαν καὶ φιλοφροσύνην ἐφηδύνουσαν ἀεὶ ποθοῦντος. Εὔηνος μὲν γὰρ ἔλεγε τὸ πῦρ ἥδιστον εἶναι ἡδυσμάτων, καὶ τὸν ἅλα θεῖον Ὅμηρος οἱ δὲ πολλοὶ χάριτας καλοῦσιν, ὅτι ἐπὶ τὰ πλεῖστα μιγνύμενος εὐάρμοστα τῇ γεύσει καὶ προσφιλῆ ποιεῖ καὶ κεχαρισμένα· δείπνου δὲ καὶ τραπέζης θειότατον ὡς ἀληθῶς ἥδυσμα φίλος ἐστὶ παρὼν καὶ συνήθης καὶ γνώριμος οὐ τῷ συνεσθίειν καὶ συμπίνειν, ἀλλʼ ὅτι λόγου μεταλαμβάνει καὶ μεταδίδωσιν, ἄν γε δὴ χρήσιμον ἐνῇ τι καὶ πιθανὸν καὶ οἰκεῖον τοῖς λεγομένοις· ἐπεὶ τούς γε πολλοὺς αἱ παρʼ οἶνον ἀδολεσχίαι ληροῦντας ἐμβάλλουσι πρὸς τὰ πάθη καὶ προσδιαστρέφουσιν. ὅθεν ἄξιόν ἐστι μηδὲν ἧττον λόγους ἢ φίλους δεδοκιμασμένους παραλαμβάνειν ἐπὶ τὰ δεῖπνα, τοὐναντίον ἢ Λακεδαιμόνιοι φρονοῦντας καὶ λέγοντας· ἐκεῖνοι μὲν γάρ, ὅταν νέον ἢ ξένον εἰς τὸ φιδίτιον παραλάβωσι, τὰς θυρίδας δείξαντες ταύτῃ φασὶν οὐκ ἐξέρχεται λόγος· ἡμεῖς, δʼ ἑαυτοὺς χρῆσθαι λόγοις συνεθίζομεν, ὧν πᾶσὶν ἐστι καὶ πρὸς πάντας ἐξαγωγή, διὰ τὰς ὑποθέσεις μηδὲν ἀκόλαστον μηδὲ βλάσφημον μηδὲ κακόηθες ἐχούσας μηδʼ ἀνελεύθερον. ἔξεστι δὲ κρίνειν τοῖς παραδείγμασιν, ὧν τὴν ἑβδόμην δεκάδα τουτὶ περιέχει τὸ βιβλίον. [¶1] 1.1. AT a summer entertainment, one of the company pronounced that common verse, “Now drench thy lungs with wine, the Dog appears.” And Nicias of Nicopolis, a physician, presently subjoined: It is no wonder that Alcaeus, a poet, should be ignorant of that of which Plato the philosopher was. Though Alcaeus may be defended; for it is probable that the lungs, lying near the stomach, may participate of the steam of the liquor, and be drenched with it. But the philosopher, expressly delivering that most part of our drink passeth through the lungs, hath precluded all ways of excuse to those that would be willing to defend him. For it is a very great and complicated ignorance; for first, it being necessary that our liquid and dry food should be mixed, it is very probable that the stomach is the vessel for them both, which throws out the dry food after it is grown soft and moist into the guts. Besides, the lungs being a dense and compacted body, how is it possible that, when we sup gruel or the like, the thicker parts should pass through them? And this was the objection which Erasistratus rationally made against Plato. Besides, when he considered for what end every part of the body was made, and what use Nature designed in their contrivance, it was easy to perceive that the epiglottis was framed on purpose that when we drink the wind-pipe should be shut, and nothing be suffered to fall upon the lungs. For if any thing by chance gets down that way, we are troubled with retching and coughing till it is thrown up again. And this epiglottis being framed so that it may fall on either side, whilst we speak it shuts the weasand, but when we eat or drink it falls upon the wind-pipe, and so secures the passage for our breath. Besides, we know that those who drink by little and little are looser than those who drink greedily and large draughts; for in the latter the very force drives it into their bladders, but in the former it stays, and by its stay is mixed with and moistens the meat thoroughly. Now this could not be, if in the very drinking the liquid was separated from the food; but the effect follows, because we mix and convey them both together, using (as Erasistratus phraseth it) the liquid as a vehicle for the dry. > Greek: 1.1. εἰσῆλθέ τινι τῶν συμποτῶν ὥρᾳ θέρους τουτὶ τὸ πρόχειρον ἅπασιν ἀναφθέγξασθαι τέγγε πλεύμονας οἴνῳ· τὸ γὰρ ἄστρον περιτέλλεται· καὶ Νικίας ὁ Νικοπολίτης ἰατρὸς οὐδὲν ἔφη θαυμαστόν, εἰ ποιητικὸς ἀνὴρ Ἀλκαῖος ἠγνόησεν ὃ καὶ Πλάτων ὁ φιλόσοφος. καίτοι τὸν μὲν Ἀλκαῖον ἁμωσγέπως εὐπορήσειν βοηθείας, ἀπολαύειν ἰκμάδος τὸν πλεύμονα, γειτνιῶντα τῷ στομάχῳ, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο τέγγεσθαι πιθανόν ἐστιν· ὁ δὲ φιλόσοφος οὑτωσὶ σαφῶς ἔφη γράψας διεξιέναι τὰ ποτὰ διὰ τοῦ πλεύμονος οὐδὲ τοῖς προθυμοτάτοις ἀμύνειν ἐπιχείρησιν ὑπὲρ αὑτοῦ πιθανὴν ἀπολέλοιπε. τὸ γὰρ ἀγνόημα μέγα. πρῶτον μέν, ὅτι τῆς ὑγρᾶς τροφῆς πρὸς τὴν ξηρὰν ἀναγκαίαν ἐχούσης τὴν ἀνάμιξιν, εἰκός ἐστι ταὐτὸν ἀμφοτέραις ἀγγεῖον ὑποκεῖσθαι τὸν στόμαχον εἰς τὴν κάτω κοιλίαν ἐκδιδόντα μαλακὸν καὶ διάβροχον τὸ σιτίον· ἔπειτα, τοῦ πλεύμονος λείου καὶ πυκνοῦ παντάπασι γεγονότος, πῶς τὸ σὺν κυκεῶνι πινόμενον ἄλφιτον διέξεισι καὶ οὐκ ἐνίσχεται; τουτὶ γὰρ Ἐρασίστρατος ὀρθῶς πρὸς αὐτὸν ἠπόρησε. καὶ μὴν ἐπί γε τῶν πλείστων τοῦ σώματος μορίων τὸ οὗ ἕνεκα τῷ λόγῳ μετιὼν, καὶ πρὸς ἣν ἕκαστον ἡ φύσις χρείαν πεποίηκε βουλόμενος, ὥσπερ καὶ προσήκει τῷ φιλοσόφῳ, φρονεῖν, οὐκ εὖ παρίησι τὸ τῆς ἐπιγλωττίδος ἔργον, ἐπὶ τούτῳ τεταγμένον, ὅπως ἐν τῇ καταπόσει τῆς τροφῆς τὴν ἀρτηρίαν πιέζουσα κωλύῃ παρεμπεσεῖν ὁτιοῦν εἰς τὸν πλεύμονα· δεινὰς γὰρ ὑπὸ βηχὸς· ἴσχει τραχύτητας καὶ χαράξεις, ὅταν παρολίσθῃ, φερομένου τοῦ πνεύματος· ἡ δὲ μέταυλος αὕτη κλίσιν ἐπʼ ἀμφότερα λαμβάνουσα, φθεγγομένων μέν, ἐπιπίπτει τῷ στομάχῳ· σιτουμένων δὲ καὶ πινόντων, τῇ ἀρτηρίᾳ, καθαρὸν τῷ πνεύματι τὸν δρόμον φυλάττουσα καὶ τὴν ἀναπνοήν. ἔτι τοίνυν ἔφη καὶ τοὺς ἀτρέμα πίνοντας ἴσμεν τὰς κοιλίας ὑγροτέρας ἴσχοντας τῶν ἄθρουν ἐφελκομένων τὸ ὑγρόν· ὠθεῖ γὰρ εὐθὺς εἰς κύστιν ὑπὸ ῥύμης διεξιόν· ἐκείνως δὲ μᾶλλον ἐνδιατρίβει τοῖς σιτίοις καὶ μαλάσσει, ὥστʼ ἀναμίγνυσθαι καὶ παραμένειν. οὐκ ἂν δὲ ταῦτα συνέβαινε διακρινομένων εὐθὺς ἐν τῇ καταπόσει τῶν ὑγρῶν ἀλλʼ οὐ συμπλεκομένων ἡμῶν ἅμα καὶ συμπαραπεμπόντων τὸ σιτίον, οἷον ὀχήματι τῷ ὑγρῷ χρώμενον, ὡς ἔλεγεν Ἐρασίστρατοσ. [¶2] 1.2. Nicias having done, Protogenes the grammarian subjoined, that Homer was the first that observed the stomach was the vessel of the food, and the windpipe (which the ancients called ἀσφάραγον) of the breath, and upon the same account they called those who had loud voices ἐρισφαράγους And when he describes how Achilles killed Hector, he says, “He pierced his weasand, where death enters soon;” and adds, “But not his windpipe, so that he could speak,” taking the windpipe for the proper passage of the voice and breath.... > Greek: 1.2. τοιαῦτα τοῦ Νικίου διεξιόντος, ὁ γραμματικὸς πρωτογένης ἔφη συνεωρακέναι πρῶτον Ὅμηρον, ὅτι τῆς μὲν τροφῆς ὁ στόμαχος ἀγγεῖόν ἐστι, τοῦ δὲ πνεύματος ὁ βρόγχος, ὃν ἀσφάραγον ἐκάλουν οἱ παλαιοί· διὸ καὶ τοὺς μεγαλοφώνους ἐρισφαράγους ἐπονομάζειν εἰώθασιν· εἰπὼν οὖν ὅτι τοῦ Ἕκτορος ὁ Ἀχιλλεὺς ἤλασε λευκανίην, ἵνα τε ψυχῆς ὤκιστος ὄλεθρος· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἀπʼ ἀσφάραγον μελίη τάμε χαλκοβάρεια, ὄφρα τί μιν προτιείποι ἀμειβόμενος ἐπέεσσιν. ὡς τὸν ἀσφάραγον ὄντα φωνῆς ἴδιον ὀχετὸν καὶ πνεύματος, τὴν δὲ λευκανίην· ἐσέθηκα. [¶3] 1.3. Upon this, all being silent, Florus began thus: What, shall we tamely suffer Plato to be run down? By no means, said I, for if we desert him, Homer must be in the same condition, for he is so far from denying the windpipe to be the passage for our drink, that the dry food, in his opinion, goes the same way. For these are his words: From his gullet flowed The clotted wine and undigested flesh. Unless perchance you will say that the Cyclops, as he had but one eye, so had but one passage for his food and voice; or would have φάρυγξ to signify weasand, not windpipe, as both all the ancients and moderns use it. I produce this because it is really his meaning, not because I want other testimonies, for Plato hath store of learned and sufficient men to join with him. For not to mention Eupolis, who in his play called the Flatterers says, Protagoras bids us drink a lusty bowl, That when the Dog appears our lungs may still be moist; or elegant Eratosthenes, who says, “And having drenched his lungs with purest wine;” even Euripides, somewhere expressly saying, “The wine passed through the hollows of the lungs,” shows that he saw better and clearer than Erasistratus. For he saw that the lungs have cavities and pores, through which the liquids pass. For the breath in expiration hath no need of pores, but that the liquids and those things which pass with them might go through, it is made like a strainer and full of pores. Besides, sir, as to the influence of gruel which you proposed, the lungs can discharge themselves of the thicker parts together with the thin, as well as the stomach. For our stomach is not, as some fancy, smooth and slippery, but full of asperities, in which it is probable that the thin and small particles are lodged, and so not taken quite down. But neither this nor the other can we positively affirm; for the curious contrivance of Nature in her operations is too hard to be explained; nor can we be particularly exact upon those instruments (I mean the spirit and the heat) which she makes use of in her works. But besides those we have mentioned to confirm Plato’s opinion, let us produce Philistion of Locri, a very ancient and famous physician, and Hippocrates too, with his pupil Dioxippus; for they thought of no other passage but that which Plato mentions. Dioxippus knew very well that precious talk of the epiglottis, but says, that when we feed, the moist parts are about that separated from the dry, and the first are carried down the windpipe, the other down the weasand; and that the windpipe receives no parts of the food, but the stomach, together with the dry parts, receives some portion of the liquids. And this is probable, for the epiglottis lies over the windpipe, as a fence and strainer, that the drink may get in by little and little, lest descending in a large full stream, it stop the breath and endanger the life. And therefore birds have no epiglottis, because they do not sup or lap when they drink, but take up a little in their beak, and let it run gently down their windpipe. These testimonies I think are enough; and reason confirms Plato’s opinion by arguments drawn first from sense. For when the windpipe is wounded, no drink will go down; but as if the pipe were broken it runs out, though the weasand be whole and unhurt. And all know that in the inflammation of the lungs the patient is troubled with extreme thirst; the heat or dryness or some other cause, together with the inflammation, making the appetite intense. But a stronger evidence than all these follows. Those creatures that have very small lungs, or none at all, neither want nor desire drink, because to some parts there belongs a natural appetite to drink, and those that want those parts have no need to drink, nor any appetite to be supplied by it. But more, the bladder would seem unnecessary; for, if the weasand receives both meat and drink and conveys it to the belly, the superfluous parts of the liquids would not want a proper passage, one common one would suffice as a canal for both that were conveyed to the same vessel by the same passage. But now the bladder is distinct from the guts, because the drink goes from the lungs, and the meat from the stomach; they being separated as we take them down. And this is the reason that in our water nothing can be found that either in smell or color resembles dry food. But if the drink were mixed with the dry meat in the belly, it must be impregnant with its qualities, and not come forth so simple and untinged. Besides, a stone is never found in the stomach, though it is likely that the moisture should be coagulated there as well as in the bladder, if all the liquor were conveyed through the weasand into the belly. But it is probable that the weasand robs the windpipe of a sufficient quantity of liquor as it is going down, and useth it to soften and concoct the meat. And therefore its excrement is never purely liquid; and the lungs, disposing of the moisture, as of the breath, to all the parts that want it, deposit the superfluous position in the bladder. And I am sure that this is a much more probable opinion than the other. But which is the truth cannot perhaps be discovered, and therefore it is not fit so peremptorily to find fault with the most acute and most famed philosopher, especially when the matter is so obscure, and the Platonists can produce such considerable reasons for their opinion. > Greek: 1.3. γενομένης οὖν ἐπὶ τῷ λόγῳ σιωπῆς, ὁ Φλῶρος εἶπεν οὕτως ὑφησόμεθα τοῦ Πλάτωνος ἐρήμην ὀφλισκάνοντος;οὐχ ἡμεῖς γʼ ἔφην ἐγώ· προησόμεθα γὰρ ἅμα τῷ Πλάτωνι καὶ τὸν Ὅμηρον, ὃς τοσοῦτον ἀποδεῖ τοῦ τὸ ὑγρὸν ἀπελαύνειν καὶ ἀποστρέφειν τῆς ἀρτηρίας, ὥστε καὶ τὸ σιτίον ὁμοῦ συνεκβαλεῖν ἐνταῦθα. φάρυγος ʽ γάρ φησινʼ ἐξέσσυτο οἶνος, ψωμοὶ τʼ ἀνδρόμεοι· χωρὶς εἰ μὴ τὸν Κύκλωπα φήσει τις ὥσπερ ὀφθαλμὸν σχεῖν ἕνα καὶ πόρον τροφῆς καὶ φωνῆς τὸν αὐτόν· ἢ τὸν φάρυγγα φήσει στόμαχον εἰρῆσθαι καὶ μὴ βρόγχον, ὥσπερ ὑπὸ πάντων καὶ πάλαι καὶ νῦν ὠνόμασται. ταῦτα δʼ οὐκ ἀπορίᾳ μαρτύρων, ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐπηγαγόμην ἐπεὶ μάρτυρὲς γε τῷ Πλάτωνι πολλοί τε κἀγαθοὶ πάρεισιν. Εὔπολιν μὲν γάρ, εἰ βούλει, πάρες ἐν Κόλαξιν εἰπόντα πίνειν γὰρ ὁ Πρωταγόρας ἐκέλευσʼ, ἵνα πρὸ τοῦ κυνὸς τὸν πλεύμονʼ ἔκκλυστον φορῇ· πάρες δὲ καὶ τὸν κομψὸν Ἐρατοσθένην λέγοντα καὶ βαθὺν ἀκρήτῳ πνεύμονα τεγγόμενος· Εὐριπίδης δὲ σαφῶς δήπου λέγων οἶνος περάσας πλευμόνων διαρροάς δῆλός ἐστιν Ἐρασιστράτου βλέπων τι ὀξύτερον· εἶδε γὰρ ὅτι σήραγγας ὁ πλεύμων ἔχει καὶ πόροις κατατέτρηται, διʼ ὧν τὸ ὑγρὸν διίησιν. οὐ γὰρ τὸ πνεῦμα πόρων ἐδεῖτο πρὸς τὴν ἐξαγωγήν, ἀλλʼ ἕνεκα τῶν ὑγρῶν καὶ τῶν τοῖς ὑγροῖς συμπαρολισθαινόντων γέγονεν ἠθμοειδὴς καὶ πολύπορος. καὶ οὐδὲν ἧττον, ὦ μακάριε, τῷ πλεύμονι προσῆκόν ἐστιν ἢ τῷ στομάχῳ συνεκδιδόναι τὸ ἄλφιτον καὶ τὸ κρίμνον οὐδὲ γὰρ ὁ στόμαχος ἡμῶν λεῖος, ὥς τινες, οὐδʼ ὀλισθηρός, ἀλλʼ ἔχει τραχύτητας, αἷς εἰκός ἐστι τὰ λεπτὰ καὶ μικρὰ περιπίπτοντα καὶ προσισχόμενα διαφεύγειν τὴν κατάποσιν. ἀλλʼ οὔτε τοῦτο λέγειν οὔτʼ ἐκεῖνο καλῶς ἔχον ἐστίν· ἡ γὰρ φύσις οὐκ ἐφικτὸν ἔχει τῷ λόγῳ τὸ περὶ τὰς ἐνεργείας εὐμήχανον· οὐδʼ ἔστι τῶν ὀργάνων αὐτῆς τὴν ἀκρίβειαν οἷς χρῆται λέγω δὲ τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ τὸ θερμόν ἀξίως διελθεῖν. ἔτι δὴ τῶν μαρτύρων τῷ Πλάτωνι προσκαλοῦμαι Φιλιστίωνά τε τὸν Λοκρόν, εὖ μάλα παλαιὸν ἄνδρα καὶ λαμπρὸν ἀπὸ τῆς τέχνης ὑμῶν γενόμενον; καὶ Ἱπποκράτη καὶ Διώξιππον τὸν Ἱπποκράτειον οὗτοι γὰρ οὐχ ἑτέραν ὁδόν, ἀλλʼ ἣν Πλάτων, ὑφηγοῦνται τοῦ πώματος. ἥ γε μὴν πολυτίμητος ἐπιγλωττὶς οὐκ ἔλαθε τὸν Διώξιππον, ἀλλὰ περὶ ταύτην φησὶ τὸ ὑγρὸν ἐν τῇ καταπόσει διακρινόμενον εἰς τὴν ἀρτηρίαν ἐπιρρεῖν, τὸ δὲ σιτίον εἰς τὸν στόμαχον ἐπικυλινδεῖσθαι καὶ τῇ μὲν ἀρτηρίᾳ τῶν ἐδωδίμων μηδὲν παρεμπίπτειν, τὸν δὲ στόμαχον ἅμα τῇ ξηρᾷ τροφῇ καὶ τῆς ὑγρᾶς ἀναμιγνύμενόν τι μέρος ὑποδέχεσθαι, πιθανὸν γάρ ἐστι τὴν μὲν ἐπιγλωττίδα τῆς ἀρτηρίας προκεῖσθαι διάφραγμα καὶ ταμιεῖον, ὅπως ἀτρέμα καὶ κατʼ ὀλίγον διηθῆται τὸ ποτόν, ἀλλὰ μὴ ταχὺ μηδʼ ἄθρουν ἐπιρρακτὸν ἀποβιάζηται τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ διαταράττῃ. διὸ τοῖς ὄρνισιν οὐ γέγονεν ἐπιγλωσσὶς οὐδʼ ἔστιν· οὐδὲ γὰρ σπῶντες οὐδὲ λάπτοντες, ἀλλὰ κάπτοντες καὶ κατʼ ὀλίγον διιέντες τὸ ποτὸν ἡσυχῆ τὴν ἀρτηρίαν διαίνουσι καὶ τέγγουσι. μαρτύρων μὲν οὖν ἅλις. ὁ δὲ λόγος τῷ Πλάτωνι πρῶτον ἐκ τῆς αἰσθήσεως ἔχει τὴν πίστιν. τῆς γὰρ ἀρτηρίας τρωθείσης, οὐ καταπίνεται τὸ ὑγρόν, ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ ὀχετοῦ διακοπέντος, ἐκπῖπτον ἔξω καὶ ἀποκρουνίζον ὁρᾶται, καίπερ ὑγιοῦς καὶ ἀκεραίου τοῦ στομάχου μένοντος. ἔπειτα πάντες ἴσμεν, ὅτι τοῖς περιπλευμονικοῖς πάθεσι δίψος ἕπεται περιφλεγέστατον ὑπὸ ξηρότητος ἢ θερμότητος, ἤ τινος ἄλλης αἰτίας ἅμα τῇ φλεγμονῇ τὴν ὄρεξιν ἐμποιούσης· ὃ δὲ τούτου μεῖζόν ἐστι τεκμήριον, ὅσοις πλεύμων οὐκ ἐμπέφυκε τῶν ζῴων ἢ σφόδρα μικρὸς ἐμπέφυκε, ταῦτʼ οὐ δεῖται ποτοῦ τὸ παράπαν οὐδʼ ὀρέγεται, διὰ τὸ τῶν μορίων ἑκάστῳ σύμφυτον ὑπάρχειν τὴν πρὸς τοὔργον ἐπιθυμίαν· οἷς δʼ οὐκ ἔστι μόρια, μηδὲ χρείαν παρεῖναι μηδὲ προθυμίαν τῆς διʼ αὐτῶν ἐνεργείας. ὅλως δὲ δόξει μάτην ἡ κύστις γεγονέναι τοῖς ἔχουσιν· εἰ γὰρ ὁ στόμαχος ἅμα τῷ σιτίῳ τὸ ποτὸν ἀναλαμβάνει καὶ τῇ κοιλίᾳ παραδίδωσιν, οὐθὲν ἰδίου πόρου δεῖται τὸ περίττωμα τῆς ὑγρᾶς τροφῆς, ἀλλʼ εἷς ἀρκεῖ καὶ κοινὸς ὥσπερ εὐδιαῖος ἀμφοτέροις εἰς ταὐτὸ διὰ ταὐτοῦ συνεισκομιζομένοις· νῦν δὲ χωρὶς μὲν ἡ κύστις γέγονε, χωρὶς δὲ τὸ ἔντερον· ὅτι τὸ μὲν ἐκ τοῦ πλεύμονος βαδίζει, τὸ δʼ ἐκ τοῦ στομάχου, διακρινόμενον εὐθὺς· περὶ τὴν κατάποσιν. ὅθεν οὐδʼ ἐπιφαίνεται τῷ ὑγρῷ τοῦ ξηροῦ περιττώματος οὐδέν, οὔτε χρόᾳ προσεοικὸς οὔτʼ ὀσμῇ τὸ παράπαν καίτοι φύσιν εἶχεν ἀναμιγνύμενον ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ καὶ ἀναδευόμενον ἀναπίμπλασθαι τῶν ἐκείνου ποιοτήτων καὶ μὴ καθαρὸν οὕτως ἀπηθεῖσθαι καὶ ἄχραντον. ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ λίθος ἐν κοιλίᾳ πώποτε συνέστη· καίτοι λόγον εἶχε μηδὲν ἧττον ἢ ἐν κύστει συνίστασθαι καὶ πήγνυσθαι τὸ ὑγρόν, εἴπερ εἰς κοιλίαν ἐχώρει διὰ στομάχου πᾶν τὸ πινόμενον. ἀλλʼ ἔοικεν ὁ μὲν στόμαχος ἐκ τῆς ἀρτηρίας εὐθὺς ἕλκων τοῦ παροδεύοντος ὑγροῦ τὸ ἱκανὸν καὶ τὸ μέτριον ἀποχρῆσθαι πρὸς μάλαξιν καὶ χύλωσιν τῆς τροφῆς, διὸ μηδὲν ὑγροῦ περίττωμα ποιεῖν· ὁ δὲ πλεύμων ὡσπερεὶ τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ τὸ ὑγρὸν ἐξ αὑτοῦ διανέμων τοῖς δεομένοις τὸ λοιπὸν ἐκκρίνειν εἰς τὴν κύστιν. εἰκότα γὰρ μακρῷ ταῦτα μᾶλλον ἐκείνων. τὸ δʼ ἀληθὲς ἴσως ἄληπτον ἔν γε τούτοις, καὶ οὐκ ἔδει πρὸς φιλόσοφον δόξῃ τε καὶ δυνάμει πρῶτον οὕτως ἀπαυθαδίσασθαι περὶ πράγματος ἀδήλου καὶ τοσαύτην ἀντιλογίαν ἔχοντος. [¶4] 2.1. WE had always some difficulty started about κερασβόλος and ἀτεράμονα, not what humor those words signified (for it is certain that some, thinking that those seeds which fall on the oxen’s horns bear fruit which is very hard, did by a metaphor call a stiff untractable fellow by these names), but what was the cause that seeds falling on the oxen’s horns should bear hard fruit. I had often desired my friends to search no farther, most of all fearing the discourse of Theophrastus, in which he has collected many of those particulars whose causes we cannot discover. Such are the hen’s purifying herself with straw after she has laid, the seal’s swallowing her rennet when she is caught, the deer’s burying his cast horns, and the goat’s stopping the whole herd by holding a branch of sea-holly in his mouth; and among the rest he reckoned this is a thing of which we are certain, but whose cause it is very difficult to find. But once at supper at Delphi, some of my companions—as if we were not only better counsellors when our bellies are full (as one hath it), but wine would make us brisker in our enquiries and bolder in our resolutions—desired me to speak somewhat to that problem. > Greek: 2.1. ἐν ταῖς Πλατωνικαῖς συναναγνώσεσιν ὁ λεγόμενος κερασβόλος καὶ ἀτεράμων ζήτησιν ἀεὶ παρεῖχεν, οὐχ ὅστις εἴη· δῆλον γὰρ ἦν, ὅτι τῶν σπερμάτων τὰ προσπίπτοντα τοῖς τῶν βοῶν κέρασιν ἀτεράμονα τὸν καρπὸν ἐκφύειν νομίζοντες, οὕτω τὸν αὐθάδη καὶ σκληρὸν ἄνθρωπον ἐκ μεταφορᾶς κερασβόλον καὶ ἀτεράμονα προσηγόρευον ἀλλὰ περὶ αὐτῆς διηπορεῖτο τῆς αἰτίας, καθʼ ἣν τοῦτο πάσχει τὰ προσπίπτοντα τοῖς κέρασι τῶν βοῶν σπέρματα. καὶ πολλάκις ἀπειπάμεθα τοῖς φίλοις, οὐχ ἥκιστα Θεοφράστου δεδιττόμενοι τὸν λόγον, ἐν οἷς πολλὰ συναγήοχε καὶ ἱστόρηκε τῶν τὴν αἰτίαν ἀνεύρετον ἡμῖν ἐχόντων· οἷός ἐστιν ὁ τῶν ἀλεκτορίδων ὅταν τέκωσι περικαρφισμός, ἥ τε καταπίνουσα φώκη τὴν πιτύαν ἁλισκομένη, καὶ τὸ κατορυσσόμενον ὑπὸ τῶν ἐλάφων κέρας καὶ τὸ ἠρύγγιον, ὃ μιᾶς αἰγὸς εἰς τὸ στόμα λαβούσης, ἅπαν ἐφίσταται τὸ αἰπόλιον· ἐν τούτοις γὰρ καὶ τὰ κερασβόλα τῶν σπερμάτων προτίθεται, πρᾶγμα πίστιν ἔχον ὅτι γίγνεται, τὴν δʼ αἰτίαν ἔχον ἄπορον ἢ παγχάλεπον. ἀλλʼ ἔν γε Δελφοῖς παρὰ δεῖπνον ἐπέθεντό τινες ἡμῖν τῶν ἑταίρων, ὡς οὐ μόνον γαστρὸς ἀπὸ σξηνειδερυς μαμλεπλείης βουλὴν καὶ μῆτιν ἀμείνω γιγνομένην ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰς ζητήσεις πολὺ προθυμοτέρας καὶ θρασυτέρας τὰς ἀποφάνσεις τοῦ οἴνου ποιοῦντος, ἀξιοῦντες εἰπεῖν τι περὶ τοῦ προβλήματος. [¶5] 2.2. I refused, though I had some excellent men on my side, namely, Euthydemus my fellow-priest, and Patrocles my relation, who brought several the like instances, which they had gathered both from husbandry and hunting; for instance, that those officers that are appointed to watch the coming of the hail avert the storm by offering a mole’s blood or a woman’s rags; that a wild fig being bound to a garden fig-tree will keep the fruit from falling, and promote their ripening; that deer when they are taken shed salt tears, and boars sweet. But if you have a mind to such questions, Euthydemus will presently desire you to give an account of smallage and cummin; one of the which, if trodden down as it springs, will grow the better, and the other men curse and blaspheme whilst they sow it. > Greek: 2.2. εἶχον μὲν οὖν ἀρνούμενος οὐ φαύλους συνηγόρους, Εὐθύδημον τὸν συνιερέα καὶ Πατροκλέα τὸν γαμβρόν, οὐκ ὀλίγα τοιαῦτα τῶν ἀπὸ γεωργίας καὶ κυνηγίας προφέροντας· οἷον ἐδόκει τὸ περὶ τὴν χάλαζαν εἶναι τὴν ὑπὸ χαλαζοφυλάκων αἵματι σπάλακος ἢ ῥακίοις γυναικείοις ἀποτρεπομένην καὶ τὸ τῶν ἀγρίων ἐρινεῶν, ἃ ταῖς ἡμέροις περιαπτόμενα συκαῖς ἀπορρεῖν οὐκ ἐᾷ τὸν καρπὸν ἀλλὰ συνέχει καὶ συνεκπεπαίνει· καὶ τὸ τὰς ἐλάφους ἁλμυρὸν ἀφιέναι, τοὺς δὲ σῦς γλυκὺ τὸ δάκρυον ἁλισκομένους. ἀλλʼ ἐὰν ταῦτʼ ἔφη ζητῇς ὁ Εὐθύδημος, αὐτίκα δεήσει σε καὶ περὶ τοῦ σελίνου καὶ περὶ τοῦ κυμίνου διδόναι λόγον, ὧν τὸ μὲν ἐν τῷ βλαστάνειν καταπατοῦντες καὶ συντρίβοντες οἴονται τιον αὐξάνεσθαι, τὸ δʼ ἂν καταρώμενοι σπείρωσι καὶ λοιδοροῦντες. [¶6] 2.3. This last Florus thought to be an idle foolery; but he said, that we should not forbear to search into the causes of the other things as if they were incomprehensible. I have found, said I, your design to draw me on to this discourse, that you yourself may afterward give us a solution of the other proposed difficulties. In my opinion it is cold that causes this hardness in corn and pulse, by contracting and constipating their parts till the substance becomes close and extremely rigid; while heat is a dissolving and softening quality. Therefore those that cite this verse against Homer, “The season, not the field, bears fruit,” do not justly reprehend him. For fields that are warm by nature, the air being likewise temperate, bear more mellow fruit than others. And therefore those seeds that fall immediately on the earth out of the sower’s hand, and are covered presently, and cherished by being covered, partake more of the moisture and heat that is in the earth. But those that strike against the oxen’s horns do not enjoy what Hesiod calls the best position, but seem to be scattered rather than sown; and therefore the cold either destroys them quite, or else, lighting upon them as they lie naked; condenseth their moisture, and makes them hard and woody. Thus stones that lie under ground and plant-animals have softer parts than those that lie above; and therefore stone-cutters bury the stones they would work, as if they designed to have them prepared and softened by the heat; but those that lie above ground are by the cold made hard, rigid, and very hurtful to the tools. And if corn lies long upon the floor, the grains become much harder than that which is presently carried away. And sometimes too a cold wind blowing whilst they winnow spoils the corn, as it hath happened at Philippi in Macedonia; and the chaff secures the grains whilst on the floor. For is it any wonder that husbandmen affirm, one ridge will bear soft and fruitful, and the very next to it hard and unfruitful corn? Or—which is stranger—that in the same bean-cod some beans are of this sort, some of the other, as more or less wind and moisture falls upon this or that? > Greek: 2.3. ἐπεὶ δὲ τοῦτο μὲν ὁ Φλῶρος ᾤετο παιδιὰν εἶναι καὶ φλύαρον, ἐκείνων δʼ οὐκ ἄν τινα τῆς αἰτίας ὡς ἀλήπτου προέσθαι τὴν ζήτησιν ἐξεύρηκα ἔφην φάρμακον, ᾧ πρὸς τὸν λόγον ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς προσάξεις τουτονί, ἐὰν καὶ σὺ διαλύσῃς ἔνια τῶν ἐκκειμένων. δοκεῖ δή μοι ἡ ψυχρότης· τὸ ἀτέραμον ἐμποιεῖν τοῖς τε πυροῖς καὶ τοῖς χέδροψι, πιέζουσα καὶ πηγνύουσα τὴν ἕξιν ἄχρι σκληρότητος· ἡ δὲ θερμότης εὐδιάλυτον καὶ μαλακόν; ὅθεν οὐκ ὀρθῶς οἱ λέγοντες ἔτος φέρει οὔτις ἄρουρα τὰ καθʼ Ὁμήρου λέγουσι· τὰ γὰρ ἔνθερμα φύσει χωρία, κρᾶσιν εὐμενῆ τοῦ ἀέρος ἐνδιδόντος, ἐκφέρει μαλακωτέρους τοὺς· καρπούς. ὅσα τοίνυν ἐκ τῆς χειρὸς εὐθὺς εἰς τὴν γῆν ἀφιέμενα ἐμπίπτει τῶν σπερμάτων, ἐνδυόμενα καὶ λοχευόμενα τῇ κρύψει μᾶλλον ἀπολαύει τῆς ἐν τῇ γῇ θερμότητος καὶ ὑγρότητος· τὰ δὲ προσκρούοντα τοῖς κέρασι τῶν βοῶν οὐ τυγχάνει τῆς ἀρίστης καθʼ Ἡσίοδον εὐθημοσύνης, ἀλλὰ σφαλλόμενα καὶ παρολισθαίνοντα ῥιπτομένοις μᾶλλον ἢ σπειρομένοις προσέοικεν ὅθεν ἢ φθείρουσιν αὐτὰ παντάπασιν αἱ ψυχρότητες, ἢ δύστηκτα καὶ ἄχυμα καὶ ξυλώδη τοῖς χιτῶσι γυμνοῖς ἐπισκήπτουσαι ποιοῦσιν. ὁρᾷς γὰρ ὅτι καὶ τῶν λίθων τὰ ἔγγαια καὶ ζῳόφυτα μέρη μαλακώτερα τῶν ἐπιπολῆς ἡ ἀλέα φυλάττει· διὸ καὶ κατορύττουσιν οἱ τεχνῖται τοὺς ἐργασίμους λίθους, ὥσπερ ἐκπεπαινομένους ὑπὸ τῆς θερμότητος· οἱ δʼ ὕπαιθροι καὶ γυμνοὶ διὰ ψῦχος ἀντίτυποι καὶ δυσμετάβλητοι καὶ ἀτεράμονες ἀπαντῶσι τοῖς ἔργοις. τοὺς δὲ καρπούς, κἂν ἐπὶ τῆς ἅλω διαμείνωσι πλείω χρόνον ὑπαίθριοι καὶ γυμνοί, μᾶλλον ἀτεράμονας γίγνεσθαι λέγουσι τῶν εὐθὺς αἰρομένων. ἐνιαχοῦ δὲ καὶ πνεῦμα λικμωμένοις ἐπιγιγνόμενον ἀτεράμονας ποιεῖ διὰ τὸ ψῦχος, ὥσπερ ἐν Φιλίπποις τῆς Μακεδονίας ἱστοροῦσι· τοῖς δʼ ἀποκειμένοις βοηθεῖ τὸ ἄχυρον. οὐ δεῖ δὲ θαυμάζειν ἀκούοντας τῶν γεωργῶν, ὅτι καὶ δυεῖν αὐλάκων παραλλήλων ἡ μὲν ἀτεράμονας, ἡ δὲ τεράμονας ἐκφέρει τοὺς καρπούς· καὶ ὃ μέγιστόν ἐστι, τοῦ κυάμου τῶν λοβῶν οἱ μὲν τοίους οἱ δὲ τοίους, δηλονότι τοῖς μὲν ἧττον τοῖς δὲ μᾶλλον ἢ πνεύματος ψυχροῦ προσπεσόντος ἢ ὕδατος. [¶7] 3.1. MY father-in-law Alexion laughed at Hesiod, for advising us to drink freely when the barrel is newly broached or almost out, but moderately when it is about the middle, since there is the best wine. For who, said he, doth not know, that the middle of wine, the top of oil, and the bottom of honey is the best? Yet he bids us spare the middle, and stay till worse wine runs, when the barrel is almost out. This said, the company minded Hesiod no more, but began to enquire into the cause of this difference. > Greek: 3.1. Ἀλεξίων ὁ πενθερὸς κατεγέλα τοῦ Ἡσιόδου παραινοῦντος ἀρχομένου πίθου καὶ λήγοντος ἐμφορεῖσθαι, μεσσόθι δὲ φείδεσθαι ὅπου τὸ χρηστότατον οἰνάριον ἔστι. τίς γάρ ἔφη οὐκ οἶδεν, ὅτι τοῦ μὲν οἴνου τὸ μέσον γίγνεται βέλτιστον, τοῦ δʼ ἐλαίου τὸ ἀνωτάτω, τὸ δὲ κατωτάτω τοῦ μέλιτος; ὁ δʼ ἐᾶν ἐκέλευε τὸν ἐν μέσῳ οἶνον καὶ περιμένειν, ἄχρι ἂν μεταβάλῃ πρὸς τὸ χεῖρον, ἀποδεοῦς τοῦ πίθου γενομένου. ῥηθέντων δὲ τούτων, χαίρειν ἐάσαντες; τὸν Ἡσίοδον ἐπὶ τὸ ζητεῖν τὴν αἰτίαν τῆς διαφορᾶς ὥρμησαν. [¶8] 3.2. We were not at all puzzled about the honey, everybody almost knowing that that which is lightest is so because it is rare, and that the heaviest parts are dense and compact, and by reason of their weight settle below the others. So, if you turn over the vessel, each in a little time will recover its proper place, the heavier subsiding, and the lighter rising above the rest. And as for the wine, probable solutions presently appeared; for its strength consisting in heat, it is reasonable that it should be contained chiefly in the middle, and there best preserved; for the lower parts the lees spoil, and the upper are impaired by the neighboring air. For that the air will impair wine no man doubts, and therefore we usually bury or cover our barrels, that as little air as can be might come near them. Besides (which is an evident sign) a barrel when full is not spoiled so soon as when it is half empty; because a great deal of air getting into the empty space troubles and disturbs liquor, whereas the wine that is in the full cask is preserved and defended by itself, not admitting much of the external air, which is apt to injure and corrupt it. > Greek: 3.2. ὁ μὲν οὖν τοῦ μέλιτος λόγος οὐ πάνυ πολλὰ πράγματα παρέσχεν ἡμῖν, πάντων ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν ἐπισταμένων, ὅτι τὸ κουφότατον ὑπὸ μανότητος κουφότατὸν ἐστι, τὸ δὲ πυκνὸν καὶ συνεχὲς διὰ βάρος ὑφίσταται τῷ λοιπῷ· κἂν περιτρέψῃς τὸ ἀγγεῖον, αὖθις ὀλίγῳ χρόνῳ τὴν προσήκουσαν ἑκάτερον ἀπολαμβάνει χώραν, τοῦ μὲν κάτω φερομένου τοῦ δʼ ἐπιπολάζοντος. οὐ μὴν οὐδʼ ὁ οἶνος ἀπελείφθη πιθανῶν ἐπιχειρημάτων· πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ ἡ δύναμις αὐτοῦ, θερμότης οὖσα, πρὸς τὸ μέσον εὐλόγως δοκεῖ συνῆχθαι μάλιστα, καὶ τοῦτο διατηρεῖν βέλτιστον· ἔπειτα τὸ μὲν κάτω διὰ τὴν τρύγα φαῦλον εἶναι, τὸ δʼ ἐξ ἐπιπολῆς τοῦ ἀέρος φθείρεσθαι πλησιάζοντος. ὅτι γὰρ ἐξίστησιν ὁ ἀὴρ τῆς ποιότητος τὸν οἶνον ἴσμεν ἐπισφαλέστατον ὄντα· διὸ καὶ κατορύττουσι τοὺς πίθους καὶ σκεπάζουσιν, ὅπως ὅτι σμικρότατος ἀὴρ αὐτῶν ἐπιψαύῃ. τὸ δὲ μέγιστον, οὐ φθείρει πλῆρες ἀγγεῖον οὕτω ῥᾳδίως οἶνον ὡς ἀποδεὲς γενόμενον· πολὺς γὰρ εἰς τὸ κενούμενον ἐπεισρέων ὁ ἀὴρ ἐξίστησι μᾶλλον· ἐν δὲ τοῖς μεστοῖς ὁ οἶνος αὐτὸς ὑφʼ αὑτοῦ συνέχεται, πολὺ τοῦ φθείροντος ἔξωθεν μὴ παραδεχόμενος· [¶9] 3.3. But the oil puzzled us most. One of the company thought that the bottom of the oil was worst, because it was foul and troubled with the lees; and that the top was not really better than the rest, but only seemed so, because it was farthest removed from those corrupting particles. Others thought the thickness of the liquor to be the reason, which thickness keeps it from mixing with other humids, unless blended together and shaken violently; and therefore it will not mix with air, but keeps it off by its smoothness and close contexture, so that it hath no power to corrupt it. But Aristotle seems to be against this opinion, who hath observed that oil grows sweeter by being kept in vessels not exactly filled, and afterwards ascribes this melioration to the air; for more air, and therefore more powerful to produce the effect, flows into a vessel not well filled. > Greek: 3.3. τὸ δʼ ἔλαιον οὐ φαύλην διατριβὴν παρέσχεν. ὁ μὲν γάρ τις ἔφη τὸ κάτω τοῦ ἐλαίου γίγνεσθαι χεῖρον, ὑπὸ τῆς ἀμόργης ἀναθολούμενον, οὐ τὸ ἄνω βέλτιον ὂν ἀλλὰ δοκοῦν, ὅτι πορρωτάτω τοῦ βλάπτοντός ἐστιν. ἄλλος ᾐτιᾶτο τὴν πυκνότητα, διʼ ἣν ἀμικτότατόν ἐστι καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ὑγρῶν οὐδὲν εἰς αὑτὸ δέχεται, πλὴν βίᾳ καὶ ὑπὸ πληγῆς ἀνακοπτόμενον· ὅθεν οὐδὲ τῷ ἀέρι δίδωσιν ἀνάμιξιν, ἀλλʼ ἀποστατεῖ διὰ λεπτότητα τῶν μορίων καὶ συνέχειαν, ὥσθʼ ἧττον ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ τρέπεσθαι μὴ κρατοῦντος. ἐδόκει δὲ πρὸς τοῦτον ὑπεναντιοῦσθαι τὸν λόγον Ἀριστοτέλης, τετηρηκώς, ὥς φησιν, εὐωδέστερόν τε γιγνόμενον καὶ βέλτιον ὅλως τὸ ἐν τοῖς ἀποκενουμένοις ἀγγείοις ἔλαιον· εἶτα τῷ ἀέρι τὴν αἰτίαν τῆς βελτιώσεως ἀνατίθησι· πλείων γάρ ἐστι καὶ κρατεῖ μᾶλλον εἰς ἀποδεὲς κατερχόμενος τὸ ἀγγεῖον. [¶10] 3.4. Well then! said I, the same quality in the air may spoil wine, and better oil. For long keeping improves wine, but spoils oil. Now the air keeps oil from growing old; for that which is cooled continues fresh and new, but that which is kept close up, having no way to exhale its corrupting parts, presently decays, and grows old. Therefore it is probable that the air coming upon the superficies of the oil keepeth it fresh and new. And this is the reason that the top of wine is worst, and of oil best; because age betters the one, and spoils the other. > Greek: 3.4. μήποτʼ οὖν ἔφην ἐγώ καὶ τοὔλαιον ὁ ἀὴρ ὠφελεῖ καὶ βλάπτει τὸν οἶνον ὑπὸ τῆς αὐτῆς δυνάμεως. οἴνῳ μὲν γὰρ ὠφέλιμον, ἐλαίῳ δʼ ἀσύμφορον παλαίωσις, ἣν ἑκατέρου προσπίπτων ὁ ἀὴρ ἀφαιρεῖ· τὸ γὰρ ψυχόμενον νεαρὸν διαμένει, τὸ δʼ οὐκ ἔχον διαπνοὴν ὑπὸ συνεχείας ταχὺ παλαιοῦται καὶ ἀπογηράσκει· λελέχθαι πιθανῶς, ὅτι τοῖς ἐπιπολῆς πλησιάζων ὁ ἀὴρ νεαροποιεῖ. διὸ τοῦ μὲν οἴνου τὸ ἄνω φαυλότατον τοῦ δʼ ἐλαίου βέλτιστον ἡ γὰρ παλαίωσις τῷ μὲν τὴν ἀρίστην τῷ δὲ τὴν κακίστην ἐμποιεῖ διάθεσιν. [¶11] 4.1. FLORUS, who loved the ancient customs, would not let the table be removed quite empty, but always left some meat upon it; declaring likewise that his father and grandfather were not only curious in this matter, but would never suffer the lamp after supper to be put out,—a thing about which the ancient Romans were very precise,—while those of the present day extinguish it immediately after supper, that they may lose no oil. Eustrophus the Athenian being present said: What could they get by that, unless they knew the cunning trick of our Polycharmus, who, after long deliberation how to find out a way to prevent the servants’ stealing of the oil, at last with a great deal of difficulty happened upon this: As soon as you have put out the lamp, fill it up, and the next morning look carefully whether it remains full. Then Florus with a smile replied: Well, since we are agreed about that, let us enquire for what reason the ancients were so careful about their tables and their lamps. > Greek: 4.1. Φιλάρχαιος ὢν ὁ Φλῶρος οὐκ εἴα κενὴν ἀπαίρειν τὴν τράπεζαν, ἀλλʼ ἀεὶ τῶν ἐδωδίμων ἐπʼ αὐτῇ ὑπέλειπε. καὶ οὐ τοῦτο μόνον ἔφη οἶδα τὸν πατέρα καὶ τὸν πάππον εὖ μάλα παραφυλάττοντας, ἀλλὰ μηδὲ λύχνον ἐῶντας ἀποσβεννύναι· καὶ γὰρ τοῦτο τοὺς παλαιοὺς; Ῥωμαίους ἐξευλαβεῖσθαι· τοὺς δὲ νῦν εὐθὺς ἀποσβεννύναι μετὰ τὸ δεῖπνον, ὅπως μὴ μάτην τοὔλαιον ἀναλίσκωσι. παρὼν οὖν Εὔστροφος Ἀθηναῖος εἶτʼ ἔφη τί πλέον αὐτοῖς, ἂν μὴ τὸ Πολυχάρμου τοῦ ἡμετέρου σοφὸν ἐκμάθωσιν, ὃς πολὺν ἔφη σκεπτόμενος χρόνον, ὅπως οὐ κλέψουσι τοὔλαιον οἱ παῖδες, ἐξευρεῖν μόλις· εὐθὺς γὰρ ἀποπληροῦν τοὺς λύχνους ἀποσβεσθέντας, εἶτʼ ἐπισκοπεῖν τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ πάλιν, εἰ πλήρεις διαμένουσι. γελάσας δʼ ὁ Φλῶρος οὐκοῦν εἶπεν ἐπεὶ τοῦτο τὸ πρόβλημα λέλυται, σκεψώμεθα τὸν λόγον, τοὺς παλαιοὺς εἰκός ἐστι καὶ περὶ τοὺς λύχνους καὶ περὶ τὰς τραπέζας οὕτως εὐλαβεῖς γεγονέναι. [¶12] 4.2. First, about the lamps. And his son-in-law Caesernius was of opinion that the ancients abominated all extinction of fire, because of the relation it had to the sacred and eternal flame. Fire, like man, may be destroyed two ways, either when it is violently quenched, or when it naturally decays. The sacred fire was secured against both ways, being always watched and continually supplied; but the common fire they permitted to go out of itself, not forcing or violently extinguishing it, but not supplying it with nourishment, like a useless beast, that they might not feed it to no purpose. > Greek: 4.2. πρότερον οὖν ἐζητεῖτο περὶ τῶν λύχνων καὶ ὁ μὲν γαμβρὸς αὐτοῦ Καισέρνιος ᾤετο τῇ πρὸς τὸ ἄσβεστον καὶ ἱερὸν πῦρ συγγενείᾳ παντὸς φθορὰν πυρὸς ἀφοσιώσασθαι τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους· δύο γὰρ εἶναι φθοράς, ὥσπερ ἀνθρώπου, τὴν μὲν βίαιον σβεννυμένου, τὴν δʼ ὥσπερ κατὰ φύσιν ἀπομαραινομένου· τῷ μὲν οὖν ἱερῷ πρὸς ἀμφοτέρας ἀρήγειν, ἀεὶ τρέφοντας καὶ φυλάττοντας· τὸ δʼ ἄλλο διʼ αὑτοῦ περιορᾶν μαραινόμενον αὐτοὺς μηδὲ βιάζεσθαι μηδὲ φθονεῖν, ὥσπερ θρέμματος ἀφαιρουμένους τὸ ζῆν, ἵνα μὴ μάτην τρέφοιτο. [¶13] 4.3. Lucius, Florus’s son, subjoined, that all the rest of the discourse was very good, but that they did not reverence and take care of this holy fire because they thought it better or more venerable than other fire; but, as amongst the Egyptians some worship the whole species of dogs, wolves, or crocodiles, yet keep but one wolf, dog, or crocodile (for all could not be kept), so the particular care which the ancients took of the sacred fire was only a sign of the respect they had for all fires. For nothing bears such a resemblance to an animal as fire. It is moved and nourished by itself, and by its brightness, like the soul, discovers and makes every thing apparent; but in its quenching it principally shows some power that seems to proceed from our vital principle, for it makes a noise and resists, like an animal dying or violently slaughtered. And can you (looking upon me) offer any better reason? > Greek: 4.3. Λεύκιος δʼ ὁ τοῦ Φλώρου υἱὸς τἄλλα μὲν ἔφη καλῶς λέγεσθαι, τὸ δʼ ἱερὸν πῦρ οὐκ ἄμεινον αἱρουμένους ἑτέρου πυρὸς οὐδὲ σεμνότερον οὕτω σέβεσθαι καὶ περιέπειν· ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ Αἰγυπτίων ἐνίους μὲν τὸ κυνῶν γένος ἅπαν σέβεσθαι καὶ τιμᾶν, ἐνίους δὲ τῶν λύκων ἢ κροκοδείλων, ἕνα μέντοι τρέφειν τοὺς μὲν κύνα τοὺς δὲ κροκόδειλον τοὺς δὲ λύκον· οὐ γὰρ οἷόν τʼ ἦν ἅπαντας· οὕτως ἐνταῦθα τὴν περὶ ἐκεῖνο θεραπείαν καὶ φυλακὴν τὸ πῦρ τῆς πρὸς ἅπαν εὐλαβείας εἶναι σύμβολον. οὐδὲν γὰρ ἄλλο μᾶλλον ἐμψύχῳ προσέοικεν ἢ πῦρ, κινούμενὸν τε καὶ τρεφόμενον διʼ αὑτοῦ καὶ τῇ λαμπρότητι δηλοῦν, ὥσπερ ἡ ψυχή, καὶ σαφηνίζον ἅπαντα· μάλιστα δὲ ταῖς σβέσεσιν αὐτοῦ καὶ φθοραῖς ἐμφαίνεται δύναμις οὐκ ἀμοιροῦσα ζωτικῆς ἀρχῆς· βοᾷ γὰρ καὶ φθέγγεται καὶ ἀμύνεται, καθάπερ ἔμψυχον ἀποθνῆσκον βίᾳ καὶ φονευόμενον· εἰ μή τι σὺ λέγεις ἔφη πρὸς ἐμὲ βλέψας βέλτιον. [¶14] 4.4. I can find fault, replied I, with no part of the discourse, yet I would subjoin, that this custom is an instruction for kindness and good-will. For it is not lawful for any one that hath eaten sufficiently to destroy the remainder of the food; nor for him that hath supplied his necessities from the fountain to stop it up; nor for him that hath made use of any marks, either by sea or land, to ruin or deface them; but every one ought to leave those things that may be useful to those persons that afterwards may have need of them. Therefore it is not fit, out of a saving covetous humor, to put out a lamp as soon as we need it not; but we ought to preserve and let it burn for the use of those that perhaps want its light. Thus, it would be very generous to lend our ears and eyes, nay, if possible, our reason and fortitude, to others, whilst we are idle or asleep. Besides, consider whether to stir up men to gratitude these minute observances were practised. The ancients did not act absurdly when they highly reverenced an oak. The Athenians called one fig-tree sacred, and forbade any one to cut down an olive. For such observances do not (as some fancy) make men prone to superstition, but persuade us to be communicative and grateful to one another, by being accustomed to pay this respect to these senseless and inanimate creatures. Upon the same reason Hesiod, methinks, adviseth well, who would not have any meat or broth set on the table out of those pots out of which there had been no portion offered, but ordered the first-fruits to be given to the fire, as a reward for the service it did in preparing it. And the Romans, dealing well with the lamps, did not take away the nourishment they had once given, but permitted them to live and shine by it. > Greek: 4.4. οὐδέν εἶπον ἐγώ τῶν εἰρημένων αἰτιῶμαι· προσθείην δʼ ἄν, ὅτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίας διδασκαλία τὸ ἔθος ἐστίν οὔτε γὰρ τροφὴν ἀφανίζειν ὅσιον αὐτοὺς ἄδην ἔχοντας, οὔτε νάματος ἐμφορηθέντας πηγὴν ἀποτυφλοῦν καὶ ἀποκρύπτειν, οὔτε πλοῦ σημεῖα καὶ ὁδοῦ διαφθείρειν χρησαμένους, ἀλλʼ ἐᾶν καὶ ἀπολείπειν τὰ χρήσιμα τοῖς δεησομένοις μεθʼ ἡμᾶς. ὅθεν οὐδὲ φῶς λύχνου μὴ δεομένους ἀπολλύναι διὰ μικρολογίαν καλόν, ἀλλὰ τηρεῖν καὶ ἀπολείπειν, εἴ τις ἔλθοι δεόμενος παρόντος ἔτι καὶ λάμποντος· καὶ γὰρ ὄψιν, εἰ δυνατὸν ἦν, καὶ ἀκοὴν χρῆσαι καλῶς; εἶχεν ἑτέρῳ, καὶ νὴ Δία τὴν φρόνησιν καὶ τὴν ἀνδρείαν, μέλλοντας αὐτοὺς καθεύδειν καὶ ἡσυχάζειν. ὅρα δέ, εἰ καὶ μελέτης ἕνεκα τοῦ εὐχαρίστου τὰς τοιαύτας ἐφιέντες ὑπερβολὰς οὐκ ἀτόπως οἱ παλαιοὶ καὶ δρῦς ἐσέβοντο καρποφόρους, καὶ συκῆν τινα προσηγόρευσαν ἱερὰν Ἀθηναῖοι καὶ μορίαν ἐκκόπτειν ἀπαγορεύουσι· ταῦτα γὰρ οὐ ποιεῖ πρὸς δεισιδαιμονίαν ἐπιφόρους, ὡς ἔνιοί φασιν, ἀλλὰ προσεθίζει τὸ εὐχάριστον ἡμῶν καὶ κοινωνικὸν ἐν τοῖς ἀναισθήτοις καὶ ἀψύχοις πρὸς ἀλλήλους. ὅθεν ὀρθῶς μὲν Ἡσίοδος οὐδʼ κἶώιώσρ ἀπὸ χυτροπόδων ἀνεπιρρέκτων ἐᾷ παρατίθεσθαι σῖτον ἢ ὄψον, ἀλλʼ ἀπαρχὰς τῷ πυρὶ καὶ γέρα τῆς διακονίας ἀποδιδόντας· εὖ δὲ Ῥωμαῖοι χρησάμενοι τοῖς λύχνοις, ἣν ἔδοσαν οὐκ ἀφῃροῦντο τροφήν, ἀλλὰ χρῆσθαι ζῶντας εἴων καὶ λάμποντας. ## 14. Book VII · chapters 4–6 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/14/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/14/#p-N [¶0] 4.5. When I had said thus, Eustrophus subjoined: This gives us some light into that query about the table; for they thought that they ought to leave some portion of the supper for the servants and waiters, for those are not so well pleased with a supper provided for them apart, as with the relics of their master’s table. And upon this account, they say, the Persian king did not only send portions from his own table to his friends, captains, and gentlemen of his bed-chamber, but had always what was provided for his servants and his dogs served up to his own table; that as far as possible all those creatures whose service was useful might seem to be his guests and companions. For, by such feeding in common and participation, the wildest of beasts might be made tame and gentle. > Greek: 4.5. ἐμοῦ δὲ ταῦτʼ εἰπόντος, ὁ Εὔστροφος ἆρʼ οὖν ἔφη τοῦτο καὶ τῷ περὶ τῆς τραπέζης λόγῳ πάροδον οἰκείαν δίδωσιν, οἰομένῳ δεῖν ἀεί τι καταλιπεῖν οἰκέταις ἀπὸ δείπνου καὶ παισὶν οἰκετῶν; χαίρουσι γὰρ οὐχ οὕτω λαμβάνοντες ὡς μεταλαμβάνοντες. διὸ καὶ τοὺς Περσῶν βασιλεῖς φασιν οὐ μόνον φίλοις καὶ ἡγεμόσι καὶ σωματοφύλαξιν ἀποπέμπειν ἀεὶ μερίδας, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ τῶν δούλων καὶ τὸ τῶν κυνῶν ἀεὶ δεῖπνον ἐπὶ τῆς ἐκείνων προτίθεσθαι τραπέζης, ὡς ἀνυστὸν ἦν, πάντας οἷς ἐχρῶντο ποιουμένων ὁμοτραπέζους καὶ ὁμεστίους. ἡμεροῦνται γὰρ τῇ τῆς τροφῆς μεταδόσει καὶ τὰ σκυθρωπότατα τῶν θηρίων. [¶1] 4.6. Then I with a smile said: But, sir, that fish there, that according to the proverb is laid up, why do not we bring out into play together with Pythagoras’s choenix, which he forbids any man to sit upon, thereby teaching us that we ought to leave something of what we have before us for another time, and on the present day be mindful of the morrow? We Boeotians use to have that saying frequently in our mouths, “Leave something for the Medes,” ever since the Medes overran and spoiled Phocis and the marches of Boeotia; but still, and upon all occasions, we ought to have that ready, “Leave something for the guests that may come.” And therefore I must needs find fault with that always empty and starving table of Achilles; for, when Ajax and Ulysses came ambassadors to him, he had nothing ready, but was forced out of hand to dress a fresh supper. And when he would entertain Priam, he again bestirs himself, kills a white ewe, joints and dresses it, and in that work spent a great part of the night. But Eumaeus (a wise scholar of a wise master) had no trouble upon him when Telemachus came home, but presently desired him to sit down, and feasted him, setting before him dishes of boiled meat, “The cleanly reliques of the last night’s feast.” But if this seems trifling, and a small matter, I am sure it is no small matter to command and restrain appetite while there are dainties before you to satisfy and please it. For those that are used to abstain from what is present are not so eager for absent things as others are. > Greek: 4.6. ἐγὼ δὲ γελάσας ἐκεῖνον δʼ εἶπον ὦ ἑταῖρε, τὸν ἐκ τῆς παροιμίας ἀποκείμενον ἰχθῦν διὰ τί οὐχ ἕλκομεν εἰς μέσον μετὰ τῆς Πυθαγορικῆς χοίνικος, ἐφʼ ἧς ἀπηγόρευε καθῆσθαι, διδάσκων ἡμᾶς ἀεί τι τοῦ παρόντος εἰς τὸ μέλλον ὑπολείπειν καὶ τῆς αὔριον ἐν τῇ σήμερον μνημονεύειν; ἡμῖν μὲν οὖν τοῖς Βοιωτοῖς τὸ λεῖπέ τι καὶ Μήδοις διὰ στόματὸς ἐστιν, ἐξ οὗ Μῆδοι τήν τε Φωκίδα, καὶ τὰ ἔσχατα τῆς Βοιωτίας ἄγοντες καὶ φέροντες ἐπέτρεχον ἀεὶ δὲ καὶ· πανταχοῦ δεῖ πρόχειρον εἶναι τὸ λεῖπέ τι καὶ ξένοις ἐπελθοῦσιν ὡς ἔγωγε καὶ τοῦ Ἀχιλλέως κενὴν ἀεὶ καὶ λιμώδη καταλαμβανομένην αἰτιῶμαι τὴν τράπεζαν· τῶν τε γὰρ περὶ τὸν Αἴαντα καὶ τὸν Ὀδυσσέα πρέσβεων ἀφικομένων, οὐδὲν ἔχων ἕτοιμον ἀναγκάζεται μαγειρεύειν ἐξ ὑπαρχῆς καὶ ὀψοποιεῖν τόν τε Πρίαμον φιλοφρονεῖσθαι βουλόμενος πάλιν ἀναΐξας ὄιν ἄργυφον σφάττει καὶ διαιρεῖ καὶ ὀπτᾷ, πολὺ μέρος περὶ ταῦτʼ ἀναλίσκων τῆς νυκτός. ὁ δʼ Εὔμαιος, ἅτε δὴ θρέμμα γεγονὼς σοφοῦ σοφόν, οὐ πράγματʼ εἶχε, τοῦ Τηλεμάχου ἐπιφανέντος, ἀλλʼ εὐθὺς ἑστιᾷ καθίσαντα, πίνακας κρεῶν παρατιθεὶς ὀπταλέων, ἃ ῥα τῇ προτέρῃ κατέλειπον ἔδοντες. εἰ δὲ τοῦτο δόξει μικρόν, ἐκεῖνό γʼ οὐ μικρόν, τὸ συστέλλειν καὶ ἀνέχειν τὴν ὄρεξιν ἔτι παρούσης τῆς ἀπολαύσεως· ἧττον γὰρ ἐπιθυμοῦσι τῶν ἀπόντων οἱ ἐθισθέντες ἀπέχεσθαι τῶν παρόντων. [¶2] 4.7. Lucius subjoining said, that he had heard his grandmother say, that the table was sacred, and nothing that is sacred ought to be empty. Besides, continued he, in my opinion, the table hath some resemblance of the earth; for, besides nourishing us, it is round and stable, and is fitly called by some Vesta (Ἑστία, from ἵστημι). Therefore as we desire that the earth should always have and bear something that is useful for us, so we think that we should not let the table be altogether empty and void of all provision. > Greek: 4.7. ὑπολαβὼν δʼ ὁ Λεύκιος ἔφη τῆς μάμμης ἀκηκοὼς μνημονεύειν, ὡς ἱερὸν μὲν ἡ τράπεζα, δεῖ δὲ τῶν ἱερῶν μηδὲν εἶναι κενόν. ἐμοὶ δʼ εἶπεν ἐδόκει καὶ μίμημα τῆς γῆς ἡ τράπεζʼ εἶναι· πρὸς γὰρ τῷ τρέφειν ἡμᾶς καὶ στρογγύλη καὶ μόνιμός ἐστι καὶ καλῶς ὑπʼ ἐνίων ἑστία καλεῖται. καθάπερ γὰρ τὴν γῆν ἀεί τι χρήσιμον ἔχειν καὶ φέρειν ἡμῖν ἀξιοῦμεν, οὕτως οὐδὲ τὴν τράπεζαν οἰόμεθα δεῖν κενὴν ὁρᾶν καὶ ἀνερμάτιστον ἀπολειπομένην. [¶3] 5.1. AT the Pythian games Callistratus, procurator of the Amphictyons, forbade a piper, his citizen and friend, who did not give in his name in due time, to appear in the solemnity, which he did according to the law. But afterwards entertaining us, he brought him into the room with the chorus, finely dressed in his robes and with chaplets on his head, as if he was to contend for the prize. And at first indeed he played a very fine tune; but afterwards, having tickled and sounded the humor of the whole company, and found that most were inclined to pleasure and would suffer him to play what effeminate and lascivious tunes he pleased, throwing aside all modesty, he showed that music was more intoxicating than wine to those that wantonly and unskilfully use it. For they were not content to sit still and applaud and clap, but many at last leaped from their seats, danced lasciviously, and made such gentle steps as became such effeminate and mollifying tunes. But after they had done, and the company, as it were recovered of its madness, began to come to itself again, Lamprias would have spoken to and severely chid the young men; but as he feared he should be too harsh and give offence, Callistratus gave him a hint, and drew him on by this discourse:— For my part, I absolve all lovers of shows and music from intemperance; yet I cannot altogether agree with Aristoxenus, who says that those pleasures alone deserve the approbation “fine.” > Greek: 5.1. ἐν Πυθίοις Καλλίστρατος, τῶν Ἀμφικτυόνων ὢν ἐπιμελητής, αὐλῳδόν τινα πολίτην καὶ φίλον ὑστερήσαντα τῆς ἀπογραφῆς τοῦ μὲν ἀγῶνος εἶρξε κατὰ τὸν νόμον· ἑστιῶν δʼ ἡμᾶς παρήγαγεν εἰς τὸ συμπόσιον ἐσθῆτι καὶ στεφάνοις, ὥσπερ ἐν ἀγῶνι, μετὰ τοῦ χοροῦ κεκοσμημένον ἐκπρεπῶς. καὶ νὴ Δία κομψὸν ἦν ἀκρόαμα τὸ πρῶτον· ἔπειτα διασείσας καὶ διακωδωνίσας τὸ συμπόσιον, ὡς ᾐσθάνετο τοὺς πολλοὺς ἐγκεκλικότας καὶ παρέχοντας ὑφʼ ἡδονῆς ὅ τι βούλοιτο χρῆσθαι, καὶ καταυλεῖν καὶ ἀκολασταίνειν, ἀποκαλυψάμενος παντάπασιν, ἐπεδείξατο τὴν μουσικὴν παντὸς οἴνου μᾶλλον μεθύσκουσαν τοὺς ὅπως ἔτυχε καὶ ἀνέδην αὐτῆς ἐμφορουμένους οὐδὲ γὰρ κατακειμένοις ἔτι βοᾶν ἐξήρκει καὶ κροτεῖν, ἀλλὰ τελευτῶντες ἀνεπήδων οἱ πολλοί, καὶ συνεκινοῦντο κινήσεις ἀνελευθέρους, πρεπούσας δὲ τοῖς κρούμασιν ἐκείνοις καὶ τοῖς μέλεσιν. ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐπαύσαντο καὶ κατάστασιν αὖθις ὥσπερ ἐκ μανίας ὁ πότος ἐλάμβανεν, ἐβούλετο μὲν ὁ Λαμπρίας εἰπεῖν τι καὶ παρρησιάσασθαι πρὸς τοὺς νέους ὀρρωδοῦντι δʼ ὅμως αὐτῷ μὴ λίαν ἀηδὴς γένηται καὶ λυπηρός, οὔτως ὁ Καλλίστρατος ὥσπερ ἐνδόσιμον παρέσχε τοιαῦτά τινα διαλεχθείς· [¶4] 5.2. For we call viands and ointments fine; and we say we have finely dined, when we have been splendidly entertained. Nor, in my opinion, doth Aristotle upon good reason free those complacencies we take in shows and songs from the charge of intemperance, saying, that those belong peculiarly to man, and of other pleasures beasts have a share. For I am certain that a great many irrational creatures are delighted with music, as deer with pipes; and to mares, whilst they are horsing, they play a tune called ἱππόθορος. And Pindar says, that his songs make him move, As brisk as Dolphins, whom a charming tune Hath raised from th’ bottom of the quiet flood. And certain fish are caught by means of dancing; for during the dance they lift up their heads above water, being much pleased and delighted with the sight, and twisting their backs this way and that way, in imitation of the dancers. Therefore I see nothing peculiar in those pleasures, that they should be accounted proper to the mind, and all others to belong to the body, so far as to end there. But music, rhythm, dancing, song, passing through the sense, fix a pleasure and titilation in the sportive part of the soul; and therefore none of these pleasures is enjoyed in secret, nor wants darkness nor walls about it, according to the women’s phrase; but circuses and theatres are built for them. And to frequent shows and music-meetings with company is both more delightful and more genteel; because we take a great many witnesses, not of a loose and intemperate, but of a pleasant and genteel, manner of passing away our time. > Greek: 5.2. ἀκρασίας μέν ἔφη καὶ αὐτὸς ἀπολύω τὸ φιλήκοον καὶ φιλοθέαμον οὐ μὴν Ἀριστοξένῳ γε συμφέρομαι παντάπασι, ταύταις μόναις φάσκοντι ταῖς ἡδοναῖς τὸ καλῶς ἐπιλέγεσθαι. καὶ γὰρ ὄψα καλὰ καὶ μύρα καλοῦσι καὶ καλῶς γεγονέναι λέγουσι δειπνήσαντες ἡδέως καὶ πολυτελῶς. δοκεῖ δέ μοι μηδʼ Ἀριστοτέλης αἰτίᾳ δικαίᾳ τὰς περὶ θέαν καὶ ἀκρόασιν εὐπαθείας ἀπολύειν ἀκρασίας, ὡς μόνας ἀνθρωπικὰς οὔσας· ταῖς δʼ ἄλλαις καὶ τὰ θηρία φύσιν ἔχοντα χρῆσθαι καὶ κοινωνεῖν. ὁρῶμεν γὰρ ὅτι καὶ μουσικῇ πολλὰ, κηλεῖται τῶν ἀλόγων, ὥσπερ ἔλαφοι σύριγξιν, ἵπποις δὲ μιγνυμέναις ἐπαυλεῖται νόμος, ὃν ἱππόθορον ὀνομάζουσιν ὁ δὲ Πίνδαρός φησι κεκινῆσθαι πρὸς ᾠδήν ἁλίου δελφῖνος ὑπόκρισιν· τὸν μὲν ἀκύμονος ἐν πόντου πελάγει αὐλῶν ἐκίνησʼ ἐρατὸν μέλος. ὀρχούμενοι δὲ τοὺς σκῶπας αἱροῦσι, χαίροντας τῇ ὄψει καὶ μιμητικῶς ἅμα δεῦρο κἀκεῖσε τοὺς ὤμους συνδιαφέροντας. οὐδὲν οὖν ὁρῶ τὰς τοιαύτας ἡδονὰς ἴδιον ἐχούσας, ἢ ὅτι μόναι τῆς ψυχῆς εἰσιν, αἱ δʼ ἄλλαι τοῦ σώματος καὶ περὶ τὸ σῶμα καταλήγουσι· μέλος δὲ καὶ ῥυθμὸς καὶ ὄρχησις καὶ ᾠδὴ παραμειψάμεναι τὴν αἴσθησιν, ἐν τῷ χαίροντι τῆς ψυχῆς ἀπερείδονται τὸ ἐπιτερπὲς καὶ γαργαλίζον. ὅθεν οὐδεμία τῶν τοιούτων ἡδονῶν ἀπόκρυφός ἐστιν οὐδὲ σκότους δεομένη καὶ τῶν τοίχων περιθεόντων, ὡς οἱ Κυρηναϊκοὶ λέγουσιν· ἀλλὰ καὶ στάδια ταύταις καὶ θέατρα ποιεῖται· καὶ τὸ μετὰ πολλῶν θεάσασθαί τι καὶ ἀκοῦσαι ἐπιτερπέστερόν ἐστι καὶ σεμνότερον, οὐκ ἀκρασίας δήπου καὶ ἡδυπαθείας ἀλλʼ ἐλευθερίου διατριβῆς καὶ ἀστείας μάρτυρας ἡμῶν ὅτι πλείστους λαμβανόντων. [¶5] 5.3. Upon this discourse of Callistratus, my father Lamprias, seeing the musicians grow bolder, said: That is not the reason, sir, and, in my opinion, the ancients were much out when they named Bacchus the son of Forgetfulness. They ought to have called him his father; for it seems he hath made you forget that some of those faults which are committed about pleasures proceed from a loose intemperate inclination, and others from heedlessness or ignorance. Where the ill effect is very plain, there intemperate inclination captivates reason, and forces men to sin; but where the just reward of intemperance is not directly and presently inflicted, there ignorance of the danger and heedlessness make men easily wrought on and secure. Therefore those that are vicious, either in eating, drinking, or venery, which diseases, wasting of estates, and evil reports usually attend, we call intemperate. For instance, Theodectes, who having sore eyes, when his mistress came to see him, said, “All hail, delightful light;” or Anaxarchus the Abderite, A wretch who knew what mischiefs wait on sin, Yet love of pleasure forced him back again; Once almost free, he sank again to vice, That terror and disturber of the wise. Now those that take all care possible to secure themselves from all those pleasures that assault them either at the smelling, touch, or taste, are often surprised by those that make their treacherous approaches either at the eye or ear. But such, though as much led away as the others, we do not in like manner call loose and intemperate, since they are debauched through ignorance and want of experience. For they imagine they are far from being slaves to pleasures, if they can stay all day in the theatre without meat or drink; as if a pot forsooth should be mighty proud that a man cannot take it up by the bottom or the belly and carry it away, though he can easily do it by the ears. Therefore Agesilaus said, it was all one whether a man were a cinaedus before or behind. We ought principally to dread those softening delights that please and tickle through the eyes and ears, and not think that city not taken which hath all its other gates secured by bars, portcullises, and chains, if the enemies are already entered through one and have taken possession; or fancy ourselves invincible against the assaults of pleasure, because stews will not provoke us, when the music-meeting or theatre prevails. For in one case as much as the other we resign up our souls to the impetuousness of pleasures, which pouring in those potions of songs, cadences, and tunes, more powerful and bewitching than the best mixtures of the skilful cook or perfumer, conquer and corrupt us; and in the mean time, by our own confession, as it were, the fault is chiefly ours. Now, as Pindar saith, nothing that the earth and sea hath provided for our tables can be justly blamed, nor doth it change; but neither our meat nor broth, nor this excellent wine which we drink, hath raised such a noisy tumultuous pleasure as those songs and tunes did, which not only filled the house with clapping and shouting, but perhaps the whole town. Therefore we ought principally to secure ourselves against such delights, because they are more powerful than others; as not being terminated in the body, like those which allure the touch, taste, or smelling, but affecting the very intellectual and judging faculties. Besides, from most other delights, though reason doth not free us, yet other passions very commonly divert us. Sparing niggardliness will keep a glutton from dainty fish, and covetousness will confine a lecher from a costly whore. As in one of Menander’s plays, where every one of the company was to be enticed by the bawd who brought out a surprising whore, each of them, though all boon companions, “Sat sullenly, and fed upon his cates.” For to pay interest for money is a severe punishment that follows intemperance, and to open our purses is no easy matter. But these pleasures that are called genteel, and solicit the ears or eyes of those that are frantic after shows and music, may be had without any charge at all, in every place almost, and upon every occasion; they may be enjoyed at the prizes, in the theatre, or at entertainments, at others’ cost. And therefore those that have not their reason to assist and guide them may be easily spoiled. > Greek: 5.3. ταῦτα τοῦ Καλλιστράτου εἰπόντος, ὁ Λαμπρίας ὁρῶν ἔτι μᾶλλον ἐκείνους τοὺς τῶν· ἀκροαμάτων χορηγοὺς θρασυνομένους οὐ τοῦτʼ ἔφη τὸ αἴτιον, ὦ παῖ Λέοντος, ἀλλά μοι δοκοῦσιν οὐκ ὀρθῶς οἱ παλαιοὶ παῖδα Λήθης τὸν Διόνυσον ἔδει γὰρ πατέρα προσαγορεύειν ὑφʼ οὗ καὶ σὺ νῦν ἀμνημονεῖν ἔοικας, ὅτι τῶν περὶ τὰς ἡδονὰς ἁμαρτανομένων τὰ μὲν ἀκρασία τὰ δʼ ἄγνοια ποιεῖ καὶ παρόρασις. ὅπου μὲν γὰρ ἡ βλάβη πρόδηλός ἐστι, ταῦτʼ ἀκρασίᾳ καταβιαζόμενοι τὸν λογισμὸν ἐξαμαρτάνουσιν· ὅσα δʼ οὐκ εὐθὺς οὐδὲ παραχρῆμα τῆς ἀκολασίας τὸν μισθὸν ἐπιτίθησι, ταῦθʼ ὑπʼ ἀγνοίας τοῦ βλάπτοντος αἱροῦνται καὶ πράττουσι. διὸ τοὺς μὲν περὶ ἐδωδὰς καὶ ἀφροδίσια καὶ πότους ἀστοχοῦντας, οἷς νόσοι τε πολλαὶ καὶ χρημάτων ὄλεθροι συνακολουθοῦσι καὶ τὸ κακῶς ἀκούειν, ἀκρατεῖς προσαγορεύομεν ὡς Θεοδέκτην ἐκεῖνον εἰπόντα χαῖρε φίλον φῶς ὀφθαλμιῶντα, τῆς ἐρωμένης ἐπιφανείσης· ἢ τὸν Ἀβδηρίτην Ἀνάξαρχον, ὅς ῥα καὶ εἰδώς, ὡς φάσαν, ἄθλιος ἔσκε· φύσις δέ μιν ἔμπαλιν ἦγεν ἡδονοπλήξ, τῇ πλεῖστοι ὑποτρείουσι σοφιστῶν. ὅσαι δὲ τῶν ἡδονῶν τοὺς περὶ γαστέρα καὶ αἰδοῖα καὶ γεῦσιν καὶ ὄσφρησιν ἀντιτεταγμένους αὐταῖς καὶ ὅπως οὐχ ἁλώσονται προσέχοντας, ἐκπεριοδεύουσαι περὶ τὰ ὄμματα καὶ τὰ ὦτα λανθάνουσιν ἐνῳκισμέναι καὶ λοχῶσαι, τούτους ἐκείνων οὐδὲν ἧττον ἐμπαθεῖς ὄντας καὶ ἀκολάστους ἀκρατεῖς ὁμοίως οὐ καλοῦμεν· οὐ γὰρ εἰδότες ἀλλὰ διʼ ἀπειρίαν ὑποφέρονται, καὶ νομίζουσι τῶν ἡδονῶν εἶναι κρείττονες, ἂν ἐν θεάτροις ἄσιτοι καὶ ἄποτοι διημερεύσωσιν ὥσπερ εἰ τῶν κεραμίων μέγα φρονοίη τὸ μὴ ἀπὸ τῆς γαστρὸς αἰρόμενον ἢ τοῦ πυθμένος, ἐκ δὲ τῶν ὤτων ῥᾳδίως μεταφερόμενον. ὅθεν Ἀρκεσίλαος οὐδὲν ἔφη διαφέρειν τοῖς ὄπισθεν εἶναι κίναιδον ἢ τοῖς ἔμπροσθεν. δεῖ δὲ καὶ τὴν ἐν ὄμμασι καὶ τὴν ἐν ὠσὶ γαργαλίζουσαν μαλακίαν καὶ ἡδυπάθειαν φοβεῖσθαι, καὶ μήτε πόλιν ἀνάλωτον νομίζειν τὴν τὰς ἄλλας πύλας βαλανάγραις καὶ μοχλοῖς καὶ καταρράκταις ὀχυρὰς ἔχουσαν, ἂν διὰ μιᾶς οἱ πολέμιοι παρελθόντες ἔνδον εἰσίν· μήθʼ ἑαυτὸν ἀήττητον ὑφʼ ἡδονῆς, εἰ μὴ κατὰ τὸ Ἀφροδίσιον ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὸ Μουσεῖον ἑάλωκεν ἢ τὸ θέατρον· ὁμοίως γὰρ ἐγκέκλικε καὶ παρέδωκε ταῖς ἡδοναῖς ἄγειν καὶ φέρειν τὴν ψυχήν· αἱ δὲ παντὸς ὀψοποιοῦ καὶ μυρεψοῦ καὶ δριμύτερα καὶ ποικιλώτερα φάρμακα τῶν μελῶν καὶ τῶν ῥυθμῶν καταχεόμεναι τούτοις ἄγουσιν ἡμᾶς καὶ διαφθείρουσιν, αὑτῶν τρόπον τινὰ καταμαρτυροῦντας τῶνδε γὰρ οὔτε τι μεμπτὸν οὔτʼ ὦν μεταλλάττον ὡς Πίνδαρος ἔφη τῶν ἐπὶ ταῖς τραπέζαις, ὅσσʼ ἀγλαὰ χθὼν πόντου τε ῥιπαὶ φέρουσιν ἄρτι παρακειμένων. ἀλλʼ οὔτʼ ὄψον οὐδὲν οὔτε σιτίον οὔθʼ ὁ βέλτιστος οὑτοσὶ πινόμενος οἶνος ἐξήγαγεν ὑφʼ ἡδονῆς φωνήν, οἵων ἄρτι τὰ αὐλήματα καὶ τὰ κρούματα τὴν οἰκίαν, εἰ μὴ καὶ τὴν πόλιν ἅπασαν, ἐμπέπληκε θορύβων καὶ κρότων καὶ ἀλαλαγμῶν. διὸ δεῖ μάλιστα ταύτας εὐλαβεῖσθαι τὰς ἡδονάς· ἰσχυρόταται γάρ εἰσιν, ἅτε δὴ μή, καθάπερ αἱ περὶ γεῦσιν καὶ ἁφὴν καὶ ὄσφρησιν, εἰς τὸ ἄλογον καὶ φυσικὸν ἀποτελευτῶσαι τῆς ψυχῆς, ἀλλὰ τοῦ κρίνοντος ἁπτόμεναι καὶ τοῦ φρονοῦντος· ἔπειτα ταῖς μὲν ἄλλαις ἡδυπαθείαις κἂν ὁ λογισμὸς ἐλλίπῃ διαμαχόμενος, ἀλλὰ τῶν παθῶν ἔνια πολλάκις ἐμποδών ἐστι· καὶ γὰρ ἐν ἰχθύων ἀγορᾷ μικρολογία καθαιρεῖ δάκτυλον ὀψοφάγου καὶ πολυτελοῦς ἑταίρας ἀπέστρεψε φιλαργυρία φιλογυνίαν· ὥσπερ ἀμέλει παρὰ τῷ Μενάνδρῳ τῶν συμποτῶν ἕκαστος ἐπιβουλευόμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ πορνοβοσκοῦ σοβαράν τινα παιδίσκην ἐπάγοντος αὐτοῖς κύψας καθʼ ἑαυτὸν τῶν τραγημάτων ἔφλα· χαλεπὸν γὰρ ὁ δανεισμὸς τῆς ἀκρασίας κόλασμα καὶ τὸ λῦσαι βαλλάντιον οὐ πάνυ ῥᾴδιον· ταύταις δὲ ταῖς ἐλευθερίαις λεγομέναις περὶ ὦτα καὶ ὄμματα φιλομούσοις καὶ φιλαύλοις μουσομανίαις προῖκα καὶ ἀμισθὶ τῶν ἡδονῶν πάρεστι πολλαχόθεν ἀρύτεσθαι καὶ ἀπολαύειν, ἐν ἀγῶσιν, ἐν θεάτροις, ἐν συμποσίοις, ἑτέρων χορηγούντων· ὅθεν ἕτοιμον τὸ διαφθαρῆναι τοῖς μὴ βοηθοῦντα καὶ παιδαγωγοῦντα τὸν λογισμὸν ἔχουσι. [¶6] 5.4. Silence following upon this, What application, said I, shall reason make, or how shall it assist? For I do not think it will apply those ear-covers of Xenocrates, or force us to rise from the table as soon as we hear a harp struck or a pipe blown. No indeed, replied Lamprias, but as soon as we meet with the foresaid intoxications, we ought to make our application to the Muses, and fly to the Helicon of the ancients. To him that loves a costly strumpet, we cannot bring a Panthea or Penelope for cure; but one that delights in mimics and buffoons, loose odes, or debauched songs, we can bring to Euripides, Pindar, and Menander, that he might wash (as Plato phraseth it) his salt hearing with fresh reason. As the exorcists command the possessed to read over and pronounce Ephesian letters, so we in those possessions, amid all the madness of music and dancing, when “We toss our hands with noise, and madly shout,” remembering those venerable and sacred writings, and comparing with them those odes, poems, and vain empty compositions, shall not be altogether cheated by them, or permit ourselves to be carried away sidelong, as by a smooth and undisturbed stream. > Greek: 5.4. γενομένης οὖν σιωπῆς τί οὖν ἔφη ποιοῦντα τὸν λογισμὸν ἢ τί λέγοντα βοηθεῖν ἀξιοῦμεν; οὐ γὰρ ἀμφωτίδας γε περιθήσει τὰς Ξενοκράτους ἡμῖν οὐδʼ ἀναστήσει μεταξὺ δειπνοῦντας, ἐὰν αἰσθώμεθα λύραν ἁρμοζομένην ἢ κινούμενον αὐλόν. οὐ γὰρ οὖν εἶπεν ὁ Λαμπρίας ἀλλʼ ὁσάκις ἂν εἰς τὰς Σειρῆνας ἐμπέσωμεν, ἐπικαλεῖσθαι δεῖ τὰς Μούσας καὶ καταφεύγειν εἰς τὸν Ἑλικῶνα τὸν τῶν παλαιῶν. ἐρῶντι μὲν γὰρ πολυτελοῦς οὐκ ἔστι τὴν Πηνελόπην προσαγαγεῖν οὐδὲ συνοικίσαι τὴν Πάνθειαν· ἡδόμενον δὲ μίμοις καὶ μέλεσι καὶ ᾠδαῖς κακοτέχνοις καὶ κακοζήλοις ἔξεστι μετάγειν ἐπὶ τὸν Εὐριπίδην καὶ τὸν Πίνδαρον καὶ τὸν Μένανδρον, ποτίμῳ λόγῳ ἁλμυρὰν ἀκοήν ὥς φησιν ὁ Πλάτων ἀποκλυζόμενον. ὥσπερ γὰρ οἱ μάγοι τοὺς δαιμονιζομένους κελεύουσι τὰ Ἐφέσια γράμματα πρὸς αὑτοὺς καταλέγειν καὶ ὀνομάζειν, οὕτως ἡμεῖς ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις τερετίσμασι καὶ σκιρτήμασι μανίαις τʼ ἀλαλαῖς τʼ ὀρινόμενοι ῥιψαύχενι σὺν κλόνῳ τῶν ἱερῶν καὶ σεμνῶν ἐκείνων γραμμάτων ἀναμιμνησκόμενοι καὶ παραβάλλοντες ᾠδὰς καὶ ποιήματα καὶ λόγους κοινοὺς οὐκ ἐκπλαγησόμεθα παντάπασιν ὑπὸ τούτου, οὐδὲ πλαγίους παραδώσομεν ἑαυτοὺς ὥσπερ ὑπὸ ῥεύματος λείου φέρεσθαι. [¶7] 6.1. HOMER makes Menelaus come uninvited to his brother Agamemnon’s treat, when he feasted the commanders; “For well he knew great cares his brother vexed.” He did not take notice of the plain and evident omission of his brother, or show his resentments by not coming, as some surly testy persons usually do upon such oversights of their best friends; although they had rather be overlooked than particularly invited, that they may have some color for their pettish anger. But about the introduced guests (which we call shadows) who are not invited by the entertainer, but by some others of the guests, a question was started, from whom that custom began. Some thought from Socrates, who persuaded Aristodemus, who was not invited, to go along with him to Agatho’s, where there happened a pretty jest. For Socrates by accident staying somewhat behind, Aristodemus went in first; and this seemed very fitting, for, the sun shining on their backs, the shadow ought to go before the body. Afterwards it was thought necessary at all entertainments, especially of great men, when the inviter did not know their favorites and acquaintance, to desire the invited to bring his company, appointing such a set number, lest they should be put to the same shifts which he was put to who invited King Philip to his country-house. The king came with a numerous attendance, but the provision was not equal to the company. Therefore, seeing his entertainer much cast down, he sent some about to tell his friends privately, that they should keep one corner of their bellies for a great cake that was to come. And they, expecting this, fed sparingly on the meat that was set before them, so that the provision seemed sufficient for them all. > Greek: 6.1. τὸν Μενέλαον Ὅμηρος πεποίηκεν αὐτόματον ἑστιῶντι τοὺς ἀριστεῖς τῷ Ἀγαμέμνονι παραγιγνόμενον· ᾔδεε γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀδελφεὸν ὡς ἐπονεῖτο· καὶ τὴν ἄγνοιαν οὐ περιεῖδεν αὐτοῦ καταφανῆ γενομένην οὐδʼ ἤλεγξε τῷ μὴ ἐλθεῖν ὥσπερ οἱ φιλομεμφεῖς καὶ δύσκολοι ταῖς τοιαύταις τῶν φίλων παροράσεσι καὶ ἀγνοίαις ἐπιτίθενται, τῷ ἀμελεῖσθαι μᾶλλον ἢ τῷ τιμᾶσθαι χαίροντες, ὅπως ἐγκαλεῖν ἔχωσιν. τὸ δὲ τῶν ἐπικλήτων ἔθος, οὓς νῦν σκιὰς καλοῦσιν, οὐ κεκλημένους αὐτοὺς ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ τῶν κεκλημένων ἐπὶ τὸ δεῖπνον ἀγομένους, ἐζητεῖτο πόθεν ἔσχε τὴν ἀρχήν· ἐδόκει δʼ ἀπὸ Σωκράτους, Ἀριστόδημον ἀναπείσαντος οὐ κεκλημένον εἰς Ἀγάθωνος ἰέναι σὺν αὐτῷ, καὶ παθόντα τι γελοῖον· ἔλαθε γὰρ κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν ὑπολειφθεὶς ὁ Σωκράτης, ὁ δὲ προεισῆλθεν, ἀτεχνῶς σκιὰ προβαδίζουσα σώματος ἐξόπισθεν τὸ φῶς ἔχοντος. ὕστερον μέντοι περὶ τὰς τῶν ξένων ὑποδοχάς, μάλιστα τῶν ἡγεμονικῶν, ἀναγκαῖον ἐγίγνετο τοῖς ἀγνοοῦσι τοὺς ἑπομένους καὶ τιμωμένους ἐπὶ τῷ ξένῳ ποιεῖσθαι τὴν κλῆσιν, ἀριθμὸν δʼ ὁρίζειν, ὅπως μὴ πάθωσιν ὃ παθεῖν συνέπεσε τῷ δεχομένῳ τὸν βασιλέα Φίλιππον ἐπὶ τῆς χώρας· ἧκε γὰρ ἄγων πολλούς, τὸ δὲ δεῖπνον οὐ πολλοῖς ἦν παρεσκευασμένον· ἰδὼν οὖν θορυβούμενον τὸν ξένον περιέπεμπε πρὸς τοὺς φίλους ἀτρέμα, χώραν πλακοῦντι καταλιπεῖν κελεύων οἱ δὲ προσδοκῶντες ὑπεφείδοντο τῶν παρακειμένων καὶ πᾶσιν οὕτως ἐξήρκεσε τὸ δεῖπνον. [¶8] 6.2. When I had talked thus waggishly to the company, Florus had a mind to talk gravely concerning these shadows, and have it discussed whether it was fit for those that were so invited to go, or no. His son-in-law Caesernius was positively against it. We should, says he, following Hesiod’s advice, “Invite a friend to feast,” or at least we should have our acquaintance and familiars to participate of our entertainments, mirth, and discourse over a glass of wine; but now, as ferry-men permit their passengers to bring in what fardel they please, so we permit others to fill our entertainments with any persons, let them be good companions or not. And I should wonder that any man of breeding being so (that is, not at all) invited, should go; since, for the most part, he must be unacquainted with the entertainer, or if he was acquainted, was not thought worthy to be bidden. Nay, he should be more ashamed to go to such a one, if he considers that it will look like an upbraiding of his unkindness, and yet a rude intruding into his company against his will. Besides, to go before or after the guest that invites him must look unhandsomely, nor is it creditable to go and stand in need of witnesses to assure the guests that he doth not come as a principally invited person, but such a one’s shadow. Beside, to attend others bathing or anointing, to observe his hour, whether he goes early or late, is servile and gnathonical (for there never was such an excellent fellow as Gnatho to feed at another man’s table). Besides, if there is no more proper time and place to say, “Speak, tongue, if thou wilt utter jovial things,” than at a feast, and freedom and raillery is mixed with every thing that is either done or said over a glass of wine, how should he behave himself, who is not a true principally invited guest, but as it were a bastard and supposititious intruder? For whether he is free or not, he lies open to the exception of the company. Besides, the very meanness and vileness of the name is no small evil to those who do not resent but can quietly endure to be called and answer to the name of shadows. For, by enduring such base names, men are insensibly customed and drawn on to base actions. Therefore, when I make an invitation, since it is hard to break the custom of a place, I give my guests leave to bring shadows; but when I myself am invited as a shadow, I assure you I refuse to go. > Greek: 6.2. ἐμοῦ δὲ ταῦτα πρὸς τοὺς παρόντας ἀδολεσχοῦντος, ἔδοξε Φλώρῳ καὶ σπουδάσαι τι περὶ τῶν σκιῶν λεγομένων, διαπορήσαντας εἰ προσήκει τοῖς καλουμένοις οὕτω βαδίζειν καὶ συνακολουθεῖν. ὁ μὲν οὖν γαμβρὸς αὐτοῦ Καισέρνιος ὅλως ἀπεδοκίμαζε τὸ πρᾶγμα. μάλιστα μὲν γὰρ τῷ Ἡσιόδῳ πειθομένους ἔφη χρῆναι τὸν φιλέοντʼ ἐπὶ δαῖτα καλεῖν· εἰ δὲ μή, γνωρίμους αὑτῶν καὶ ἐπιτηδείους παρακαλεῖν ἐπὶ κοινωνίαν σπονδῆς καὶ τραπέζης καὶ λόγων ἐν οἴνῳ γιγνομένων καὶ φιλοφροσύνης. νῦν δʼ ὥσπερ εἶπεν οἱ τὰ πλοῖα ναυλοῦντες, ὅ τι ἂν φέρῃ τις, ἐμβάλλεσθαι παρέχουσιν, οὕτως ἡμεῖς τὰ συμπόσια παραδόντες ἑτέροις πληροῦν ἀφίεμεν ἐκ τῶν προστυχόντων, ἄν τε χαρίεντες ὦσιν, ἄν τε φαῦλοι. θαυμάσαιμι δʼ ἄν, εἰ χαρίεις ἀνὴρ ἐπίκλητος ἀφίκοιτο, μᾶλλον δʼ ἄκλητος, ὅν γε πολλάκις οὐδὲ γιγνώσκει τὸ παράπαν ὁ δειπνίζων· εἰ δὲ γιγνώσκων καὶ χρώμενος οὐ κέκληκεν, ἔτι γε μᾶλλον αἰσχύνη βαδίζειν πρὸς τοῦτον, ὥσπερ ἐξελέγχοντα μετέχειν τῶν ἐκείνου, τρόπον τινὰ βίᾳ καὶ ἄκοντος· ἔτι καὶ προτερεῖν ἢ ἀπολείπεσθαι τοῦ κεκληκότος πρὸς ἕτερον ἔχει τινὰ δυσωπίαν, καὶ οὐκ ἀστεῖόν ἐστι μαρτύρων δεόμενον πρὸς τοὺς ὑποδεχομένους βαδίζειν, ὡς οὐ κλητὸς ἀλλὰ σκιὰ τοῦ δεῖνος ἐπὶ τὸ δεῖπνον ἥκει· καὶ πάλιν τὸ παρέπεσθαι καὶ παραφυλάττειν ἄλειμμα καὶ λουτρὸν ἑτέρου καὶ ὥραν βραδύνοντος ἢ ταχύνοντος ἀνελεύθερον εὖ μάλα καὶ Γναθώνειον, εἰ δὴ Γνάθων γέγονε δεινότατος ἄνθρωπος τἀλλότρια δειπνεῖν. εἴ γε μὴν οὐκ ἔστιν ὅτε μᾶλλον ἀνθρώποις ἐφιᾶσιν εἰπεῖν ὦ γλῶσσα, μέτριον εἴ τι κομπάσαι θέλεις, ἔξειπε, καὶ παρρησία πλείστη μετὰ παιδιᾶς ἀναμέμικται τοῖς λεγομένοις ἐν οἴνῳ καὶ πραττομένοις· ἐνταῦθα δὴ πῶς ἄν τις ἑαυτὸν μεταχειρίσαιτο μὴ γνήσιος ὢν μηδʼ αὐτόκλητος, ἀλλὰ τρόπον τινὰ νόθος καὶ παρεγγεγραμμένος εἰς τὸ συμπόσιον; καὶ γὰρ τὸ χρῆσθαι καὶ τὸ μὴ χρῆσθαι παρρησίᾳ πρὸς τοὺς παρόντας εὐσυκοφάντητον. οὐ μικρὸν δὲ κακὸν οὐδʼ ἡ τῶν ὀνομάτων εὐχέρεια καὶ βωμολοχία τοῖς μὴ δυσχεραίνουσιν ἀλλʼ ὑπομένουσι σκιὰς καλεῖσθαι καὶ ὑπακούειν· προσεθίζει γὰρ εἰς τὰ ἔργα τῷ αἰσχρῷ τὸ ῥᾳδίως ὑπὸ τῶν ῥημάτων ἄγεσθαι. διὸ καλῶν μὲν ἑταίρους ἔδωκά ποτε σκιάς· ἰσχυρὰ γὰρ ἡ τῆς πόλεως συνήθεια καὶ δυσπαραίτητος· αὐτὸς δὲ κληθεὶς ὑφʼ ἑτέρου πρὸς ἕτερον ἄχρι γε νῦν ἀντέχω μὴ ὑπακοῦσαι. [¶9] 6.3. A short silence followed this discourse; then Florus began thus: This last thing you mentioned, sir, is a greater difficulty than the other. For it is necessary when we invite our friends to give them liberty to choose their own shadows, as was before hinted; for to entertain them without their friends is not very obliging, nor is it very easy to know whom the person we invite would be most pleased with. Then said I to him: Consider therefore whether those that give their friends this license to invite do not at the same time give the invited license to accept the invitation and come to the entertainment. For it is not fit either to permit or to desire another to do that which is not decent to be done, or to urge and persuade to that which no man ought to be persuaded or to consent to do. When we entertain a great man or stranger, there we cannot invite or choose his company, but must receive those that come along with him. But when we treat a friend, it will be more acceptable if we ourselves invite all, as knowing his acquaintance and familiars; for it tickles him extremely to see that others take notice that he hath chiefly a respect for such and such, loves their company most, and is well pleased when they are honored and invited as well as he. Yet sometimes we must deal with our friend as petitioners do when they make addresses to a God; they offer vows to all that belong to the same altar and the same shrine, though they make no particular mention of their names. For no dainties, wine, or ointment can incline a man to merriment, as much as a pleasant agreeable companion. For as it is rude and ungenteel to enquire and ask what sort of meat, wine, or ointment the person whom we are to entertain loves best; so it is never disobliging or absurd to desire him who hath a great many acquaintance to bring those along with him whose company he likes most, and in whose conversation he can take the greatest pleasure. For it is not so irksome and tedious to sail in the same ship, to dwell in the same house, or be a judge upon the same bench, with a person whom we do not like, as to be at the same table with him; and the contrary is equally pleasant. An entertainment is a communion of serious or merry discourse or actions; and therefore, to make a merry company, we should not pick up any person at a venture, but take only such as are known to one another and sociable. Cooks, it is true, mix sour and sweet juices, rough and oily, to make their sauces; but there never was an agreeable table or pleasant entertainment where the guests were not all of a piece, and all of the same humor. Now, as the Peripatetics say, the first mover in nature moves only and is not moved, and the last moved is moved only but does not move, and between these there is that which moves and is moved by others; so there is the same analogy between those three sorts of persons that make up a company,—there is the simple inviter, the simple invited, the invited that invites another. We have spoken already concerning the inviter, and it will not be improper, in my opinion, to deliver my sentiments about the other two. He that is invited and invites others, should, in my opinion, be sparing in the number that he brings. He should not, as if he were to forage in an enemy’s country, carry all he can with him; or, like those who go to possess a new-found land, by the excessive number of his own friends, incommode or exclude the friends of the inviter, so that the inviter must be in the same case with those that set forth suppers to Hecate and the Gods who avert evil, of which neither they nor any of their family partake, except of the smoke and trouble. It is true they only speak in waggery that say, He that at Delphi offers sacrifice Must after meat for his own dinner buy. But the same thing really happens to him who entertains ill-bred guests or friends, who with a great many shadows, as it were harpies, tear and devour his provision. Besides, he should not take anybody that he may meet along with him to another’s entertainment, but chiefly the entertainer’s acquaintance, as it were contending with him and preventing him in the invitation. But if that cannot be effected, let him carry such of his own friends as the entertainer would choose himself; to a civil modest man, some of complaisant humor; to a learned man, ingenious persons; to a man that hath borne office, some of the same rank; and, in short, such whose acquaintance he hath formerly sought and would be now glad of. For it will be extremely pleasing and obliging to bring such into company together; but one who brings to a feast men who have no conformity at all with the feast-maker, but who are perfect aliens and strangers to him,—as hard drinkers to a sober man,— gluttons and sumptuous persons to a temperate thrifty entertainer,—or to a young, merry, boon companion, grave old philosophers solemnly talking through their beards,—will be very disobliging, and turn all the intended mirth into an unpleasant sourness. The entertained should be as obliging to the entertainer as the entertainer to the entertained; and then he will be most obliging, when not only he himself, but all those that come by his means, are pleasant and agreeable. > Greek: 6.3. γενομένης δὲ μετὰ τοὺς λόγους τούτους ἡσυχίας, ὁ Φλῶρος τοῦτʼ ἔφη τὸ δεύτερον ἔχει μᾶλλον ἀπορίαν· τὸ δὲ καλεῖν οὕτως ἀναγκαῖόν ἐστιν ἐν ταῖς τῶν ξένων ὑποδοχαῖς, ὥσπερ εἴρηται πρότερον οὔτε γὰρ ἄνευ φίλων ἐστὶ δὴ ἐπιεικὲς οὔτε γιγνώσκειν οὓς ἔχων ἣκει ῥᾴδιον κἀγὼ πρὸς αὐτόν ὅρα τοίνυν ἔφην μὴ οἱ καλεῖν οὕτω δεδωκότες τοῖς ἑστιῶσι καὶ τὸ πείθεσθαι τοῖς καλουμένοις καὶ βαδίζειν δεδώκασιν οὔτε γὰρ διδόναι καλὸν οὔτʼ· αἰτεῖν ὃ διδόναι μὴ καθῆκεν, οὔθʼ ὅλως παρακαλεῖν ἃ μὴ δεῖ παρακαλεῖσθαι μηδʼ ὁμολογεῖν μηδὲ πράττειν. τὰ μὲν οὖν πρὸς ἡγεμόνας ἢ ξένους οὐκ ἔχει κλῆσιν οὐδʼ αἵρεσιν, ἀλλὰ δεῖ δέχεσθαι τοὺς μετʼ αὐτῶν παραγιγνομένους. ἄλλως δὲ φίλον ἑστιῶντα φιλικώτερον μέν ἐστι τὸ καλεῖν αὐτόν, ὡς οὐκ· ἀγνοοῦντα τοὺς γνωρίμους αὐτοῦ καὶ συνήθεις ἢ οἰκείους· μείζων γὰρ ἡ τιμὴ καὶ ἡ χάρις, ὡς μὴ λανθάνοντος, ὅτι τούτους ἀσπάζεται μάλιστα καὶ τούτοις ἥδιστα σύνεστι καὶ χαίρει τιμωμένοις ὁμοίως καὶ παρακαλουμένοις. οὐ μὴν ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ὅτε ποιητέον ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, καθάπερ οἱ θεῷ θύοντες ἅμα συμβώμοις καὶ συννάοις κοινῶς συνεπεύχονται καὶ καθʼ ἕκαστον ἐκείνων μὴ ὀνομάζοντες· οὔτε γὰρ ὄψον οὔτʼ οἶνος οὔτε μύρον οὕτως ἡδέως διατίθησιν, ὡς σύνδειπνος εὔνους καὶ προσηνής. ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν ὄψοις καὶ πέμμασιν οἵοις ὁ μέλλων ἑστιᾶσθαι μάλιστα χαίρει, καὶ περὶ οἴνων διαφορᾶς καὶ μύρων ἐρωτᾶν καὶ διαπυνθάνεσθαι, φορτικὸν κομιδῇ καὶ νεόπλουτον· ᾧ δὲ πολλοὶ φίλοι καὶ οἰκεῖοι καὶ συνήθεις εἰσίν, αὐτὸν παρακαλεῖν ἐκείνων, οἷς ἂν ἥδιστα συγγίγνοιτο καὶ μεθʼ ὧν εὐφραίνεται παρόντων, μάλιστα τούτους ἄγειν οὐκ ἀηδὲς οὐδʼ ἄτοπον. οὔτε γὰρ τὸ συμπλεῖν οὔτε τὸ συνοικεῖν οὔτε τὸ συνδικάζειν, μεθʼ ὧν οὐ βούλεταί τις, οὕτως ἀηδές, ὡς τὸ συνδειπνεῖν, καὶ τοὐναντίον ἡδύ· κοινωνία γάρ ἐστι καὶ σπουδῆς καὶ παιδιᾶς καὶ λόγων καὶ πράξεων τὸ συμπόσιον. ὅθεν οὐ τοὺς τυχόντας ἀλλὰ τοὺς προσφιλεῖς εἶναι δεῖ καὶ συνήθεις ἀλλήλοις, ὡς ἡδέως συνεσομένους. ὄψα μὲν γὰρ οἱ μάγειροι σκευάζουσιν ἐκ χυμῶν διαφόρων, αὐστηρὰ καὶ λιπαρὰ καὶ γλυκέα καὶ δριμέα συγκεραννύντες· σύνδειπνον δὲ χρηστὸν οὐκ ἂν γένοιτο καὶ κεχαρισμένον ἀνθρώπων ὁμοφύλων μηδʼ ὁμοιοπαθῶν εἰς ταὐτὸ συμφθαρέντων. ἐπεὶ δέ, ὥσπερ οἱ Περιπατητικοὶ λέγουσι, τὸ μὲν πρῶτον φύσει κινοῦν μὴ κινούμενον δʼ εἶναι, τὸ δʼ ἔσχατον κινούμενον μηδὲ ἓν δὲ κινοῦν· μεταξὺ δʼ ἀμφοῖν τὸ καὶ κινοῦν ἕτερα καὶ κινούμενον ὑφʼ ἑτέρων· οὕτως ἔφην ὁ λόγος, τριῶν ὄντων ὦν ὁ μὲν καλῶν μόνον ὁ δὲ καλούμενος,· ὁ δὲ καὶ καλῶν καὶ καλούμενός ἐστιν, εἴρηται μὲν περὶ τοῦ καλοῦντος· οὐ χεῖρον δʼ ἐστὶ καὶ περὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἔφην ἅ γʼ ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ, διελθεῖν. ὁ μὲν οὖν καλούμενος ὑφʼ ἑτέρου καὶ καλῶν ἑτέρους πρῶτον, οἶμαι, τοῦ πλήθους φείδεσθαι δίκαιός ἐστι, μὴ καθάπερ ἐκ πολεμίας ὁμοῦ πᾶσι τοῖς περὶ αὑτὸν ἐπισιτιζόμενος μηδʼ, ὥσπερ οἱ χώρας καταλαμβάνοντες ἐν τῷ πεττεύειν, ἀεὶ τοῖς ἰδίοις φίλοις τοὺς τοῦ καλέσαντος ἐκκρούων καὶ ἀποκρούων ἅπαντας· ὥστε πάσχειν τοὺς δειπνίζοντας, ἃ πάσχουσιν οἱ τῇ Ἑκάτῃ καὶ τοῖς ἀποτροπαίοις ἐκφέροντες; τὰ δεῖπνα, μὴ γευομένους αὐτοὺς μηδὲ τοὺς οἴκοι, πλὴν καπνοῦ καὶ θορύβου μετέχοντας. ἄλλως γὰρ ἡμῖν προσπαίζουσιν οἱ λέγοντες Δελφοῖσι θύσας αὐτὸς ὀψωνεῖ κρέας· ἀληθῶς δὲ τοῦτο συμβαίνει τοῖς ξένους ἀγνώμονας ἢ φίλους δεχομένοις μετὰ σκιῶν πολλῶν ὥσπερ Ἁρπυιῶν διαφοροῦντας τὰ δεῖπνα καὶ προνομεύοντας. ἔπειτα δεῖ μὴ μεθʼ ὧν ἔτυχε βαδίζειν πρὸς ἑτέρους ἐπὶ δεῖπνον, ἀλλὰ μάλιστα μὲν καλεῖν τοὺς τοῦ δειπνίζοντος οἰκείους καὶ συνήθεις, πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐκεῖνον ἁμιλλώμενον καὶ προκαταλαμβάνοντα ταῖς κλήσεσιν εἰ δὲ μή, τῶν ἰδίων φίλων οὓς ἂν καὶ ἤθελεν αὐτὸς ἑλέσθαι ὁ δειπνίζων, ἐπιεικὴς ὢν ἐπιεικεῖς, καὶ φιλόλογος φιλολόγους ὄντας, ἢ δυνατοὺς; δυνάμενος, πάλαι ζητῶν ἁμωσγέπως αὐτοῖς ἐν προσηγορίᾳ καὶ κοινωνίᾳ γενέσθαι. τὸ γὰρ οὕτως ἔχοντι παραδοῦναι καὶ παρασχεῖν ὁμιλίας ἀρχὴν καὶ φιλοφροσύνης εὔστοχον ἐπιεικῶς· καὶ ἀστεῖον· ὁ δʼ ἀσυμφύλους καὶ ἀσυναρμόστους ἐπάγων, οἷον νηπτικῷ πολυπότας, καὶ λιτῷ περὶ δίαιταν ἀκολάστους καὶ πολυτελεῖς, ἢ νέῳ πάλιν ποτικῷ καὶ φιλοπαίγμονι πρεσβύτας σκυθρωποὺς ἢ βαρὺ φθεγγομένους ἐκ πώγωνος σοφιστάς, ἄκαιρός ἐστιν ἀηδίᾳ φιλοφροσύνην ἀμειβόμενος;. δεῖ γὰρ οὐχ ἧττον ἡδὺν εἶναι τῷ δειπνίζοντι τὸν κεκλημένον ἢ τῷ κεκλημένῳ τὸν ὑποδεχόμενον· ἔσται δʼ ἡδύς, ἐὰν μὴ μόνον ἑαυτὸν ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς σὺν αὑτῷ καὶ διʼ αὑτὸν ἥκοντας ἐπιδεξίους παρέχῃ καὶ προσηνεῖς. ὅ γε μὴν λοιπὸς; ἔτι τῶν τριῶν οὗτος ὁ καλούμενος ὑφʼ ἑτέρου πρὸς ἕτερον, τὸ μὲν τῆς σκιὰν· [¶10] The last of the three which remains to be spoken of is he that is invited by one man to another’s feast. Now he that disdains and is much offended at the name of a shadow will appear to be afraid of a mere shadow. But in this matter there is need of a great deal of caution, for it is not creditable readily to go along with every one and to everybody. But first you must consider who it is that invites; for if he is not a very familiar friend, but a rich or great man, such who, as if upon a stage, wants a large or splendid retinue, or such who thinks that he puts a great obligation upon you and does you a great deal of honor by this invitation, you must presently deny. But if he is your friend and particular acquaintance, you must not yield upon the first motion: but if there seems a necessity for some conversation which cannot be put off till another time, or if he is lately come from a journey or designs to go on one, and out of mere good-will and affection seems desirous of your company, and doth not desire to carry a great many strangers but only some few friends along with him; or, besides all this, if he designs to bring you thus invited acquainted with the principal inviter, who is very worthy of your acquaintance, then consent and go. For as to ill-humored persons, the more they seize and take hold of us like thorns, we should endeavor to free ourselves from them or leap over them the more. If he that invites is a civil and well-bred person, yet doth not design to carry you to one of the same temper, you must refuse, lest you should take poison in honey, that is, get the acquaintance of a bad man by an honest friend. It is absurd to go to one you do not know, and with whom you never had any familiarity, unless, as I said before, the person be an extraordinary man, and, by a civil waiting upon him at another man’s invitation, you design to begin an acquaintance with him. And those friends you should chiefly go to as shadows, who would come to you again in the same quality. To Philip the jester, indeed, he seemed more ridiculous that came to a feast of his own accord than he that was invited; but to well-bred and civil friends it is more obliging for men of the same temper to come at the nick of time with other friends, when uninvited and unexpected; at once pleasing both to those that invite and those that entertain. But chiefly you must avoid going to rulers, rich or great men, lest you incur the deserved censure of being impudent, saucy, rude, and unseasonably ambitious. > Greek: ἀναινόμενος ὄνομα καὶ δυσχεραίνων, ἀληθῶς σκιὰν δόξει φοβεῖσθαι, δεῖται δὲ πλείστης εὐλαβείας. οὔτε γὰρ τοῖς τυχοῦσιν ἀκολουθεῖν ἑτοίμως καλὸν οὔθʼ ὅπως ἔτυχεν· ἀλλὰ δεῖ σκοπεῖν πρῶτον τίς ὁ καλῶν ἐστιν. εἰ μὲν γὰρ οὐ σφόδρα συνήθης, ἀλλʼ ἢ τῶν πλουσίων τις ἢ σατραπικῶν, ὡς ἐπὶ σκηνῆς δορυφορήματος λαμπροῦ δεόμενος ἢ πάνυ χαρίζεσθαι τῇ κλήσει πεπεισμένος καὶ τιμᾶν, ἐπάγεται, παραιτητέος εὐθύς. εἰ δὲ φίλος καὶ συνήθης, οὐκ εὐθὺς ὑπακουστέον· ἀλλʼ ἐὰν δοκῇ δεῖσθαί τινος ἀναγκαίας ὁμιλίας καὶ κοινωνίας καιρὸν ἄλλον οὐκ ἐχούσης, ἢ διὰ χρόνου ποθὲν ἀφιγμένος ἢ μέλλων ἀπαίρειν φανερὸς διʼ εὔνοιαν ἐπιθυμῶν καὶ ποθῶν συμπεριενεχθῆναι, καὶ μήτε πολλοὺς μήτʼ ἀλλοτρίους, ἀλλʼ αὐτὸν ἢ μετʼ ὀλίγων ἑταίρων ἐπαγόμενος, ἢ μετὰ ταῦτα πάντα πραγματευόμενος ἀρχήν τινα συνηθείας καὶ φιλίας διʼ αὑτοῦ γενέσθαι τῷ καλουμένῳ πρὸς τὸν καλοῦντα χρηστὸν ὄντα καὶ φιλίας ἄξιον. ἐπεὶ τοὺς γε μοχθηρούς, ὅσῳ μᾶλλον ἐπιλαμβάνονται καὶ συμπλέκονται, καθάπερ βάτους καὶ ἀπαρίνας ὑπερβατέον ἐστί· κἂν ἐπιεικεῖς οἱ ἄγοντες ὦσι πρὸς ἐπιεικῆ δὲ μὴ ἄγωσιν, οὐ δεῖ συνακολουθεῖν οὐδʼ ὑπομένειν, ὥσπερ διὰ μέλιτος φάρμακον λαμβάνοντας, μοχθηρὸν διὰ χρηστοῦ φίλον. ἄτοπον δὲ καὶ τὸ πρὸς ἀγνῶτα κομιδῇ καὶ ἀσυνήθη βαδίζειν, ἂν μή τις ᾖ διαφέρων ἀρετῇ, καθάπερ εἴρηται, καὶ τοῦτο φιλίας ποιησόμενος ἀρχὴν καὶ ἀγαπήσων τὸ ῥᾳδίως καὶ ἀφελῶς ἀφικέσθαι σὺν ἑτέρῳ πρὸς αὐτόν. καὶ μὴν τῶν συνήθων πρὸς τούτους μάλιστα βαδιστέον ὑφʼ ἑτέρου καλούμενον, οἷς ἐφίεται μεθʼ ἑτέρων καὶ αὐτοῖς βαδίζειν πρὸς ἡμᾶς. Φιλίππῳ μὲν γὰρ ἐδόκει τῷ γελωτοποιῷ τὸ αὐτόκλητον ἐπὶ δεῖπνον ἐλθεῖν γελοιότερον εἶναι τοῦ κεκλημένον· ἀγαθοῖς δὲ καὶ φίλοις ἀνδράσι παρὰ φίλους καὶ ἀγαθοὺς σεμνότερόν ἐστι καὶ ἥδιον, ἂν μὴ καλέσασι μηδὲ προσδοκῶσιν ἐν καιρῷ παραγίγνωνται μετὰ φίλων ἑτέρων, εὐφραίνοντες ἅμα τοὺς δεχομένους καὶ τιμῶντες τοὺς ἀγαγόντας. ἥκιστα δὲ πρὸς ἡγεμόνας ἢ πλουσίους ἢ δυνάστας μὴ καλουμένους ὑπʼ αὐτῶν ἀλλʼ ὑφʼ ἑτέρων πρέπει βαδίζειν, ἀναιδείας καὶ ἀπειροκαλίας καὶ φιλοτιμίας ἀκαίρου δόξαν οὐκ ἄλογον φυλαττομένους. ## 15. Book VII · chapters 7–10 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/15/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/15/#p-N [¶0] 7.1. AT Chaeronea, Diogenianus the Pergamenian being present, we had a long discourse at an entertainment about music; and we had a great deal of trouble to hold out against a great bearded sophister of the Stoic sect, who quoted Plato as blaming a company that admitted flute-girls and were not able to entertain one another with discourse. And Philip the Prusian, of the same sect, said: Those guests of Agatho, whose discourse was more sweet than the sound of any pipe in the world, were no good authority in this case; for it was no wonder that in their company the flute-girl was not regarded; but it is strange that, in the midst of the entertainment, the extreme pleasantness of the discourse had not made them forget their meat and drink. Yet Xenophon thought it not indecent to bring in to Socrates, Antisthenes, and the like the jester Philip; as Homer doth an onion to make the wine relish. And Plato brought in Aristophanes’s discourse of love, as a comedy, into his entertainment; and at the last, as it were drawing all the curtains, he shows a scene of the greatest variety imaginable,—Alcibiades drunk, frolicking, and crowned. Then follows that pleasant raillery between him and Socrates concerning Agatho, and the encomium of Socrates; and when such discourse was going on, good Gods! had it not been allowable, if Apollo himself had come in with his harp ready, to desire the God to forbear till the argument was out? These men, having such a pleasant way of discoursing, used these arts and insinuating methods, and graced their entertainments by facetious raillery. But shall we, being mixed with tradesmen and merchants, and some (as it now and then happens) ignorants and rustics, banish out of our entertainments this ravishing delight, or fly the musicians, as if they were Sirens, as soon as we see them coming? Clitomachus the wrestler, rising and getting away when any one talked of love, was much wondered at; and should not a philosopher that banisheth music from a feast, and is afraid of a musician, and bids his linkboy presently light his link and be gone, be laughed at, since he seems to abominate the most innocent pleasures, as beetles do ointment? For, if at any time, certainly over a glass of wine, music should be allowed, and then chiefly the harmonious God should have the direction of our souls; so that Euripides, though I like him very well in other things, shall never persuade me that music, as he would have it, should be applied to melancholy and grief. For there sober and serious reason, like a physician, should take care of the diseased men; but those pleasures should be mixed with Bacchus, and serve to increase our mirth and frolic. Therefore it was a pleasant saying of that Spartan at Athens, who, when some new tragedians were to contend for the prize, seeing the preparations of the masters of the dances, the hurry and busy diligence of the instructors, said, the city was certainly mad which sported with so much pains. He that designs to sport should sport, and not buy his ease and pleasure with great expense, or the loss of that time which might be useful to other things; but whilst he is feasting and free from business, those should be enjoyed. And it is advisable to try amidst our mirth, whether any profit is to be gotten from our delights. > Greek: 7.1. περὶ ἀκροαμάτων ἐν Χαιρωνείᾳ λόγοι παρὰ πότον ἐγένοντο Διογενιανοῦ τοῦ Περγαμηνοῦ παρόντος, καὶ πράγματʼ εἴχομεν ἀμυνόμενοι βαθυπώγωνα σοφιστὴν ἀπὸ τῆς Στοᾶς, ὃς ἐπήγαγε τὸν Πλάτωνα κατηγοροῦντα τῶν αὐλητρίσι χρωμένων παρʼ οἶνον, ἀλλήλοις δὲ συγγίγνεσθαι διὰ λόγου μὴ δυναμένων. καίτοι παρὼν ἀπὸ τῆς αὐτῆς παλαίστρας Φίλιππος ὁ Προυσιεὺς ἐᾶν ἐκέλευσε τοὺς παρʼ Ἀγάθωνι δαιτυμόνας ἐκείνους παντὸς αὐλοῦ καὶ πηκτίδων ἐπιτερπέστερα φθεγγομένους οὐ γὰρ αὐλητρίδα, παρόντων ἐκείνων, ἐκπεσεῖν θαυμαστὸν ἦν, ἀλλʼ εἰ μὴ καὶ πότου καὶ σίτου λήθη κατελάμβανεν ὑφʼ ἡδονῆς καὶ κηλήσεως τὸ συμπόσιον. καίτοι Ξενοφῶν οὐκ ᾐσχύνθη, Σωκράτους καὶ Ἀντισθένους καὶ ἄλλων παρόντων τοιούτων, τὸν γελωτοποιὸν φέρων Φίλιππον, ὥσπερ Ὅμηρος τὸ κρόμυον ποτῷ ὄψον, ὑποδεῖξαι τοῖς ἀνδράσι. Πλάτων δὲ τὸν τʼ Ἀριστοφάνους λόγον περὶ τοῦ ἔρωτος ὡς κωμῳδίαν ἐμβέβληκεν εἰς τὸ Συμπόσιον, καὶ τελευτῶν ἔξωθεν ἀναπετάσας τὴν αὔλειον ἐπάγει δρᾶμα τῶν ποικιλωτάτων, μεθύοντα καὶ κώμῳ χρώμενον ἐστεφανωμένον Ἀλκιβιάδην. εἶθʼ οἱ πρὸς Σωκράτην διαπληκτισμοὶ περὶ Ἀγάθωνος καὶ Σωκράτους ἐγκώμιον, ὦ φίλαι Χάριτες, ἆρά γʼ εἰπεῖν ὅσιόν ἐστιν, ὅτι, τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος ἥκοντος εἰς τὸ συμπόσιον ἡρμοσμένην τὴν λύραν ἔχοντος, ἱκέτευσαν ἂν οἱ παρόντες ἐπισχεῖν τὸν θεόν, ἕως ὁ λόγος συμπερανθῇ καὶ λάβῃ τέλος; εἶτʼ ἐκεῖνοι μὲν οἱ ἄνδρες ἔφη τοσαύτην ἐν τῷ διαλέγεσθαι χάριν ἔχοντες, ὅμως ἐχρῶντο τοῖς ἐπεισοδίοις καὶ διεποίκιλλον τὰ συμπόσια παιδιαῖς τοιαύταις· ἡμεῖς δὲ μεμιγμένοι πολιτικοῖς καὶ ἀγοραίοις ἀνδράσι, πολλοῖς δʼ, ὅταν οὕτω τύχωμεν, ἰδιώταις καὶ ὑπαγροικοτέροις ἐκβάλωμεν τὴν τοιαύτην χάριν καὶ διατριβὴν ἐκ τῶν συμποσίων ἢ ἀπίωμεν, ὥσπερ τὰς Σειρῆνας ἐπιούσας φεύγοντες; ἀλλὰ Κλειτόμαχος μὲν ὁ ἀθλητὴς ἐξανιστάμενος καὶ ἀπιών, εἴ τις ἐμβάλοι λόγον ἐρωτικόν, ἐθαυμάζετο· φιλόσοφος δʼ ἀνὴρ αὐλὸν ἐκ συμποσίου φεύγων καὶ ψαλτρίας ἁρμοζομένης ὑποδεῖσθαι βοῶν ταχὺ καὶ τὸν λυχνοῦχον ἅπτειν οὐ καταγέλαστός ἐστι, τὰς ἀβλαβεστάτας ἡδονάς, ὥσπερ οἱ κάνθαροι τὰ μύρα, βδελυττόμενος; εἰ γὰρ ἄλλοτε, μάλιστα δήπου παρὰ πότον, προσπαιστέον ἐστὶ τούτοις καὶ δοτέον εἰς ταῦτα τῷ θεῷ τὴν ψυχήν. ὡς τὰ γʼ ἄλλα φίλος ὢν Εὐριπίδης ἐμὲ γοῦν οὐ πέπεικε, περὶ μουσικῆς νομοθετῶν, ὡς ἐπὶ τὰ πένθη καὶ τὰς βαρυφροσύνας μετακομιστέας οὔσης· ἐκεῖ μὲν γὰρ ὥσπερ ἰατρὸν ἐφιστάναι δεῖ νοσοῦσιν ἐσπουδακότα καὶ νήφοντα τὸν λόγον, τὰς δὲ τοιαύτας ἡδονὰς τῷ Διονύσῳ καταμίξαντας ἐν παιδιᾶς μέρει τίθεσθαι. χάριεν γάρ τοι τὸ τοῦ Λάκωνος, ὃς, Ἀθήνησι καινῶν ἀγωνιζομένων τραγῳδῶν, θεώμενος τὰς παρασκευὰς τῶν χορηγῶν καὶ τὰς σπουδὰς τῶν διδασκάλων καὶ τὴν ἅμιλλαν οὐκ ἔφη σωφρονεῖν τὴν πόλιν μετὰ τοσαύτης; σπουδῆς παίζουσαν· τῷ γὰρ ὄντι παίζοντα δεῖ· παίζειν καὶ μήτε δαπάνης πολλῆς μήτε τῶν πρὸς ἄλλα χρησίμων καιρῶν ὠνεῖσθαι τὸ ῥᾳθυμεῖν, ἀλλʼ ἐν πότῳ καὶ ἀνέσει τῶν τοιούτων ἀπογεύεσθαι καὶ σκοπεῖν ἅμα τερπόμενον, εἴ τι χρήσιμον ἐξ αὐτῶν λαβεῖν ἔστιν. [¶1] 8.1. WHEN Philip had ended, I hindered the sophister from returning an answer to the discourse, and said: Let us rather enquire, Diogenianus, since there are a great many sorts of music, which is fittest for an entertainment. And let us beg this learned man’s judgment in this case; for since he is not prejudiced or apt to be biassed by any sort, there is no danger that he should prefer that which is pleasantest before that which is best. Diogenianus joining with me in this request, he presently began. All other sorts I banish to the theatre and play-house, and can only allow that which hath been lately admitted into the entertainments at Rome, and with which everybody is not yet acquainted. You know, continued he, that some of Plato’s dialogues are purely narrative, and some dramatic. The easiest of this latter sort they teach their children to speak by heart; causing them to imitate the actions of those persons they represent, and to form their voice and affections to be agreeable to the words. This all the grave and well-bred men exceedingly approve; but soft and effeminate fellows, whose ears ignorance and ill-breeding hath corrupted, and who, as Aristoxenus phraseth it, are ready to vomit when they hear excellent harmony, reject it; and no wonder, when effeminacy prevails. > Greek: 8.1. ἐπεὶ δὲ ταῦτʼ ἐρρήθη, βουλόμενον αὖθις ἀντιλέγειν τὸν σοφιστὴν ἐγὼ διακρουόμενος ἐκεῖνο μᾶλλον ἔφην σκέψαιτʼ ἄν τις, ὦ· Διογενιανέ, πολλῶν ἀκροαμάτων ὄντων ποῖον ἂν μάλιστα γένος εἰς πότον ἐναρμόσειε, καὶ παρακαλῶμεν ἐπικρῖναι τουτονὶ τὸν σοφόν· ἀπαθὴς γὰρ ὢν πρὸς ἅπαντα καὶ ἀκήλητος οὐκ ἂν σφαλείη πρὸ τοῦ βελτίονος ἑλέσθαι τὸ ἥδιον ὡς οὖν ὅ τε Διογενιανὸς παρεκάλει καὶ ἡμεῖς, οὐδὲν μελλήσας ἐκεῖνος ἔφη τἄλλα μὲν ἐπὶ τὴν θυμέλην καὶ τὴν ὀρχήστραν ἐξελαύνειν, εἰσάγειν δὲ τὸ νεωστὶ μὲν ἐν Ῥώμῃ παρεισηγμένον εἰς τὰ συμπόσια, μήπω δʼ ἀναλάμπον ἐν τοῖς πολλοῖς. ἴστε γάρ εἶπεν ὅτι τῶν Πλάτωνος διαλόγων διηγηματικοὶ τινὲς εἰσιν οἱ δὲ δραματικοί· τούτων οὖν τῶν δραματικῶν τοὺς ἐλαφροτάτους ἐκδιδάσκονται παῖδες, ὥστʼ ἀπὸ στόματος λέγειν πρόσεστι δʼ ὑπόκρισις πρέπουσα τῷ ἤθει τῶν ὑποκειμένων προσώπων καὶ φωνῆς πλάσμα καὶ σχῆμα καὶ διαθέσεις ἑπόμεναι τοῖς λεγομένοις. ταῦθʼ οἱ μὲν αὐστηροὶ καὶ χαρίεντες ἠγάπησαν ὑπερφυῶς, οἱ δʼ ἄνανδροι καὶ διατεθρυμμένοι τὰ ὦτα διʼ ἀμουσίαν καὶ ἀπειροκαλίαν, οὕς φησιν Ἀριστόξενος χολὴν ἐμεῖν, ὅταν ἐναρμονίου ἀκούσωσιν, ἐξέβαλον· καὶ οὐ θαυμάσαιμʼ ἄν, εἰ τὸ πάμπαν ἐκβάλλουσιν· ἐπικρατεῖ γὰρ ἡ θηλύτησ. [¶2] 8.2. Philip, perceiving some of the company uneasy at this discourse, said: Pray spare us, sir, and be not so severe upon us; for we were the first that found fault with that custom when it first began to be countenanced in Rome, and reprehended those who thought Plato fit to entertain us whilst we were making merry, and who would hear his dialogues whilst they were eating cates and scattering perfumes. When Sappho’s songs or Anacreon’s verses are pronounced, I protest I then think it decent to set aside my cup. But should I proceed, perhaps you would think me much in earnest, and designing to oppose you, and therefore, together with this cup which I present my friend, I leave it to him to wash your salt ear with fresh discourse. > Greek: 8.2. καὶ ὁ Φίλιππος ὁρῶν ὑποδυσχεραίνοντας ἐνίους φείδου εἶπεν ὦ τᾶν, καὶ παραβάλλου λοιδορῶν ἡμᾶς· ἡμεῖς γάρ ἐσμεν οἱ πρῶτοι τοῦ πράγματος εἰσαγομένου δυσχεράναντες ἐν Ῥώμῃ καὶ καθαψάμενοι τῶν ἀξιούντων Πλάτωνα διαγωγὴν ἐν οἴνῳ ποιεῖσθαι, καὶ τῶν Πλάτωνος διαλόγων ἐπὶ τραγήμασι καὶ μύροις ἀκούειν διαπίνοντας· ὅτε, καὶ Σαπφοῦς ἀναλεγομένης καὶ τῶν Ἀνακρέοντος, ἐγὼ μοι δοκῶ καταθέσθαι τὸ ποτήριον αἰδούμενος. πολλὰ δʼ εἰπεῖν ἐπιόν μοι δέδια μὴ μετὰ σπουδῆς τινος οὐ παιδιᾶς διαλέγεσθαι πρός σε δόξω· ὅθεν, ὡς ὁρᾷς, ποτίμῳ λόγῳ ἁλμυρὰν ἀκοὴν κατακλύσαι τῷ φίλῳ Διογενιανῷ μετὰ τῆς κύλικος δίδωμι. [¶3] 8.3. Then Diogenianus, taking the cup, said: Methinks this is very sober discourse, which makes me believe that the wine doth not please you, since I see no effect of it; so that I fear I ought to be corrected. Indeed many sorts of music are to be rejected; first, tragedy, as having nothing familiar enough for an entertainment, and being a representation of actions attended with grief and extremity of passion. I reject the sort of dancing which is called Pyladean from Pylades, because it is full of pomp, very pathetical, and requires a great many persons; but if we would admit any of those sorts that deserve those encomiums which Socrates mentions in his discourse about dancing, I like that sort called Bathyllean, which requires not so high a motion, but hath something of the nature of the Cordax, and resembles the motion of an Echo, a Pan, or a Satyr frolicking with love. Old comedy is not fit for men that are making merry, by reason of the irregularities that appear in it; for that vehemency which they use in the parabasis is loud and indecent, and the liberty they take to scoff and abuse is very surfeiting, too open, and full of filthy words and lewd expressions. Besides, as at great men’s tables every man hath a servant waiting at his elbow, so each of his guests would need a grammarian to sit by him, and explain who is Laespodias in Eupolis, Cinesias in Plato, and Lampo in Cratinus, and who is each person that is jeered in the play. Concerning new comedy there is no need of any long discourse. It is so fitted, so interwoven with entertainments, that it is easier to have a regular feast without wine, than without Menander. Its phrase is sweet and familiar, the humor innocent and easy, so that there is nothing for men whilst sober to despise, or when merry to be troubled at. The sentiments are so natural and unstudied, that midst wine, as it were in fire, they soften and bend the rigidest temper to be pliable and easy. And the mixture of gravity and jests seems to be contrived for nothing so aptly as for the pleasure and profit of those that are frolicking and making merry. The love-scenes in Menander are convenient for those who have already taken their cups, and who in a short time must retire home to their wives; for in all his plays there is no love of boys mentioned, and all rapes committed on virgins end decently in marriages at last. As for misses, if they are impudent and jilting, they are bobbed, the young gallants turning sober, and repenting of their lewd courses. But if they are kind and constant, either their true parents are discovered, or a time is determined for the intrigue, which brings them at last to obliging modesty and civil kindness. These things to men busied about other matters may seem scarce worth taking notice of; but whilst they are making merry, it is no wonder that the pleasantness and smoothness of the parts should work a neat conformity and elegance in the hearers, and make their manners like the pattern they have from those genteel characters. > Greek: 8.3. δεξάμενος οὖν ὁ Διογενιανὸς ἀλλὰ καὶ τούτους ἔφη νήφοντας ἀκούω λόγους· ὥσθʼ ὁ οἶνος ἡμᾶς ἀδικεῖν οὐκ ἔοικεν οὐδὲ κρατεῖν. δέδια δὴ μὴ καὶ αὐτὸς εὐθύνας ὑπόσχω· καίτοι τὰ πολλὰ περικοπτέα τῶν ἀκροαμάτων ἐστί· πρώτην τραγῳδίαν, ὡς οὐ πάνυ τι συμποτικὸν ἀλλὰ σεμνότερον βοῶσαν καὶ σκευωρουμένην πραγμάτων ὑποκρίσεις πάθος ἐχόντων καὶ οἶκτον. ἀποπέμπω δὲ τῆς ὀρχήσεως τὴν Πυλάδειον, ὀγκώδη καὶ παθητικὴν καὶ πολυπρόσωπον οὖσαν· αἰδοῖ δὲ τῶν ἐγκωμίων ἐκείνων, ἃ Σωκράτης περὶ ὀρχήσεως διῆλθε, δέχομαι τὴν Βαθύλλειον αὐτόθεν πέζαν τοῦ κόρδακος ἁπτομένην, Ἠχοῦς ἤ τινος Πανὸς ἢ Σατύρου σὺν Ἔρωτι κωμάζοντος ὑπόρχημά τι διατιθεμένην. τῶν δὲ κωμῳδιῶν ἡ μὲν ἀρχαία διὰ τὴν ἀνωμαλίαν ἀνάρμοστος ἀνθρώποις πίνουσιν· ἥ τε γὰρ ἐν ταῖς λεγομέναις παραβάσεσιν αὐτῶν σπουδὴ καὶ παρρησία λίαν ἄκρατός ἐστι καὶ σύντονος, ἥ τε πρὸς τὰ σκώμματα καὶ βωμολοχίας εὐχέρεια δεινῶς κατάκορος καὶ ἀναπεπταμένη καὶ γέμουσα ῥημάτων ἀκόσμων καὶ ἀκολάστων ὀνομάτων· ἔτι δʼ ὥσπερ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμονικοῖς δείπνοις ἑκάστῳ παρέστηκε τῶν κατακειμένων οἰνοχόος, οὕτω δεήσει γραμματικὸν ἑκάστῳ τὸ καθʼ ἕκαστον ἐξηγεῖσθαι, τίς ὁ Λαισποδίας παρʼ Εὐπόλιδι καὶ ὁ Κινησίας παρὰ Πλάτωνι καὶ ὁ Λάμπων παρὰ Κρατίνῳ, καὶ τῶν κωμῳδουμένων ἕκαστος· ὥστε γραμματοδιδασκαλεῖον ἡμῖν γενέσθαι τὸ συμπόσιον ἢ κωφὰ καὶ ἄσημα τὰ σκώμματα διαφέρεσθαι. περὶ δὲ τῆς νέας κωμῳδίας τί ἂν ἀντιλέγοι τις; οὕτω γὰρ ἐγκέκραται τοῖς συμποσίοις, ὡς μᾶλλον ἂν οἴνου χωρὶς ἢ Μενάνδρου διακυβερνῆσαι τὸν πότον. ἥ τε γὰρ λέξις ἡδεῖα καὶ πεζὴ κατέσπαρται τῶν πραγμάτων, ὡς μήθʼ ὑπὸ νηφόντων καταφρονεῖσθαι μήτʼ οἰνωμένους ἀνιᾶν· γνωμολογίαι τε χρησταὶ καὶ ἀφελεῖς ὑπορρέουσαι καὶ τὰ σκληρότατα τῶν ἠθῶν ὥσπερ ἐν πυρὶ τῷ οἴνῳ μαλάττουσι καὶ κάμπτουσι πρὸς τὸ ἐπιεικέστερον· ἥ τε τῆς σπουδῆς πρὸς τὴν παιδιὰν ἀνάκρασις ἐπʼ οὐδὲν ἂν πεποιῆσθαι δόξειεν ἀλλʼ ἢ πεπωκότων καὶ διακεχυμένων ἡδονὴν ὁμοῦ καὶ ὠφέλειαν. ἔχει δὲ καὶ τὰ ἐρωτικὰ παρʼ αὐτῷ καιρὸν πεπωκόσιν ἀνθρώποις, καὶ ἀναπαυσομένοις μετὰ μικρὸν ἀπιοῦσι παρὰ τὰς ἑαυτῶν γυναῖκας· οὔτε παιδὸς ἔρως ἄρρενός ἐστιν ἐν τοσούτοις δράμασιν, αἵ τε φθοραὶ τῶν παρθένων εἰς γάμον ἐπιεικῶς καταστρέφουσι· τὰ δὲ πρὸς ἑταίρας, ἂν μὲν ὦσιν ἰταμαὶ καὶ θρασεῖαι, διακόπτεται σωφρονισμοῖς τισιν ἢ μετανοίαις τῶν νέων· ταῖς δὲ χρησταῖς καὶ ἀντερώσαις ἢ πατήρ τις ἀνευρίσκεται γνήσιος, ἢ χρόνος τις ἐπιμετρεῖται τῷ ἔρωτι, συμπεριφορὰν αἰδοῦς· ἔχων φιλάνθρωπον. ταῦτα δʼ ἀνθρώποις ἄλλο μὲν τι πράττουσιν ἴσως οὐδεμιᾶς σπουδῆς ἄξιά ἐστίν· ἐν δὲ τῷ πίνειν οὐ θαυμάσαιμʼ ἄν, εἰ τὸ τερπνὸν αὐτῶν καὶ γλαφυρὸν ἅμα καὶ πλάσιν τινὰ καὶ κατακόσμησιν ἐπιφέρει, συνεξομοιοῦσαν τὰ ἤθη τοῖς ἐπιεικέσι καὶ φιλανθρώποις. [¶4] 8.4. Diogenianus, either designedly or for want of breath, ended thus. And when the sophister came upon him again, and contended that some of Aristophanes’s verses should be recited, Philip speaking to me said: Diogenianus hath had his wish in praising his beloved Menander, and seems not to care for any of the rest. There are a great many sorts which we have not at all considered, concerning which I should be very glad to have your opinion; and the prize for carvers we will set up to-morrow, when we are sober, if Diogenianus and this stranger think fit. Of representations, said I, some are mythical, and some are farces; neither of these are fit for an entertainment; the first by reason of their length and cost, and the latter being so full of filthy discourse and lewd actions, that they are not fit to be seen by the foot-boys that wait on civil masters. Yet the rabble, even with their wives and young sons, sit quietly to be spectators of such representations as are apt to disturb the soul more than the greatest debauch in drink. The harp ever since Homer’s time was well acquainted with feasts and entertainments, and therefore it is not fitting to dissolve such an ancient friendship and acquaintance; but we should only desire the harpers to forbear their sad notes and melancholy tunes, and play only those that are delighting, and fit for such as are making merry. The pipe, if we would, we cannot reject, for the libation in the beginning of the entertainment requires that as well as the garland. Then it insinuates and passeth through the ears, spreading even to the very soul a pleasant sound, which produceth serenity and calmness; so that, if the wine hath not quite dissolved or driven away all vexing solicitous anxiety, this, by the softness and delightful agreeableness of its sound, smooths and calms the spirits, if so be that it keeps within due bounds, and doth not elevate too much, and, by its numerous surprising divisions, raise an ecstasy in the soul which wine hath weakened and made easy to be perverted. For as brutes do not understand a rational discourse, yet lie down or rise up at the sound of a shell or whistle, or of a chirp or clap; so the brutish part of the soul, which is incapable either of understanding or obeying reason, men conquer by songs and tunes, and by music reduce it to tolerable order. But to speak freely what I think, no pipe nor harp simply played upon, and without a song with it, can be very fit for an entertainment. For we should still accustom ourselves to take our chiefest pleasure from discourse, and spend our leisure time in profitable talk, and use tunes and airs as a sauce for the discourse, and not singly by themselves, to please the unreasonable delicacy of our palate. For as nobody is against pleasure that ariseth from sauce or wine going in with our necessary food, but Socrates flouts and refuseth to admit that superfluous and vain pleasure which we take in perfumes and odors at a feast; thus the sound of a pipe or harp, when singly applied to our ears, we utterly reject, but if it accompanies words, and together with an ode feasts and delights our reason, we gladly introduce it. And we believe the famed Marsyas was punished by Apollo for pretending, when he had nothing but his single pipe, and his muzzle to secure his lips, to contend with the harp and song of the God. Let us only take care that, when we have such guests as are able to cheer one another with philosophy and good discourse, we do not introduce any thing that may rather prove an uneasy hindrance to the conversation than promote it. For not only are those fools, who, as Euripides says, having safety at home and in their own power, yet would hire some from abroad; but those too who, having pleasantness enough within, are eager after some external pastimes to comfort and delight them. That extraordinary piece of honor which the Persian king showed Antalcidas the Spartan seemed rude and uncivil, when he dipped a garland composed of crocus and roses in ointment, and sent it him to wear, by that dipping putting a slight upon and spoiling the natural sweetness and beauty of the flowers. He doth as bad, who having a Muse in his own breast, and all the pleasantness that would fit an entertainment, will have pipes and harps play, and by that external adventitious noise destroy all the sweetness that was proper and his own. But in short, all ear-delights are fittest then, when the company begins to be disturbed, fall out, and quarrel, for then they may prevent raillery and reproach, and stop the dispute that is running on to sophistical and unpleasant wrangling, and bridle all babbling declamatory altercations, so that the company maybe freed of noise and quietly composed. > Greek: 8.4. ὁ μὲν οὖν Διογενιανὸς ἢ παυσάμενος ἢ διαλιπὼν ἐσιώπησεν ἐπιφυομένου δʼ αὐτῷ τοῦ σοφιστοῦ πάλιν καὶ ῥήσεις τινὰς οἰομένου δεῖν τῶν Ἀριστοφανείων περαίνειν, ὁ Φίλιππος ἐμὲ προσαγορεύσας οὗτος μέν ἔφη τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἐμπέπληκε, τὸν ἥδιστον αὐτῷ Μένανδρον ἐπαινέσας, καὶ τῶν ἄλλων οὐδὲν ἔτι φροντίζειν ἔοικε. λείπεται δὲ πολλὰ τῶν ἀκροαμάτων ἡμῖν ἀνεξέταστα, περὶ ὧν ἂν ἡδέως ἀκούσαιμί σου· τὸν δὲ τῶν ζῳδιογλύφων ἀγῶνα βραβεύσομεν αὔριον, ἂν δοκῇ τῷ ξένῳ καὶ Διογενιανῷ, νήφοντες.οὐκοῦν ἔφην ἐγὼ μῖμοί τινες εἰσιν, ὧν τοὺς μὲν ὑποθέσεις τοὺς δὲ παίγνια καλοῦσιν· ἁρμόζειν δʼ οὐδέτερον οἶμαι συμποσίῳ γένος, τὰς μὲν ὑποθέσεις διὰ τὰ μήκη τῶν δραμάτων καὶ τὸ δυσχορήγητον τὰ δὲ παίγνια, πολλῆς γέμοντα βωμολοχίας καὶ σπερμολογίας, οὐδὲ τοῖς τὰ ὑποδήματα κομίζουσι παιδαρίοις, ἄν γε δὴ δεσποτῶν τῶν ᾖ σωφρονούντων, θεάσασθαι προσήκει. οἱ δὲ πολλοί, καὶ γυναικῶν συγκατακειμένων καὶ παίδων ἀνήβων, ἐπιδείκνυνται μιμήματα πραγμάτων καὶ λόγων, ἃ πάσης μέθης ταραχωδέστερον τὰς ψυχὰς; διατίθησιν. ἀλλʼ ἥ γε κιθάρα πάλαι που καὶ καθʼ Ὅμηρον ἔτι τοῖς χρόνοις γνωρίμη τῆς δαιτός ἐστι, καὶ μακρὰν οὕτω φιλίαν καὶ συνήθειαν οὐ πρέπει διαλύειν, ἀλλὰ δεῖσθαι τῶν κιθαρῳδῶν μόνον, ὅπως τὸν πολὺν θρῆνον καὶ γόον ἐξαιρῶσι τῶν ᾠδῶν, εὔφημα καὶ πρέποντα θαλιάζουσιν ἀνθρώποις ᾄδοντες. τὸν δʼ αὐλὸν οὐδὲ βουλομένοις ἀπώσασθαι τῆς τραπέζης ἔστιν· αἱ γὰρ σπονδαὶ ποθοῦσιν αὐτὸν ἅμα τῷ στεφάνῳ καὶ συνεπιφθέγγεται τῷ παιᾶνι τὸ θεῖον, εἶτʼ ἀπελίγανε καὶ διεξῆλθε τῶν ὤτων καταχεόμενος φωνὴν ἡδεῖαν ἄχρι τῆς ψυχῆς ποιοῦσαν γαλήνην· ὥστʼ, εἴ τι τῶν ἀσηρῶν καὶ πεφροντισμένων ὁ ἄκρατος οὐκ ἐξέσεισεν οὐδὲ διέλυσε, τοῦτο τῇ χάριτι καὶ πραότητι τοῦ μέλους ὑποκατακλινόμενον ἡσυχάζειν, ἄν γε δὴ καὶ αὐτὸς τὸ μέτριον αὑ διαφυλάττῃ μὴ παθαινόμενος μηδʼ ἀνασοβῶν καὶ παρεξιστὰς βόμβυξι καὶ πολυχορδίαις τὴν διάνοιαν ὑγρὰν ὑπὸ τῆς μέθης καὶ ἀκροσφαλῆ γεγενημένην. ὡς· γὰρ τὰ θρέμματα λόγου μὲν οὐ συνίησι διάνοιαν ἔχοντος, σιγμοῖς δὲ καὶ ποππυσμοῖς ἀμελέσιν ἢ σύριγξι καὶ στρόμβοις ἐγείρουσι καὶ κατευνάζουσι πάλιν οἱ νέμοντες, οὕτως, ὅσον ἔνεστι τῇ ψυχῇ φορβαδικὸν καὶ ἀγελαῖον καὶ ἀξύνετον λόγου καὶ ἀνήκοον, μέλεσι καὶ ῥυθμοῖς; ἐπιψάλλοντες καὶ καταυλοῦντες εὖ τίθενται καὶ καταπραΰνουσιν. οὐ μὴν ἀλλʼ εἰ δεῖ τὸ γʼ ἐμοὶ φαινόμενον εἰπεῖν, οὔτʼ ἂν αὐλοῦ ποτε καθʼ αὑτὸν οὔτε λύρας μέλει χωρὶς λόγου καὶ ᾠδῆς ἐπιτρέψαιμι τὸ συμπόσιον, ὥσπερ ῥεύματι φέρειν ὑπολαμβάνοντι· δεῖ γὰρ οὕτως ἐθίζειν καὶ σπουδάζοντας καὶ παίζοντας, ὥστε καὶ τὰς ἡδονὰς ἐκ λόγου λαμβάνειν καὶ τὰς διατριβὰς ἐν λόγῳ ποιεῖσθαι· τὸ δὲ μέλος καὶ τὸν ῥυθμὸν ὥσπερ ὄψον ἐπὶ τῷ λόγῳ καὶ μὴ καθʼ αὑτὰ προσφέρεσθαι μηδὲ λιχνεύειν. ὡς γὰρ ἡδονὴν ἐν οἴνῳ καὶ ὄψῳ τῇ χρείᾳ τῆς τροφῆς συνεισιοῦσαν οὐδεὶς ἀπωθεῖται, τὴν δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖς μύροις οὐκ ἀναγκαίαν καὶ περίεργον οὖσαν ὁ Σωκράτης ἐπὶ κόρρης ῥαπίζων ἐξέβαλλεν· οὕτω ψαλτηρίου φωνῆς καὶ αὐλοῦ, καθʼ ἑαυτὴν τὰ ὦτα κοπτούσης, μὴ ὑπακούωμεν· ἂν δʼ ἕπηται μετὰ λόγου καὶ ᾠδῆς ἑστιῶσα καὶ τέρπουσα τὸν ἐν ἡμῖν λόγον, εἰσάγωμεν, οἰόμενοι καὶ τὸν Μαρσύαν ἐκεῖνον ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ κολασθῆναι, ὅτι φορβειᾷ καὶ αὐλοῖς ἐπιστομίσας ἑαυτὸν ἐτόλμησε ψιλῷ μέλει διαγωνίζεσθαι πρὸς ᾠδὴν καὶ κιθάραν. μόνον ἔφην σκοπῶμεν, ὅπως συμπόταις διὰ λόγου καὶ φιλοσοφίας ἀλλήλους εὐφραίνειν δυναμένοις μηδὲν ἐπάξομεν τοιοῦτον θύραθεν, ὃ κώλυμα διαγωγῆς μᾶλλον ἢ διαγωγή τις ἔσται. οὐ γὰρ μόνον ὅσοι τὴν σωτηρίαν οἴκοι καὶ παρʼ αὑτῶν ἔχοντες ἄλλην θέλουσιν εἰσαγώγιμον λαβεῖν, ὡς Εὐριπίδης εἶπεν, ἀβέλτεροὶ εἰσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὅσοι, πολλῆς ἐν αὐτοῖς εὐφροσύνης καὶ θυμηδίας παρούσης, ἔξωθεν ἐπάγειν τὰ τέρποντα φιλοτιμοῦνται. καὶ γὰρ ἡ τοῦ μεγάλου βασιλέως μεγαλοφροσύνη πρὸς Ἀνταλκίδαν τὸν Λάκωνα δεινῶς ἀπειρόκαλος ἐφάνη καὶ ἀγροῖκος, ὁπηνίκα ῥόδων καὶ κρόκου μεμιγμένων στέφανον εἰς μύρον βάψας ἔπεμψεν αὐτῷ, τὸ σύμφυτον καὶ ἴδιον καλὸν ἀποσβέσας καὶ καθυβρίσας τοῖς ἄνθεσιν. ὅμοιον οὖν ἐστι τό, συμποσίου χάριν ἔχοντος ἐν ἑαυτῷ καὶ μοῦσαν ἰδίαν, καταυλεῖν καὶ καταψάλλειν ἔξωθεν, ἀφαιρούμενον τῷ ἀλλοτρίῳ τὸ οἰκεῖον. μάλιστα γοῦν ἀκροαμάτων ἂν εἴη καιρὸς ἐν συμποσίῳ κυμαίνοντι καὶ κορυσσομένῳ πρὸς ἔριν ἢ φιλονεικίαν ὥστε λοιδορίαν τινὰ κατασβέσαι καὶ ζητήσεως εἰς ἅμιλλαν ἀτερπῆ καὶ ἀγῶνα σοφιστικὸν ἐκφερομένης ἐπιλαμβάνεσθαι, καὶ ἀγῶνας ἐκκλησιαστικοὺς καὶ ἀγοραίους ἐπισχεῖν, ἄχρι ἂν αὖθις ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἀθόρυβον καὶ ἀνήνεμον γένηται τὸ συμπόσιον. [¶5] 9.1. AT Nicostratus’s table we discoursed of those matters which the Athenians were to debate of in their next assembly. And one of the company saying, It is the Persian fashion, sir, to debate midst your cups; And why, said Glaucias rejoining, not the Grecian fashion? For it was a Greek that said, “After your belly’s full, your counsel’s best.” And they were Greeks who with Agamemnon besieged Troy, to whom, whilst they were eating and drinking, “Old Nestor first began a grave debate;” and he himself advised the king before to call the commanders together for the same purpose: For the commanders, sir, a feast prepare, And see who counsels best, and follow him. Therefore Greece, having a great many excellent institutions, and zealously following the customs of the ancients, hath laid the foundations of her polities in wine. For the assemblies in Crete called Andria, those in Sparta called Phiditia, were secret consultations and aristocratical assemblies; such, I suppose, as the Prytaneum and Thesmothesium here at Athens. And not different from these is that night-meeting, which Plato mentions, of the best and most politic men, to which the greatest, the most considerable and puzzling matters are assigned. And those Who, when they do design to seek their rest, To Mercury their just libations pour, do they not join reason and wine together, since, when they are about to retire, they make their vows to the wisest God, as if he was present and particularly president over their actions? But the ancients indeed call Bacchus the good counsellor, as if he had no need of Mercury; and for his sake they named the night εὐφρόνη, as it were, wellminded. > Greek: 9.1. περὶ ὧν ἔμελλον ἐκκλησιάζειν Ἀθηναῖοι λόγος ἦν παρὰ τὸ δεῖπνον, ἑστιῶντος ἡμᾶς Νικοστράτου· καί τινος εἰπόντος ὡς Περσικὸν πρᾶγμα ποιοῦμεν, ὦ ἄνδρες, βουλευόμενοι παρʼ οἶνον·τί μᾶλλον ἔφη ὁ Γλαυκίας ὑπολαβών ἢ Ἑλληνικόν; Ἕλλην μὲν γὰρ ἦν ὁ εἰπών γαστρὸς ἀπὸ πλείης βουλὴ καὶ μῆτις ἀμείνων· Ἕλληνες δὲ σὺν Ἀγαμέμνονι Τροίαν ἐπολιόρκουν, οἷς φαγοῦσι καὶ πιοῦσιν ὁ γέρων πάμπρωτον ὑφαίνειν ἤρχετο μῆτιν; ἐπʼ αὐτὸ τοῦτο τῆς κλήσεως καὶ τῶν ἀρίστων εἰσηγητὴς τῷ βασιλεῖ γενόμενος, δαίνυ δαῖτα γέρουσι, πολλῶν γάρ τοι φησίν ἀγρομένων τῷ πείσεαι, ὅς κεν ἀρίστην βουλὴν βουλεύσῃ. διὸ καὶ τὰ πλείστῃ χρησάμενα τῆς Ἑλλάδος εὐνομίᾳ γένη καὶ μάλιστα φιλοχωρήσαντα περὶ τοὺς ἀρχαίους ἐθισμοὺς,· ἐν οἴνῳ τὰς ἀρχὰς συνεῖχε. τὰ γὰρ παρὰ Κρησὶν Ἀνδρεῖα καλούμενα, παρὰ δὲ Σπαρτιάταις Φιδίτια, βουλευτηρίων ἀπορρήτων καὶ συνεδρίων ἀριστοκρατικῶν τάξιν εἶχεν, ὥσπερ οἶμαι καὶ τὸ ἐνθάδε Πρυτανεῖον καὶ Θεσμοθετεῖον οὐ πόρρω δὲ τούτων ὁ νυκτερινὸς σύλλογος παρὰ Πλάτωνι τῶν ἀρίστων καὶ πολιτικωτάτων ἀνδρῶν ἐστιν, ἐφʼ ὃν ἀναπέμπεται τὰ μέγιστα καὶ πλείστης ἄξια φροντίδος. οἱ δὲ τῷ Ἑρμῇ πυμάτῳ σπένδοντες, ὅτε μνησαίατο κοίτου, ἆρʼ οὐκ εἰς ταὐτὸ συνάγουσι τῷ οἴνῳ τὸν λόγον; ὡς γοῦν παρόντι καὶ συνεπισκοποῦντι τῷ φρονιμωτάτῳ θεῷ, πρῶτον ἀπαλλαττόμενοι προσεύχονται. οἱ δὲ πάμπαν ἀρχαῖοι ὡς οὐδὲ τοῦ Ἑρμοῦ δεόμενον τὸν Διόνυσον αὐτὸν Εὐβουλῆ καὶ τὴν νύκτα διʼ ἐκεῖνον εὐφρόνην προσεῖπον. [¶6] 10.1. WHILST Glaucias was discoursing thus, the former tumultuous talk seemed to be pretty well lulled; and that it might be quite forgotten, Nicostratus started another question, saying, he never valued the matter before, whilst he thought it a Persian custom, but since it was discovered to be the Greek fashion too, it wanted (he thought) some reason to excuse or defend its seeming absurdity. For our reason (said he), like our eye, whilst it floats in too much moisture, is hard to be moved, and unable to perform its operations. And all sorts of troubles and discontents creeping forth, like insects to the sun, and being agitated by a glass of wine, make the mind irresolute and inconstant. Therefore as a bed is more convenient for a man whilst making merry than a chair, because it contains the whole body and keeps it from all disturbing motion, so it is best to have the soul perfectly at quiet; or, if that cannot be, we must give it, as to children that will be doing, not a sword or spear, but a rattle or ball,—in this following the example of the God himself, who puts into the hands of those that are making merry a ferula, the lightest and softest of all weapons, that, when they are most apt to strike, they may hurt least. Over a glass of wine men should make only ridiculous slips, and not such as may prove tragical, lamentable, or of any considerable concern. Besides, in serious debates, it is chiefly to be considered, that persons of mean understanding and unacquainted with business should be guided by the wise and experienced; but wine destroys this order. Insomuch that Plato says, wine is called οἶνος, because it makes those that drink it think that they have wit (οἴεσθαι νοῦν ἔχειν); for none over a glass of wine thinks himself so noble, beauteous, or rich (though he fancies himself all these), as wise; and therefore wine is babbling, full of talk, and of a dictating humor; so that we are rather for being heard than hearing, for leading than being led. But a thousand such objections may be raised, for they are very obvious. But let us hear which of the company, either old or young, can allege any thing for the contrary opinion. > Greek: 10.1. ταῦτα τοῦ Γλαυκίου διεξελθόντος, ἔδοξαν ἡμῖν ἐπιεικῶς οἱ θορυβώδεις ἐκεῖνοι κατακεκοιμίσθαι λόγοι, καὶ ὅπως ἔτι μᾶλλον αὐτῶν ἀμνηστία γένοιτο, ζήτησιν ἑτέραν ἐπάγων Νικόστρατος ἔφη πρότερον οὐ πάνυ μέλειν αὐτῷ Περσικοῦ τοῦ πράγματος εἶναι δοκοῦντος· ἐπεὶ δὲ νῦν Ἑλληνικὸν εἶναι πεφώραται, δεῖσθαι λόγου βοηθοῦντος αὐτῷ πρὸς τὴν αὐτόθεν φαινομένην ἀτοπίαν. ὅ τε γὰρ λογισμός, ὥσπερ ὀφθαλμὸς ἐν ὑγρῷ σάλον ἔχοντι, δυσκίνητον ἡμῖν καὶ δύσεργόν ἐστι τά τε πάθη πανταχόθεν ὥσπερ ἑρπετὰ πρὸς ἥλιον σαλευόμενα πρὸς τὸν οἶνον καὶ ἀναδυόμενα τὴν γνώμην ἐπισφαλῆ ποιεῖ καὶ ἀκατάστατον. ὅθεν ὥσπερ ἡ κλίνη τοῖς πίνουσι τῆς καθέδρας ἀμείνων, ὅτι τὸ σῶμα κατέχει καὶ ἀπολύει κινήσεως ἁπάσης, οὕτως ἔχειν ἀτρέμα τὴν ψυχὴν ἄριστον· εἰ δὲ μή, δοτέον, ὥσπερ παισὶν ἀτρεμεῖν μὴ δυναμένοις, οὐ δόρυ καὶ ξίφος, ἀλλὰ πλαταγὴν καὶ σφαῖραν, ὥσπερ ὁ θεὸς τὸν νάρθηκα τοῖς μεθύουσιν ἐνεχείρισε κουφότατον βέλος καὶ μαλακώτατον ἀμυντήριον, ὅπως, ἐπεὶ τάχιστα παίουσιν, ἥκιστα βλάπτωσι· δεῖ γὰρ γελοῖα τὰ σφάλματα τοῖς μεθύουσι ποιεῖν, οὐκ οἰκτρὰ καὶ τραγικὰ καὶ μεγάλας ἀποτεύξεις ἔχοντα. καὶ μήν, ὅπερ ἐστὶ μέγιστον ἐν ταῖς περὶ τῶν μεγίστων σκέψεσι, τὸν ἐνδεᾶ νοῦ καὶ πραγμάτων ἄπειρον ἕπεσθαι τοῖς φρονοῦσι καὶ τῶν ἐμπείρων ἀκούειν, ἀφαιρεῖται τοὺς μεθύοντας ὁ οἶνος· ὥστε καὶ τοὔνομα γενέσθαι φησὶν ὁ Πλάτων ὅτι οἴεσθαι νοῦν ἔχειν ποιεῖ τοὺς πίνοντας· οὔτε γὰρ ἐλλόγιμος οὔτε καλὸς οὔτε πλούσιος οὕτως οἴεται, καίπερ οἰόμενος, εἶναι τῶν πινόντων ἕκαστος, ὡς φρόνιμος· διὸ καὶ πολύφωνος ὁ οἶνός ἐστι καὶ λαλιᾶς ἀκαίρου καὶ φρονήματος ἡγεμονικοῦ καταπίμπλησιν, ὡς οὐκ ἀκούειν ἀλλʼ ἀκούεσθαι μᾶλλον ἡμῖν καὶ ἄγειν οὐχ ἕπεσθαι προσῆκον. ἀλλὰ γάρ ἔφη τὰ μὲν εἰς τοῦτο ῥᾳδίως ἄν τις συναγάγοι· δῆλα γάρ ἐστι· τῶν δʼ ἐναντίων ἀκουστέον, εἴ τις ἢ νέος προσέστηκεν ἢ πρεσβύτερος. [¶7] 10.2. Then said my brother cunningly: And do you imagine that any, upon a sudden, can produce any probable reasons? And Nicostratus replying, Yes, no doubt, there being so many learned men and good drinkers in company; he with a smile continued: Do you think, sir, you are fit to treat of these matters, when wine hath disabled you to discourse politics and state affairs? Or is not this all the same as to think that a man in his liquor doth not see very well nor understand those that talk and discourse with him, yet hears the music and the pipers very well? For as it is likely that useful and profitable things draw and affect the sense more than fine and gaudy; so likewise they do the mind. And I shall not wonder that the nice philosophical speculation should escape a man who hath drunk freely; but yet, I think, if he were called to political debates, his wisdom would become more strong and vigorous. Thus Philip at Chaeronea, being well heated, talked very foolishly, and was the sport of the whole company; but as soon as they began to discourse of a truce and peace, he composed his countenance, contracted his brows, and dismissing all vain, empty, and dissolute thoughts, gave an excellent, wise, and sober answer to the Athenians. To drink freely is different from being drunk, and those that drink till they grow foolish ought to retire to bed. But as for those that drink freely and are otherwise men of sense, why should we fear that they will fail in their understanding or lose their skill, when we see that musicians play as well at a feast as in a theatre? For when skill and art are in the soul, they make the body correct and proper in its operations, and obedient to the motions of the mind. Besides, wine inspirits some men, and raises a confidence and assurance in them, but not such as is haughty and odious, but pleasing and agreeable. Thus they say that Aeschylus wrote his tragedies over a bottle; and that all his plays (though Gorgias thought that one of them, the Seven against Thebes, was full of Mars) were Bacchus’s. For wine (according to Plato), heating the soul together with the body, makes the body pliable, quick, and active, and opens the passages; while the fancies draw in discourse with boldness and daring. For some have a good natural invention, yet whilst they are sober are too diffident and too close, but midst their wine, like frankincense, exhale and open at the heat. Besides, wine expels all fear, which is the greatest hindrance to all consultations, and quencheth many other degenerate and lazy passions; it opens the rancor and malice, as it were, the two-leaved doors of the soul, and displays the whole disposition and qualities of any person in his discourse. Freedom of speech, and, through that, truth it principally produceth; which once wanting, neither quickness of wit nor experience availeth any thing; and many proposing that which comes next rather hit the matter, than if they warily and designedly conceal their present sentiments. Therefore there is no reason to fear that wine will stir up our affections; for it never stirs up the bad, unless in the worst men, whose judgment is never sober. But as Theophrastus used to call the barbers’ shops wineless entertainments; so there is a kind of an uncouth wineless drunkenness always excited either by anger, malice, emulation, or clownishness in the souls of the unlearned. Now wine, blunting rather than sharpening many of these passions, doth not make them sots and foolish, but simple and guileless; not negligent of what is profitable, but desirous of what is good and honest. Now those that think craft to be cunning, and vanity or closeness to be wisdom, have reason to think those that over a glass of wine plainly and ingenuously deliver their opinions to be fools. But on the contrary, the ancients called the God the Freer and Loosener, and thought him considerable in divination; not, as Euripides says, because he makes men raging mad, but because he looseth and frees the soul from all base distrustfull fear, and puts them in a condition to speak truth fully and freely to one another. > Greek: 10.2. ἐπιβούλως δὴ πάνυ καὶ σοφιστικῶς ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἡμῶν οἴει γὰρ ἄν ἔφη τινὰ τοὺς ἐνδεχομένους λόγους εὑρεῖν ἐν τῷ παρόντι καιρῷ πρὸς τὸ πρόβλημα; τοῦ δὲ Νικοστράτου πάνυ φήσαντος οἴεσθαι, τοσούτων φιλολόγων καὶ πολιτικῶν παρόντων, ὑπομειδιάσας ἐκεῖνος εἶτʼ ἔφη περὶ τούτων μὲν οἴει καὶ σεαυτὸν ἱκανῶς ἂν εἰπεῖν πρὸς ἡμᾶς, πρὸς δὲ πραγματικὴν καὶ πολιτικὴν σκέψιν ἀθέτως ἔχειν διὰ τὸν οἶνον; ἢ τοῦθʼ ὅμοιόν ἐστι τῷ νομίζειν ὅτι ταῖς ὄψεσιν ὁ πίνων γὰρ … εὖ μεταβλέπει, αὖθις δὲ τοῖς ὠσὶ παρακούει τῶν ἐντυγχανόντων καὶ διαλεγομένων, τῶν δʼ ᾀδόντων καὶ αὐλούντων ἀκριβῶς ἀκούει; ὡς γὰρ ἐνταῦθα μᾶλλον εἰκός ἐστι τῶν γλαφυρῶν τὰ χρειώδη τὴν αἴσθησιν ἐπιστρέφειν, οὕτω καὶ τὴν διάνοιαν. οὐ θαυμάσαιμί δ’ ἄν, εἴ τι τῶν φιλοσόφων καὶ περιττῶν ἐκφύγοι παρʼ οἶνον εἰς δὲ πραγματικὰς σκέψεις ἀγομένην, πυκνοῦσθαι καὶ συνίστασθαι τῷ φρονεῖν εἰκός ἐστιν ὥσπερ ὁ Φίλιππος ἐν Χαιρωνείᾳ πολλὰ ληρῶν ὑπὸ μέθης καὶ καταγέλαστος ὤν, ἅμα τῷ προσπεσεῖν αὐτῷ περὶ σπονδῶν καὶ εἰρήνης λόγον, ἔστησε τὸ πρόσωπον καὶ συνήγαγε τὰς ὀφρῦς, καὶ τὸ ῥεμβῶδες καὶ ἀκόλαστον ἐκσοβήσας εὖ μάλα βεβουλευμένην καὶ νήφουσαν ἔδωκε τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις ἀπόκρισιν. καίτοι τὸ πίνειν τοῦ μεθύειν διαφέρει, καὶ τοὺς μεθύοντας ὥστε ληρεῖν οἰόμεθα δεῖν ἀπιόντας καθεύδειν οἴνῳ δὲ χρωμένους ἐπὶ πλέον καὶ διαπίνοντας, ἄλλως νοῦν ἔχοντας ἄνδρας, οὐκ ἄξιον δεδιέναι μὴ σφαλῶσι τῷ λογισμῷ καὶ τὴν ἐμπειρίαν ἀποβάλωσιν, ὁρῶντας ὀρχηστάς τε καὶ κιθαριστὰς οὐδέν τι χεῖρον ἐν συμποσίοις ἢ θεάτροις πράττοντας. ἡ γὰρ ἐμπειρία παροῦσα καὶ τὸ σῶμα ταῖς,· ἐνεργείαις ὀρθούμενον παρέχει καὶ συγκινούμενον ἀσφαλῶς· πολλοῖς δʼ ἰταμότητα θάρσους συνεργὸν ὁ ἄκρατος, οὐ βδελυρὰν οὐδʼ ἄκρατον ἀλλʼ εὔχαριν καὶ πιθανὴν, προστίθησιν ὥσπερ καὶ τὸν Αἰσχύλον ἱστοροῦσι τὰς τραγῳδίας ἐμπίνοντα ποιεῖν, καὶ οὐχ, ὡς Γοργίας εἶπεν, ἓν τῶν δραμάτων αὐτοῦ μεστὸν Ἄρεος εἶναι, τοὺς ἕπτʼ ἐπὶ Θήβας, ἀλλὰ πάντα Διονύσου. θερμαντικός γὰρ ὢν κατὰ τὸν Πλάτωνα τῆς ψυχῆς μετὰ τοῦ σώματος ὁ οἶνος εὔδρομον τὸ σῶμα ποιεῖ καὶ πόρους ῥήγνυσι φαντασιῶν ἐφελκομένων μετὰ τοῦ θαρρεῖν τὸν λόγον· ἔνιοι γὰρ εὑρετικὴν φύσιν ἔχοντες, ἐν δὲ τῷ νήφειν ἀτολμοτέραν καὶ πεπηγυῖαν, ὅταν εἰς τὸ πίνειν ἔλθωσιν, ὥσπερ ὁ λιβανωτός, ὑπὸ θερμότητος ἀναθυμιῶνται. τὸν δὲ δὴ φόβον οὐδενὸς ἧττον ἐμποδὼν ὄντα βουλευομένοις ἐξελαύνει, καὶ πολλὰ τῶν ἄλλων παθῶν ἀφιλότιμα καὶ ἀγεννῆ κατασβέννυσι, καὶ τὸ κακόηθες καὶ τὸ ὓπουλον ὥσπερ τινὰς διπλόας ἀναπτύσσει τῆς ψυχῆς, καὶ παντὸς ἤθους καὶ πάθους ποιεῖ καταφάνειαν ἐν τοῖς λόγοις· ἔστι δὲ παρρησίας καὶ διʼ αὐτὴν ἀληθείας γονιμώτατος. ἧς μὴ παρούσης, οὐδὲν ἐμπειρίας οὐδʼ ἀγχινοίας ὄφελος. ἀλλὰ πολλοὶ τῷ ἐπιόντι χρώμενοι μᾶλλον κατορθοῦσιν ἢ εἰ κρύπτουσιν ἐπιβούλως καὶ πανούργως τὸ παριστάμενον. οὐδὲν οὖν δεῖ δεδιέναι κινοῦντα τὰ πάθη τὸν οἶνον· κινεῖ γὰρ οὐ τὰ φαυλότατα, πλὴν ἐν τοῖς κακίστοις, ὧν οὐδέποτε νήφει τὸ βουλευόμενον· ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ τὰ κουρεῖα Θεόφραστος εἰώθει καλεῖν ἄοινα συμπόσια διὰ τὴν λαλιάν, οὕτως ἄοινος ἀεὶ μέθη καὶ σκυθρωπὴ ταῖς τῶν ἀπαιδεύτων ἐνοικεῖ ψυχαῖς, ἐπιταραττομένη ὑπʼ ὀργῆς τινος ἢ δυσμενείας ἢ φιλονεικίας ἢ ἀνελευθερίας· ὧν ὁ οἶνος ἀμβλύνων τὰ πολλὰ μᾶλλον ἢ παροξύνων οὐκ ἄφρονας οὐδʼ ἠλιθίους ἀλλʼ ἁπλοῦς ποιεῖ καὶ ἀπανούργους, οὐδὲ παρορατικοὺς τοῦ συμφέροντος ἀλλὰ τοῦ καλοῦ προαιρετικούς. οἱ δὲ τὴν πανουργίαν δεινότητα καὶ φρόνησιν ἡγούμενοι τὴν ψευδοδοξίαν καὶ ἀνελευθερίαν, εἰκότως ἀβελτέρους ἀποφαίνουσι τοὺς ἐν οἴνῳ λέγοντας ἀφελῶς καὶ ἀδόλως τὸ φαινόμενον. τοὐναντίον δʼ οἱ παλαιοὶ τὸν θεὸν Ἐλευθερᾶ καὶ Λύσιον ἐκάλουν καὶ μαντικῆς πολλὴν ἔχειν ἡγοῦντο μοῖραν, οὐ διὰ τὸ βακχεύσιμον καὶ μανιῶδες ὥσπερ Εὐριπίδης εἶπεν, ἀλλʼ ὅτι τὸ δουλοπρεπὲς καὶ περιδεὲς καὶ ἄπιστον ἐξαιρῶν καὶ ἀπολύων τῆς ψυχῆς ἀληθείᾳ καὶ παρρησίᾳ χρῆσθαι πρὸς ἀλλήλους δίδωσιν. ## 16. Book VIII · chapters 1–4 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/16/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/16/#p-N [¶0] 0.1. THOSE, my Sossius Senecio, who throw philosophy out of entertainments do worse than those who take away a light. For the candle being removed, the temperate and sober guests will not become worse than they were before, being more concerned to reverence than to see one another. But if dulness and disregard to good learning wait upon the wine, Minerva’s golden lamp itself could not make the entertainment pleasing and agreeable. For a company to sit silent and only cram themselves is, in good truth, swinish and almost impossible. But he that permits men to talk, yet doth not allow set and profitable discourses, is much more ridiculous than he who thinks that his guests should eat and drink, yet gives them foul wine, unsavory and nastily prepared meat. For no meat nor drink which is not prepared as it ought to be is so hurtful and unpleasant as discourse which is carried round in company insignificantly and out of season. The philosophers, when they would give drunkenness a vile name, call it doting by wine. Now doting is to use vain and trifling discourse; and when such babbling is accompanied by wine, it usually ends in most disagreeable and rude contumely and reproach. It is a good custom therefore of our women, who in their feasts called Agrionia seek after Bacchus as if he were run away, but in a little time give over the search, and cry that he is fled to the Muses and lurks with them; and some time after, when supper is done, put riddles and hard questions to one another. For this mystery teaches us, that midst our entertainments we should use learned and philosophical discourse, and such as hath a Muse in it; and that such discourse being applied to drunkenness, every thing that is brutish and outrageous in it is concealed, being pleasingly restrained by the Muses. This book, being the eighth of my Symposiacs, begins that discourse in which about a year ago, on Plato’s birthday, I was concerned. > Greek: 0.1. οἱ φιλοσοφίαν, ὦ Σόσσιε Σενεκίων, ἐκ τῶν συμποσίων ἐκβάλλοντες οὐ ταὐτὸ ποιοῦσι τοῖς τὸ φῶς ἀναιροῦσιν, ἀλλὰ χεῖρον, ὅσῳ λύχνου μὲν ἀρθέντος οἱ μέτριοι καὶ σώφρονες οὐδὲν ἔσονται κακίους, τὸ αἰδεῖσθαι τοῦ βλέπειν ἀλλήλους μεῖζον ἔχοντες· ἀμαθίας δὲ δὴ καὶ ἀμουσίας σὺν οἴνῳ παρούσης, οὐδʼ ὁ τῆς Ἀθηνᾶς χρυσοῦς λύχνος ἐκεῖνος εὔχαριν ἂν πότον καὶ κόσμιον παράσχοι. σιωπῶντας μὲν γὰρ ἐμπίπλασθαι μετʼ ἀλλήλων κομιδῇ συῶδες καὶ ἴσως ἀδύνατον· ὁ δὲ λόγον μὲν ἀπολιπὼν ἐν συμποσίῳ, τὸ δὲ τεταγμένως χρῆσθαι λόγῳ καὶ ὠφελίμως οὐ προσιέμενος, πολὺ γελοιότερός ἐστι τοῦ πίνειν μὲν οἰομένου δεῖν καὶ τρώγειν τοὺς δειπνοῦντας, ἄκρατον δὲ τὸν οἶνον αὐτοῖς ἐγχέοντος καὶ τοὔψον ἀνήδυντον καὶ ἀκάθαρτον παρατιθέντος. οὔτε γὰρ ποτὸν οὐδὲν οὔτʼ ἐδεστὸν οὕτως ἀηδὲς καὶ βλαβερόν ἐστι μὴ θεραπευθὲν ὃν προσήκει τρόπον, ὡς λόγος ἀκαίρως καὶ ἀνοήτως ἐν συμποσίῳ περιφερόμενος. τὴν γοῦν μέθην οἱ λοιδοροῦντες φιλόσοφοι λήρησιν πάροινον ἀποκαλοῦσι· τὸ δὲ ληρεῖν οὐδέν ἐστιν ἀλλʼ ἢ λόγῳ κενῷ χρῆσθαι καὶ φλυαρώδει· λαλιᾶς δʼ ἀτάκτου καὶ φλυαρίας εἰς ἄκρατον ἐμπεσούσης, ὕβρις καὶ παροινία τέλος ἀμουσότατον καὶ ἀχαριστότατον. οὐ φαύλως οὖν καὶ παρʼ ἡμῖν ἐν τοῖς Ἀγριωνίοις τὸν Διόνυσον αἱ γυναῖκες ὡς ἀποδεδρακότα ζητοῦσιν εἶτα παύονται καὶ λέγουσιν, ὅτι πρὸς τὰς Μούσας καταπέφευγε καὶ κέκρυπται παρʼ ἐκείναις· μετʼ ὀλίγον δέ, τοῦ δείπνου τέλος ἔχοντος, αἰνίγματα καὶ γρίφους ἀλλήλοις προβάλλουσι· τοῦ μυστηρίου διδάσκοντος, ὅτι λόγῳ τε δεῖ χρῆσθαι παρὰ πότον θεωρίαν τινὰ καὶ μοῦσαν ἔχοντι, καὶ λόγου τοιούτου τῇ μέθῃ παρόντος, ἀποκρύπτεται τὸ ἄγριον καὶ μανικόν, ὑπὸ τῶν Μουσῶν εὐμενῶς κατεχόμενον. ἃ τοίνυν ἐν τοῖς Πλάτωνος γενεθλίοις πέρυσι καὶ ἀκοῦσαι καὶ εἰπεῖν συνέτυχεν ἡμῖν, πρῶτα τοῦτο περιέχει τὸ βιβλίον. ἔστι δὲ τῶν συμποσιακῶν ὄγδοον. [¶1] 1.1. ON the sixth day of May we celebrated Socrates’s birthday, and on the seventh Plato’s; and that first prompted us to such discourse as was suitable to the meeting, which Diogenianus the Pergamenian began thus: Ion, said he, was happy in his expression, when he said that Fortune, though much unlike Wisdom, yet did many things very much like her; and that she seemed to have some order and design, not only in placing the nativities of these two philosophers so near together, but in setting first the birthday of the most famous of the two, who was also the teacher of the other. I had a great deal to say to the company concerning some notable things that fell out on the same day, as concerning the time of Euripides’s birth and death; for he was born the same day that the Greeks beat Xerxes by sea at Salamis, and died the same day that Dionysius the elder, the Sicilian tyrant, was born,—Fortune (as Timaeus hath it) at the same time taking out of the world a representer, and bringing into it a real actor, of tragedies. Besides, we remembered that Alexander the king and Diogenes the Cynic died upon the same day. And all agreed that Attalus the king died on his own birthday. And some said, that Pompey the great was killed in Egypt on his birthday, or, as others will have it, a day before. We remember Pindar also, who, being born at the time of the Pythian games, made afterwards a great many excellent hymns in honor of Apollo. > Greek: 1.1. τῇ ἕκτῃ τοῦ Θαργηλιῶνος ἱσταμένου τὴν Σωκράτους ἀγαγόντες γενέθλιον, τῇ ἑβδόμῃ τὴν Πλάτωνος ἢγομεν, καὶ τοῦτο πρῶτον λόγους ἡμῖν παρεῖχε τῇ συντυχίᾳ πρέποντας, ὧν κατῆρξε Διογενιανὸς ὁ Περγαμηνός. ἔφη γὰρ οὐ φαύλως εἰπεῖν Ἴωνα περὶ τῆς τύχης ὅτι πολλὰ τῆς σοφίας διαφέρουσα πλεῖστʼ αὐτῇ ὅμοια ποιεῖ τοῦτο μέντοι μουσικῶς ἔοικεν ἀπαυτοματίσαι τὸ μὴ μόνον οὕτω σύνεγγυς, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρότερον τῇ δόξῃ γεγονέναι τὸν πρεσβύτερον καὶ καθηγητήν. ἐμοὶ δὲ πολλὰ λέγειν ἐπῄει τοῖς παροῦσι τῶν εἰς ταὐτὸ καιροῦ συνδραμόντων· οἷον ἦν τὸ περὶ τῆς Εὐριπίδου γενέσεως καὶ τελευτῆς, γενομένου μὲν ἡμέρᾳ καθʼ ἣν οἱ Ἕλληνες ἐναυμάχουν ἐν Σαλαμῖνι πρὸς τὸν Μῆδον, ἀποθανόντος δὲ καθʼ ἣν ἐγεννήθη Διονύσιος ὁ πρεσβύτερος τῶν ἐν Σικελίᾳ τυράννων· ἅμα τῆς τύχης, ὡς Τίμαιος ἔφη, τὸν μιμητὴν ἐξαγούσης τῶν τραγικῶν παθῶν καὶ τὸν ἀγωνιστὴν ἐπεισαγούσης ἐμνήσθησαν δὲ καὶ τῆς Ἀλεξάνδρου τοῦ βασιλέως τελευτῆς καὶ τῆς Διογένους τοῦ Κυνὸς ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ γενομένης. καὶ τὸν μὲν Ἄτταλον·ν ἐν τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ γενεθλίοις τὸν βασιλέα τελευτῆσαι συνεφωνεῖτο· Πομπήιον δὲ Μάγνον οἱ μὲν ἐν τοῖς γενεθλίοις ἔφασαν, οἱ δὲ πρὸ μιᾶς ἡμέρας τῶν γενεθλίων ἀποθανεῖν περὶ Αἴγυπτον. ἧκε δὲ καὶ Πίνδαρος ἐπὶ μνήμην ἐν Πυθίοις γενόμενος πολλῶν καὶ καλῶν ὕμνων τῷ θεῷ χορηγός. [¶2] 1.2. To this Florus subjoined: Now we are celebrating Plato’s nativity, why should we not mention Carneades, the most famous of the whole Academy, since both of them were born on Apollo’s feast; Plato, whilst they were celebrating the Thargelia at Athens, Carneades, whilst the Cyrenians kept their Carnea; and both these feasts are upon the same day. Nay, the God himself (he continued) you, his priests and prophets, call Hebdomagenes, as if he were born on the seventh day. And therefore those who make Apollo Plato’s father do not, in my opinion, dishonor the God; since by Socrates’s as by another Chiron’s instructions he is become a physician for the greater diseases of the mind. And together with this, he mentioned that vision and voice which forbade Aristo, Plato’s father, to come near or lie with his wife for ten months. > Greek: 1.2. ὁ δὲ Φλῶρος οὐδὲ Καρνεάδην ἀπαξιοῦν ἔφη μνήμης· ἐν τοῖς Πλάτωνος γενεθλίοις, ἄνδρα τῆς Ἀκαδημείας εὐκλεέστατον ὀργιαστὴν Ἀπόλλωνος γὰρ ἀμφοτέρους ἑορτῇ γενέσθαι, τὸν μὲν Θαργηλίοις Ἀθήνησι, τὸν δὲ Κάρνεια Κυρηναίων ἀγόντων· ἑβδόμῃ δʼ ἀμφοτέρας ἑορτάζουσι. καὶ τὸν θεόν, ὡς ταύτῃ γενόμενον, ὑμεῖς εἶπεν οἱ προφῆται καὶ ἱερεῖς Ἑβδομαγενῆ καλεῖτε. διὸ τοὺς Ἀπόλλωνι τὴν Πλάτωνος τέκνωσιν ἀνατιθέντας οὐκ ἂν οἶμαί τινα φάναι καταισχύνειν τὸν θεόν, ἐπὶ μείζονα πάθη καὶ νοσήματα τοῦτον ἡμῖν διὰ Σωκράτους ἰατρὸν ὥσπερ ἑτέρου Χείρωνος ἀπειργασμένον. ἅμα δὲ τῆς λεγομένης Ἀρίστωνι τῷ Πλάτωνος πατρὶ γενέσθαι καθʼ ὕπνον ὄψεως καὶ φωνῆς ἀπαγορευούσης μὴ συγγενέσθαι τῇ γυναικὶ μηδʼ ἅψασθαι δέκα μηνῶν ἐμνημόνευσεν. [¶3] 1.3. To this Tyndares the Spartan subjoined: It is very fit we should apply that to Plato, “He seemed not sprung from mortal man, but God.” But, for my part, I am afraid to beget, as well as to be begotten, is repugnant to the incorruptibility of the Deity. For that implies a change and passion; as Alexander imagined, when he said that he knew himself to be mortal as often as he lay with a woman or slept. For sleep is a relaxation of the body, occasioned by the weakness of our nature; and all generation is a corruptive parting with some of our own substance. But yet I take heart again, when I hear Plato call the eternal and unbegotten Deity the father and maker of the world and all other begotten things; not as if he parted with any seed, but as if by his power he implanted a generative principle in matter, which acts upon, forms, and fashions it. Winds passing through a hen will sometimes impregnate her; and it seems no incredible thing, that the Deity, though not after the fashion of a man, but by some other certain communication, fills a mortal creature with some divine conception. Nor is this my sense; but the Egyptians say Apis was conceived by the influence of the moon, and make no question but that an immortal God may have communication with a mortal woman. But on the contrary, they think that no mortal can beget any thing on a goddess, because they believe the goddesses are made of thin air, and subtle heat and moisture. > Greek: 1.3. ὑπολαβὼν δὲ Τυνδάρης ὁ Λακεδαιμόνιος ἄξιον μέν ἐστιν ἔφη περὶ Πλάτωνος ᾄδειν καὶ λέγειν τὸ οὐδὲ ἐῴκει ἀνδρός γε θνητοῦ πάις ἔμμεναι ἀλλὰ θεοῖο· τοῦ γὰρ θείου δέδια μὴ δόξῃ τῷ ἀφθάρτῳ μάχεσθαι τὸ γεννῶν οὐχ ἧττον ἢ τὸ γεννώμενον· μεταβολὴ γάρ τις καὶ αὐτὴ καὶ πάθος· ὥς που καὶ Ἀλέξανδρος ὑπενόησεν, εἰπὼν μάλιστα θνητὸν καὶ φθαρτὸν ἐπιγιγνώσκειν ἑαυτὸν ἐν τῷ συγγίγνεσθαι γυναικὶ καὶ καθεύδειν ὡς τὸν μὲν ὕπνον ἐνδόσει γιγνόμενον ὑπʼ ἀσθενείας, γένεσιν δὲ πᾶσαν οἰκείου τινὸς εἰς ἕτερον ἔκστασιν καὶ φθορὰν οὖσαν. ἀναθαρρῶ δὲ πάλιν αὐτοῦ Πλάτωνος ἀκούων πατέρα καὶ ποιητὴν τοῦ τε κόσμου καὶ τῶν ἄλλων γεννητῶν τὸν ἀγέννητον καὶ ἀίδιον θεὸν ὀνομάζοντος, οὐ διὰ σπέρματος δήπου γενομένων, ἄλλῃ δὲ δυνάμει τοῦ θεοῦ τῇ ὕλῃ γόνιμον ἀρχήν, ὑφʼ ἧς ἔπαθε καὶ μετέβαλεν, ἐντεκόντος λήθουσι γάρ τοι κἀνέμων διέξοδοι θήλειαν ὄρνιν, πλὴν ὅταν παρῇ τόκος. καὶ οὐδὲν οἴομαι δεινόν, εἰ μὴ πλησιάζων ὁ θεὸς ὥσπερ ἄνθρωπος, ἀλλʼ ἑτέραις τισὶν ἁφαῖς διʼ ἑτέρων καὶ ψαύσεσι τρέπει καὶ ὑποπίμπλησι θειοτέρας γονῆς τὸ θνητόν. κοὐκ ἐμὸς ὁ μῦθος εἶπεν ἀλλʼ Αἰγύπτιοι τὸν τʼ Ἆπιν οὕτω λοχεύεσθαί φασιν ἐπαφῇ τῆς σελήνης· καὶ ὅλως ἄρρενι θεῷ πρὸς γυναῖκα θνητὴν ἀπολείπουσιν ὁμιλίαν ἀνάπαλιν δʼ οὐκ ἂν οἴονται θνητὸν ἄνδρα θηλείᾳ θεῷ τόκου καὶ κυήσεως ἀρχὴν παρασχεῖν διὰ τὸ τὰς οὐσίας τῶν θεῶν ἐν ἀέρι καὶ πνεύμασι καί τισι θερμότησι καὶ ὑγρότησι τίθεσθαι. [¶4] 2.1. SILENCE following this discourse, Diogenianus began and said: Since our discourse is about the Gods, shall we, especially on his own birthday, admit Plato to the conference, and enquire upon what account he says (supposing it to be his sentence) that God always plays the geometer? I said that this sentence was not plainly set down in any of his books; yet there are good arguments that it is his, and it is very much like his expression. Tyndares presently subjoining said: Perhaps, Diogenianus, you imagine that this sentence intimates some curious and difficult speculation, and not that which he hath so often mentioned, when he praiseth geometry as a science that takes off men from sensible objects, and makes them apply themselves to the intelligible and eternal Nature, the contemplation of which is the end of philosophy, as a view of the mysteries of initiation into holy rites. For the nail of pain and pleasure, that fastens the soul to the body, seems to do us the greatest mischief, by making sensible things more powerful over us than intelligible, and by forcing the understanding to determine rather according to passion than reason. For the understanding, being accustomed by the vehemency of pain or pleasure to be intent on the mutable and uncertain body, as if it really and truly were, grows blind as to that which really is, and loses that instrument and light of the soul, which is worth a thousand bodies, and by which alone the Deity can be discovered. Now in all sciences, as in plain and smooth mirrors, some marks and images of the truth of intelligible objects appear, but in geometry chiefly; which, according to Philo, is the chief and principal of all, and doth bring back and turn the understanding, as it were, purged and gently loosened from sense. And therefore Plato himself dislikes Eudoxus, Archytas, and Menaechmus for endeavoring to bring down the doubling the cube to mechanical operations; for by this means all that was good in geometry would be lost and corrupted, it falling back again to sensible things, and not rising upward and considering immaterial and immortal images, in which God being versed is always God. > Greek: 2.1. ἐκ δὲ τούτου γενομένης σιωπῆς, πάλιν ὁ Διογενιανὸς ἀρξάμενος βούλεσθʼ εἶπεν, ἐπεὶ λόγοι περὶ θεῶν γεγόνασιν, ἐν τοῖς Πλάτωνος γενεθλίοις αὐτὸν Πλάτωνα κοινωνὸν παραλάβωμεν, ἐπισκεψάμενοι τίνα λαβὼν γνώμην ἀπεφήνατʼ ἀεὶ γεωμετρεῖν τὸν θεόν; εἴ γε δὴ θετέον εἶναι τὴν ἀπόφανσιν ταύτην Πλάτωνος. ἐμοῦ δὲ ταῦτʼ εἰπόντος ὡς γέγραπται μὲν ἐν οὐδενὶ σαφῶς τῶν ἐκείνου βιβλίων, ἔχει δὲ πίστιν ἱκανὴν καὶ τοῦ Πλατωνικοῦ χαρακτῆρὸς ἐστιν· εὐθὺς ὑπολαβὼν ὁ Τυνδάρης οἴει γάρ εἶπεν, ὦ Διογενιανέ, τῶν περιττῶν τι καὶ δυσθεωρήτων αἰνίττεσθαι τὸν λόγον, οὐχ ὅπερ αὐτὸς εἴρηκε καὶ γέγραφε πολλάκις, ὑμνῶν γεωμετρίαν, ὡς ἀποσπῶσαν ἡμᾶς προσισχομένους τῇ αἰσθήσει καὶ ἀποστρέφουσαν ἐπὶ τὴν νοητὴν καὶ ἀίδιον φύσιν, ἧς θέα τέλος ἐστὶ φιλοσοφίας οἷον ἐποπτεία τελετῆς; ὁ γὰρ ἡδονῆς καὶ ἀλγηδόνος ἧλος, ὃς πρὸς τὸ σῶμα τὴν ψυχὴν προσηλοῖ, μέγιστον κακὸν ἔχειν ἔοικε, τὸ τὰ αἰσθητὰ ποιεῖν ἐναργέστερα τῶν νοητῶν, καὶ καταβιάζεσθαι πάθει μᾶλλον ἢ λόγῳ κρίνειν τὴν διάνοιαν· ἐθιζομένη γὰρ ὑπὸ τοῦ σφόδρα πονεῖν καὶ ἥδεσθαι τῷ περὶ τὰ σώματα πλανητῷ καὶ μεταβλητῷ προσέχειν ὡς ὄντι τοῦ ἀληθῶς ὄντος τυφλοῦται, καὶ τὸ μυρίων ἀντάξιον ὀμμάτων ὄργανον ψυχῆς καὶ φέγγος ἀπόλλυσιν, ᾧ μόνῳ θεατὸν ἐστι τὸ θεῖον. πᾶσι μὲν οὖν τοῖς καλουμένοις μαθήμασιν, ὥσπερ ἀστραβέσι καὶ λείοις κατόπτροις, ἐμφαίνεται τῆς τῶν νοητῶν ἀληθείας ἴχνη καὶ εἴδωλα· μάλιστα δὲ γεωμετρία κατὰ τὸν Φίλωνα ἀρχὴ καὶ μητρόπολις οὖσα τῶν ἄλλων ἐπανάγει καὶ στρέφει τὴν διάνοιαν, οἷον ἐκκαθαιρομένην καὶ ἀπολυομένην ἀτρέμα τῆς,· αἰσθήσεως. διὸ καὶ Πλάτων αὐτὸς ἐμέμψατο τοὺς περὶ Εὔδοξον καὶ Ἀρχύταν καὶ Μέναιχμον εἰς ὀργανικὰς καὶ μηχανικὰς κατασκευὰς τὸν τοῦ στερεοῦ διπλασιασμὸν ἀπάγειν ἐπιχειροῦντας, ὥσπερ πειρωμένους διʼ ἀλόγου δύο μέσας ἀνάλογον, ᾗ παρείκοι, λαβεῖν· ἀπόλλυσθαι γὰρ οὕτω καὶ διαφθείρεσθαι τὸ γεωμετρίας ἀγαθὸν αὖθις ἐπὶ τὰ αἰσθητὰ παλινδρομούσης καὶ μὴ φερομένης ἄνω μηδʼ ἀντιλαμβανομένης τῶν ἀιδίων καὶ ἀσωμάτων εἰκόνων, πρὸς αἷσπερ ὢν ὁ θεὸς ἀεὶ θεός ἐστι. [¶5] 2.2. After Tyndares, Florus, a companion of his, who always jocosely pretended to be his admirer, said thus: Sir, we are obliged to you for making your discourse not proper to yourself, but common to us all; for you have made it possible to refute it by demonstrating that geometry is not necessary to the Gods, but to us. Now the Deity doth not stand in need of science, as an instrument to withdraw his intellect from things engendered and to turn it to the real things; for these are all in him, with him, and about him. But pray consider whether Plato, though you do not apprehend it, doth not intimate something that is proper and peculiar to you, mixing Lycurgus with Socrates, as much as Dicaearchus thought he did Pythagoras. For Lycurgus, I suppose you know, banished out of Sparta all arithmetical proportion, as being democratical and favoring the crowd; -but introduced the geometrical, as agreeable to an oligarchy and kingly government that rules by law; for the former gives an equal share to every one according to number, but the other gives according to the proportion of the deserts. It doth not huddle all things together, but in it there is a fair discretion of good and bad, every one having what is fit for him, not by lot or weight, but according as he is virtuous or vicious. The same proportion, my dear Tyndares, God introduceth, which is called δίκη and νέμεσις, and which teacheth us to account that which is just equal, and not that which is equal just. For that equality which many affect, being often the greatest injustice, God, as much as possible, takes away; and useth that proportion which respects every man’s deserts, geometrically defining it according to law and reason. > Greek: 2.2. μετὰ δὲ τὸν Τυνδάρην ὁ Φλῶρος, ἑταῖρος ὢν αὐτοῦ καὶ προσποιούμενος ἀεὶ μετὰ παιδιᾶς ἐραστὴς εἶναι καὶ φάσκων, ὤνησας ἔφη τὸν λόγον οὐ σεαυτοῦ ποιησάμενος ἀλλὰ κοινόν ἐλέγξαι γὰρ ἔδωκας αὐτὸν ἀποδεικνύοντι μὴ θεοῖς οὖσαν ἀλλʼ ἡμῖν ἀναγκαίαν τὴν γεωμετρίαν οὐ γάρ τί που καὶ θεὸς δεῖται μαθήματος οἷον ὀργάνου στρέφοντος ἀπὸ τῶν γενητῶν καὶ περιάγοντος ἐπὶ τὰ ὄντα τὴν διάνοιαν ἐν αὐτῷ γὰρ ἔστιν ἐκεῖνα καὶ σὺν αὐτῷ καὶ περὶ αὐτόν. ἀλλʼ ὅρα μή τι σοι προσῆκον ὁ Πλάτων καὶ οἰκεῖον αἰνιττόμενος λέληθεν, ἅτε δὴ τῷ Σωκράτει τὸν Λυκοῦργον ἀναμιγνὺς οὐχ ἧττον ἢ τὸν Πυθαγόραν, ὡς ᾤετο Δικαίαρχος. ὁ γὰρ Λυκοῦργος οἶσθα δήπουθεν ὅτι τὴν ἀριθμητικὴν ἀναλογίαν, ὡς δημοκρατικὴν καὶ ὀχλικὴν οὖσαν, ἐξέβαλεν ἐκ τῆς Λακεδαίμονος· ἐπεισήγαγε δὲ τὴν γεωμετρικήν, ὀλιγαρχίᾳ σώφρονι καὶ βασιλείᾳ νομίμῃ πρέπουσαν· ἡ μὲν γὰρ ἀριθμῷ τὸ ἴσον ἡ δὲ λόγῳ τὸ κατʼ. ἀξίαν ἀπονέμει· καὶ οὐ πάνθʼ ὁμοῦ μίγνυσιν, ἀλλʼ ἔστι χρηστῶν καὶ πονηρῶν εὔσημος ἐν αὐτῇ διάκρισις, οὐ ζυγοῖς οὐδὲ κλήροις ἀρετῆς; δὲ καὶ κακίας διαφορᾷ τὸ οἰκεῖον ἀεὶ διαλαγχανόντων. ταύτην ὁ θεὸς ἐπάγει τὴν ἀναλογίαν τοῖς πράγμασι, δίκην καὶ νέμεσιν, ὦ φίλε Τυνδάρη, προσαγορευομένην καὶ διδάσκουσαν ἡμᾶς τὸ δίκαιον ἴσον, ἀλλὰ μὴ τὸ ἴσον δεῖν ποιεῖσθαι δίκαιον ἣν γὰρ οἱ πολλοὶ διώκουσιν ἰσότητα, πασῶν ἀδικιῶν οὖσαν μεγίστην, ὁ θεὸς ἐξαιρῶν, ὡς ἀνυστόν ἐστι, τὸ κατʼ ἀξίαν διαφυλάττει, γεωμετρικῶς τῷ κατὰ λόγον καὶ κατὰ νόμον ὁριζόμενος. [¶6] 2.3. This exposition we applauded; and Tyndares, saying he envied him, desired Autobulus to engage Florus and confute his discourse. That he refused to do, but produced another opinion of his own. Geometry, said he, considers nothing else but the accidents and properties of the extremities or limits of bodies; neither did God make the world any other way than by terminating matter, which was infinite before. Not that matter was really infinite as to either magnitude or multitude; but the ancients used to call that infinite which by reason of its confusion and disorder is undetermined and unconfined. Now the terms of every thing that is formed or figured are the form and figure of that thing, without which the thing would be formless and unfigured. Now numbers and proportions being applied to matter, it is circumscribed and as it were bound up by lines, and through lines by surfaces and profundities; and so were settled the first species and differences of bodies, as foundations from which to raise the four elements, fire, air, water, and earth. For it was impossible that, out of an unsteady and confused matter, the equality of the sides, the likeness of the angles, and the exact proportion of octahedrons, icosahedrons, pyramids, and cubes should be deduced, unless by some power that terminated and shaped every particle of matter. Therefore, terms being fixed to that which was undetermined or infinite before, the whole became and still continues agreeable in all parts, and excellently terminated and mixed; the matter indeed always affecting an indeterminate state, and flying all geometrical confinement, but proportion terminating and circumscribing it, and dividing it into several differences and forms, out of which all things that arise are generated and subsist. > Greek: 2.3. ταῦθʼ ἡμεῖς ἐπῃνοῦμεν. ὁ δὲ Τυνδάρης φθονεῖν ἔφασκε καὶ παρεκάλει τὸν Αὐτόβουλον ἅψασθαι Φλώρου καὶ κολάσαι τὸν λόγον. ὁ δὲ τοῦτο μὲν ἀπεῖπεν, ἰδίαν δέ τινα δόξαν ἀντιπαρήγαγεν. ἔφη γὰρ οὔτε τὴν, γεωμετρίαν ἄλλου τινὸς ἢ τῶν περὶ τὰ πέρατα συμπτωμάτων καὶ παθῶν εἶναι θεωρητικήν, οὔτε τὸν θεὸν ἑτέρῳ τινὶ τρόπῳ κοσμοποιεῖν ἢ περατοῦντα τὴν ὕλην ἄπειρον οὖσαν, οὐ μεγέθει καὶ πλήθει, διὰ δʼ ἀταξίαν καὶ πλημμέλειαν αὐτῆς τὸ ἀόριστον καὶ ἀπεράτωτον ἄπειρον εἰωθότων καλεῖν τῶν παλαιῶν. καὶ γὰρ ἡ μορφὴ καὶ τὸ σχῆμα πέρας ἐστὶ τοῦ μεμορφωμένου καὶ ἐσχηματισμένου παντός, ὧν στερήσει καθʼ αὑτὴν ἄμορφος ἦν καὶ ἀσχημάτιστος· ἀριθμῶν δὲ καὶ λόγων ἐγγενομένων, οἷον δεθεῖσα καὶ περιληφθεῖσα γραμμαῖς, ἐκ δὲ τῶν γραμμῶν ἐπιπέδοις καὶ βάθεσιν, εἴδη τὰ πρῶτα καὶ διαφορὰς σωμάτων ὥσπερ θεμελίων παρέσχε πρὸς γένεσιν ἀέρος καὶ γῆς ὕδατὸς τε καὶ πυρός. ὀκταέδρων γὰρ καὶ εἰκοσαέδρων, ἔτι δὲ πυραμίδων καὶ κύβων ἰσότητας ἐν πλευραῖς καὶ ὁμοιότητας ἐν γωνίαις καὶ ἁρμονίας ἀνασχεῖν ἐξ ὕλης ἀτάκτου καὶ πλανητῆς ἄνευ τοῦ περιορίζοντος καὶ διαρθροῦντος ἕκαστα γεωμετρικῶς ἄπορον ἦν καὶ ἀδύνατον. ὅθεν, ἀπείρῳ πέρατος ἐγγενομένου, τὸ πᾶν ἡρμοσμένον καὶ κεκραμένον ἄριστα καὶ πεπερασμένον γέγονέ τε καὶ γίγνεται, τῆς μὲν ὕλης ἀεὶ βιαζομένης εἰς τὸ ἀόριστον ἀναδῦναι καὶ φευγούσης τὸ γεωμετρεῖσθαι, τοῦ δὲ λόγου καταλαμβάνοντος αὐτὴν καὶ περιγράφοντος καὶ διανέμοντος εἰς ἰδέας καὶ διαφοράς, ἐξ ὧν τὰ φυόμενα πάντα τὴν γένεσιν ἔσχε καὶ σύστασιν. [¶7] 2.4. When he had said this, he desired me to contribute something to the discourse; and I applauded their conceits as their own devices, and very probable. But lest you despise yourselves (I continued) and altogether look for some external explication, attend to an exposition upon this sentence, which your masters very much approve. Amongst the most geometrical theorems, or rather problems, this is one: Two figures being given, to construct a third, which shall be equal to one and similar to the other. And it is reported that Pythagoras, upon the discovery of this problem, offered a sacrifice to the Gods; for this is a much more exquisite theorem than that which lays down, that the square of the hypothenuse in a right-angled triangle is equal to the squares of the two sides. Right, said Diogenianus, but what is this to the present question? You will easily understand, I replied, if you call to mind how Timaeus divides that which gave the world its beginning into three parts. One of which is justly called God, the other matter, and the third form. That which is called matter is the most confused subject, the form the most beautiful pattern, and God the best of causes. Now this cause, as far as possible, would leave nothing infinite and indeterminate, but adorn Nature with number, measure, and proportion, making one thing of all the subjects together, equal to the matter, and similar to the form. Therefore proposing to himself this problem, he made and still makes a third, and always preserves it equal to the matter, and like the form; and that is the world. And this world, being in continual changes and alterations because of the natural necessity of body, is helped and preserved by the father and maker of all things, who by proportion terminates the substance according to the pattern. Wherefore in its measure and circuit this universal world is more beautiful than that which is merely similar to it.... > Greek: 2.4. ἐπὶ τούτοις ῥηθεῖσιν ἠξίουν κἀμὲ συμβαλέσθαι τι πρὸς τὸν λόγον αὐτοῖς. ἐγὼ δὲ τὰς μὲν εἰρημένας δόξας ὡς ἰθαγενεῖς καὶ ἰδίας αὐτῶν ἐκείνων ἐπῄνεσα καὶ τὸ εἰκὸς ἔφην ἔχειν ἱκανῶς· ὅπως δʼ εἶπον ἑαυτῶν μὴ καταφρονῆτε μηδʼ ἔξω βλέπητε παντάπασιν, ἀκούσατε τὸν μάλιστα παρὰ τοῖς καθηγηταῖς ἡμῶν εὐδοκιμοῦντα περὶ τούτου λόγον. ἔστι γὰρ ἐν τοῖς γεωμετρικωτάτοις θεωρήμασι, μᾶλλον δὲ προβλήμασι, τὸ δυεῖν εἰδῶν δοθέντων ἄλλο τοίἰον τρίτον παραβάλλειν τῷ μὲν ἴσον τῷ δʼ ὅμοιον· ἐφʼ ᾧ καί φασιν ἐξευρεθέντι θῦσαι τὸν Πυθαγόραν. πολὺ γὰρ ἀμέλει γλαφυρώτερον τοῦτο καὶ μουσικώτερον ἐκείνου τοῦ θεωρήματος, ὃ τὴν ὑποτείνουσαν ἀπέδειξε ταῖς περὶ τὴν ὀρθὴν ἴσον δυναμένην.εὖ λέγεις εἶπεν ὁ Διογενιανὸς ἀλλὰ τί τοῦτο πρὸς τὸν λόγον;εἴσεσθε ῥᾳδίως εἶπον ἀναμνήσαντες αὑτοὺς τῆς ἐν Τιμαίῳ διαιρέσεως, διεῖλε τριχῇ τὰ πρῶτα, ὑφʼ ὧν τὴν γένεσιν ὁ κόσμος ἔσχεν, ὧν τὸ μὲν θεὸν τῷ δικαιοτάτῳ τῶν ὀνομάτων τὸ δʼ ὕλην τὸ δʼ ἰδέαν καλοῦμεν. ἡ μὲν οὖν ὕλη τῶν ὑποκειμένων ἀτακτότατόν ἐστιν, ἡ δʼ ἰδέα τῶν παραδειγμάτων κάλλιστον, ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῶν αἰτίων ἄριστον. ἐβούλετʼ οὖν μηθέν, ὡς ἀνυστὸν ἦν, ὑπολιπεῖν ὁριστὸν ἀόριστον, ἀλλὰ κοσμῆσαι λόγῳ καὶ ἀριθμῷ τὴν φύσιν· ἕν τι ποιῶν ἐκ πάντων ὁμοῦ τῶν ὑποκειμένων, οἷον ἡ ἰδέα καὶ ὅσον ἡ ὕλη γενόμενον. διὸ τοῦτο πρόβλημα δοὺς αὑτῷ, δυεῖν ὄντων, τρίτον ἐποίησε καὶ ποιεῖ καὶ φυλάττει διὰ παντὸς τὸ ἴσον τῇ ὕλῃ καὶ ὅμοιον τῇ ἰδέᾳ τὸν κόσμον· ἀεὶ γὰρ ὢν διὰ τὴν σύμφυτον ἀνάγκην τοῦ σώματος ἐν γενέσει καὶ μετατροπῇ καὶ πάθεσι παντοδαποῖς ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ δημιουργοῦ βοηθεῖται τῷ λόγῳ πρὸς τὸ παράδειγμα τὴν οὐσίαν ὁρίζοντος· καὶ κάλλιον τοῦ συμμέτρου τὸ περίμετρον τῶν ὄντων. [¶8] 3.1. WHEN we supped with Ammonius at Athens, who was then the third time captain of the city-bands, there was a great noise about the house, some without doors calling, Captain! Captain! After he had sent his officers to quiet the tumult, and had dispersed the crowd, we began to enquire what was the reason that those that are within doors hear those that are without, but those that are without cannot hear those that are within as well. And Ammonius said, that Aristotle had given a reason for that already; for the sound of those within, being carried without into a large tract of air, grows weaker presently and is lost; but that which comes in from without is not subject to the like casualty, but is kept close, and is therefore more easy to be heard. But that seemed a more difficult question, Why sounds seem greater in the night than in the day, and yet altogether as clear. For my own part (continued he) I think Providence hath very wisely contrived that our hearing should be quickest when our sight can do us very little or no service; for the air of the “blind and solitary Night,” as Empedocles calls it, being dark, supplies in the ears that defect of sense which it makes in the eyes. But since of natural effects we should endeavor to find the causes, and to discover what are the material and mechanical principles of things is the proper task of a natural philosopher, who shall first assist us with a rational account hereof? > Greek: 3.1. θόρυβός τις, ἑστιωμένων ἡμῶν Ἀθήνησι παρʼ Ἀμμωνίῳ, τὴν οἰκίαν περιήχησεν, ἔξωθεν ἐπιβοωμένων τὸν στρατηγόν· ἐστρατήγει δὲ τὸ τρίτον ὁ Ἀμμώνιος. ἐπεὶ δὲ πέμψας τῶν περὶ αὑτόν τινας ἔπαυσε τὴν ταραχήν, καὶ παρέπεμψαν τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἐζητοῦμεν ἡμεῖς, διὰ τί τῶν ἔξωθεν βοώντων συνεξακούουσιν οἱ ἐντός, οἱ δʼ ἔξω τῶν ἐντὸς οὐχ ὁμοίως. καὶ ὁ Ἀμμώνιος ἔφη τοῦτο μὲν ὑπʼ Ἀριστοτέλους λελύσθαι· τὴν γὰρ φωνὴν τῶν ἔνδον ἔξω φερομένην εἰς ἀέρα πολὺν καὶ ἀναπεπταμένον εὐθὺς ἐξαμαυροῦσθαι καὶ διασπείρεσθαι, τὴν δʼ ἔξωθεν εἴσω κατιοῦσαν οὐδὲν τοιοῦτο πάσχειν ἀλλὰ συνέχεσθαι καὶ διαμένειν εὔσημον· ἐκεῖνο δὲ μᾶλλον λόγου δεῖσθαι, τὸ νυκτὸς ἠχωδεστέρας εἶναι τὰς φωνὰς καὶ πρὸς τῷ μεγέθει τὴν τρανότητα καθαρῶς συνδιαφυλάττειν. ἐμοὶ μὲν οὖν εἶπεν οὐ φαύλως ἡ πρόνοια δοκεῖ μεμηχανῆσθαι τῇ ἀκοῇ σαφήνειαν, ὅτε τῆς ὄψεως οὐδὲν ἢ κομιδῇ τι μικρὸν ἔργον ἐστί. σκοτεινὸς γὰρ ὢν ὁ ἀὴρ κατʼ Ἐμπεδοκλέα νυκτὸς ἐρημαίης ἀλαώπιδος, ὅσον τῶν ὀμμάτων ἀφαιρεῖται τοῦ προαισθάνεσθαι, διὰ τῶν ὤτων ἀποδίδωσιν. ἐπεὶ δὲ δεῖ καὶ τὰ διʼ ἀνάγκης φύσει περαινόμενα τῶν αἰτίων ἀνευρίσκειν, καὶ τοῦτο τοῦ φυσικοῦ ἴδιόν ἐστιν, ἡ περὶ τὰς ὑλικὰς καὶ ὀργανικὰς ἀρχὰς πραγματεία· τίς ἂν ἔφη πρῶτος ὑμῶν εὐπορήσειε λόγου τὸ πιθανὸν ἔχοντος; [¶9] 3.2. Boethus began, and said: When I was a novice in letters, I then made use of geometrical postulates, and assumed as undoubted truths some undemonstrated suppositions; and now I shall make use of some propositions which Epicurus hath demonstrated already. Bodies move in a vacuum, and there are a great many spaces interspersed among the atoms of the air. Now when the air being rarefied is more extended, so as to fill the empty space, there are but few vacuities scattered and interspersed among the particles of matter; but when the atoms of air are condensed and laid close together, they leave a vast empty space, convenient and sufficient for other bodies to pass through. Now the coldness of the night makes such a constipation. Heat opens and separates the parts of condensed bodies. Therefore bodies that boil, grow soft, or melt, require a greater space than before; but on the contrary, the parts of the body that are condensed or freeze are contracted closer to one another, and leave those vessels and places from which they retired partly empty. Now the voice, meeting and striking against a great many bodies in its way, is either altogether lost or scattered, and very much and very frequently hindered in its passage; but when it hath a plain and smooth way through an empty space, and comes to the ear uninterrupted, the passage is so sudden, that it preserves its articulate distinctness, as well as the words it carries. You may observe that empty vessels, when knocked, answer presently, send out a noise to a great distance, and oftentimes the sound whirled round in the hollow breaks out with a considerable force; whilst a vessel that is filled either with a liquid or a solid body will not answer to a stroke, because the sound hath no room or passage to come through. And among solid bodies themselves, gold and stone, because they want pores, can hardly be made to sound; and when a noise is made by a stroke upon them, it is very flat, and presently lost. But brass is sounding, it being a porous, rare, and light metal, not consisting of parts closely compacted, but being mixed with a yielding and uncompacted substance, which gives free passage to other motions, and kindly receiving the sound sends it forward; till some touching the instrument do, as it were, seize on it in the way, and stop the hollow; for then, by reason of the hindering force, it stops and goes no farther. And this, in my opinion, is the reason why the night is more sonorous, and the day less; since in the day, the heat rarefying the air makes the empty spaces between the particles to be very little. But, pray, let none argue against the suppositions I first assumed. > Greek: 3.2. ἡσυχίας δὲ γενομένης, Βόηθος ἔφη νέος μὲν ὢν ἔτι καὶ σοφιστεύων ἀπὸ γεωμετρίας αἰτήμασι χρῆσθαι καὶ λαμβάνειν ἀναποδείκτους ὑποθέσεις, νυνὶ δὲ χρήσεσθαί τισι τῶν προαποδεδειγμένων ὑπʼ Ἐπικούρου. φέρεται τὰ ὄντα ἐν τῷ μὴ ὄντι·; πολὺ γὰρ κενὸν ἐνδιέσπαρται καὶ μέμικται ταῖς τοῦ ἀέρος ἀτόμοις· ὅταν μὲν οὖν διακεχυμένος καὶ πλάτος ἔχων καὶ περιδρομὴν ὑπὸ μανότητος, μικρὰ καὶ λεπτὰ τὰ μεταξὺ τῶν μορίων κενὰ λείπεται καὶ πολλὴν αἱ ἄτομοι κατεσπαρμέναι χώραν ἐπέχουσιν· ὅταν δὲ συσταλῇ καὶ πίλησις εἰς ὀλίγον αὐτῶν γένηται καὶ συμπέσωσιν ἀποβιασθεῖσαι πρὸς ἀλλήλας, πολλὴν εὐρυχωρίαν ἔξω καὶ διαστάσεις μεγάλας ποιοῦσι· τοῦτο δὲ γίγνεται νυκτὸς ὑπὸ ψυχρότητος· ἡ γὰρ θερμότης χαλᾷ καὶ διίστησι καὶ λύει τὰς πυκνώσεις· διὸ πλείονα τόπον τὰ ζέοντα καὶ μαλασσόμενα καὶ τηκόμενα τῶν σωμάτων ἐπιλαμβάνει· καὶ τοὐναντίον αὖ πάλιν τὰ πηγνύμενα καὶ ψυχόμενα συγχωρεῖ πρὸς ἄλληλα καὶ συνάγεται καὶ ἀπολείπει κενότητας ἐν τοῖς περιέχουσιν ἀγγείοις καὶ τόπους, ἐξ ὧν ὑποκεχώρηκεν. ἡ δὲ φωνὴ προσφερομένη καὶ προστυγχάνουσα σώμασι πολλοῖς καὶ ἀθρόοις ἢ τυφλοῦται παντάπασιν, ἢ διασπάσματα λαμβάνει μεγάλα καὶ πολλὰς ἀντικρούσεις καὶ διατριβάς· ἐν δὲ κενῷ καὶ σωμάτων ἐρήμῳ διαστήματι λεῖον δρόμον ἔχουσα καὶ συνεχῆ καὶ ἄπταιστον ἐξικνεῖται πρὸς τὴν ἀκοήν, ὑπὸ τάχους ἅμα τῷ λόγῳ διασῴζουσα τὴν σαφήνειαν. ὁρᾷς γὰρ ὅτι καὶ τῶν ἀγγείων τὰ κενὰ πληττόμενα, μᾶλλον ὑπακούει ταῖς πληγαῖς καὶ τὸν ἦχον ἀποτείνει μακράν, πολλάκις δὲ καὶ κύκλῳ περιφερόμενον διαδίδωσι πολύ· τὸ δʼ ἐμπλησθὲν ἢ στερεοῦ σώματος ἤ τινος ὑγροῦ παντάπασι γίγνεται κωφὸν καὶ ἄναυδον, ὁδὸν οὐκ ἐχούσης οὐδὲ χώραν ᾗ δίεισι τῆς φωνῆς. αὐτῶν δὲ τῶν σωμάτων χρυσὸς μὲν καὶ λίθος ὑπὸ πληρότητος ἰσχνόφωνα καὶ δυσηχῆ καὶ ταχὺ κατασβέννυσι τοὺς φθόγγους ἐν αὑτοῖς εὔφωνος δὲ καὶ λάλος ὁ χαλκός, ᾗ πολύκενος καὶ ὄγκον ἐλαφρὸς καὶ λεπτός, οὐ πολλοῖς συντεθλιμμένος ἐπαλλήλοις σώμασιν, ἀλλʼ ἄφθονον ἔχων τὸ τῆς ἐπιεικοῦς καὶ ἀναφοῦς μεμιγμένον οὐσίας, ἣ ταῖς τʼ ἄλλαις κινήσεσιν εὐπορίαν δίδωσι τήν τε φωνὴν εὐμενῶς ὑπολαμβάνουσα παραπέμπει; μέχρι ἂν ἁψάμενός τις ὥσπερ ἐν ὁδῷ καταλάβῃ καὶ τυφλώσῃ τὸ κενόν· ἐνταῦθα δʼ ἔστη καὶ ἀπεπαύσατο τοῦ πρόσω χωρεῖν διὰ τὴν ἀντίφραξιν. ταῦτʼ ἔφη δοκεῖ μοι τὴν νύκτα ποιεῖν ἠχώδη, τὴν δʼ ἡμέραν ἧττον θερμότητι καὶ διαχύσει τοῦ ἀέρος μικρὰ τὰ διαστήματα τῶν ἀτόμων ποιοῦσαν μόνον ἔφη μηδεὶς ἐνιστάσθω πρὸς τὰς πρώτας ὑποθέσεις. [¶10] 3.3. And I (Ammonius bidding me oppose him) said: Sir, your suppositions which require a vacuum to be granted I shall admit; but you err in supposing that a vacuum is conducive either to the preservation or conveyance of sound. For that which cannot be touched, acted upon, or struck is peculiarly favorable to silence. But sound is a stroke of a sounding body; and a sounding body is that which is homogeneous and uniform, easy to be moved, light, smooth, and, by reason of its tenseness and continuity, obedient to the stroke; and such is the air. Water, earth, and fire, are of themselves soundless; but each of them makes a noise when air falls upon or gets into it. And brass hath in it no vacuum; but being mixed with a smooth and gentle air it answers to a stroke, and is sounding. If the eye may be judge, iron must be reckoned to have a great many vacuities, and to be porous like a honey-comb, yet it is the dullest, and sounds worse than any other metal. Therefore there is no need to trouble the night to contract and condense its air, that in other parts we may leave vacuities and wide spaces; as if the air would hinder and corrupt the substance of the sounds, whose very substance, form, and power itself is. Besides, if your reason held, misty and extreme cold nights would be more sonorous than those which are temperate and clear, because then the atoms in our atmosphere are constipated, and the spaces which they left remain empty; and, what is more obvious, a cold day should be more sonorous than a warm summer’s night; neither of which is true. Therefore, laying aside that explication, I produce Anaxagoras, who teacheth that the sun makes a tremulous motion in the air, as is evident from those little motes which are seen tossed up and down and flying in the sunbeams. These (says he), being in the day-time whisked about by the heat, and making a humming noise, lessen or drown other sounds; but at night their motion, and consequently their noise, ceaseth. > Greek: 3.3. κἀγώ, τοῦ Ἀμμωνίου κελεύοντος εἰπεῖν τι πρὸς αὐτὸν αἱ μὲν πρῶταί σου τῶν ὑποθέσεων ἔφην ὦ φίλε Βόηθε, καίπερ πολὺ τὸ κενὸν ἔχουσαι μενέτωσαν· τῇ δὲ φωνῇ τὸ κενὸν οὐκ ὀρθῶς πρὸς σωτηρίαν καὶ κίνησιν ὑποτίθεσθε. σιωπῆς γὰρ οἰκεῖον καὶ ἡσυχίας τὸ ἀναφὲς καὶ ἀπαθὲς καὶ ἄπληκτον, ἡ δὲ φωνὴ πληγὴ σώματος διηχοῦς, διηχὲς δὲ τὸ συμπαθὲς αὑτῷ καὶ συμφυὲς εὐκίνητον δὲ καὶ κοῦφον καὶ ὁμαλὸν καὶ ὑπήκοον τοῦ διʼ εὐτονίαν καὶ συνέχειαν, οἷός ἐστι παρʼ ἡμῖν ὁ ἀήρ. καὶ γὰρ ὕδωρ καὶ γῆ καὶ πῦρ ἄφωνα καθʼ ἑαυτά, φθέγγεται δὲ πνεύματος ἐμπεσόντος ἅπαντα καὶ ψόφους καὶ πατάγους ἀναδίδωσι· χαλκῷ δὲ κενοῦ μὲν οὐδὲν μέτεστιν, ὁμαλῷ δὲ πνεύματι καὶ λείῳ κεκραμένος εὔπληκτός ἐστι καὶ ἠχώδης. εἰ δὲ δεῖ τῇ ὄψει τεκμαίρεσθαι, φαίνεται μᾶλλον ὁ σίδηρος ἔχων τι σαθρὸν καὶ πολύκενον καὶ τενθρηνῶδες· ἔστι δὲ κακόφωνος σφόδρα καὶ τῶν μεταλλικῶν κωφότατος. οὐδὲν οὖν ἔδει τῇ νυκτὶ παρέχειν πράγματα συσπῶντας αὐτῆς τὸν ἀέρα καὶ συντείνοντας, ἑτέρωθι δʼ αὖ χώρας καὶ κενότητας ἀπολείποντας, ὥσπερ ἐμποδὼν ὄντα τῇ φωνῇ τὸν ἀέρα καὶ φθείροντα τὴν οὐσίαν, ἧς αὐτὸς οὐσία καὶ σῶμα καὶ δύναμὶς ἐστιν. ἄνευ δὲ τούτων ἔδει δή που τὰς ἀνωμάλους νύκτας, οἷον ὁμιχλώδεις καὶ δυσχειμέρους, ἠχωδεστέρας εἶναι τῶν αἰθρίων καὶ κεκραμένων ὁμαλῶς, διὰ τὸ δεῦρο μὲν συνωθεῖν τὰς ἀτόμους ἐκεῖ δʼ ὅθεν μεθίστανται χώραν ἔρημον ἀπολείπειν σωμάτων καὶ τὸ δὴ προχειρότατον, ἡμέραν ψυχρὰν ἠχωδεστέραν εἶναι νυκτὸς ἀλεεινῆς ῆς καὶ θερινῆς· ὧν οὐδέτερον ἀληθές ἐστι. διὸ τὸν λόγον τοῦτον ἀπολελοιπὼς ἐπιβάλλω τὸν Ἀναξαγόραν, ὑπὸ τοῦ ἡλίου λέγοντα κινεῖσθαι τὸν ἀέρα κίνησιν τρομώδη καὶ παλμοὺς ἔχουσαν, ὡς δῆλόν ἐστι τοῖς διὰ τοῦ φωτὸς ἀεὶ διᾴττουσι ψήγμασι μικροῖς καὶ θραύμασιν, ἃ δή τινες τίλας καλοῦσιν ταῦτʼ οὖν φησιν ὁ ἀνὴρ πρὸς τὴν θερμότητα σίζοντα καὶ ψοφοῦντα διʼ ἡμέρας δυσηκόους τῷ ψόφῳ τὰς φωνὰς ποιεῖν, νυκτὸς δὲ φαίνεσθαι τὸν σάλον αὐτῶν καὶ τὸν ἦχον. [¶11] 3.4. When I had thus said, Ammonius began: Perhaps it will look like a ridiculous attempt in us, to endeavor to confute Democritus and correct Anaxagoras. Yet we must not allow that humming noise to Anaxagoras’s little motes, for it is neither probable nor necessary. But their tremulous and whirling motion in the sunbeams is oftentimes sufficient to disturb and break a sound. For the air (as hath been already said), being itself the body and substance of sound, if it be quiet and undisturbed, gives a straight, easy, and continuous way to the particles or the motions which make the sound. Thus sounds are best heard in calm still weather; and the contrary is seen in tempestuous weather, as Simonides hath it:— No tearing tempests rattled through the skies, Which hinder sweet discourse from mortal ears. For often the disturbed air hinders the articulateness of a discourse from coming to the ears, though it may convey something of the loudness and length of it. Now the night, simply considered in itself, hath nothing that may disturb the air; though the day hath,—namely the sun, according to the opinion of Anaxagoras. > Greek: 3.4. ἐμοῦ δὲ ταῦτʼ εἰπόντος, Ἀμμώνιος; ἔφη γελοῖοι μὲν ἴσως φανούμεθα, καὶ Δημόκριτον ἐλέγχειν οἰόμενοι καὶ Ἀναξαγόραν ἐπανορθοῦσθαι θέλοντες· οὐ μὴν ἀλλʼ ἀφαιρετέον γε τῶν Ἀναξαγόρου σωμάτων τὸν σιγμόν· οὔτε γὰρ πιθανὸς οὔτʼ ἀναγκαῖος, ἀλλʼ ὁ τρόμος ἀρκεῖ τῶν σωμάτων καὶ ἡ κίνησις ἐν τῷ φωτὶ κλονουμένων τὰς φωνὰς; διασπᾶν καὶ διαρρίπτειν πολλάκις. ὁ γὰρ ἀήρ, ὥσπερ εἴρηται, σῶμα τῆς,φωνῆς· καὶ οὐσίαν ἐμπαρέχων ἑαυτόν, ἐὰν μὲν σταθερός, εὐθύπορα καὶ λεῖα καὶ συνεχῆ τὰ τῶν ψόφων μόρια καὶ κινήματα πόρρωθεν διαδίδωσι· νηνεμία γὰρ ἠχῶδες καὶ γαλήνη, καὶ τοὐναντίον, ὡς Σιμωνίδης φησίν, οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐννοσίφυλλος ἀήτα τότʼ ὦρτʼ ἀνέμων, ἅ τις κατεκώλυε κιδναμένα μελιαδέα γᾶρυν ἀραρεῖν ἀκοαῖσι βροτῶν. πολλάκις μὲν γὰρ οὐδὲ τὸ σχῆμα τῆς φωνῆς ὁ τοῦ ἀέρος σάλος ἔναρθρον ἐᾷ πρὸς τὴν αἴσθησιν ἐξικνεῖσθαι καὶ διαμεμορφωμένον, ἀεὶ μέντοι τι τοῦ πλήθους φέρει καὶ τοῦ μεγέθους. ἡ μὲν οὖν νὺξ αὐτὴ καθʼ ἑαυτὴν οὐδὲν ἔχει κινητικὸν ἀέρος· ἡ δʼ ἡμέρα μέγα, τὸν ἣλιον, ὥσπερ αὐτὸς ὁ Ἀναξαγόρας εἴρηκεν. [¶12] 3.5. To this Thrasyllus, Ammonius’s son, subjoining said: What is the matter, for God’s sake, that we endeavor to solve this difficulty by the unintelligible fancied motion of the air, and never consider the tossing and divulsion thereof, which are sensible and evident? For Jupiter, the great ruler above, doth not covertly and silently move the little particles of air; but as soon as he appears, he stirs up and moves every thing. He sends forth lucky signs, And stirs up nations to their proper work, and they obey; and (as Democritus saith) with new thoughts for each new day, as if newly born again, they fall to their worldly concerns with noisy and effectual contrivances. And upon this account, Ibycus appositely calls the dawning κλυτόν (from κλύειν, to hear), because then men first begin to hear and speak. Now at night, all things being at rest, the air being quiet and undisturbed must therefore probably transmit the voice better, and convey it whole and unbroken to our ears. > Greek: 3.5. ὑπολαβὼν δὲ Θράσυλλος ὁ Ἀμμωνίου υἱὸς εἶτʼ ἔφη τί παθόντες, ὦ πρὸς Διός, εἶπας τῶι θεωρητὰ κινήματα τοῦ ἀέρος οἰόμεθα δεῖν αἰτᾶσθαι, τὸν δʼ ἐμφανῆ σάλον καὶ σπαραγμὸν αὐτοῦ παρορῶμεν; ὁ γὰρ δὴ μέγας ἡγεμὼν ἐν οὐρανῷ Ζεὺς οὗτος οὐ λανθάνων οὐδʼ ἀτρέμα διακινῶν τὰ σμικρότατα τοῦ ἀέρος ἀλλʼ εὐθὺς ἐκφανεὶς ἀνίστησι καὶ κινεῖ πάντα πράγματα δεξιὰ σημαίνων, λαοὺς δʼ ἐπὶ ἔργον ἐγείρων οἱ δʼ ἕπονται, καθάπερ ἐκ παλιγγενεσίας νέα ἐφʼ ἡμέρῃ φρονέοντες ὥς φησι Δημόκριτος, οὔτʼ ἀφώνοις οὒτʼ ἀπράκτοις ἐνεργείαις· καὶ τὸν ὄρθρον ὁ Ἴβυκος οὐ κακῶς κλυτὸν προσεῖπεν, ἐν ᾧ κλύειν καὶ ἤδη φθέγγεσθαι συμβέβηκε· τῆς δὲ νυκτὸς ἀκύμων τὰ πολλὰ καὶ ἄκλυτος ὢν ὁ ἀήρ, ἀναπαυομένων ἁπάντων, εἰκότως τὴν φωνὴν ἄθραυστον ἀναπέμπει καὶ ἀκέραιον πρὸς ἡμᾶς. [¶13] 3.6. Aristodemus the Cyprian, being then in company, said: But consider, sir, whether battles or the marches of great armies by night do not confute your reason; for the noise they make seems as loud as otherwise, though then the air is broken and very much disturbed. But the reason is partly in ourselves; for our voice at night is usually vehement, we either commanding others to do something or asking short questions with heat and concern. For that, at the same time when Nature requires rest, we should stir to do or speak any thing, there must be some great and urgent necessity for it; and thence our voices become more vehement and loud. > Greek: 3.6. παρὼν οὖν Ἀριστόδημος ὁ Κύπριος ἀλλʼ ὅρα εἶπεν ὦ Θράσυλλε, μὴ τοῦτο μὲν αἱ νυκτομαχίαι καὶ νυκτοπορίαι τῶν μεγάλων στρατοπέδων ἐλέγχουσιν, οὐδὲν ἧττον ἠχωδεστέρας ποιοῦσαι τὰς φωνάς, καίπερ ἐν ταραχῇ καὶ σάλῳ τοῦ ἀέρος ὄντος. ἔχει δέ τι καὶ τὸ παρʼ ἡμᾶς αἴτιον· αὐτοὶ γὰρ ὧν φθεγγόμεθα νύκτωρ τὰ πολλὰ θορυβώδη καὶ μετὰ πάθους ἐπείγοντος ἐγκελευόμεθά τισιν ἢ διαπυνθανόμενοι συντόνους ποιούμεθα τὰς γεγωνήσεις. τὸ γάρ, ἐν ᾧ μάλιστα καιρῷ πεφύκαμεν ἡσυχίαν ἄγειν, ἐξανιστὰν ἡμᾶς ἐπὶ πράξεις καὶ λόγους οὐ μικρὸν οὐδʼ ἀτρεμαῖόν ἐστιν, ἀλλὰ μέγα καὶ μεγάλης τινὸς ἀνάγκῃ χρείας ἐπιταχυνόμενον, ὥστε καὶ τὰς φωνὰς φέρεσθαι σφοδροτέρας. [¶14] 4.1. THE Isthmian games being celebrated, when Sospis was the second time director of the solemnity, we avoided other entertainments,—he treating a great many strangers, and often all his fellow-citizens,—but once, when he entertained his nearest and most learned friends at his own house, I was one of the company. After the first course, one coming to Herodes the rhetorician brought a palm and a wreathed crown, which one of his acquaintance, who had won the prize for an encomiastic exercise, sent him. This Herodes received very kindly, and sent it back again, but added that he could not tell the reason why, since each of the games gave a particular garland, yet all of them bestowed the palm. For those do not satisfy me (said he) who say that the equality of the leaves is the reason, which growing out one against another seem to resemble some striving for the prize, and that victory is called νίκη from μὴ εἴκειν, not to yield. For a great many other trees, which almost by measure and weight divide the nourishment to their leaves growing opposite to one another, show a decent order and wonderful equality. They seem to speak more probably who say the ancients were pleased with the beauty and figure of the tree. Thus Homer compares Nausicaa to a palm-branch. For you all know very well, that some threw roses at the victors, and some pomegranates and apples, to honor and reward them. But now the palm hath nothing evidently more taking than many other things, since here in Greece it bears no fruit that is good to eat, it not ripening and growing mature enough. But if, as in Syria and Egypt, it bore a fruit that is the most pleasant to the eyes of any thing in the world, and the sweetest to the taste, then I must confess nothing could compare with it, And the Persian monarch (as the story goes), being extremely taken with Nicolaus the Peripatetic philosopher, who was a very sweet-humored man, tall and slender, and of a ruddy complexion, called the greatest and fairest dates Nicolai. > Greek: 4.1. Ἰσθμίων ἀγομένων ἐν τῇ δευτέρᾳ τῶν Σώσπιδος ἀγωνοθεσιῶν τὰς μὲν ἄλλας ἑστιάσεις διεφύγομεν, ἑστιῶντος αὐτοῦ πολλοὺς μὲν ἅμα ξένους, πάντας δὲ πολλάκις τοὺς πολίτας· ἅπαξ δὲ τοὺς μάλιστα φίλους καὶ φιλολόγους οἴκοι δεχομένου, καὶ αὐτοὶ παρῆμεν. ἀπηρμένων δὲ τῶν πρώτων τραπεζῶν, ἧκέ τις Ἡρώδῃ τῷ ῥήτορι παρὰ γνωρίμου νενικηκότος ἐγκωμίῳ φοίνικα καὶ στέφανόν τινα τῶν πλεκτῶν κομίζων. ὁ δὲ ταῦτα μὲν δεξιωσάμενος ἀπέπεμψε πάλιν, ἔφη δʼ ἀπορεῖν, τί δήποτε τῶν ἀγώνων στέφανον ἄλλος ἄλλον ἔχει, τὸν δὲ φοίνικα κοινῇ πάντες. οὐ γὰρ ἐμὲ γοῦν ἔφη πείθουσιν οἱ τὴν ἰσότητα τῶν φύλλων, οἷον ἀντανισταμένων ἀεὶ καὶ συνεκτρεχόντων, ἀγῶνι καὶ ἁμίλλῃ παραπλήσιόν τι ποιεῖν φάσκοντες, αὐτήν τε τὴν νίκην παρὰ τὸ μὴ εἶκον ὠνομάσθαι· καὶ γὰρ ἄλλα πάμπολλα μονονοὺ μέτροις τισὶ καὶ σταθμοῖς ἀκριβῶς τὴν τροφὴν διανέμοντα τοῖς ἀντιζύγοις πετάλοις ἰσότητα θαυμαστὴν καὶ τάξιν ἀποδίδωσιν ἔτι δʼ ἀπιθανώτεροι τούτων εἰσὶν οἱ τὸ κάλλος καὶ τὴν εὐφυΐαν ἀγαπῆσαι τοὺς παλαιούς, ὡς Ὅμηρον ἔρνεϊ φοίνικος ἀπεικάσαντα τὴν ὥραν τῆς Φαιακίδος, ὑπονοοῦντες. οὐ γὰρ ἀγνοεῖτε δήπουθεν, ὅτι καὶ ῥόδοις καὶ λυχνίσιν, ἔνιοι δὲ καὶ μήλοις καὶ ῥοιαῖς ἔβαλλον ὡς καλοῖς· γεραίροντες ἀεὶ τοὺς νικηφόρους. ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν οὕτως ἐπιφανῶς ἐκπρεπέστερον ἔχει τῶν ἄλλων ὁ φοῖνιξ, ἅτε μηδὲ καρπὸν. ἐν τῇ Ἑλλάδι φέρων ἐδώδιμον ἀλλʼ ἀτελῆ καὶ ἄπεπτον. εἰ γάρ, ὥσπερ ἐν Συρίᾳ καὶ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, παρεῖχε τὴν βάλανον, ὄψει τε θεαμάτων καὶ γλυκύτητι τραγημάτων πάντων ἥδιστον, οὐκ ἂν ἦν ἕτερον αὐτῷ παραβαλεῖν. ὁ γοῦν βασιλεύς, ὥς φασιν, ἀγαπήσας διαφερόντως τὸν Περιπατητικὸν φιλόσοφον Νικόλαον, γλυκὺν ὄντα τῷ ἤθει ῥαδινὸν δὲ τῷ μήκει τοῦ σώματος διάπλεων δὲ τὸ πρόσωπον ἐπιφοινίσσοντος ἐρυθήματος, τὰς μεγίστας καὶ καλλίστας τῶν φοινικοβαλάνων Νικολάους ὠνόμαζε, καὶ μέχρι νῦν οὕτως ὀνομάζονται. ## 17. Book VIII · chapters 4–8 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/17/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/17/#p-N [¶0] 4.2. This discourse of Herodes seemed to give occasion for a query about Nicolaus, which would be as pleasant as the former. Therefore, said Sospis, let every one carefully give his sentiments of the matter in hand. I begin, and think that, as far as possible, the honor of the victor should remain fresh and immortal. Now a palm-tree is the longest lived of any, as this line of Orpheus testifies: “They lived like branches of a leafy palm.” And this almost alone enjoys the privilege (though it is said to belong to many beside) of having always fresh and the same leaves. For neither the laurel nor the olive nor the myrtle, nor any other of those trees called evergreen, is always seen with the very same leaves; but as the old fall, new ones grow. So cities continue the same, where new parts succeed those that decay. But the palm, never shedding a leaf, is continually adorned with the same green. And this power of the tree, I believe, men think agreeable to, and fit to represent, the strength of victory. > Greek: 4.2. ταῦτʼ εἰπὼν ὁ Ἡρώδης οὐκ ἀτερπέστερον ἐμβάλλειν ἔδοξε τοῦ ζητουμένου τὸ περὶ τοῦ Νικολάου. διὸ καὶ μᾶλλον ἔφη ὁ Σῶσπις προθυμητέον, ὡς ἕκαστος αὑτόν τις ἔπεισε, συνεισενεγκεῖν εἰς τὸ ζητούμενον. ἐγὼ δʼ εἰσφέρω πρῶτος, ὅτι δεῖ τὴν τῶν νικηφόρων δόξαν ἄφθιτον, ὡς ἀνυστὸν ἐστι, καὶ ἀγήρων διαμένειν· ὁ δὲ φοῖνιξ μακρόβιον μέν ἐστιν ἐν τοῖς μάλιστα τῶν φυτῶν, ὥς που καὶ τὰ Ὀρφικὰ ταῦτα μεμαρτύρηκε ζῶον δʼ ἴσον ἀκροκόμοισιν φοινίκων ἔρνεσσιν, μόνῳ δʼ αὐτῷ σχεδὸν ὑπάρχει τὸ κατὰ πολλῶν ὡς ἀληθῶς λεγόμενον· τί δὲ τοῦτʼ ἔστι; τὸ ἐμπεδόφυλλον εἶναι καὶ ἀείφυλλον· οὔτε γὰρ δάφνην οὔτʼ ἐλαίαν οὔτε μυρσίνην οὔτʼ ἄλλο τι τῶν μὴ φυλλορροεῖν λεγομένων ὁρῶμεν ἀεὶ ταὐτὰ φύλλα διατηροῦν, ἀλλὰ τοῖς πρώτοις ἀπορρέουσιν ἑτέρων ἐπιβλαστανόντων, ὥσπερ πόλεις, ἕκαστον ἀείζωον διαμένει καὶ ἀμείλικτον ὁ δὲ φοῖνιξ οὐθὲν ἀποβάλλων ἀφʼ αὑτοῦ τῶν φυομένων, βεβαίως ἀείφυλλός ἐστι· καὶ τοῦτο δὴ τὸ κράτος αὐτοῦ μάλιστα τῆς νίκης τῷ ἰσχυρῷ συνοικειοῦσι. [¶1] 4.3. When Sospis had done, Protogenes the grammarian, calling Praxiteles the commentator by his name, said: What then, shall we suffer those rhetoricians to be thought to have hit the mark, when they bring arguments only from probabilities and conjectures? And can we produce nothing from history to club to this discourse? Lately, I remember, reading in the Attic annals, I found that The seus first instituted games in Delos, and tore off a branch from the sacred palm-tree, which was called spadix (from σπάω, to tear.) > Greek: 4.3. παυσαμένου δὲ τοῦ Σώσπιδος, Πρωτογένης ὁ γραμματικός, ὀνόματι καλέσας Πραξιτέλην τὸν περιηγητὴν οὕτω δὴ τούτους ἔφη τοὺς ῥήτορας ἐάσομεν περαίνειν τὸ οἰκεῖον, ἐξ εἰκότων καὶ πιθανῶν ἐπιχειροῦντας· αὐτοὶ δʼ ἀφʼ ἱστορίας οὐδὲν ἂν ἔχοιμεν τῷ λόγῳ συμβάλλεσθαι; καίτοι δοκῶ μοι μνημονεύειν ἐν τοῖς Ἀττικοῖς ἀνεγνωκὼς ἔναγχος, ὅτι πρῶτος ἐν Δήλῳ Θησεὺς ἀγῶνα ποιῶν ἀπέσπασε κλάδον τοῦ ἱεροῦ φοίνικος καὶ σπάδιξ ὠνομάσθη. [¶2] 4.4. And Praxiteles said: This is uncertain; but perhaps some will demand of Theseus himself, upon what account, when he instituted the game, he broke off a branch of palm rather than of laurel or of olive. But consider whether this be not a prize proper to the Pythian games, as belonging to Amphictyon. For there they first, in honor of the God, crowned the victors with laurel and palm, as consecrating to the God, not the laurel or olive, but the palm. So Nicias did, who defrayed the charges of the solemnity in the name of the Athenians at Delos; the Athenians themselves at Delphi; and before these, Cypselus the Corinthian. For this God is a lover of games, and delights in contending for the prize at harping, singing, and throwing the bar, and, as some say, at cuffing; and assists men when contending, as Homer witnesseth, by making Achilles speak thus, Let two come forth in cuffing stout, and try To which Apollo gives the victory. And amongst the archers, he that made his address to Apollo made the best shot, and he that forgot to pray to him missed the mark. And beside, it is not likely that the Athenians would rashly, and upon no grounds, dedicate their place of exercise to Apollo. But they thought that the God which bestows health gives likewise a vigorous constitution, and strength for the encounter. And since some of the encounters are light and easy, others laborious and difficult, the Delphians offered sacrifices to Apollo the cuffer; the Cretans and Spartans to Apollo the racer; and the dedication of spoils taken in the wars and trophies to Apollo Pythias show that he is of great power to give victory in war. > Greek: 4.4. καὶ ὁ Πραξιτέλης ταῦτʼ εἶπεν ἄδηλα, καὶ τοῦ Θησέως αὐτοῦ πυνθάνεσθαι φήσουσιν, ᾧτινι λόγῳ φοίνικος, οὐ δάφνης οὐδʼ ἐλαίας, κλάδον ἀπέσπασεν ἀγωνοθετῶν. σκόπει δή, μὴ Πυθικόν ἐστι τὸ νικητήριον, ὡς· Ἀμφικτύονος· κἀκεῖ πρῶτον ἐπὶ τιμῇ τοῦ θεοῦ δάφνῃ καὶ φοίνικι τοὺς νικῶντας ἐκόσμησαν, ἅτε δὴ καὶ τῷ θεῷ μὴ δάφνας μηδʼ ἐλαίας ἀλλὰ φοίνικας ἀνατιθέντες, ὡς ἐν Δήλῳ Νικίας χορηγήσας Ἀθηναίων καὶ ἐν Δελφοῖς Ἀθηναῖοι καὶ Κύψελος πρότερον Κορίνθιος ἐπεὶ καὶ φίλαθλος ἄλλως καὶ φιλόνικος ἡμῖν ὁ θεός, αὐτὸς ἐν κιθαρίσει καὶ ᾠδῇ καὶ βολαῖς δίσκων, ὡς δʼ ἔνιοί φασι, καὶ πυγμῇ ἁμιλλώμενος· ἀνθρώποις δὲ προσαμύνων ἀγωνιζομένοις, ὡς Ὅμηρος ἐμαρτύρησε, τὸν μὲν Ἀχιλλέα λέγοντα ποιήσας ἄνδρε δύω περὶ τῶνδε κελεύομεν, ὥπερ ἀρίστω, πὺξ μάλʼ ἀνασχομένω πεπληγέμεν ᾧ δέ κ̓ Ἀπόλλων δώῃ καμμονίην … τῶν δὲ τοξοτῶν τὸν μὲν εὐξάμενον τῷ θεῷ κατορθῶσαι καὶ λαβεῖν τὰ πρωτεῖα· τὸν δὲ γαῦρον ἀστοχῆσαι τοῦ σκοποῦ, μὴ εὐξάμενον. καὶ μὴν οὐδʼ Ἀθηναίους εἰκός ἐστιν Ἀπόλλωνι καθιερῶσαι, τὸ γυμνάσιον ἀλόγως καὶ αὐτομάτως· ἀλλὰ παρʼ οὗ τὴν ὑγίειαν ἔχομεν θεοῦ, τοῦτον εὐεξίαν τε διδόναι καὶ ῥώμην ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀγῶνας ᾤοντο. κούφων δὲ καὶ βαρέων ἀγωνισμάτων ὄντων, πύκτῃ μὲν Ἀπόλλωνι Δελφούς, δρομαίῳ δὲ Κρῆτας ἱστοροῦσι θύειν καὶ Λακεδαιμονίους. σκύλων δὲ Πυθοῖ καὶ ἀκροθινίων καὶ τροπαίων ἀναθέσεις ἆρʼ, οὐ συμμαρτυροῦσιν ὅτι τῆς εἰς τὸ νικᾶν καὶ κρατεῖν δυνάμεως τῷ θεῷ τούτῳ πλεῖστον μέτεστιν; [¶3] 4.5. Whilst he was speaking, Caphisus, Theon’s son, interrupted him, and said: This discourse smells neither of history nor comment, but is taken out of the common topics of the Peripatetics, and endeavors to persuade; besides, you should, like the tragedians, raise your machine, and fright all that contradict you with the God. But the God, as indeed it is requisite he should be, is equally benevolent to all. Now let us, following Sospis (for he fairly leads the way), keep close to our subject, the palm-tree, which affords us sufficient scope for our discourse. The Babylonians celebrate this tree, as being useful to them three hundred and sixty several ways. But to us Greeks it is of very little use, but its want of fruit makes it proper for contenders in the games. For being the fairest, greatest, and best proportioned of all sorts of trees, it bears no fruit amongst us; but by reason of its strong constitution it spends all its nourishment (like an athlete) upon its body, and so has very little, and that very bad, remaining for seed. Beside all this, it hath something peculiar, which cannot be attributed to any other tree. The branch of a palm, if you put a weight upon it, doth not yield and bend downwards, but turns the contrary way, as if it resisted the pressing force. The like is to be observed in these exercises. For those who, through weakness or cowardice, yield to them, their adversaries oppress; but those who stoutly endure the encounter have not only their bodies, but their minds too, strengthened and increased. > Greek: 4.5. ἔτι δʼ αὐτοῦ λέγοντος, ὑπολαβὼν Κάφισος ὁ Θέωνος υἱός ἀλλὰ ταῦτὰ γʼ εἶπεν οὐχ·χ ἱστορίας οὐδὲ περιηγητικῶν ὄδωδε βιβλίων, ἀλλʼ ἐκ μέσων ἀνεσπασμένα τῶν Περιπατητικῶν τόπων εἰς τὸ πιθανὸν ἐπικεχείρηται, καὶ προσέτι τραγικῶς μηχανὴν ἄραντες, ὦ φίλοι, δεδίττεσθε τῷ θεῷ τοὺς ἀντιλέγοντας. ὁ μὲν οὖν θεός, ὥσπερ προσήκει, πᾶσιν ἴσος ἐστὶ μετʼ εὐμενείας· ἡμεῖς δʼ ἑπόμενοι Σώσπιδι καλῶς γὰρ ὑφηγεῖται πάλιν ἐχώμεθα τοῦ φοίνικος; ἀμφιλαφεῖς τῷ λόγῳ λαβὰς διδόντος. Βαβυλώνιοι μὲν γὰρ ὑμνοῦσι καὶ ᾄδουσιν ὡς ἑξήκοντα καὶ τριακόσια χρειῶν γένη παρέχον αὐτοῖς τὸ δένδρον· ἡμῖν δὲ τοῖς Ἕλλησιν ἣκιστα μέν ἐστι χρειώδης, ἀθλητικῆς δὲ φιλοσοφίας καὶ τὸ ἄκαρπον ἂν εἴη· κάλλιστος γὰρ ὢν καὶ μέγιστος ὑπʼ εὐταξίας οὐ γόνιμός ἐστι παρʼ ἡμῖν, ἀλλὰ τὴν τροφὴν ὥσπερ ἀθλητοῦ περὶ τὸ σῶμα τῆς εὐταξίας ἀναλισκούσης, σμικρὸν αὐτῷ καὶ φαῦλον εἰς σπέρμα περίεστιν. ἴδιον δὲ παρὰ ταῦτα πάντα καὶ μηδενὶ συμβεβηκὸς ἑτέρῳ τὸ μέλλον λέγεσθαι· φοίνικος γὰρ ξύλον ἂν ἄνωθεν ἐπιθεὶς βάρη πιέζῃς, οὐ κάτω θλιβόμενον ἐνδίδωσιν, ἀλλὰ κυρτοῦται πρὸς τοὐναντίον ὥσπερ ἀνθιστάμενον τῷ βιαζομένῳ. τοῦτο δὴ καὶ περὶ τοὺς ἀθλητικοὺς ἀγῶνάς ἐστι· τοὺς μὲν γὰρ ὑπʼ ἀσθενείας καὶ μαλακίας εἴκοντας αὐτοῖς πιέζουσι κάμπτοντες, οἱ δʼ ἐρρωμένως ὑπομένοντες τὴν ἄσκησιν οὐ μόνον τοῖς σώμασιν ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς φρονήμασιν ἐπαίρονται καὶ αὐξοῦνται. [¶4] 5.1. ONE demanded a reason why the sailors take up the water for their occasions out of the river Nile by night, and not by day. Some thought they feared the sun, which heating the water would make it more liable to putrefaction. For every thing that is heated or warmed becomes more easy to be changed, having already suffered when its proper quality was remitted. And cold constipating the parts seems to preserve every thing in its natural state, and water especially. For that the cold of water is naturally constringent is evident from snow, which keeps flesh from corrupting a long time. And heat, as it destroys the proper quality of other things, so of honey, for it being boiled is itself corrupted, though when raw it preserves other bodies from corruption. And that this is the cause, I have a very considerable evidence from standing pools; for in winter they are as wholesome as other water, but in summer they grow bad and noxious. Therefore the night seeming in some measure to resemble the winter, and the day the summer, they think the water that is taken up at night is less subject to be vitiated and changed. To these seemingly probable reasons another was added, which confirmed the ingenuity of the sailors by a very natural proof. For some said that they took up their water by night because then it was clear and undisturbed; but at daytime, when a great many fetched water together, and many boats were sailing and many beasts swimming upon the Nile, it grew thick and muddy, and in that condition it was more subject to corruption. For mixed bodies are more easily corrupted than simple and unmixed; for from mixture proceeds disagreement of the parts, from that disagreement a change, and corruption is nothing else but a certain change; and therefore painters call the mixing of their colors φθοράς, corrupting; and Homer expresseth dyeing by μιῆναι (to stain or contaminate). Commonly we call any thing that is simple and unmixed incorruptible and immortal. Now earth being mixed with water soonest corrupts its proper qualities, and makes it unfit for drinking; and therefore standing water stinks soonest, being continually filled with particles of earth, whilst running waters preserve themselves by either leaving behind or throwing off the earth that falls into them. And Hesiod justly commends “The water of a pure and constant spring.” For that water is wholesome which is not corrupted, and that is not corrupted which is pure and unmixed. And this opinion is very much confirmed from the difference of earths; for those springs that run through a mountainous, rocky ground are stronger than those which are cut through plains or marshes, because they do not take off much earth. Now the Nile running through a soft country, like the blood mingled with the flesh, is filled with sweet juices that are strong and very nourishing; yet it is thick and muddy, and becomes more so if disturbed. For motion mixeth the earthly particles with the liquid, which, because they are heavier, fall to the bottom as soon as the water is still and undisturbed. Therefore the sailors take up the water they are to use at night, by that means likewise preventing the sun, which always exhales and consumes the subtler and lighter particles of the liquid. > Greek: 5.1. αἰτίαν τις ἐζήτησε, διʼ ἣν οἱ ναύκληροι τὰς ὑδρείας ἐκ τοῦ Νείλου νυκτὸς οὐχ ἡμέρας ποιοῦνται. καί τισι μὲν ἐδόκουν τὸν ἣλιον δεδιέναι, τῷ προθερμαίνειν τὰ ὑγρὰ μᾶλλον εὔσηπτα ποιοῦντα· πᾶν γὰρ τὸ θερμανθὲν καὶ χλιανθὲν ἀεὶ πρὸς μεταβολὴν ἑτοιμότερόν ἐστι καὶ προπέπονθεν ἀνέσει τῆς ποιότητος ἡ δὲ ψυχρότης πιέζουσα συνέχειν δοκεῖ καὶ φυλάττειν ἕκαστον ἐν ᾧ πέφυκεν, οὐχ ἥκιστα δὲ τὸ ὕδωρ· ὕδατος γὰρ ἡ ψυχρότης σχετικόν ἐστι φύσει· δηλοῦσιν αἱ χιόνες, τὰ κρέα δύσσηπτα τηροῦσαι πολὺν χρόνον. ἡ δὲ θερμότης τὰ τʼ ἄλλα καὶ τὸ μέλι τῆς ἰδίας ποιότητος ἐξίστησι· φθείρεται γὰρ ἑψηθέν· ἂν δʼ ὠμὸν διαμένῃ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις πρὸς τὸ μὴ φθείρεσθαι βοηθεῖ. μεγίστην δὲ τῇ αἰτίᾳ πίστιν παρεῖχε τὰ λιμναῖα τῶν ὑδάτων· χειμῶνος γὰρ οὐδὲν διαφέροντα τῶν ἄλλων ποθῆναι, τοῦ θέρους γίγνεται πονηρὰ καὶ νοσώδη διὸ χειμῶνι μὲν τῆς νυκτὸς ἀναλογεῖν δοκούσης θέρει δὲ τῆς ἡμέρας, μᾶλλον οἴονται διαμένειν ἄτρεπτον καὶ ἀπαθὲς τὸ ὕδωρ, ἂν νυκτὸς λαμβάνηται. τούτοις ἐπιεικῶς οὖσι πιθανοῖς, ἐπανέκυψε λόγος ὥσπερ ἀτέχνῳ πίστει ναυτικῇ βεβαιούμενος ἐμπειρίᾳ· νυκτὸς γὰρ ἔφασαν λαμβάνειν τὸ ὕδωρ, ἔτι τοῦ ποταμοῦ καθεστῶτος καὶ ἡσυχάζοντος, ἡμέρας δέ, πολλῶν ἀνθρώπων ὑδρευομένων καὶ πλεόντων, πολλῶν δὲ θηρίων διαφερομένων, ἀναταραττόμενον γίγνεσθαι παχὺ καὶ γεῶδες τὸ δὲ τοιοῦτον εὔσηπτον εἶναι πάντα γὰρ τὰ μεμιγμένα τῶν ἀμίκτων ἐπισφαλέστερα πρὸς σῆψίν ἐστι· ποιεῖ γὰρ ἡ μῖξις μάχην, ἡ δὲ μάχη μεταβολήν, μεταβολὴ δέ τις ἡ σῆψις. διὸ τάς τε μίξεις τῶν χρωμάτων οἱ ζωγράφοι φθορὰς,· ὀνομάζουσι καὶ τὸ βάψαι μιῆναι κέκληκεν ὁ ποιητής, ἡ δὲ κοινὴ συνήθεια τὸ ἄμικτον καὶ καθαρὸν ἄφθαρτον καὶ ἀκήρατον, μάλιστα δὲ γῆ μιχθεῖσα πρὸς ὕδωρ ἐξίστησι καὶ φθείρει τὸ πότιμον καὶ οἰκεῖον· ὅθεν εὔσηπτα μᾶλλόν ἐστι τὰ στάσιμα καὶ κοῖλα, πολλῆς· ἀναπιμπλάμενα γῆς, τὰ δὲ ῥέοντα φεύγει καὶ διακρούεται τὴν προσφερομένην· καὶ καλῶς Ἡσίοδος ἐπῄνεσε κρήνης ἀενάου καὶ ἀπορρύτου, ἥ τʼ ἀθόλωτος. ὑγιεινὸν γὰρ τὸ ἀδιάφθορον ἀδιάφθορον δὲ τὸ ἄμικτον καὶ καθαρόν. οὐχ ἥκιστα δʼ αἱ τῆς γῆς διαφοραὶ τῷ λόγῳ μαρτυροῦσι· τὰ γὰρ ὀρεινὴν διεξιόντα γῆν καὶ λιθώδη στερρότερα τῶν ἑλείων καὶ πεδινῶν ἐστι· πολλὴν γὰρ οὐκ ἀποσπᾷ γῆν. ὁ δὲ Νεῖλος ὑπὸ μαλθακῆς χώρας περιεχόμενος, μᾶλλον δʼ ὥσπερ αἷμα σαρκὶ κεκραμένος, γλυκύτητος μὲν ἀπολαύει καὶ χυμῶν ἀναπίμπλαται δύναμιν ἐμβριθῆ καὶ τρόφιμον ἐχόντων, συμμιγὴς δὲ φέρεται καὶ θολερός· ἂν δʼ ἀναταράττηται, καὶ μᾶλλον· ἡ γὰρ κίνησις ἀναμίγνυσι τῷ ὑγρῷ τὸ γεῶδες ὅταν δʼ ἠρεμήσῃ, κάτω ῥέπον διὰ βάρος ἄπεισιν. ὅθεν ὑδρεύονται τῆς νυκτός, ἅμα καὶ τὸν ἥλιον προλαμβάνοντες, ὑφʼ οὗ τὸ λεπτότατον καὶ κουφότατον ἀεὶ τῶν ὑγρῶν αἰρόμενον διαφθείρεται. [¶5] 6.1. MY younger sons staying too long at the plays, and coming in too late to supper, Theon’s sons waggishly and jocosely called them supper-hinderers, night-suppers, and the like; and they in reply called them runners-to-supper. And one of the old men in the company said τρεχέδειπνος signified one that was too late for supper; because, when he found himself tardy, he mended his pace, and made more than common haste. And he told us a jest of Battus, Caesar’s jester, who called those that came late supper-lovers, because out of their love to entertainments, though they had business, they would not desire to be excused. > Greek: 6.1. τῶν υἱῶν μου τοὺς νεωτέρους ἐν θεάτρῳ προσδιατρίψαντας ἀκροάμασι καὶ βράδιον ἐπὶ τὸ δεῖπνον ἐλθόντας οἱ Θέωνος υἱοὶ κωλυσιδείπνους καὶ ζοφοδορπίδας καὶ τοιαῦτα μετὰ παιδιᾶς ἔσκωπτον· οἱ δʼ ἀμυνόμενοι πάλιν ἐκείνους τρεχεδείπνους ἀπεκάλουν. καί τις εἶπε τῶν πρεσβυτέρων τρεχέδειπνον εἶναι τὸν ὑστερίζοντα τοῦ δείπνου θᾶττον γὰρ ἢ βάδην ἐπειγόμενον, ὅταν βραδύνῃ, φαίνεσθαι. καὶ Γάλβα τοῦ παρὰ Καίσαρι γελωτοποιοῦ χάριεν ἀπεμνημόνευσεν ἐκεῖνος γὰρ ἐπιθυμοδείπνους ἐκάλει τοὺς ὀψὲ παραγιγνομένους ἐπὶ δεῖπνον· ἀσχολουμένους γὰρ αὐτοὺς ὅμως διὰ τὸ φιλόδειπνον οὐκ ἀπολέγεσθαι τὰς κλήσεις. [¶6] 6.2. And I said, that Polycharmus, a leading orator at Athens, in his apology for his way of living before the assembly, said: Besides a great many things which I could mention, fellow-citizens, when I was invited to supper, I never came the last man. For this is more democratical; and on the contrary, those that are forced to stay for others that come late are offended at them as uncivil and of an oligarchical temper. > Greek: 6.2. ἐγὼ δʼ εἶπον, ὅτι καὶ Πολύχαρμος ἐν Ἀθήναις δημαγωγῶν καὶ τοῦ βίου διδοὺς ἀπολογισμὸν ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ ταῦτʼ εἶπεν, ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τἀμά καὶ πρὸς τούτοις, οὐδέποτε κληθεὶς ἐπὶ δεῖπνον ὕστατος ἀφικόμην δημοτικὸν γὰρ εὖ μάλα δοκεῖ τὸ τοιοῦτο, καὶ τοὐναντίον οἱ ἄνθρωποι τοὺς ὀψὲ παραγιγνομένους ἀναγκαζόμενοι περιμένειν, ὡς ἀηδεῖς καὶ ὀλιγαρχικοὺς βαρύνονται. [¶7] 6.3. But Soclarus, in defence of my sons, said: Alcaeus (as the story goes) did not call Pittacus a night-supper for supping late, but for delighting in base and scandalous company. Heretofore to eat early was accounted scandalous, and such a meal was called ἀκράτισμα, from ἀκρασιά, intemperance. > Greek: 6.3. ὁ δὲ Σώκλαρος ὑπερδικῶν τῶν νεανίσκων ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ τὸν Πιττακόν ἔφη ζοφοδορπίδαν ὁ Ἀλκαῖος ὡς ὀψὲ δειπνοῦντα λέγεται προσειπεῖν, ἀλλʼ ὡς ἀδόξοις τὰ πολλὰ καὶ φαύλοις ἡδόμενον συμπόταις· τὸ μέντοι πρωίτερον δειπνεῖν ὄνειδος ἦν πάλαι, καὶ τὸ ἀκράτισμά φασιν οὕτω λέγεσθαι διὰ τὴν ἀκρασίαν. [¶8] 6.4. Then Theon interrupting him said: By no means, if we must trust those who have delivered down to us the ancients’ way of living. For they say that those being used to work, and very temperate in a morning, ate a bit of bread dipped in wine, and nothing else, and that they called that meal ἀκράτισμα, from the ἄκρατον (wine). Their supper they called ὄψον, because returning from their business they took it ὀψέ (late). Upon this we began to enquire whence those meals δεῖπνον and ἄριστον took their names. In Homer ἄριστον and ἀκράτισμα seem to be the same meal. For he says that Eumaeus provided ἄριστον by the break of day; and it is probable that ἄριστον was so called from αἴριον, because provided in the morning; and δεῖπνον was so named from διαναπαύειν τῶν πόνων, easing men from their labor. For men used to take their δεῖπνον after they had finished their business, or whilst they were about it. And this may be gathered from Homer, when he says, “Then when the woodman doth his supper dress.” But some perhaps will derive ἄριστον from ῥᾷστον, easiest provided, because that meal is usually made upon what is ready and at hand; and δεῖπνον from διαπεπονημένον, labored, because of the pains used in dressing it. > Greek: 6.4. ὑπολαβὼν δʼ ὁ Θέων ἥκιστʼ εἶπεν εἰ δεῖ τοῖς τὸν ἀρχαῖον βίον διαμνημονεύουσι πιστεύειν. φασὶ γὰρ ἐκείνους, ἐργατικοὺς ἅμα καὶ σώφρονας ὄντας, ἕωθεν ἐσθίειν ἄρτον ἐν ἀκράτῳ, καὶ μηθὲν ἄλλο διὸ τοῦτο μὲν ἀκράτισμα καλεῖν διὰ τὸν ἄκρατον, ὄψον δὲ τὸ παρασκευαζόμενον εἰς δεῖπνον αὐτοῖς· ὀψὲ γὰρ δειπνεῖν ἀπὸ τῶν πράξεων γενομένους. ἐκ τούτου καὶ τὸ δεῖπνον καὶ τὸ ἄριστον, ἀφʼ ὅτου λάβοι τοὔνομα, ζήτησιν παρέσχε. καὶ τὸ μὲν ἄριστον ἐδόκει τῷ ἀκρατίσματι ταὐτὸν εἶναι, μαρτυρεῖ τῷ Ὁμήρῳ λέγοντι τοὺς περὶ τὸν Εὔμαιον ἐντύνοντας ἄριστον ἃμ ἠοῖ φαινομένῃφι καὶ πιθανὸν ἐδόκει διὰ τὴν ἑωθινὴν ὥραν ἄριστον ὠνομάσθαι, καθάπερ τὸ αὔριον. τὸ δὲ δεῖπνον, ὅτι τῶν πόνων διαναπαύει· πράξαντες γάρ τι δειπνοῦσιν ἢ μεταξὺ πράττοντες·. ἔστι δὲ καὶ τοῦτο παρʼ Ὁμήρου λαβεῖν λέγοντος ἦμος δὲ δρυτόμος περ ἀνὴρ ὡπλίσσατο δεῖπνον. εἰ μὴ νὴ Δία τὸ ἄριστον αὐτόθεν ἀπραγμόνως προσφερόμενοι καὶ ῥᾳδίως ἀπὸ τῶν τυχόντων, τὸ δὲ δεῖπνον ἤδη παρεσκευασμένον, ἐκεῖνο μὲν ῥᾷστον, τοῦτο δʼ ὥσπερ διαπεπονημένον ἐκάλεσαν. [¶9] 6.5. My brother Lamprias, being of a scoffing, jeering nature, said: Since we are in a trifling humor, I can show that the Latin names of these meals are a thousand times more proper than the Greek; δεῖπνον, suppler, they call coena (κοῖνα διὰ τὴν κοινωνίαν), from community; because they took their ἄριστον by themselves, but their coena with their friends. Ἄριστον, dinner, they call prandium, from the time of the day; for ἔνδιον signifies noon-tide, and to rest after dinner is expressed by ἐνδιάζειν; or else by prandium they denote a bit taken in the morning, πρὶν ἐνδεεῖς γενέσθαι, before they have need of any. And not to mention stragula from στρώματα, vinum from οἶνος, oleum from ἔλαιον, mel from μἐλι, gustare from γεύσασθαι, propinare from προπίνειν, and a great many more words which they have plainly borrowed from the Greeks,—who can deny but that they have taken their comessatio, banqueting, from our κῶμος, and miscere, to mingle, from the Greeks too? Thus in Homer, “She in a bowl herself mixt (ἔμισγε) generous wine.” They call a table mensam, from τῆς ἐν μέσω θέσεως, placing it in the middle; bread, panem, from satisfying πεῖναν, hunger; a garland, coronam, from κάρηνον, the head;—and Homer somewhat likens κράνος, a head-piece, to a garland;—caedere to beat, from δέρειν; and dentes, teeth, from ὀδόντας; lips they call labra, from λαμβάνειν τῆν βόραν δι’ αὐτῶν, taking our victuals with them. Therefore we must either hear such fooleries as these without laughing, or not give them so ready access by means of words.... > Greek: 6.5. ὑβριστὴς δʼ ὢν καὶ φιλόγελως φύσει ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἡμῶν Λαμπρίας ἔφη μυρίῳ τὰ Ῥωμαϊκὰ δείξειν οἰκειότερα τῶν Ἑλληνικῶν ὀνόματα, τοσαύτης ἀδείας τῷ φλυαρεῖν δεδομένης. τὸ μὲν γὰρ δεῖπνόν φασι κοῖνα διὰ τὴν κοινωνίαν καλεῖσθαι· καθʼ ἑαυτοὺς γὰρ ἠρίστων ἐπιεικῶς οἱ πάλαι Ῥωμαῖοι συνδειπνοῦντες τοῖς φίλοις. τὸ δʼ ἄριστον ἐκλήθη πράνδιον ἀπὸ τῆς ὥρας· ἔνδιον γὰρ τὸ δειλινόν, καὶ τὴν μετʼ ἄριστον ἀνάπαυσιν ἐνδιάζειν· ἢ πρωινήν τινα σημαίνοντες ἐδωδὴν ἢ τροφήν, ᾗ χρῶνται πρὶν ἐνδεεῖς γενέσθαι. καὶ μὴν ἵνʼ ἀφῶ τὰ στρώματα ἔφη τὸν οἶνον, τὸ μέλι, τοὔλαιον, τὸ γεύσασθαι, τὸ προπιεῖν, ἕτερα πάμπολλα τοῖς αὐτοῖς ὀνόμασι καταφανῶς χρώμενα· τίς οὐκ ἂν εἴποι ἐπὶ κῶμον Ἑλληνικῶς κωμισσᾶτον λέγεσθαι, καὶ τὸ κεράσαι μισκῆραι καθʼ Ὅμηρον, ἡ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐν κρητῆρι μελίφρονα οἶνον ἔμισγε καί μῆνσαν μὲν τὴν τράπεζαν ἀπὸ τῆς· ἐν μέσῳ θέσεως, πᾶνεμ δὲ τὸν ἄρτον ὡς ἀνιέντα τὴν πεῖναν τὸν δὲ στέφανον κορῶναν ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς, ὡς Ὅμηρος τὸ κράνος εἴκασέ που στεφάνῃ· τὸ δὲ καῖρε δέρε, καί δέντης τοὺς ὀδόντας, καί λάβρα τὰ χείλη ἀπὸ τοῦ λαμβάνειν τὴν βορὰν διʼ αὐτῶν; ἢ καὶ τούτων οὖν ἀκουστέον ἀγελαστὶ λεγομένων, ἢ μηδʼ ἐκείνοις εὐκόπως οὕτως διὰ τῶν ὀνομάτων ὥσπερ τριγχίων τὰ μὲν ἐκκόπτουσι μέρη τὰ δὲ καθαιροῦσι παραδύσεις διδῶμεν. [¶10] 7.1. SYLLA the Carthaginian, upon my return to Rome after a long absence, gave me a welcoming supper, as the Romans call it, and invited some few other friends, and among the rest, one Lucius an Etrurian, the scholar of Moderatus the Pythagorean. He seeing my friend Philinus ate no flesh, began (as the opportunity was fair) to talk of Phythagoras; and affirmed that he was a Tuscan, not because his father, as others have said, was one, but because he himself was born, bred, and taught in Tuscany. To confirm this, he brought considerable arguments from such symbols as these:—As soon as you are risen, ruffle the bedclothes; leave not the print of the pot in the ashes; receive not a swallow into your house; never step over a besom; nor keep in your house creatures that have hooked claws. For these precepts of the. Pythagoreans the Tuscans only, as he said, carefully observe. > Greek: 7.1. Σύλλας ὁ Καρχηδόνιος εἰς Ῥώμην ἀφικομένῳ μοι διὰ χρόνου τὸ ὑποδεκτικόν, ὡς Ῥωμαῖοι καλοῦσι, καταγγείλας δεῖπνον ἄλλους τε τῶν ἑταίρων παρέλαβεν οὐ πολλοὺς καὶ Μοδεράτου τινὰ τοῦ Πυθαγορικοῦ μαθητήν, ὄνομα Λεύκιον, ἀπὸ Τυρρηνίας. οὗτος οὖν ὁρῶν Φιλῖνον τὸν ἡμέτερον ἐμψύχων ἀπεχόμενον, οἷον εἰκός, εἰς τοὺς Πυθαγόρου λόγους προήχθη· καὶ Τυρρηνὸν ἀπέφηνεν, οὐ πατρόθεν, ὥσπερ ἕτεροί τινες, ἀλλʼ αὐτὸν ἐν Τυρρηνίᾳ καὶ γεγονέναι καὶ τεθράφθαι καὶ πεπαιδεῦσθαι τὸν Πυθαγόραν ἰσχυριζόμενος οὐχ ἣκιστα τοῖς συμβόλοις, οἷόν ἐστι καὶ τὸ συνταράττειν ἀναστάντας ἐξ εὐνῆς τὰ στρώματα καὶ χύτρας τύπον ἀρθείσης ἐν σποδῷ μὴ ἀπολείπειν ἀλλὰ συγχεῖν, καὶ χελιδόνας οἰκίᾳ μὴ δέχεσθαι μηδὲ σάρον ὑπερβαίνειν μηδὲ ἑυνα γαμψώνυχον οἴκοι τρέφειν· ταῦτα γὰρ ἔφη τῶν Πυθαγορικῶν λεγόντων καὶ γραφόντων, μόνους ἔργῳ Τυρρηνοὺς ἐξευλαβεῖσθαι καὶ φυλάττειν. [¶11] 7.2. Lucius having thus said, that precept about the swallow seemed to be most unaccountable, it being a harmless and kind animal; and therefore it seemed strange that that should be forbid the house, as well as the hooked-clawed animals, which are ravenous, wild, and bloody. Nor did Lucius himself approve that only interpretation of the ancients, who say, this symbol aims directly at backbiters and tale-bearing whisperers. For the swallow whispers not at all; it chatters indeed, and is noisy, but not more than a pie, a partridge, or a hen. What then, said Sylla, is it upon the old fabulous account of killing her son, that they deny the swallow entertainment, by that means showing their dislike to those passions which (as the story goes) made Tereus and Procne and Philomel act and suffer such wicked and abominable things? And even to this day they call the birds Daulides. And Gorgias the sophister, when a swallow muted upon him, looked upon her and said, Philomel, this was not well done. Or perhaps this is all groundless; for the nightingale, though concerned in the same tragedy, we willingly receive. > Greek: 7.2. λεχθέντων δὲ τούτων ὑπὸ τοῦ Λευκίου, μάλιστα τὸ τῶν χελιδόνων ἀτοπίαν ἔχειν ἐδόκει, ζῷον ἀσινὲς καὶ φιλάνθρωπον εἴργεσθαι τοῖς γαμψωνύχοις ὁμοίως, ἀγριωτάτοις οὖσι καὶ φονικωτάτοις καὶ γὰρ ᾧ μόνῳ τινὲς τῶν παλαιῶν ᾤοντο λύειν τὸ σύμβολον, ὡς πρὸς τοὺς διαβόλους καὶ ψιθύρους τῶν συνήθων ᾐνιγμένον, οὐδʼ αὐτὸς ὁ Λεύκιος ἐδοκίμαζεν· ψιθυρισμοῦ μὲν γὰρ ἥκιστα χελιδόνι μέτεστι, λαλιᾶς δὲ καὶ πολυφωνίας οὐ μᾶλλον ἢ κίτταις καὶ πέρδιξι καὶ ἀλεκτορίσιν. ἆρʼ οὖν ὁ Σύλλας ἔφη διὰ τὸν μῦθον τὸν περὶ τὴν παιδοφονίαν ἀφοσιοῦνται τὰς χελιδόνας, ἄπωθεν ἡμᾶς πρὸς ἐκεῖνα τὰ πάθη διαβάλλοντες, ἐξ ὧν τὸν Τηρέα καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας τὰ μὲν δρᾶσαι τὰ δὲ παθεῖν ἄθεσμα καὶ σχέτλια λέγουσι, καὶ μέχρι νῦν Δαυλίδας ὀνομάζουσι τὰς ὄρνιθας; Γοργίας δʼ ὁ σοφιστής, χελιδόνος ἀφείσης ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ἀπόπατον, ἀναβλέψας πρὸς αὐτήν οὐ καλὰ ταῦτʼ εἶπεν ὦ Φιλομήλα ἢ καὶ τοῦτο κενόν ἐστι; τὴν γὰρ ἀηδόνα, ταῖς αὐταῖς τραγῳδίαις ἔνοχον οὖσαν, οὐκ ἀπείργουσιν οὐδὲ ξενηλατοῦσιν ἴσως ἔφην ἐγὼ καὶ ταῦτʼ ἔχει λόγον, ὦ Σύλλα. [¶12] 7.3. Perhaps, sir, said I, what you have alleged may be some reason; but pray consider whether first they do not hate the swallow upon the same account that they abhor hook-clawed animals. For the swallow feeds on flesh; and grasshoppers, which are sacred and musical, they chiefly devour and prey upon. And, as Aristotle observes, they fly near the surface of the earth to pick up the little animals. Besides, that alone of all house-animals makes no return for her entertainment. The stork, though she is neither covered, fed, nor defended by us, yet pays for the place where she builds, going about and killing the efts, snakes, and other venomous creatures. But the swallow, though she receives all those several kindnesses from us, yet, as soon as her young are fledged, flies away faithless and ungrateful; and (which is the worst of all) of all house-animals, the fly and the swallow only never grow tame, suffer a man to touch them, keep company with or learn of him. And the fly is so shy because often hunted and driven away; but the swallow naturally hates man, suspects, and dares not trust any that would tame her. And therefore,—if we must not look on the outside of these things, but opening them view the representations of some things in others,-Pythagoras, setting the swallow for an example of a wandering, unthankful man, adviseth us not to take those who come to us for their own need and upon occasion into our familiarity, and let them partake of the most sacred things, our house and fire. > Greek: 7.3. σκόπει δὲ μὴ πρῶτον μέν, ᾧ λόγῳ τὸ γαμψώνυχον οὐ προσίενται, τούτῳ καὶ ἡ χελιδὼν ἀδοξεῖ παρʼ αὐτοῖς· σαρκοφάγος γάρ ἐστι καὶ μάλιστα τοὺς τέττιγας, ἱεροὺς καὶ μουσικοὺς ὄντας, ἀποκτίννυσι καὶ σιτεῖται· καὶ πρόσγειος αὐτῆς ἡ πτῆσίς ἐστι, τὰ μικρὰ καὶ λεπτὰ τῶν ζῴων ἀγρευούσης, ὥς φησιν Ἀριστοτέλης· ἔπειτα μόνη τῶν ὁμωροφίων ἀσύμβολος ἐνοικεῖ καὶ ἀτελὴς ἐνδιαιτᾶται. καίτοι ὅ γε πελαργὸς οὔτε σκέπης μετέχων οὔτʼ ἀλέας οὔτʼ ἀδείας τινὸς ἢ βοηθείας παρʼ ἡμῖν, ἐπίβαθρόν τι γῆς δίδωσι· τὰ γὰρ ἐπίβουλα καὶ πολέμια τῶν ἀνθρώπων, φρύνους καὶ ὄφεις, ἀναιρεῖ περιιών· ἡ δὲ πάντων τυχοῦσα τούτων, ὅταν ἐκθρέψῃ καὶ τελειώσῃ τοὺς νεοσσούς, ἄπεισιν ἀχάριστος γενομένη καὶ ἄπυστος. ὃ δὲ δεινότατόν ἐστι, μόνα τῶν συνοίκων μυῖα καὶ χελιδὼν οὐχ ἡμεροῦται πρὸς ἄνθρωπον οὐδʼ ἀνέχεται ψαῦσιν οὐδʼ ὁμιλίαν οὐδὲ κοινωνίαν ἔργου τινὸς ἢ παιδιᾶς, ἡ μὲν μυῖα φοβουμένη τῷ πάσχειν κακῶς καὶ διασοβεῖσθαι πολλάκις, ἡ δὲ χελιδὼν τῷ φύσει μισάνθρωπος εἶναι καὶ διʼ ἀπιστίαν ἀτιθάσευτος ἀεὶ καὶ ὕποπτος. εἴπερ οὖν δεῖ τὰ τοιαῦτα μὴ κατʼ εὐθυωρίαν, ἀλλʼ ἀνακλάσαντας ὥσπερ ἐμφάσεις ἑτέρων ἐν ἑτέροις θεωρεῖν, παράδειγμα τὰς χελιδόνας τοῦ ἀβεβαίου καὶ ἀχαρίστου θέμενος οὐκ ἐᾷ τοὺς ἕνεκα καιροῦ προσφερομένους καὶ ὑποδυομένους ποιεῖσθαι συνήθεις ἐπὶ πλέον, ἑστίας καὶ οἴκου καὶ τῶν ἁγιωτάτων μεταδιδόντας. [¶13] 7.4. This discourse of mine gave the company encouragement to proceed, so they attempted other symbols, and gave moral interpretations of them. Philinus said, that the precept of blotting out the print of the pot instructed us not to leave any plain mark of anger, but, as soon as ever the passion hath done boiling, to lay aside all thoughts of malice and revenge. That symbol which adviseth us to ruffle the bedclothes seemed to some to have no secret meaning, but to be in itself very evident; for it is not decent that the impression and (as it were) stamped image should be left to be seen by others, in the place where a man hath lain with his wife. But Sylla thought the symbol was rather intended to prevent men’s sleeping in the daytime, all the conveniences for sleeping being taken away in the morning as soon as we are up. For night is the time for sleep, and in the day we should rise and follow our affairs, and not suffer so much as the print of our body in the bed, since a man asleep is of no more use than one dead. And this interpretation seems to be confirmed by that other precept, in which the Pythagoreans advise their followers not to take off any man’s burthen from him, but to lay on more, as not countenancing sloth and laziness in any. > Greek: 7.4. ταῦτʼ εἰπὼν ἐγώ μοι δοκῶ ποιῆσαι λόγων ἄδειαν· εὐθαρσῶς γὰρ ἤδη τοῖς ἄλλοις συμβόλοις προσῆγον, ἠθικὰς ἐπιεικῶς ποιούμενοι τὰς λύσεις αὐτῶν. τῆς μὲν γὰρ χύτρας τὸν τύπον ἔφη Φιλῖνος ἀφανίζειν αὐτούς, διδάσκοντας ὅτι δεῖ μηδὲν ὀργῆς ἔνδηλον ἀπολείπειν ἴχνος, ἀλλʼ ὅταν ἀναζέσασα παύσηται καὶ καταστῇ, πᾶσαν ἐξαληλίφθαι μνησικακίαν. ἡ δὲ τῶν στρωμάτων συντάραξις ἐνίοις μὲν ἐδόκει μηθὲν ἔχειν ἀποκεκρυμμένον, ἀλλʼ αὐτόθεν φαίνεσθαι τὸ μὴ πρέπον, ἀνδρὶ συγκεκοιμημένης γαμετῆς, χώραν ὁρᾶσθαι καὶ τύπον ὥσπερ ἐκμαγεῖον ἀπολειπόμενον. ὁ δὲ Σύλλας μᾶλλον εἴκαζε κοιμήσεως μεθημερινῆς ἀποτροπὴν εἶναι τὸ σύμβολον, ἀναιρουμένης ἕωθεν εὐθὺς τῆς πρὸς τὸν ὕπνον παρασκευῆς· ὡς νυκτὸς ἀναπαύεσθαι δεῖν, ἡμέρας δὲ πράττειν ἀναστάντας καὶ μὴ περιορᾶν οἷον ἴχνος πτώματος· οὐδὲν γὰρ ἀνδρὸς ὄφελος καθεύδοντος, ὥσπερ οὐδὲ τεθνηκότος. τούτοις δὲ συμμαρτυρεῖν ἐδόκει καὶ τὸ παρεγγυᾶν τοὺς Πυθαγορικοὺς τοῖς ἑταίροις μηδενὸς; ἀφαιρεῖν βάρος, συνεπιτιθέναι δὲ καὶ συνεπιφορτίζειν, ὡς μηδεμίαν σχολὴν μηδὲ ῥᾳστώνην ἀποδεχομένους. [¶14] 8.1. OUR former discourse Lucius neither reprehended nor approved, but, sitting silent and musing, gave us the hearing. Then Empedocles addressing his discourse to Sylla, said: If our friend Lucius is displeased with the discourse, it is time for us to leave off; but if these are some of their mysteries which ought to be concealed, yet I think this may be lawfully divulged, that they more cautiously abstain from fish than from other animals. For this is said of the ancient Pythagoreans; and even now I have met with Alexicrates’s scholars, who will eat and kill and even sacrifice some of the other animals, but will never taste fish. Tyndares the Spartan said, they spared fish because they had so great a regard for silence, and they called fish ἔλλοπας, because they had their voice shut up (ἰλλομένην); and my namesake Empedocles advised one who left the school of Pythagoras to shut up his mind,... and they thought silence to be divine, since the Gods without any voice discover their meaning to the wise by their works. > Greek: 8.1. ἐπεὶ δὲ τούτων λεγομένων ὁ Λεύκιος οὔτε ψέγων οὔτʼ ἐπαινῶν, ἀλλʼ ἡσυχίαν ἄγων, σιγῇ δὲ καὶ καθʼ ἑαυτὸν ὁρῶν ἤκουεν, ὀνομαστὶ καλέσας τὸν Σύλλαν ὁ Ἐμπεδοκλῆς Λεύκιος εἶπεν ὁ ἑταῖρος εἰ μὲν ἄχθεται τοῖς λεγομένοις, ὥρα πεπαῦσθαι καὶ ἡμᾶς· εἰ δὲ ταῦτα τῶν ὑπὸ τὴν ἐχεμυθίαν ἐστίν, ἀλλʼ ἐκεῖνό γε δοκῶ μήτʼ ἄρρητον εἶναι μήτʼ ἀνέξοιστον πρὸς ἑτέρους, ὅτι δὴ μάλιστα τῶν ἰχθύων ἀπείχοντο· καὶ γὰρ ἱστορεῖται τοῦτο περὶ τῶν παλαιῶν Πυθαγορικῶν καὶ τοῦ καθʼ ἡμᾶς Ἀλεξικράτους ἐνέτυχον μαθηταῖς, ἄλλα μὲν ἔστιν ὅτε μετρίως προσφερομένοις καὶ νὴ Δία θύουσιν, ἰχθύος δὲ μὴ γεύσασθαι τὸ παράπαν ὑπομένουσιν. ἣν δὲ Τυνδάρης ὁ Λακεδαιμόνιος αἰτίαν … ἔλεγε δὲ τῆς ἐχεμυθίας τοῦτο γέρας εἶναι, τοὺς ἰχθῦς καλεῖν ἔλλοπας, οἷον ἰλλομένην τὴν ὄπα καὶ καθειργομένην ἔχοντας· καὶ τὸν ὁμώνυμον ἐμοὶ τῷ παυσαμένῳ Πυθαγορικῶς περαίνειν τὰ δόγματα στέγουσαι φρενὸς ἀλλʼ ὅπερ ἐλάσσω, καὶ ὅλως θεῖον ἡγεῖσθαι τὴν σιωπὴν τοὺς ἄνδρας, ἅτε δὴ καὶ τῶν θεῶν ἔργοις καὶ πράγμασιν ἄνευ φωνῆς ἐπιδεικνυμένων ἃ βούλονται τοῖς ξυνετοῖς. [¶15] 8.2. Then Lucius gravely and composedly saying, that perhaps the true reason was obscure and not to be divulged, yet they had liberty to venture upon probable conjectures, Theon the grammarian began thus: To demonstrate that Pythagoras was a Tuscan is a great and no easy task. But it is confessed that he conversed a long time with the wise men of Egypt, and imitated a great many of the rites and institutions of the priests, for instance, that about beans. For Herodotus delivers, that the Egyptians neither set nor eat beans, nay, cannot endure to see them; and we all know, that even now the priests eat no fish; and the stricter sort eat no salt, and refuse all meat that is seasoned with it. Various reasons are given for this; but the only true reason is hatred to the sea, as being a disagreeable, or rather naturally a destructive element to man. For they do not imagine that the Gods, as the Stoics did that the stars, were nourished by it. But, on the contrary, they think that the father and preserver of their country, whom they call the deflux of Osiris, is lost in it; and when they bewail him as born on the left hand, and destroyed in the right-hand parts, they intimate to us the ending and corruption of their Nile by the sea. Therefore they do not believe that its water is wholesome, or that any creature produced or nourished in it can be clean or wholesome food for man, since it breathes not the common air, and feeds not on the same food with him. And the air that nourisheth and preserves all other things is destructive to them, as if their production and life were unnecessary and against Nature; nor should we wonder that they think animals bred in the sea to be disagreeable to their bodies, and not fit to mix with their blood and spirits, since when they meet a pilot they will not speak to him, because he gets his living by the sea. > Greek: 8.2. τοῦ δὲ Λευκίου πράως καὶ ἀφελῶς εἰπόντος, ὡς ὁ μὲν ἀληθὴς ἴσως λόγος καὶ νῦν ἀπόθετος καὶ ἀπόρρητος εἴη, τοῦ δὲ πιθανοῦ καὶ εἰκότος οὐ φθόνος ἀποπειρᾶσθαι· πρῶτος Θέων ὁ γραμματικὸς εἶπεν, ὅτι Τυρρηνὸν μὲν ἀποδεῖξαι Πυθαγόραν μέγʼ ἔργον εἴη καὶ οὐ ῥᾴδιον· Αἰγυπτίων δὲ τοῖς σοφοῖς συγγενέσθαι πολὺν χρόνον ὁμολογεῖται ζηλῶσαὶ τε πολλὰ καὶ δοκιμάσαι μάλιστα τῶν περὶ τὰς ἱερατικὰς ἁγιστείας, οἷόν ἐστι καὶ τὸ τῶν κυάμων οὔτε γὰρ σπείρειν οὔτε σιτεῖσθαι κύαμον Αἰγυπτίους, ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὁρῶντας ἀνέχεσθαί φησιν ὁ Ἡρόδοτος. ἰχθύων δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἱερεῖς ἴσμεν ἔτι νῦν ἀπεχομένους· ἁγνεύοντες δὲ καὶ τὸν ἅλα φεύγουσιν, ὡς μήτʼ ὄψον προσφέρεσθαι μήτʼ ἄλλο τι ἁλσὶ θαλαττίοις μεμιγμένον. ἄλλοι μὲν οὖν ἄλλας αἰτίας φέρουσιν· ἔστι δʼ ἀληθὴς μία, τὸ πρὸς τὴν θάλατταν ἔχθος, ὡς ἀσύμφυλον ἡμῖν καὶ ἀλλότριον μᾶλλον δʼ ὅλως πολέμιον τῇ φύσει τοῦ ἀνθρώπου στοιχεῖον. οὐ γὰρ τρέφεσθαι τοὺς θεοὺς ἀπʼ αὐτῆς, ὥσπερ οἱ Στωικοὶ τοὺς ἀστέρας ὑπολαμβάνουσιν, ἀλλὰ τοὐναντίον εἰς ταύτην ἀπόλλυσθαι τὸν πατέρα καὶ σωτῆρα τῆς χώρας, ὃν Ὀσίριδος ἀπορροὴν ὀνομάζουσι. καὶ θρηνοῦντες τὸν ἐν τοῖς ἀριστεροῖς μέρεσι γεννώμενον ἐν δὲ τοῖς δεξιοῖς φθειρόμενον, αἰνίττονται τὴν τοῦ Νείλου τελευτὴν καὶ φθορὰν ἐν τῇ θαλάττῃ γιγνομένην. ὅθεν οὔτε τὸ ὕδωρ πότιμον αὐτῆς, οὔθʼ ὧν τρέφει τι καὶ γεννᾷ καθαρὸν ἡγοῦνται καὶ οἰκεῖον, οἷς μήτε πνεύματος κοινοῦ μήτε συμφύλου νομῆς μέτεστιν, ἀλλʼ ὁ σῴζων πάντα τἄλλα καὶ τρέφων ἀήρ, ἐκείνοις ὀλέθριός ἐστιν, ὡς παρὰ φύσιν καὶ χρείαν γεγονόσι καὶ ζῶσιν. οὐ δεῖ δὲ θαυμάζειν, εἰ τὰ ζῷα διὰ τὴν θάλατταν ἀλλότρια καὶ οὐκ ἐπιτήδεια καταμίγνυσθαι εἰς αἷμα καὶ πνεῦμα νομίζουσιν αὑτῶν, οἵ γε μηδὲ τοὺς κυβερνήτας ἀξιοῦσι προσαγορεύειν ἀπαντῶντες, ὅτι τὸν βίον ἀπὸ θαλάττης ἔχουσι. [¶16] 8.3. Sylla commended this discourse, and added concerning the Pythagoreans, that they then chiefly tasted flesh when they sacrificed to the Gods. Now no fish is ever offered in sacrifice. I, after they had done, said that many, both philosophers and unlearned, considering with how many good things it furnisheth and makes our life more comfortable, take the sea’s part against the Egyptians. But that the Pythagoreans should abstain from fish because they are not of the same kind, is ridiculous and absurd; nay, to butcher and feed on other animals, because they bear a nearer relation to us, would be a most inhuman and Cyclopean return. And they say that Pythagoras bought a draught of fishes, and presently commanded the fishers to let them all out of the net; and this shows that he did not hate or not mind fishes, as things of another kind and destructive to man, but that they were his dearly beloved creatures, since he paid a ransom for their freedom. Therefore the tenderness and humanity of those philosophers suggest a quite contrary reason, and I am apt to believe that they spare fishes to instruct men, or to accustom themselves to acts of justice; for other creatures generally give men cause to afflict them, but fishes neither do nor are capable of doing us harm. And it is easy to show, both from the writings and religion of the ancients, that they thought it a great sin not only to eat but to kill an animal that did them no harm. But afterwards, being necessitated by the spreading multitude of men, and commanded (as they say) by the Delphic oracle to prevent the total decay of corn and fruit, they began to sacrifice, yet they were so disturbed and concerned at the action, that they called it ἔρδειν and ῥέζειν (to do), as if they did some strange thing in killing an animal; and they are very careful not to kill the beast before the wine has been thrown upon his head and he nods in token of consent. So very cautious are they of injustice. And not to mention other considerations, were no chickens (for instance) or hares killed, in a short time they would so increase that there could be no living. And now it would be a very hard matter to put down the eating of flesh, which necessity first introduced, since pleasure and luxury hath espoused it. But the water animals neither consuming any part of our air or water, or devouring the fruit, but as it were encompassed by another world, and having their own proper bounds, which it is death for them to pass, they afford our belly no pretence at all for their destruction; and therefore to catch or be greedy after fish is plain deliciousness and luxury, which upon no just reason disturb the sea and dive into the deep. For we cannot call the mullet corn-destroying, the trout grape-eating, nor the barbel or sea-pike seed-gathering, as we do some land-animals, signifying their hurtfulness by these epithets. Nay, those little mischiefs which we complain of in these house-creatures, a weasel or fly, none can justly lay upon the greatest fish. Therefore the Pythagoreans, confining themselves not only by the law which forbids them to injure men, but also by Nature, which commands them to do violence to nothing, fed on fish very little, or rather not at all. But suppose there were no injustice in this case, yet to delight in fish would argue daintiness and luxury; because they are such costly and unnecessary diet. Therefore Homer doth not only make the Greeks eat no fish whilst encamped near the Hellespont, but he mentions not any sea-provision that the dissolute Phaeacians or luxurious wooers had, though both islanders. And Ulysses’s mates, though they sailed over so much sea, as long as they had any provision left, never let down a hook or net. “But when the victuals of their ship was spent,” a little before they fell upon the oxen of the Sun, they caught fish, not to please their wanton appetite, but to satisfy their hunger,— “With crooked hooks, for cruel hunger gnawed.” The same necessity therefore made them catch fish and devour the oxen of the Sun. Therefore not only among the Egyptians and Syrians, but Greeks too, to abstain from fish was a piece of sanctity, they avoiding (as I think) a superfluous curiosity in diet, as well as being just. > Greek: 8.3. ταῦτʼ ἐπαινέσας ὁ Σύλλας προσεῖπε περὶ τῶν Πυθαγορικῶν, ὡς μάλιστα μὲν ἐγεύοντο τῶν ἱεροθύτων ἀπαρξάμενοι τοῖς θεοῖς· ἰχθύων δὲ θύσιμος οὐδεὶς οὐδʼ ἱερεύσιμός ἐστιν. ἐγὼ δέ, παυσαμένων ἐκείνων, Αἰγυπτίοις μὲν ἔφην ὑπὲρ τῆς θαλάττης πολλοὺς μαχεῖσθαι καὶ φιλοσόφους καὶ ἰδιώτας, ἐκλογιζομένους ὅσοις ἀγαθοῖς εὐπορώτερον καὶ ἡδίω τὸν βίον ἡμῶν πεποίηκεν. ἡ δὲ τῶν Πυθαγορικῶν πρὸς τὸν ἰχθῦν ἐκεχειρία διὰ τὸ μὴ σύμφυλον ἄτοπος καὶ γελοία μᾶλλον δʼ ἀνήμερος ὅλως καὶ Κυκλώπειόν τι τοῖς ἄλλοις γέρας νέμουσα τῆς συγγενείας καὶ τῆς οἰκειότητος, ὀψοποιουμένοις καὶ ἀναλισκομένοις ὑπʼ αὐτῶν. καίτοι βόλον ἰχθύων πρίασθαὶ ποτέ φασι τὸν Πυθαγόραν, εἶτʼ ἀφεῖναι κελεῦσαι τὴν σαγήνην, οὐχ ὡς ἀλλοφύλων καὶ πολεμίων ἀμελήσαντα τῶν ἰχθύων ἀλλʼ ὡς ὑπὲρ φίλων καὶ οἰκείων γεγονότων αἰχμαλώτων λύτρα καταβαλόντα. διὸ τοὐναντίον ἔφην ὑπονοεῖν τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἡ ἐπιείκεια καὶ πραότης δίδωσι, μήποτʼ ἄρα μελέτης ἕνεκεν τοῦ δικαίου καὶ συνηθείας ἐφείδοντο μάλιστα τῶν ἐναλίων, ὡς τἄλλα· μὲν αἰτίαν ἁμωσγέπως παρέχοντα τοῦ κακῶς πάσχειν τἀνθρώπῳ, τοὺς δʼ ἰχθῦς οὐδὲν ἀδικοῦντας ἡμᾶς, οὐδʼ εἰ πάνυ πεφύκασι δυναμένους. πάρεστι δὲ τῶν τε λόγων καὶ τῶν ἱερῶν εἰκάζειν τοῖς παλαιοῖς, ὡς οὐ μόνον ἐδωδὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ φόνον ζῴου μὴ βλάπτοντος ἔργον ἐναγὲς καὶ ἄθεσμον ἐποιοῦντο· πλήθει δʼ ἐπιχεομένῳ καθειργόμενοι, καὶ χρησμοῦ τινος, ὥς φασιν, ἐκ Δελφῶν ἐπικελευσαμένου τοῖς καρποῖς ἀρήγειν φθειρομένοις, ἤρξαντο μὲν καθιερεύειν· ἔτι δʼ ὅμως ταραττόμενοι καὶ δειμαίνοντες ἔρδειν μὲν ἐκάλουν καὶ ῥέζειν, ὥς τι μέγα δρῶντες τὸ θύειν ἔμψυχον· ἄχρι δὲ νῦν παραφυλάττουσιν ἰσχυρῶς τὸ μὴ σφάττειν, πρὶν ἐπινεῦσαι κατασπενδόμενον. οὕτως εὐλαβεῖς πρὸς ἅπασαν ἀδικίαν ἦσαν. καίτοι, ἵνα τἄλλα· ἐάσωμεν, εἰ μόνον ἀλεκτορίδων ἀπείχοντο πάντες ἢ δασυπόδων, οὐκ ἂν ἦν χρόνου βραχέος ὑπὸ πλήθους οὔτε πόλιν οἰκεῖν οὔτε καρπῶν ὄνασθαι· διὸ τῆς ἀνάγκης ἐπαιγούσης τὸ πρῶτον, ἤδη καὶ διʼ ἡδονὴν ἔργον ἐστὶ παῦσαι τὴν σαρκοφαγίαν. τὸ δὲ τῶν θαλαττίων γένος οὔτʼ ἀέρα τὸν αὐτὸν οὔθʼ ὕδωρ ἀναλίσκον ἡμῖν οὐδὲ καρποῖς προσιόν, ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ ἑτέρῳ κόσμῳ περιεχόμενον καὶ χρώμενον ὅροις ἰδίοις, οὓς ὑπερβαίνουσιν αὐτοῖς ἐπίκειται δίκη ὁ θάνατος, οὔτε μικρὰν οὔτε μεγάλην τῇ γαστρὶ πρόφασιν κατʼ αὐτῶν δίδωσιν· ἀλλὰ παντὸς ἰχθύος ἄγρα καὶ σαγηνεία λαιμαργίας καὶ φιλοψίας περιφανῶς ἔργον ἐστίν, ἐπʼ οὐδενὶ δικαίῳ ταραττούσης τὰ πελάγη καὶ καταδυομένης εἰς τὸν βυθόν. οὔτε γὰρ τρίγλαν ἔστι δήπου ληιβότειραν οὔτε σκάρον τρυγηφάγον οὔτε κεστρεῖς τινας ἢ λάβρακας σπερμολόγους προσειπεῖν, ὡς τὰ χερσαῖα κατηγοροῦντες ὀνομάζομεν ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὅσα γαλῇ καὶ μυίᾳ κατοικιδίῳ μικρολόγως ἐγκαλοῦμεν ἔχοι τις ἂν αἰτιάσασθαι τὸν μέγιστον ἰχθῦν. ὅθεν ἀνείργοντες ἑαυτοὺς οὐ νόμῳ μόνῳ τῆς πρὸς ἄνθρωπον ἀδικίας ἀλλὰ καὶ φύσει τῆς πρὸς ἅπαν τὸ μὴ βλάπτον, ἣκιστα τῶν ὄψων ἐχρῶντο τοῖς ἰχθύσιν ἢ τὸ παράπαν οὐκ ἐχρῶντο· καὶ γὰρ ἄνευ τῆς ἀδικίας ἀκρασίαν τινὰ καὶ λιχνείαν ἐμφαίνειν ἔοικεν ἡ περὶ ταῦτα πραγματεία πολυτελὴς οὖσα καὶ περίεργος. ὅθεν Ὅμηρος οὐ μόνον τοὺς Ἕλληνας ἰχθύων ἀπεχομένους πεποίηκε παρὰ τὸν Ἑλλήσποντον στρατοπεδεύοντας, ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ἁβροβίοις Φαίαξιν οὐδὲ τοῖς ἀσώτοις μνηστῆρσιν, ἀμφοτέροις οὖσι νησιώταις, θαλάττιον παρατέθεικεν ὄψον· οἱ δʼ Ὀδυσσέως ἑταῖροι, τοσαύτην πλέοντες θάλατταν, οὐδαμοῦ καθῆκαν ἄγκιστρον οὐδὲ πόρκον οὐδὲ δίκτυον, ἀλφίτων παρόντων· ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ νηὸς ἐξέφθιτο ἤια πάντα, μικρὸν ἔμπροσθεν ἢ ταῖς τοῦ Ἡλίου βουσὶν ἐπιχειρεῖν, ἰχθῦς ἀγρεύοντες, οὐκ ὄψον ἀλλὰ τροφὴν ἀναγκαίαν ἐποιοῦντο γναμπτοῖς ἀγκίστροισιν ἔτειρε δὲ γαστέρα λιμὸς ὑπὸ τῆς αὐτῆς ἀνάγκης ἰχθύσι τε χρωμένων καὶ τὰς τοῦ Ἡλίου βοῦς κατεσθιόντων. ὅθεν οὐ παρʼ Αἰγυπτίοις μόνον οὐδὲ Σύροις, ἀλλὰ καὶ παρʼ Ἕλλησι γέγονεν ἁγνείας μέρος ἀποχὴ ἰχθύων, μετὰ τοῦ δικαίου καὶ τὸ περίεργον οἶμαι τῆς βρώσεως ἀποδιοπομπουμένοις. ## 18. Book VIII · chapters 8–10 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/18/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/18/#p-N [¶0] 8.4. To this Nestor subjoining said: But, sir, of my citizens, as of the Megarians in the proverb, you make no account; although you have often heard me say that our priests of Neptune (whom we call Hieromnemons) never eat fish. For Neptune himself is called the Generator. And the race of Hellen sacrificed to Neptune as the first father, imagining, as likewise the Syrians did, that man rose from a liquid substance. And therefore they worship a fish as of the same production and breeding with themselves, in this matter being more happy in their philosophy than Anaximander; for he says that fish and men were not produced in the same substances, but that men were first produced in fishes, and, when they were grown up and able to help themselves, were thrown out, and so lived upon the land. Therefore, as the fire devours its parents, that is, the matter out of which it was first kindled, so Anaximander, asserting that fish were our common parents, condemneth our feeding on them. > Greek: 8.4. ὑπολαβὼν δʼ ὁ Νέστωρ τῶν δʼ ἐμῶν ἔφη πολιτῶν ὥσπερ Μεγαρέων οὐδεὶς λόγος· καίτοι πολλάκις ἀκήκοας ἐμοῦ λέγοντος, ὅτι ἀεὶ οἱ τοῦ Ποσειδῶνος ἱερεῖς, οὓς ἱερομνήμονας καλοῦμεν, ἰχθῦς οὐκ ἐσθίουσιν ὁ γὰρ θεὸς λέγεται φυτάλμιος. οἱ δʼ ἀφʼ Ἕλληνος τοῦ παλαιοῦ καὶ πατρογενίῳ Ποσειδῶνι θύουσιν, ἐκ τῆς ὑγρᾶς τὸν ἄνθρωπον οὐσίας φῦναι δοξάζοντες, ὡς καὶ Σύροι· διὸ καὶ σέβονται τὸν ἰχθῦν, ὡς ὁμογενῆ καὶ σύντροφον, ἐπιεικέστερον Ἀναξιμάνδρου φιλοσοφοῦντες· οὐ γὰρ ἐν τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐκεῖνος ἰχθῦς καὶ ἀνθρώπους, ἀλλʼ ἐν ἰχθύσιν ἐγγενέσθαι τὸ πρῶτον ἀνθρώπους ἀποφαίνεται, καὶ τραφέντας ὥσπερ οἱ γαλεοὶ καὶ γενομένους ἱκανοὺς ἑαυτοῖς βοηθεῖν ἐκβῆναι τηνικαῦτα καὶ γῆς λαβέσθαι. καθάπερ οὖν τὸ πῦρ τὴν ὕλην, ἐξ ἧς ἀνήφθη, μητέρα καὶ πατέρʼ οὖσαν, ἢσθιεν, ὡς ὁ τὸν Κήυκος γάμον εἰς τὰ Ἡσιόδου παρεμβαλὼν εἴρηκεν οὕτως ὁ Ἀναξίμανδρος τῶν ἀνθρώπων πατέρα καὶ μητέρα κοινὸν ἀποφήνας τὸν ἰχθῦν διέβαλεν πρὸς τὴν βρῶσιν. [¶1] 9.1. PHILO the physician stoutly affirmed that the elephantiasis was a disease but lately known; since none of the ancient physicians speak one word of it, though they oftentimes enlarge upon little, frivolous, and obscure trifles. And I, to confirm it, cited Athenodorus the philosopher, who in his first book of Epidemical Diseases says, that not only that disease, but also the hydrophobia or water-dread (occasioned by the biting of a mad dog), were first discovered in the time of Asclepiades. At this the whole company were amazed, thinking it very strange that such diseases should begin then, and yet as strange that they should not be taken notice of in so long a time; yet most of them leaned to this last opinion, as being most agreeable to man, not in the least daring to imagine that Nature affected novelties, or would in the body of man, as in a city, create new disturbances and tumults. > Greek: 9.1. φίλων ὁ ἰατρὸς διεβεβαιοῦτο τὴν καλουμένην ἐλεφαντίασιν οὐ πρὸ πολλοῦ πάνυ χρόνου γνώριμον γεγονέναι· μηδένα γὰρ τῶν παλαιῶν ἰατρῶν τοῦ πάθους τούτου πεποιῆσθαι λόγον, εἰς ἕτερα μικρὰ καὶ γλίσχρα καὶ δυσθεώρητα τοῖς πολλοῖς ἐνταθέντας. ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ μάρτυν αὐτῷ παρεῖχον ἐκ φιλοσοφίας Ἀθηνόδωρον, ἐν τῷ προτέρῳ τῶν Ἐπιδημιῶν ἱστοροῦντα πρῶτον ἐν τοῖς κατʼ Ἀσκληπιάδην χρόνοις οὐ μόνον τὴν ἐλεφαντίασιν ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν ὑδροφόβαν ἐκφανῆ γενέσθαι. θαυμάζοντες οὖν οἱ παρόντες, εἰ νέα πάθη τότε πρῶτον ἔσχεν ἐν τῇ φύσει γένεσιν καὶ σύστασιν, οὐχ ἧττον ᾤοντο θαυμάσιον εἶναι τὸ λαθεῖν τηλικαῦτα συμπτώματα χρόνον τοσοῦτον· ἐρρύησαν δέ πως μᾶλλον οἱ πλείους ἐπὶ τὸ δεύτερον ὡς ἀνθρώπινον μᾶλλον· ἥκιστα τὴν φύσιν ἔν γε τούτοις φιλόκαινον εἶναι καὶ νέων πραγμάτων ὥσπερ ἐν πόλει τῷ, σώματι δημιουργὸν ἀξιοῦντες. [¶2] 9.2. And Diogenianus added, that even the passions and diseases of the mind go on in the same old road that formerly they did; and yet the viciousness of our inclination is exceedingly prone to variety, and our mind is mistress of itself, and can, if it please, easily change and alter. Yet all her inordinate motions have some sort of order, and the soul hath bounds to her passions, as the sea to her overflowing. And there is no sort of vice now among us which was not practised by the ancients. There are a thousand differences of appetites and various motions of fear; the schemes of grief and pleasure are innumerable: Yet are not they of late or now produced, And none can tell from whence they first arose. How then should the body be subject to new diseases, since it hath not, like the soul, the principle of its own alteration in itself, but by common causes is joined to Nature, and receives a temperature whose infinite variety of alterations is confined to certain bounds, like a ship rolling and tossing in a circle about its anchor. Now there can be no disease without some cause, it being against the laws of Nature that any thing should be without a cause. Now it will be very hard to find a new cause, unless we fancy some strange air, water, or food never tasted by the ancients, should descend to us out of other worlds or intermundane spaces. For we contract diseases from those very things which preserve our life; since there are no peculiar seeds of diseases, but the disagreement of their juices to our bodies, or our excess in using them, disturbs nature. These disturbances have still the very same differences, though now and then called by new names. For names depend on custom, but the passions on Nature; and these being constant and those variable, this mistake has arisen. As, in the parts of a speech and the syntax of the words, it is possible for some new sort of barbarism or solecism suddenly to arise; so the temperature of the body hath certain deviations and corruptions into which it may fall, those things which are against and hurtful to Nature being in some sort contained in Nature herself. The mythographers are in this particular very ingenious, for they say that monstrous uncouth animals were produced in the time of the Giants’ war, the moon being out of its course, and not rising where it used to do. And those who think Nature produces new diseases like monsters, and yet give neither likely nor unlikely reasons of the change, err, as I imagine, my dear Philo, in taking a less or a greater degree of the same disease to be a different disease. The intension or increase of a thing makes it more or greater, but does not make the subject of another kind. Thus the elephantiasis, being an intense scabbiness, is not a new kind; nor is the water-dread distinguished from other melancholic and stomachical affections but by the degree. And I wonder we did not observe that Homer was acquainted with this disease, for it is evident that he calls a dog rabid from the very same rage with which when men are possessed they are said to be mad. > Greek: 9.2. ὁ δὲ Διογενιανὸς ἔφη καὶ τὰ τῆς ψυχῆς νοσήματα καὶ πάθη κοινήν τινα καὶ πάτριον ὁδὸν βαδίζειν. καίτοι παντοδαπὸν μέν εἶπεν ἡ μοχθηρία καὶ πολύτολμον, αὐτοκρατὲς δʼ ἡ ψυχὴ καὶ κύριον ὑφʼ αὑτῆς, εἰ βούλοιτο, μεταβάλλειν καὶ τρέπεσθαι ῥᾳδίως· ἔχει δέ τινα τάξιν τὸ ἄτακτον αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ μέτρα τηρεῖ τοῖς πάθεσιν, ὥσπερ ἡ θάλαττα ταῖς ὑπερεκχύσεσι, καὶ καινὸν οὐδὲν οὐδὲ τοῖς παλαιοῖς ἀνιστόρητον ἐξήνθηκε κακίας εἶδος· ἀλλὰ πολλαὶ μὲν ἐπιθυμιῶν διαφοραί, μυρία δὲ κινήματα φόβου καὶ σχήματα· τὰς δὲ λύπης καὶ ἡδονῆς μορφὰς ἔργον ἐστὶ μὴ ἀπειπεῖν ἐξαριθμούμενον· οὐ μέν τι νῦν γε κἀχθές, ἀλλʼ ἀεί ποτε ζῇ ταῦτα, κοὐδεὶς οἶδεν ἐξ ὅτου φάνη· πόθεν γε δὴ σώματι νόσημα καινὸν ἢ πάθος ὀψίγονον, ἰδίαν μὲν ὥσπερ ἡ ψυχὴ κινήσεως ἀρχὴν οἴκοθεν οὐκ ἔχοντι, συνημμένῳ δὲ κοιναῖς πρὸς τὴν φύσιν αἰτίαις καὶ κεκραμένῳ κρᾶσιν, ἧς καὶ τὸ ἀόριστον ἐντὸς ὅρων πλανᾶται, καθάπερ πλοῖον ἐν περιδρόμῳ σαλεῦον; οὔτε γὰρ ἀναίτιος νόσου σύστασὶς ἐστι, τὴν ἐκ μὴ ὄντος παρανόμως ἐπεισάγουσα γένεσιν καὶ δύναμιν τοῖς πράγμασιν αἰτίαν τε καινὴν ἔργον ἐξευρεῖν, μὴ καινὸν ἀέρα καὶ ξένον ὕδωρ καὶ τροφὰς ἀγεύστους τοῖς πρότερον ἐξ ἑτέρων τινῶν κόσμων ἢ μετακοσμίων ἀποφήναντι δεῦρο νῦν πρῶτον ἐπιρρεούσας. ἐκ τούτων γὰρ νοσοῦμεν οἷς καὶ ζῶμεν, ἴδια δὲ σπέρματα νόσων οὐκ ἔστιν· ἀλλʼ αἱ τούτων μοχθηρίαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς καὶ αἱ ἡμῶν περὶ ταῦτα πλημμέλειαι τὴν φύσιν ἐπιταράττουσιν αἱ δὲ ταραχαὶ διαφορὰς ἀιδίους ἔχουσι πολλάκις νέοις χρωμένας ὀνόμασι· τὰ γὰρ ὀνόματα τῆς συνηθείας ἐστὶ τὰ δὲ πάθη τῆς φύσεως ὅθεν ἐν ἀφωρισμένοις τούτοις ἐκεῖνα ποικιλλόμενα τὴν ἀπάτην πεποίηκεν. ὡς δὲ τοῖς τοῦ λόγου μορίοις καὶ ταῖς πρὸς ἄλληλα τούτων συντάξεσι καινὸν ἐγγενέσθαι βαρβαρισμὸν ἢ σολοικισμὸν ἐξαίφνης δυνατόν ἐστιν, οὕτως αἱ τοῦ σώματος κράσεις ὡρισμένας ἔχουσι τὰς ὀλισθήσεις καὶ παραβάσεις, τρόπον τινὰ τῇ φύσει καὶ τῶν παρὰ φύσιν ἐμπεριεχομένων. ταύτῃ γε κομψοὶ καὶ οἱ μυθογράφοι· τὰ γὰρ παντάπασιν ἔκφυλα καὶ τεράστια τῶν ζῴων γενέσθαι λέγουσιν ἐν τῇ γιγαντομαχίᾳ, τῆς σελήνης ἐκτρεπομένης καὶ τὰς ἀνατολὰς οὐχ ὅθεν εἴωθε ποιουμένης· οἱ δὲ καινὰ νοσήματα τὴν φύσιν ὥσπερ τέρατα γεννᾶν ἀξιοῦσι, μήτε πιθανὴν μήτʼ ἀπίθανον αἰτίαν τῆς ἐξαλλαγῆς πλάσσοντες, ἀλλὰ τὸ ἄγαν καὶ τὸ μᾶλλον ἐνίων παθῶν καινότητα καὶ διαφορὰν ἀποφαίνοντες· οὐκ ὀρθῶς, ὦ μακάριε Φίλων ἐπίτασις γὰρ καὶ αὔξησις μέγεθος ἢ πλῆθος προστίθησι, τοῦ δὲ γένους οὐκ ἐκβιβάζει τὸ ὑποκείμενον· ὥσπερ οὐδὲ τὴν ἐλεφαντίασιν οἴομαι σφοδρότητα τῶν ψωρικῶν τινος τούτων οὖσαν οὐδὲ τὸν ὑδροφόβαν τῶν στομαχικῶν ἢ τῶν μελαγχολικῶν. καίτοι τοῦτό γε θαυμαστόν, εἰ μηδʼ Ὅμηρος ἀγνοῶν ἐλάνθανεν ὑμᾶς· τὸν γάρ λυσσητῆρα κύνα δῆλός ἐστιν ἀπὸ τοῦ πάθους τούτου προσαγορεύων, ἀφʼ οὗ καὶ ἄνθρωποι λυσσᾶν λέγονται. [¶3] 9.3. Against this discourse of Diogenianus Philo himself made some objections, and desired me to be the old physicians’ patron; who must be branded with inadvertency and ignorance, unless it appears that those diseases began since their time. First then Diogenianus, methinks, very precariously desires us to think that the intenseness or remissness of degrees is not a real difference, and does not alter the kind. For, were this true, then we should hold that downright vinegar is not different from pricked wine, nor a bitter from a rough taste, darnel from wheat, nor garden-mint from wild mint. For it is evident that these differences are only the degrees of the same qualities, in some being more intense, in some more remiss. So we should not venture to affirm that flame is different from a white spirit, daylight from flame, hoar-frost from dew, or hail from rain; but that the former have only more intense qualities than the latter. Besides, we should say that blindness is of the same kind with short-sightedness, violent vomiting (or cholera) with weakness of the stomach, and that they differ only in degree. Though what they say is nothing to the purpose; for if they admit the increase in intensity and vehemency, but declare that this came but now of late,—the novelty appearing in the quantity rather than the quality,—the same difficulties which they urged against the other opinion oppress them. Sophocles says very well concerning those things which are not believed to be now, because they were not heretofore,— “Once at the first all things their being had.” And it is probable that not all diseases, as in a race, the barrier being let down, started together; but that one rising after another, at some certain time, had its beginning and showed itself. It is rational to conclude (continued I) that all diseases that rise from want, heat, or cold bear the same date with our bodies; but afterwards over-eating, luxury, and surfeiting, encouraged by ease and plenty, raised bad and superfluous juices, and those brought various new diseases, and their perpetual complications and mixtures still create more new. Whatever is natural is determined and in order; for Nature is order, or the work of order. Disorder, like Pindar’s sand, cannot be comprised by number, and that which is beside Nature is straight called indeterminate and infinite. Thus truth is simple, and but one; but falsities innumerable. The exactness of motions and harmony are definite, but the errors either in playing upon the harp, singing, or dancing, who can comprehend? Indeed Phrynichus the tragedian says of himself, As many figures dancing doth propose As waves roll on the sea when tempests toss. And Chrysippus says that the various complications of ten single axioms amount to 1,000,000. But Hipparchus hath confuted that account, showing that the affirmative contains 101,049 complicated propositions, and the negative 310.952. And Xenocrates says, the number of syllables which the letters will make is 100,200,000. How then is it strange that the body, having so many different powers in itself, and getting new qualities every day from its meat and drink, and using those motions and alterations which are not always in the same time nor in the same order, should upon the various complications of all these be affected with new diseases? Such was the plague at Athens described by Thucydides, who conjectures that it was new because that birds and beasts of prey would not touch the dead carcasses. Those that fell sick about the Red Sea, if we believe Agatharcides, besides other strange and unheard diseases, had little serpents in their legs and arms, which did eat their way out, but when touched shrunk in again, and raised intolerable inflammations in the muscles; and yet this kind of plague, as likewise many others, never afflicted any beside, either before or since. One, after a long stoppage of urine, voided a knotty barley straw. And we know that Ephebus, with whom we lodged at Athens, threw out, together with a great deal of seed, a little hairy, many-footed, nimble animal. And Aristotle tells us, that Timon’s nurse in Cilicia every year for two months lay in a cave, without any vital operation besides breathing. And in the Menonian books it is delivered as a symptom of a diseased liver carefully to observe and hunt after mice and rats, which we see now nowhere practised. > Greek: 9.3. ταῦτα τοῦ Διογενιανοῦ διελθόντος, ὁ Φίλων αὐτός τε μέτρια διελέχθη πρὸς τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ, κἀμὲ συνειπεῖν παρεκάλει τοῖς ἀρχαίοις ἰατροῖς, ὡς ἀμελείας ἢ ἀγνοίας τῶν μεγίστων ὀφλισκάνουσιν, εἴ γε μὴ ταῦτα τὰ πάθη νεώτερα φαίνεται τῆς ἐκείνων ἡλικίας. πρῶτον οὖν ὁ Διογενιανὸς οὐκ ὀρθῶς ἀξιοῦν ἔδοξεν ἡμῖν τὰς ἐπιτάσεις καὶ ἀνέσεις μὴ ποιεῖν διαφορὰς μηδὲ τοῦ γένους ἐκβιβάζειν· οὕτω γὰρ οὔτʼ ὄξος ὀξίνου φήσομεν διαφέρειν οὔτε πικρότητα στρυφνότητος; οὔτε πυρῶν αἴραν οὔτε μίνθον ἡδυόσμων. καίτοι περιφανῶς ἐκστάσεις αὗται καὶ μεταβολαὶ ποιοτήτων εἰσίν, αἱ μὲν ἀνέσεις μαραινομένων αἱ δʼ ἐπιτάσεις σφοδρυνομένων· ἢ μηδὲ φλόγα πνεύματος λεπτοῦ μηδὲ φλογὸς αὐγὴν μηδὲ πάχνην δρόσου μηδὲ χάλαζαν ὄμβρου διαφέρειν λέγωμεν, ἀλλʼ ἐπιτάσεις εἶναι ταῦτα πάντα καὶ σφοδρότητας· ὥρα δὲ καὶ τυφλότητα μηθὲν ἀμβλυωπίας φάναι διαφέρειν μηδὲ ναυτίας χολέραν, ἀλλὰ τῷ μᾶλλον καὶ ἧττον παραλλάττειν. καίτοι ταῦτα πρὸς λόγον οὐθέν ἐστιν· ἂν γὰρ αὐτὴν λέγωσι δεξάμενοι τὴν ἐπίτασιν καὶ τὴν σφοδρότητα νῦν γεγονέναι, πρῶτον, ἐν ποσῷ γιγνομένης τῆς καινότητος οὐκ ἐν ποιῷ, μένει τὸ παράδοξον ὁμοίως· ἔπειτα τοῦ Σοφοκλέους ἐπὶ τῶν, ὅτι μὴ πρότερον ἦν, ἀπιστουμένων, εἰ γέγονε νῦν, οὐ φαύλως εἰπόντος ἅπαντα τἀγένητα πρῶτον ἦλθʼ ἅπαξ δοκεῖ καὶ λόγον ἔχειν τὸ μὴ δρόμῳ, καθάπερ ὕσπληγος μιᾶς πεσούσης, ἐκδραμεῖν τὰ πάθη πρὸς τὴν γένεσιν, ἄλλων δʼ ἄλλοις ἀεὶ κατόπιν ἐπιγιγνομένων, ἕκαστον ἐν χρόνῳ τινὶ λαβεῖν τὴν πρώτην γένεσιν. εἰκάσαι δʼ ἄν τις ἔφην ἐγὼ τὰ μὲν ἀπʼ ἐνδείας ὅσα τε καῦμα προσπῖπτον ἢ ψῦχος ἐμποιεῖ, ταῦτα πρῶτον τοῖς σώμασι παραγενέσθαι· πλησμονὰς δὲ καὶ θρύψεις καὶ ἡδυπαθείας ὕστερον ἐπελθεῖν μετʼ ἀργίας καὶ σχολῆς διʼ ἀφθονίαν τῶν ἀναγκαίων πολὺ περίττωμα ποιούσας καὶ πονηρόν, ἐν ᾧ ποικίλα νοσημάτων εἴδη παντοδαπάς τε τούτων ἐπιπλοκὰς πρὸς ἀλλήλας καὶ μίξεις ἀεί τι νεωτερίζειν. τὸ μὲν γὰρ κατὰ φύσιν τέτακται καὶ διώρισται, τάξις γὰρ ἢ τάξεως ἔργον ἡ φύσις· ἡ δʼ ἀταξία καθάπερ ἡ Πινδαρικὴ ψάμμος ἀριθμὸν περιπέφευγε, καὶ τὸ παρὰ τὴν φύσιν εὐθὺς ἀόριστον καὶ ἄπειρόν ἐστιν. ἀληθεύειν μὲν γὰρ ἁπλῶς ψεύδεσθαι δʼ ἀπειραχῶς παρέχει τὰ πράγματα· καὶ ῥυθμοὶ καὶ ἁρμονίαι λόγους ἔχουσιν· ἃ δὲ πλημμελοῦσιν ἄνθρωποι περὶ λύραν καὶ ᾠδὴν καὶ ὄρχησιν, οὐκ ἄν τις περιλάβοι,. καίτοι καὶ Φρύνιχος ὁ τῶν τραγῳδιῶν ποιητὴς περὶ αὑτοῦ φησιν ὅτι σχήματα δʼ ὄρχησις τόσα μοι πόρεν, ὅσσʼ ἐνὶ πόντῳ κύματα ποιεῖται χείματι νὺξ ὀλοή. καὶ Χρύσιππος τὰς ἐκ δέκα μόνων ἀξιωμάτων συμπλοκὰς πλήθει φησὶν ἑκατὸν μυριάδας ὑπερβάλλειν. ἀλλὰ τοῦτο μὲν ἤλεγξεν Ἵππαρχος, ἀποδείξας ὅτι τὸ μὲν καταφατικὸν περιέχει συμπεπλεγμένων μυριάδας δέκα καὶ πρὸς ταύταις χίλια τεσσαράκοντα ἐννέα· τὸ δʼ ἀποφατικὸν αὐτοῦ μυριάδας τριάκοντα μίαν καὶ πρὸς ταύταις ἐνακόσια πεντήκοντα δύο. Ξενοκράτης δὲ τὸν τῶν συλλαβῶν ἀριθμόν, ὃν τὰ στοιχεῖα μιγνύμενα πρὸς ἄλληλα παρέχει, μυριάδων ἀπέφηνεν εἰκοσάκις καὶ μυριάκις μυρίων. τί δὴ θαυμαστόν ἐστιν εἰ, τοσαύτας μὲν ἐν ἑαυτῷ τοῦ σώματος δυνάμεις ἔχοντος, τοσαύτας δὲ διὰ σίτων καὶ ποτῶν ἐπεισαγομένου ποιότητας ἑκάστοτε, χρωμένου δὲ κινήσεσι καὶ μεταβολαῖς μήτε καιρὸν ἕνα μήτε τάξιν ἀεὶ μίαν ἐχούσαις, αἱ πρὸς ἀλλήλας συμπλοκαὶ τούτων ἁπάντων ἔστιν ὅτε καινὰ καὶ ἀσυνήθη νοσήματα φέρουσιν, οἷον ὁ Θουκυδίδης ἱστορεῖ τὸν Ἀθήνησι λοιμὸν γενέσθαι, τεκμαιρόμενος αὐτοῦ τὸ μὴ σύντροφον μάλιστα τῷ τὰ σαρκοφάγα μὴ γεύεσθαι τῶν νεκρῶν; οἱ δὲ περὶ τὴν Ἐρυθρὰν θάλασσαν νοσήσαντες, ὡς Ἀγαθαρχίδας ἱστόρηκεν, ἄλλοις τε συμπτώμασιν ἐχρήσαντο καινοῖς καὶ ἀνιστορήτοις, καὶ δρακόντια μικρὰ τὰς κνήμας διεσθίοντα καὶ τοὺς βραχίονας ἐξέκυψεν, ἁψαμένων δʼ αὖθις ἀνεδύετο καὶ φλεγμονὰς ἀκαρτερήτους ἐνειλούμενα τοῖς μυώδεσι παρεῖχεν καὶ τοῦτο τὸ πάθος οὔτε πρότερον οἶδεν οὐδεὶς οὔτε ὕστερον ἄλλοις ἀλλʼ ἐκείνοις γε μόνοις γενόμενον, ὡς ἕτερα πολλά. καὶ γὰρ ἐν δυσουρίᾳ τις γενόμενος πολὺν χρόνον ἐξέδωκε κριθίνην καλάμην γόνατʼ ἔχουσαν. καὶ τὸν ἡμέτερον ξένον Ἔφηβον Ἀθήνησιν ἴσμεν ἐκβάλλοντα μετὰ πολλοῦ σπέρματος θηρίδιον δασὺ καὶ πολλοῖς ποσὶ ταχὺ βαδίζον. τὴν δὲ Τίμωνος ἐν Κιλικίᾳ τήθην Ἀριστοτέλης ἱστόρηκε φωλεύειν τοῦ ἔτους ἑκάστου δύο μῆνας, μηδενὶ πλὴν μόνῳ τῷ ἀναπνεῖν, ὅτι ζῇ, διάδηλον οὖσαν. καὶ μὴν ἔν γε τοῖς Μενωνείοις σημεῖον ἡπατικοῦ πάθους ἀναγέγραπται τὸ τοὺς κατοικιδίους μῦς ἐπιμελῶς· [¶4] Therefore let us not wonder if something happens which never was before, or if something doth not appear among us with which the ancients were acquainted; for the cause of those accidents is the nature of our body, whose temperature is subject to be changed. Therefore, if Diogenianus will not introduce a new kind of water or air, we, having no need of it, are very well content. Yet we know some of Democritus’s scholars affirm that, other worlds being dissolved, some strange effluvia fall into ours, and are the principle of new plagues and uncommon diseases. But let us not now take notice of the corruption of some parts of this world by earthquake, droughts, and floods, by which both the vapors and fountains rising out of the earth must be necessarily corrupted. Yet we must not pass by that change which must be wrought in the body by our meat, drink, and other exercises in our course of life. For many things which the ancients did not feed on are now accounted dainties; for instance mead and swine’s paunch. Heretofore too, as I have heard, they hated the brain of animals so much, that they abominated the very name of it; as when Homer says, “I value him at a brain’s worth.” And even now we know some old men, that will not taste cucumber, melon, orange, or pepper. Now by these meats and drinks it is probable that the juices of our bodies are much altered, and their temperature changed, new qualities arising from this new sort of diet. And the change of order in our feeding having a great influence on the alteration of our bodies, the cold courses, as they were called formerly, consisting of oysters, sea-urchins, salads, and the like, being (in Plato’s phrase) transferred “from tail to mouth,” now make the first course, whereas they were formerly the last. Besides, the glass which we usually take before supper is very considerable in this case; for the ancients never drank so much as water before they ate, but now we drink freely before we sit down, and fall to our meat with a full and heated body, using sharp sauces and pickles to provoke appetite, and then we fall greedily on the other meat. But nothing conduceth more to alterations and new diseases in the body than our various baths; for here the flesh, like iron in the fire, grows soft and loose, and is presently constipated and hardened by the cold. For, in my opinion, if any of the last age had looked into our baths, he might have justly said, “There burning Phlegethon meets Acheron.” For they used such mild gentle baths, that Alexander the Great being feverish slept in one. And the Gauls’ wives carry their pots of pulse to eat with their children whilst they are in the bath. But our baths now inflame, vellicate, and distress; and the air which we draw is a mixture of air and water, disturbs the whole body, tosses and displaces every atom, till we quench the fiery particles and allay their heat. Therefore, Diogenianus, you see that this account requires no new strange causes, no intermundane spaces; but the single alteration of our diet is enough to raise new diseases and abolish old. > Greek: παραφυλάττειν καὶ διώκειν· ὃ νῦν οὐδαμοῦ γιγνόμενον ὁρᾶται. διὸ μὴ θαυμάζωμεν, ἂν γένηταί τι τῶν οὐ πρότερον ὄντων, μηδʼ εἴ τι τῶν πρότερον ὄντων ὕστερον ἐκλέλοιπεν· αἰτία γὰρ ἡ τῶν σωμάτων φύσις, ἄλλην ἄλλοτε λαμβάνουσα κρᾶσιν. τὸ μὲν οὖν ἀέρα καινὸν ἐπεισάγειν ἢ ξένον ὕδωρ, εἰ μὴ βούλεται Διογενιανός, ἐάσωμεν καίτοι τούς γε Δημοκριτείους ἴσμεν καὶ λέγοντας καὶ γράφοντας, ὅτι καὶ κόσμων ἐκτὸς φθαρέντων καὶ σωμάτων ἀλλοφύλων ἐκ τῆς ἀπορροῆς ἐπιρρεόντων, ἐνταῦθα πολλάκις ἀρχαὶ παρεμπίπτουσι λοιμῶν καὶ παθῶν οὐ συνήθων. ἐάσωμεν δὲ καὶ τὰς φθορὰς τὰς κατὰ μέρος παρʼ ἡμῖν ὑπό τε σεισμῶν καὶ αὐχμῶν καὶ ὄμβρων, αἷς καὶ τὰ πνεύματα καὶ τὰ νάματα γηγενῆ φύσιν ἔχοντα συννοσεῖν ἀνάγκη καὶ συμμεταβάλλειν. ἀλλὰ περὶ τὰ· σιτία καὶ τὰ ὄψα καὶ τὰς ἄλλας διαίτας τοῦ σώματος ἐξαλλαγήν, ὅση γέγονεν, οὐ παραλειπτέον· πολλὰ γὰρ τῶν ἀγεύστων καὶ ἀβρώτων πρότερον ἥδιστα νῦν γέγονεν, ὥσπερ οἰνόμελι καὶ μήτρα· λέγουσι δὲ μηδʼ ἐγκέφαλον ἐσθίειν τοὺς παλαιούς· διὸ καὶ Ὅμηρον εἰπεῖν τίω δέ μιν ἐν καρὸς αἴσῃ, τὸν ἐγκέφαλον οὕτω, διὰ τὸ ῥίπτειν καὶ ἀποβάλλειν μυσαττομένους, προσειπόντα· σικύου δὲ πέπονος καὶ μήλου Μηδικοῦ καὶ πεπέρεως πολλοὺς ἴσμεν ἔτι τῶν πρεσβυτέρων γεύσασθαι μὴ δυναμένους. ὑπό τε δὴ τούτων εἰκός ἐστι ξενοπαθεῖν τὰ σώματα καὶ παραλλάττειν ταῖς κράσεσιν ἡσυχῆ ποιότητα καὶ περίττωμα ποιούντων ἴδιον, τήν τε τάξιν αὖ τῶν ἐδεστῶν καὶ μετακόσμησιν οὐ μικρὰν ἔχειν διαφοράν. αἱ γὰρ καλούμεναι ψυχραὶ τράπεζαι πρότερον, ὀστρέων, ἐχίνων, ὠμῶν λαχάνων, ὥσπερ ἐλαφρῶν ὁ Πλάτων, ἀπʼ οὐρᾶς ἐπὶ στόμα μεταχθεῖσαι τὴν πρώτην ἀντὶ τῆς ἐσχάτης τάξιν ἔχουσι. μέγα δὲ καὶ τὸ τῶν καλουμένων προπωμάτων· οὐδὲ γὰρ ὕδωρ οἱ παλαιοὶ πρὶν ἐντραγεῖν ἔπινον· οἱ δὲ νῦν ἄσιτοι προμεθυσθέντες ἅπτονται τῆς τροφῆς διαβρόχῳ τῷ σώματι καὶ ζέοντι, λεπτὰ καὶ τομὰ καὶ ὀξέα προσφέροντες ὑπέκκαυμα τῆς ὀρέξεως, εἶθʼ οὕτως ἐμφορούμενοι τῶν ἄλλων. οὐδενὸς δὲ πρὸς μεταβολὴν καὶ τὸ ποιῆσαι νοσημάτων καινῶν γένεσιν ἀσθενέστερόν ἐστιν ἡ περὶ τὰ λουτρὰ τῆς σαρκὸς πολυπάθεια καθάπερ σιδήρου πυρὶ μαλασσομένης καὶ ῥεούσης, εἶτα βαφὴν ὑπὸ ψυχροῦ καὶ στόμωσιν ἀναδεχομένης· ἔνθα μὲν εἰς Ἀχέροντα Πυριφλεγέθων τε ῥέουσι· τοῦτο γὰρ ἄν τις εἰπεῖν μοι δοκεῖ τῶν ὀλίγον ἡμῶν ἔμπροσθεν γεγονότων, βαλανείου θύρας ἀνοιχθείσης. ἐκεῖνοι γὰρ οὕτως ἀνειμένοις ἐχρῶντο καὶ μαλακοῖς, ὥστʼ Ἀλέξανδρος μὲν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐν τῷ λουτρῶνι πυρέττων ἐκάθευδεν αἱ δὲ Γαλατῶν γυναῖκες εἰς τὰ βαλανεῖα πόλτου χύτρας εἰσφέρουσαι μετὰ τῶν παίδων ἤσθιον ὁμοῦ λουόμεναι. νῦν δὲ λυττῶσιν ἔοικε τὰ βαλανεῖα καὶ ὑλακτοῦσι καὶ σπαράττουσιν· ὁ δʼ ἑλκόμενος ἀὴρ ἐν αὐτοῖς, ὑγροῦ μῖγμα καὶ πυρὸς γεγονώς, οὐδὲν ἐᾷ τοῦ σώματος ἡσυχίαν ἄγειν, ἀλλὰ πᾶσαν ἄτομον κλονεῖ καὶ ταράσσει καὶ μεθίστησιν ἐξ ἕδρας, ἄχρι οὗ κατασβέσωμεν αὑτοὺς πεπυρωμένους καὶ ζέοντας. οὐδὲν οὖν ἔφην ὦ Διογενιανέ, δεῖται ὁ λόγος αἰτιῶν ἐπεισοδίων ἔξωθεν οὐδὲ μετακοσμίων, ἀλλʼ αὐτόθεν ἡ περὶ τὴν δίαιταν μεταβολὴ τὰ μὲν συγγεννᾶν τὰ δʼ ἀφανίζειν τῶν νοσημάτων οὐκ ἀδύνατὸς ἐστιν. [¶5] 10.1. FLORUS reading Aristotle’s physical problems, which were brought to him to Thermopylae, was himself (as philosophical wits used to be) filled with a great many doubts, and communicated them to others; thereby confirming Aristotle’s saying, that much learning raises many doubts. Other topics made our walks every day very pleasant, but the common saying concerning dreams,— that those in autumn are the vainest,—I know not how, whilst Favorinus was engaged in other matters, was started after supper. Your friends and my sons thought Aristotle had given sufficient satisfaction in this point, and that no other cause was to be sought after or allowed but that which he mentions, the fruit. For the fruit, being new and flatulent, raises many disturbing vapors in the body; for it is not likely that only wine ferments, or new oil only makes a noise in the lamp, the heat agitating its vapor; but new corn and all sorts of fruit are plump and distended, till the unconcocted flatulent vapor is broke away. And that some sorts of food disturb dreams, they said, was evident from beans and the polypus’s head, from which those who would divine by their dreams are commanded to abstain. > Greek: 10.1. προβλήμασιν Ἀριστοτέλους φυσικοῖς ἐντυγχάνων Φλῶρος εἰς Θερμοπύλας κομισθεῖσιν αὐτός τε πολλῶν ἀποριῶν, ὅπερ εἰώθασι πάσχειν ἐπιεικῶς αἱ φιλόσοφοι φύσεις, ὑπεπίμπλατο καὶ τοῖς ἑταίροις μετεδίδου, μαρτυρῶν αὐτῷ τῷ Ἀριστοτέλει λέγοντι τὴν πολυμάθειαν πολλὰς ἀποριῶν ἀρχὰς ποιεῖν. τὰ μὲν οὖν ἄλλα μεθʼ ἡμέραν οὐκ ἄχαριν ἡμῖν ἐν τοῖς περιπάτοις διατριβὴν παρέσχε· τὸ δὲ λεγόμενον περὶ τῶν ἐνυπνίων, ὡς ἐστιν ἀβέβαια καὶ ψευδῆ μάλιστα περὶ τοὺς φυλλοχόους; μῆνας, οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅπως, ἑτέροις λόγοις πραγματευσαμένου τοῦ Φαβωρίνου μετὰ τὸ δεῖπνον, ἀνέκυψε. τοῖς μὲν οὖν σοῖς ἑταίροις ἐμοῖς δʼ υἱοῖς ἐδόκει λελυκέναι τὴν ἀπορίαν Ἀριστοτέλης· καὶ οὐδὲν ᾤοντο δεῖν ζητεῖν οὐδὲ λέγειν ἀλλʼ ἢ τοὺς καρπούς, ὥσπερ ἐκεῖνος, αἰτιᾶσθαι. νέοι γὰρ ὄντες ἔτι καὶ σφριγῶντες πολὺ πνεῦμα γεννῶσιν ἐν τῷ σώματι καὶ ταραχῶδες οὐ γὰρ τὸν οἶνον εἰκός ἐστι μόνον ζεῖν καὶ ἀγανακτεῖν, οὐδὲ τοὔλαιον ἂν ᾗ νεουργὸν ἐν τοῖς λύχνοις ψόφον ἐμποιεῖν, ἀποκυματιζούσης τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς θερμότητος· ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ σιτία τὰ πρόσφατα καὶ τὴν ὀπώραν ἅπασαν ὁρῶμεν ἐντεταμένην καὶ οἰδοῦσαν, ἄχρι ἂν ἀποπνεύσῃ τὸ φυσῶδες καὶ ἄπεπτον. ὅτι δʼ ἐστὶ τῶν βρωμάτων ἔνια δυσόνειρα καὶ ταρακτικὰ τῶν καθʼ ὕπνον ὄψεων, μαρτυρίοις ἐχρῶντο τοῖς τε κυάμοις καὶ τῇ κεφαλῇ τοῦ πολύποδος, ὧν ἀπέχεσθαι κελεύουσι τοὺς δεομένους τῆς διὰ τῶν ὀνείρων μαντικῆς ὁ δὲ Φαβωρῖνος αὐτὸς τὰ μὲν ἄλλα δαιμονιώτατος Ἀριστοτέλους ἐραστής ἐστι καὶ τῷ Περιπάτῳ νέμει μερίδα τοῦ πιθανοῦ πλείστην· [¶6] 10.2. But Favorinus himself, though in all other things he admires Aristotle exceedingly and thinks the Peripatetic philosophy to be most probable, yet in this case resolved to scour up an old musty opinion of Democritus. He first laid down that known principle of his, that images pass through the pores into the inmost parts of the body, and being carried upward cause dreams; and that these images fly from every thing, vessels, garments, plants, but especially from animals, because of their heat and the motion of their spirits; and that these images not only carry the outward shape and likeness of the bodies (as Epicurus thinks, following Democritus so far and no farther), but the very designs, motions, and passions of the soul; and with those entering into the bodies, as if they were living things, discover to those that receive them the thoughts and inclinations of the persons from whom they come, if so be that they preserve their frame and order entire. And that is especially preserved when the air is calm and clear, their passage then being quick and undisturbed. Now the autumnal air, when trees shed their leaves, being very uneven and disturbed, ruffles and disorders the images, and, hindering them in their passage, makes them weak and ineffectual; when, on the contrary, if they rise from warm and vigorous subjects, and are presently applied, the notices which they give and the impressions they make are clear and evident. > Greek: 10.2. τότε μέντοι λόγον τινὰ τοῦ Δημοκρίτου παλαιὸν ὥσπερ ἐκ καπνοῦ καθελὼν ἠμαυρωμένον οἷος ἦν ἐκκαθαίρειν καὶ διαλαμπρύνειν· ὑποθέμενος τοῦτο δὴ τοὐπιδήμιον, ὅ φησι Δημόκριτος, ἐγκαταβυσσοῦσθαι τὰ εἴδωλα διὰ τῶν πόρων εἰς τὰ σώματα καὶ ποιεῖν τὰς κατὰ τὸν ὕπνον ὄψεις ἐπαναφερόμενα· φοιτᾶν δὲ ταῦτα πανταχόθεν ἀπιόντα καὶ σκευῶν καὶ ἱματίων καὶ φυτῶν μάλιστα δὲ ζῴων ὑπὸ σάλου πολλοῦ καὶ θερμότητος οὐ μόνον ἔχοντα μορφοειδεῖς τοῦ σώματος ἐκμεμαγμένας ὁμοιότητας ὡς Ἐπίκουρος οἴεται μέχρι τούτου Δημοκρίτῳ συνεπόμενος, ἐνταῦθα δὲ προλιπὼν τὸν λόγον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν κατὰ ψυχὴν κινημάτων καὶ βουλευμάτων ἑκάστῳ καὶ ἠθῶν καὶ παθῶν ἐμφάσεις ἀναλαμβάνοντα συνεφέλκεσθαι, καὶ προσπίπτοντα μετὰ τούτων ὥσπερ ἔμψυχα φράζειν καὶ διαγγέλλειν τοῖς ὑποδεχομένοις τὰς τῶν μεθιέντων αὐτὰ δόξας καὶ διαλογισμοὺς καὶ ὁρμάς, ὅταν ἐνάρθρους καὶ ἀσυγχύτους φυλάττοντα προσμίξῃ τὰς εἰκόνας. τοῦτο δὲ μάλιστα ποιεῖ διʼ ἀέρος λείου τῆς φορᾶς αὐτοῖς γιγνομένης ἀκωλύτου καὶ ταχείας. ὁ δὲ φθινοπωρινός, ἐν ᾧ φυλλοχοεῖ τὰ δένδρα, πολλὴν ἀνωμαλίαν ἔχων καὶ τραχύτητα, διαστρέφει καὶ παρατρέπει πολλαχῆ τὰ εἴδωλα καὶ τὸ ἐναργὲς αὐτῶν ἐξίτηλον καὶ ἀσθενὲς ποιεῖ τῇ βραδυτῆτι τῆς πορείας ἀμαυρούμενον, ὥσπερ αὖ πάλιν πρὸς ὀργώντων καὶ διακαομένων ἐκθρώσκοντα πολλὰ καὶ ταχὺ κομιζόμενα τὰς ἐμφάσεις νεαρὰς καὶ σημαντικὰς ἀποδίδωσιν. [¶7] 10.3. Then with a smile looking upon Autobulus, he continued: But, sir, I perceive you design to have an airy skirmish with these images, and try the goodness of this old opinion, as you would a picture, by your touch. And Autobulus replied: Pray, sir, do not endeavor to cheat us any longer; for we know very well that you, designing to make Aristotle’s opinion appear the better, have used this of Democritus only as its shade. Therefore I shall pass by that, and impugn Aristotle’s opinion, which unjustly lays the blame on the new fruit. For both the summer and the early autumn bear testimony in its favor, when, as Antimachus says, the fruit is most fresh and juicy; for then, though we eat the new fruit, yet our dreams are less vain than at other times. And the months when the leaves fall, being next to winter, so concoct the corn and remaining fruit, that they grow shrivelled and less, and lose all their brisk agitating spirit. As for new wine, those that drink it soonest forbear till February, which is after winter; and the day on which we begin we call the day of the Good Genius, and the Athenians the day of cask-opening. For whilst wine is working, we see that even common laborers will not venture on it. Therefore no more accusing the gifts of the Gods, let us seek after another cause of vain dreams, to which the name of the season will direct us. For it is called leaf-shedding, because the leaves then fall on account of their dryness and coldness; except the leaves of hot and oily trees, as of the olive the laurel, or the palm; or of the moist, as of the myrtle and the ivy. But the temperature of these preserves them, though not others; because in others the vicious humor that holds the leaves is constipated by the cold, or being weak and little is dried up. Now moisture and heat are necessary for the growth and preservation of plants, but especially of animals; and on the contrary, coldness and dryness are very noxious to both. And therefore Homer elegantly calls men moist and juicy; to rejoice he calls to be warmed; and any thing that is grievous and frightful he calls cold and icy. Besides, the words ἀλίβας and σκελετός are applied to the dead, those names intimating their extreme dryness. But more, our blood, the principal thing in our whole body, is moist and hot. And old age hath neither of those two qualities. Now the autumn seems to be as it were the old age of the decaying year; for the moisture doth not yet fall, and the heat decays. And its inclining the body to diseases is an evident sign of its cold and dryness. Now it is necessary that the souls should be indisposed with the bodies and that, the subtile spirit being condensed, the divining faculty of the soul, like a mirror that is breathed upon, should be sullied; and therefore it cannot represent any thing plain, distinct, and clear, as long as it remains thick, dark, and condensed. > Greek: 10.3. εἶτα διαβλέψας πρὸς τοὺς περὶ τὸν Αὐτόβουλον καὶ μειδιάσας ἀλλʼ ὁρῶ εἶπεν ὑμᾶς οἵους τʼ ὄντας ἤδη σκιαμαχεῖν πρὸς τὰ εἴδωλα καὶ δόξῃ παλαιᾷ καθάπερ γραφῇ προσφέροντας ἁφὴν οἴεσθαί τι ποιεῖν καὶ ὁ Αὐτόβουλος παῦε ποικίλλων ἔφη πρὸς ἡμᾶς οὐ γὰρ ἀγνοοῦμεν, ὅτι τὴν Ἀριστοτέλους δόξαν εὐδοκιμῆσαι βουλόμενος ὥσπερ σκιὰν αὐτῇ τὴν Δημοκρίτου παραβέβληκας. ἐπʼ ἐκείνην οὖν τρεψόμεθα κἀκείνῃ μαχούμεθα κατηγορούσῃ τῶν νέων καρπῶν καὶ τῆς φίλης ὀπώρας οὐ προσηκόντως. τὸ γὰρ θέρος αὐτοῖς μαρτυρεῖ καὶ τὸ μετόπωρον, ὅτε μάλιστα χλωρὰν καὶ φλύουσαν, ὡς Ἀντίμαχος ἔφη, τὴν ὀπώραν γεννωμένην ἄρτι προσφερόμενοι ἧττον ἀπατηλοῖς καὶ ψευδέσιν ἐνυπνίοις σύνεσμεν οἱ δὲ φυλλοχόοι μῆνες ἤδη τῷ χειμῶνι παρασκηνοῦντες ἐν πέψει τὰ σιτία καὶ τὰ περιόντα τῶν ἀκροδρύων ἰσχνὰ καὶ ῥυσὰ καὶ πᾶν ἀφεικότα τὸ πληκτικὸν ἐκεῖνο καὶ μανικὸν ἔχουσι. καὶ μὴν οἴνου γε τὸν νέον οἱ πρωιαίτατα πίνοντες Ἀνθεστηριῶνι πίνουσι μηνὶ μετὰ χειμῶνα· καὶ τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην ἡμεῖς μὲν Ἀγαθοῦ Δαίμονος, Ἀθηναῖοι δὲ Πιθοίγια προσαγορεύουσι· γλεύκους δὲ ζέοντος ἀεὶ ἀφαιρεῖσθαι καὶ τοὺς ἐργάτας δεδιότας ὁρῶμεν. ἀφέντες οὖν τὸ συκοφαντεῖν τὰ τῶν θεῶν δῶρα μετίωμεν ἑτέραν ὁδόν, ἣν ὑφηγεῖται τοὔνομα τοῦ χρόνου καὶ τῶν ὑπηνεμίων καὶ ψευδῶν ὀνείρων. φυλλοχόος γὰρ ὀνομάζεται διὰ ψυχρότητα καὶ ξηρότητα τηνικαῦτα τῶν φύλλων ἀπορρεόντων· πλὴν εἴ τι θερμόν ἐστιν ἢ λιπαρὸν ὡς ἐλαῖαι καὶ δάφναι καὶ φοίνικες ἢ διερὸν ὡς μυρσίνη καὶ κιττός;. τούτοις γὰρ ἡ κρᾶσις βοηθεῖ τοῖς δʼ ἄλλοις οὔ· οὐ γὰρ παραμένει τὸ ἐχέκολλον καὶ συνεκτικόν, ἢ πυκνουμένης ψυχρότητι τῆς ἰκμάδος ἢ ξηραινομένης διʼ ἔνδειαν ἢ διʼ ἀσθένειαν. ἔστι μὲν οὖν καὶ φυτοῖς ὑγρότητι ἢ θερμότητι τεθηλέναι καὶ αὐξάνεσθαι, μᾶλλον δὲ τοῖς ζῴοις· καὶ τοὐναντίον ἡ ψυχρότης καὶ ἡ ξηρότης ὀλέθριον. διὸ χαριέντως Ὅμηρος εἴωθε διεροὺς βροτοὺς καλεῖν, καὶ τὸ μὲν χαίρειν ἰαίνεσθαι,ῥιγεδανόν δὲ καὶ κρυερόν τὸ λυπηρὸν καὶ τὸ φοβερόν. ὁ δʼ ἀλίβας καὶ ὁ σκελετὸς ἐπὶ τοῖς νεκροῖς λέγονται, λοιδορουμένης τῷ ὀνόματι τῆς ξηρότητος. ἔτι τὸ μὲν αἷμα κυριωτάτην τῶν ἐν ἡμῖν ἔχον δύναμιν ἅμα καὶ θερμόν ἐστι καὶ ὑγρόν, τὸ δὲ γῆρας ἀμφοῖν ἐνδεές. ἔοικε δὲ τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ περιιόντος οἷον γῆρας εἶναι τὸ φθινόπωρον· οὔπω γὰρ ἥκει τὸ ὑγρόν, οὐκέτι δὲ τὸ θερμὸν ἔρρωται· δεῖγμα δὲ γεγονὸς ἀτεχνῶς ξηρότητος ἅμα καὶ ψυχρότητος ἐπισφαλῆ ποιεῖ τὰ σώματα πρὸς τὰς νόσους. τοῖς δὴ σώμασι τὰς ψυχὰς συμπαθεῖν ἀνάγκη, καὶ μάλιστα παχνουμένου τοῦ πνεύματος ἀμαυροῦσθαι τὸ μαντικόν, ὥσπερ κάτοπτρον ὁμίχλης ἀναπιμπλάμενον. οὐδὲν οὖν τρανὸν οὐδʼ ἔναρθρον οὐδʼ εὔσημον ἐν ταῖς φαντασίαις ἀποδίδωσι, μέχρι οὗ παχὺ καὶ ἀλαμπὲς καὶ συνεσταλμένον ἐστίν. ## 19. Book IX · chapters 1–13 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/19/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/19/#p-N [¶0] 0.1. This ninth book, Sossius Senecio, contains the discourses we held at Athens at the Muses’ feast, for this number nine is agreeable to the number of the Muses. Nor must you wonder when you find more than ten questions (which number I have observed in my other books) in it; for we ought to give the Muses all that belongs to them, and be as careful of robbing them as of a temple, since we owe them much more and much better things than these. > Greek: 0.1. τὸ ἔνατον τῶν Συμποσιακῶν, ὦ Σόσσιε Σενεκίων, περιέχει λόγους τοὺς Ἀθήνησιν ἐν τοῖς Μουσείοις γενομένους καὶ μάλιστα τὴν ἐννεάδα ταῖς Μούσαις προσήκειν. ὁ δʼ ἀριθμὸς; ἂν ὑπερβάλλῃ τὴν συνήθη δεκάδα τῶν ζητημάτων, οὐ θαυμαστέον ἔδει γὰρ πάντα ταῖς Μούσαις ἀποδοῦναι τὰ τῶν Μουσῶν καὶ μηδὲν ἀφελεῖν ὥσπερ ἀφʼ ἱερῶν, πλείονα καὶ καλλίονα τούτων ὀφείλοντας αὐταῖς. [¶1] 1.1. AMMONIUS, captain of the militia at Athens, would show Diogenianus the proficiency of those youths that learned grammar, geometry, rhetoric, and music; and invited the chief masters of the town to supper. There were a great many scholars at the feast, and almost all his acquaintance. Achilles invited only the single combatants to his feast, intending (as the story goes) that, if in the heat of the encounter they had conceived any anger or ill-will against one another, they might then lay it aside, being made partakers of one common entertainment. But the contrary happened to Ammonius, for the contentions of the masters increased and grew more sharp midst their cups and merriment; and all was disorder and confused babbling. > Greek: 1.1. Ἀμμώνιος Ἀθήνησι στρατηγῶν ἀπόδειξιν ἔλαβεν ἐν τῷ Διογενείῳ τῶν γράμματα, καὶ γεωμετρίαν καὶ τὰ ῥητορικὰ καὶ μουσικὴν μανθανόντων, καὶ τοὺς; εὐδοκιμήσαντας τῶν διδασκάλων ἐπὶ δεῖπνον ἐκάλεσε. παρῆσαν δὲ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων φιλολόγων συχνοὶ καὶ πάντες ἐπιεικῶς οἱ συνήθεις. ὁ μὲν οὖν Ἀχιλλεὺς μόνοις τῶν ἀγωνισαμένων τοῖς μονομαχήσασι δεῖπνον κατήγγειλε, βουλόμενος; ὥς φασιν εἴ τις ἐν τοῖς ὅπλοις ὀργὴ πρὸς ἀλλήλους καὶ χαλεπότης γένοιτο, ταύτην ἀφεῖναι καὶ καταθέσθαι τοὺς ἄνδρας ἑστιάσεως κοινῆς καὶ τραπέζης μετασχόντας τῷ δʼ Ἀμμωνίῳ συνέβαινε τοὐναντίον ἀκμὴν γὰρ ἡ τῶν διδασκάλων ἅμιλλα καὶ φιλονεικία σφοδροτέραν ἔλαβεν ἐν ταῖς κύλιξι γενομένων· ἤδη δὲ καὶ προτάσεις καὶ προκλήσεις ἦσαν ἄκριτοι καὶ ἄτακτοι. [¶2] 1.2. Therefore Ammonius commanded Erato to sing to his harp, and he sang some part of Hesiod’s Works beginning thus, “Contention to one sort is not confined;” and I commended him for choosing so apposite a song. Then he began to discourse about the seasonable use of verse, that it was not only pleasant but profitable. And straight every one’s mouth was full of that poet who began Ptolemy’s epithalamium (when he married his sister, a wicked and abominable match) thus, “Jove Juno called his sister and his wife;” and another, who was unwilling to sing after supper to Demetrius the king, but when he sent him his young son Philip to be educated sang thus, Breed thou the boy as doth become Both Hercules’s race and us; and Anaxarchus who, being pelted with apples by Alexander at supper, rose up and said, “Some God shall wounded be by mortal hand.” But that Corinthian captive boy excelled all, who, when the city was destroyed, and Mummius, taking a survey of all the free-born children that understood letters, commanded each to write a verse, wrote thus: “Thrice, four times blest, the happy Greeks that fell.” For they say that Mummius was affected with it, wept, and gave all the free-born children that were allied to the boy their liberty. And some mentioned the wife of Theodorus the tragedian, who refused his embraces a little before he contended for the prize; but, when he was conqueror and came in unto her, clasped him and said, “Now, Agamemnon’s son, you freely may.” > Greek: 1.2. διὸ πρῶτον μὲν ἐκέλευσεν ᾆσαι τὸν Ἐράτωνα πρὸς τὴν λύραν· ᾄσαντος δὲ τὰ πρῶτα τῶν Ἔργων οὐκ ἄρα μοῦνον ἔην ἐρίδων γένος, ἐπῄνεσεν ὡς τῷ καιρῷ πρεπόντως ἁρμοσάμενον ἔπειτα περὶ στίχων εὐκαιρίας ἐνέβαλε λόγον, ὡς μὴ μόνον χάριν ἀλλὰ καὶ χρείαν ἔστιν ὅτε μεγάλην ἐχούσης. καὶ ὁ μὲν ῥαψῳδὸς εὐθὺς ἦν διὰ στόματος πᾶσιν, ἐν τοῖς Πτολεμαίου γάμοις ἀγομένου τὴν ἀδελφὴν καὶ πρᾶγμα δρᾶν ἀλλόκοτον νομιζομένου καὶ ἄθεσμον ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ τῶν ἐπῶν ἐκείνων Ζεὺς δʼ Ἥρην ἐκάλεσσε κασιγνήτην ἄλοχόν τε· καὶ ὁ παρὰ Δημητρίῳ τῷ βασιλεῖ ἀπρόθυμος ὢν ᾄδειν μετὰ τὸ δεῖπνον, ὥς τε προσέπεμψεν αὐτῷ τὸν υἱὸν ἔτι παιδάριον ὄντα, τὸν Φίλιππον, ἐπιβαλὼν εὐθὺς τὸν παῖδά μοι τόνδʼ ἀξίως Ἡρακλέους ἡμῶν τε θρέψαι· καὶ Ἀνάξαρχος ὑπʼ Ἀλεξάνδρου μήλοις βαλλόμενος παρὰ δεῖπνον, ἐπαναστὰς καὶ εἰπών βεβλήσεταί τις θεῶν βροτησίᾳ χερί. πάντων δʼ ἄριστος Κορίνθιος παῖς αἰχμάλωτος, ὅθʼ ἡ πόλις ἀπώλετο καὶ Μόμμιος ἐκ τῶν ἐλευθέρων τοὺς ἐπισταμένους γράμματα παῖδας εὐσυσκοπῶν ἐκέλευσε γράψαι στίχον, ἔγραψε τρὶς μάκαρες Δαναοὶ καὶ τετράκις, οἳ τότʼ ὄλοντο· καὶ γὰρ παθεῖν τι τὸν Μόμμιόν φασι καὶ δακρῦσαι καὶ πάντας ἀφεῖναι ἐλευθέρους τοὺς τῷ παιδὶ προσήκοντας. ἐμνήσθη τε καὶ τῆς Θεοδώρου τοῦ τραγῳδοῦ γυναικὸς οὐ προσδεξαμένης αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ συγκαθεύδειν, ὑπογύου τοῦ ἀγῶνος ὄντος· ἐπεὶ δὲ νικήσας εἰσῆλθε πρὸς αὐτήν, ἀσπασαμένης καὶ εἰπούσης Ἀγαμέμνονος παῖ, νῦν ἐκεῖνʼ ἔξεστί σοι. [¶3] 1.3. After this a great many sayings were mentioned as unseasonably spoken, it being fit that we should know such and avoid them;—as that to Pompey the Great, to whom, upon his return from a dangerous war, the schoolmaster brought his little daughter, and, to show him what a proficient she was, called for a book, and bade her begin at this line, Returned from war; but hadst thou there been slain, My wish had been complete; and that to Cassius Longinus, to whom a flying report of his son’s dying abroad being brought, and he no ways appearing either to know the certain truth or to clear the doubt, an old senator came and said: Longinus, will you not despise the flying uncertain rumor, as if you neither knew nor had read this line, “For no report is wholly false?” And he that at Rhodes, to a grammarian demanding a line upon which he might show his skill in the theatre, proposed this, “Fly from the island, worst of all mankind,” either slyly put a trick upon him, or unwittingly blundered. And this discourse quieted the tumult. > Greek: 1.3. ἐκ δὲ τούτου πολλὰ καὶ τῶν ἀκαίρων ἐνίοις ἐπῄει λέγειν, ὡς οὐκ ἄχρηστον εἰδέναι καὶ φυλάττεσθαι· οἷον Πομπηίῳ Μάγνῳ φασὶν ἀπὸ τῆς μεγάλης ἐπανήκοντι στρατείας τὸν διδάσκαλον τῆς θυγατρὸς ἀπόδειξιν διδόντα, βιβλίου κομισθέντος ἐνδοῦναι τῇ παιδὶ τοιαύτην ἀρχήν, ἤλυθες ἐκ πολέμου· ὡς ὤφελες αὐτόθʼ ὀλέσθαι. Κασσίῳ δὲ Λογγίνῳ λόγου προσπεσόντος ἀδεσπότου, τὸν υἱὸν ἐπὶ ξένης τεθνάναι, καὶ τἀληθὲς ἔχοντος εἰπεῖν οὐδενὸς οὐδʼ ἀνελεῖν τὸ ὕποπτον, εἰσελθὼν συγκλητικὸς ἀνὴρ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἤδη πρεσβύτερος οὐ καταφρονήσεις ἔφη Λογγῖνε, λαλιᾶς ἀπίστου καὶ κακοήθους φήμης, ὥσπερ οὐκ εἰδὼς οὐδʼ ἀνεγνωκὼς τὸ φήμη δʼ οὔ τις πάμπαν ἀπόλλυται ὁ δʼ ἐν Ῥόδῳ στίχον αἰτήσαντι γραμματικῷ ποιουμένῳ δεῖξιν ἐν τῷ θεάτρῳ προτείνας ἔρρʼ ἐκ νήσου θᾶσσον, ἐλέγχιστε ζωόντων ἄδηλον εἴτε παίζων ἐφύβρισεν εἴτʼ ἄκων ἠστόχησε. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν παρηγόρησεν ἀστείως τὸν θόρυβον. [¶4] 2.1. IT being the custom of the Muses’ feast to draw lots, and those that were matched to propose curious questions to one another, Ammonius, fearing that two of the same profession might be matched together, ordered, without drawing lots, a geometrician to propose questions to a grammarian, and a master of music to a rhetorician. > Greek: 2.1. ἔθους δʼ ὄντος ἐν τοῖς Μουσείοις κλήρους περιφέρεσθαι καὶ τοὺς συλλαχόντας ἀλλήλοις προτείνειν φιλόλογα ζητήματα, φοβούμενος ὁ Ἀμμώνιος μὴ τῶν ὁμοτέχνων τινὲς ἀλλήλοις συλλάχωσι, προσέταξεν ἄνευ κλήρου γεωμέτρην γραμματικῷ προτεῖναι καὶ ῥητορικῷ μουσικόν, εἶτʼ ἔμπαλιν ἀναστρέφειν τὰς ἀνταποδόσεις. [¶5] 2.2. First therefore, Hermeas the geometrician demanded of Protogenes the grammarian a reason why Alpha was the first letter of the alphabet. And he returned the common answer of the schools, that it was fit the vowels should be set before the mutes and semi vowels. And of the vowels, some being long, some short, some both long and short, it is just that the latter should be most esteemed. And of these that are long and short, that is to be set first which is usually placed before the other two but never after either; and that is Alpha. For that put either after Iota or Upsilon will not be pronounced, will not make one syllable with them, but as it were resenting the affront and angry at the position, seeks the first as its proper place. But if you place Alpha before either of those, they are obedient, and quietly join in one syllable, as in these words, αὔριον, αὐλεῖν, Αἴαωτος, αἰδεῖσθαι, and a thousand others. In these three respects therefore, as the conquerors in all the five exercises, it claims the precedence,—that of most other letters by being a vowel, that of other vowels by being double-timed, and lastly, that of these double-timed vowels themselves because it is its natural place to be set before and never after them. > Greek: 2.2. προὔτεινεν οὖν Ἑρμείας ὁ γεωμέτρης Πρωτογένει τῷ γραμματικῷ πρῶτος αἰτίαν εἰπεῖν, διʼ ἣν τὸ ἄλφα προτάττεται τῶν γραμμάτων ἁπάντων ὁ δὲ τὴν ἐν ταῖς σχολαῖς λεγομένην ἀπέδωκε· τὰ μὲν γὰρ φωνήεντα τῷ δικαιοτάτῳ λόγῳ πρωτεύειν τῶν ἀφώνων καὶ ἡμιφώνων ἐν δὲ τούτοις τῶν μὲν μακρῶν ὄντων τῶν δὲ βραχέων, τῶν δʼ ἀμφότερα καὶ διχρόνων λεγομένων, ταῦτʼ εἰκότως τῇ δυνάμει διαφέρειν. αὐτῶν δὲ τούτων πάλιν ἡγεμονικωτάτην ἔχειν τάξιν τὸ προτάττεσθαι τῶν ἄλλων δυεῖν ὑποτάττεσθαι δὲ μηδετέρῳ πεφυκός, οἷόν ἐστι τὸ ἄλφα· τουτὶ γὰρ οὔτε τοῦ ἰῶτα δεύτερον οὔτε τοῦ υ ταττόμενον ἐθέλειν ὁμολογεῖν οὐδʼ ὁμοπαθεῖν ὥστε συλλαβὴν μίαν ἐξ ἀμφοῖν γενέσθαι, ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ ἀγανακτοῦν καὶ ἀποπηδῶν ἰδίαν ἀρχὴν ζητεῖν ἀεί· ἐκείνων δʼ ὁποτέρου βούλει προταττόμενον ἀκολουθοῦντι καὶ συμφωνοῦντι χρῆσθαι καὶ συλλαβὰς ὀνομάτων ποιεῖν, ὥσπερ τοῦ αὔριον καὶ τοῦ αὐλεῖν καὶ τοῦ Αἴαντος καὶ τοῦ αἰδεῖσθαι καὶ μυρίων ἄλλων. διὸ τοῖς τρισίν, ὥσπερ οἱ πένταθλοι, περίεστι καὶ νικᾷ, τὰ μὲν πολλὰ τῷ φωνᾶεν εἶναι, τὰ δʼ αὖ φωνάεντα τῷ δίχρονον, ταῦτα δʼ αὐτὰ τῷ πεφυκέναι καθηγεῖσθαι δευτερεύειν δὲ μηδέποτε μηδʼ ἀκολουθεῖν. [¶6] 2.3. Protogenes making a pause, Ammonius, speaking to me, said: What! have you, being a Boeotian, nothing to say for Cadmus, who (as the story goes) placed Alpha the first in order, because a cow is called Alpha by the Phoenicians, and they account it not the second or third (as Hesiod doth) but the first of their necessary things? Nothing at all, I replied, for it is just that, to the best of my power, I should rather assist my own than Bacchus’s grandfather. For Lamprias my grandfather said, that the first articulate sound that is made is Alpha; for the air in the mouth is formed and fashioned by the motion of the lips; now as soon as those are opened, that sound breaks forth, being very plain and simple, not requiring or depending upon the motion of the tongue, but gently breathed forth whilst that lies still. Therefore that is the first sound that children make. Thus ἀίειν, to hear, ᾄδειν, to sing, αὐλεῖν, to pipe, ἀλαλάζειν, to hollow, begin with the letter Alpha; and I think that αἴρειν, to lift up, and ἀνοίγειν, to open, were fitly taken from that opening and lifting up of the lips when his voice is uttered. Thus all the names of the mutes besides one have an Alpha, as it were a light to assist their blindness; for Pi alone wants it, and Phi and Chi are only Pi and Kappa with an aspirate. > Greek: 2.3. παυσαμένου δὲ τοῦ Πρωτογένους, καλέσας ἐμὲ ὁ Ἀμμώνιος οὐδέν ἔφη σὺ τῷ Κάδμῳ βοηθεῖς ὁ Βοιώτιος, ὅν φασι τὸ ἄλφα πάντων προτάξαι διὰ τὸ Φοίνικας, οὕτω καλεῖν τὸν βοῦν, ὃν οὐ δεύτερον οὐδὲ τρίτον, ὥσπερ Ἡσίοδος, ἀλλὰ πρῶτον τίθεσθαι τῶν ἀναγκαίων;οὐδέν ἔφην ἐγώ· τῷ γὰρ ἐμῷ πάππῳ βοηθεῖν, εἴ τι δύναμαι, δίκαιός εἰμι μᾶλλον ἢ τῷ τοῦ Διονύσου. Λαμπρίας γὰρ ὁ ἐμὸς πάππος ἔλεγε πρώτην φύσει φωνὴν τῶν ἐνάρθρων ἐκφέρεσθαι διὰ τῆς τοῦ ἄλφα δυνάμεως· τὸ γὰρ ἐν τῷ στόματι πνεῦμα ταῖς περὶ τὰ χείλη μάλιστα πλάττεσθαι κινήσεσιν, ὧν πρώτην ἀνοιγομένων τὴν ἄνω διάστασιν οὖσαν ἐξιέναι τοῦτον τὸν ἦχον, ἁπλοῦν ὄντα κομιδῇ καὶ μηδεμιᾶς δεόμενον πραγματείας, μήτε τὴν γλῶτταν παρακαλοῦντα μήδʼ ὑπομένοντα, ἀλλὰ κατὰ χώραν ἀποκειμένης ἐκείνης ἐκπεμπόμενον ᾗ καὶ τὰ νήπια ταύτην πρώτην ἀφιέναι φωνήν. ὠνομάσθαι δὲ καὶ τὸ ἀίειν ἐπὶ τῷ φωνῆς αἰσθάνεσθαι καὶ πολλὰ τῶν ὁμοίων, ὥσπερ καὶ τὸ ᾄδειν καὶ τὸ αὐλεῖν καὶ τὸ ἀλαλάζειν. οἶμαι δὲ καὶ τὸ αἴρειν καὶ τὸ ἀνοίγειν οὐκ ἀπὸ τρόπου τῇ τῶν χειλῶν ἀνοίξει καὶ ἄρσει, καθʼ ἣν οὗτος ἐκπίπτει τοῦ στόματος ὁ φθόγγος, ὠνομάσθαι διὸ καὶ τὰ τῶν ἀφώνων γραμμάτων ὀνόματα πλὴν ἑνὸς ἅπαντα προσχρῆται τῷ ἄλφα καθάπερ φωτὶ τῆς περὶ αὐτὰ τυφλότητος· τοῦ δὲ πῖ μόνον ἄπεστιν ἡ δύναμις αὕτη· τὸ γὰρ φῖ καὶ τὸ χῖ τὸ μέν ἐστι πῖ τὸ δὲ κάππα δασυνόμενον. [¶7] 3.1. HERMEAS saying that he approved both reasons, why then (continued I) do not you explain the proportion, if there be any, of the number of the letters; for, in my opinion, there is; and I think so, because the number of mutes and semi-vowels, compared between themselves or with the vowels, doth not seem casual and undesigned, but to be according to the first proportion which you call arithmetical. For their number being nine, eight, and seven, the middle exceeds the last as much as it wants of the first. And the first number being compared with the last, hath the same proportion that the Muses have to Apollo; for nine is appropriated to them, and seven to him. And these two numbers tied together double the middle; and not without reason, since the semi-vowels partake the power of both. > Greek: 3.1. πρὸς ταῦτα τοῦ Ἑρμείου φήσαντος ἀμφοτέρους ἀποδέχεσθαι τοὺς λόγους τί οὖν ἔφην οὐ καὶ σὺ διῆλθες ἡμῖν, εἴ τις ἔστι λόγος τοῦ ἀριθμοῦ τῶν στοιχείων, ὥς γʼ ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ; τεκμήριον δὲ ποιοῦμαι τὸ μὴ κατὰ τύχην τῶν ἀφώνων καὶ ἡμιφώνων πρὸς τʼ ἄλληλα καὶ πρὸς τὰ φωνήεντα γεγονέναι τὸ πλῆθος, ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὴν πρώτην ἀναλογίαν ἀν δὲ καλουμένην ὑφʼ ἡμῶν. ἐννέα γὰρ ὄντων καὶ ὀκτὼ καὶ ἑπτά, οὕτω τὸν μέσον ἀριθμὸν ὑπερέχειν καὶ ὑπερέχεσθαι συμβέβηκε· τῶν δʼ ἄκρων ὁ μέγιστος πρὸς; τὸν ἐλάχιστον ἔχει λόγον, ὃν ὁ τῶν Μουσῶν πρὸς τὸν τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος· ἡ γὰρ ἐννεὰς δήπου ταῖς Μούσαις ἡ δʼ ἑβδομὰς τῷ Μουσηγέτῃ προσκεκλήρωται· συντεθέντα δʼ ἀλλήλοις διπλασιάζει τὸν μέσον εἰκότως, ἐπεὶ καὶ τὰ ἡμίφωνα τῆς ἀμφοῖν τρόπον τινὰ κοινωνεῖ δυνάμεωσ. [¶8] 3.2. And Hermeas replied: It is said that Mercury was the first God that discovered letters in Egypt; and therefore the Egyptians make the figure of an Ibis, a bird dedicated to Mercury, for the first letter. But it is not fit, in my opinion, to place an animal that makes no noise at the head of the letters. Amongst all the numbers, the fourth is peculiarly dedicated to Mercury, because, as some say, the God was born on the fourth day of the month. The first letters called Phoenician from Cadmus are four times four, or sixteen; and of those that were afterward added, Palamedes found four, and Simonides four more. Now amongst numbers, three is the first perfect, as consisting of a first, a middle, and a last; and after that six, as being equal the sum of its own divisors (1+2+3). Of these, six multiplied by four makes twenty-four; and also the first perfect number, three, multiplied by the first cube, eight. > Greek: 3.2. καὶ ὁ Ἑρμείας Ἑρμῆς ἔφη λέγεται θεῶν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ γράμματα πρῶτος εὑρεῖν· διὸ καὶ τὸ τῶν γραμμάτων Αἰγύπτιοι πρῶτον ἶβιν γράφουσιν, ὡς Ἑρμεῖ προσήκουσαν, οὐκ ὀρθῶς κατά γε τὴν ἐμὴν δόξαν, ἀναύδῳ καὶ ἀφθόγγῳ προεδρίαν ἐν γράμμασιν ἀποδόντες. Ἑρμεῖ δὲ μάλιστα τῶν ἀριθμῶν ἡ τετρὰς ἀνάκειται· πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ τετράδι μηνὸς ἱσταμένου γενέσθαι τὸν θεὸν ἱστοροῦσι. τὰ δὲ δὴ πρῶτα καὶ Φοινίκεια διὰ Κάδμον ὀνομασθέντα τετράκις ἡ τετρὰς γενομένη παρέσχε· καὶ τῶν αὖθις ἐφευρεθέντων δὲ Παλαμήδης τε πρότερος τέτταρα καὶ Σιμωνίδης αὖθις ἄλλα τοσαῦτα προσέθηκε. καὶ μὴν ὅτι πάντων ἀριθμῶν πρῶτος τέλειος, ἡ μὲν τριὰς ὡς ἀρχὴν καὶ μέσον ἔχουσα καὶ τέλος, ἡ δʼ ἑξὰς ὡς ἴση τοῖς αὑτῆς μέρεσι γιγνομένη, δῆλόν ἐστι. τούτων τοίνυν ἡ μὲν ἑξὰς ὑπὸ τῆς τετράδος, ἡ δὲ τριὰς ὑπὸ τῆς ὀγδοάδος πολλαπλασιασθεῖσα, πρώτου κύβου πρῶτος τέλειος, τὸ τῶν τεττάρων καὶ εἴκοσι παρέσχηκε πλῆθοσ. [¶9] 3.3. Whilst he was discoursing thus, Zopyrion the grammarian sneered and muttered something between his teeth; and, as soon as he had done, cried out that he most egregiously trifled; for it was mere chance, and not design, that gave such a number and order to the letters, as it was mere chance that the first and last verses of Homer’s Iliads have just as many syllables as the first and last of his Odysseys. > Greek: 3.3. ἔτι δʼ αὐτοῦ λέγοντος, ὁ γραμματιστὴς Ζωπυρίων δῆλος ἦν καταγελῶν καὶ παρεφθέγγετο· παυσαμένου δέ, οὐ κατέσχεν ἀλλὰ φλυαρίαν τὰ τοιαῦτα πολλὴν ἀπεκάλει· μηδενὶ γὰρ λόγῳ συντυχίᾳ δέ τινι καὶ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν γραμμάτων γεγονέναι τοσοῦτον καὶ τὴν τάξιν οὕτως ἔχουσαν, ὥσπερ, ἔφη, καὶ τὸ τῆς Ἰλιάδος τὸν πρῶτον στίχον τῷ τῆς Ὀδυσσείας ἰσοσύλλαβον εἶναι καὶ πάλιν τῷ τελευταίῳ τὸν τελευταῖον ἐκ τύχης καὶ αὐτομάτως ἐπηκολουθηκέναι. [¶10] 4.1. HERMEAS would have replied to Zopyrion, but we desired him to hold; and Maximus the rhetorician proposed to him this far-fetched question out of Homer, Which of Venus’s hands Diomedes wounded. And Zopyrion presently asking him again, Of which leg was Philip lame?—Maximus replied, It is a different case, for Demosthenes hath left us no foundation upon which we may build our conjecture. But if you confess your ignorance in this matter, others will show how the poet sufficiently intimates to an understanding man which hand it was. Zopyrion being at a stand, we all, since he made no reply, desired Maximus to tell us. > Greek: 4.1. μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα τὸν μὲν Ἑρμείαν, βουλόμενὸν τι προβαλεῖν τῷ Ζωπυρίωνι, ἀπεκωλύσαμεν· ὁ δὲ ῥήτωρ Μάξιμος ἄπωθεν ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ἐκ τῶν Ὁμήρου, ποτέραν χεῖρα τρώσειεν τῆς Ἀφροδίτης ὁ Διομήδης. ταχὺ δὲ τοῦ Ζωπυρίωνος ἀντερομένου ποτέρῳ σκέλει χωλὸς ἦν ὁ Φίλιππος, οὐχ ὅμοιον εἶπεν ὁ Μάξιμος· ʽοὐδεμίαν γὰρ ὁ Δημοσθένης ἀπόλογίαν περὶ τούτου δέδωκε· σὺ δʼ ἂν ἀπορεῖν ὁμολογήσῃς, ἕτεροι δείξουσιν ὅπου τὴν τετρωμένην χεῖρα φράζει τοῖς νοῦν ἔχουσιν ὁ ποιητής. ἔδοξεν οὖν ἡμῖν ὁ Ζωπυρίων διηπορῆσθαι, καὶ τὸν Μάξιμον, ἐκείνου σιωπῶντος, ἠξιοῦμεν ἐπιδεικνύναι. [¶11] 4.2. And he began: The verses running thus, Then Diomedes raised his mighty spear, And leaping towards her just did graze her hand; it is evident that, if he designed to wound her left hand, there had been no need of leaping, since her left hand was opposite to his right. Besides, it is probable that he would endeavor to wound the strongest hand, and that with which she drew away Aeneas; which being wounded, it was likely she would let him go. But more, after she returned to Heaven, Minerva jeeringly said, No doubt fair Venus won a Grecian dame, To follow her beloved Trojan youths, And as she gently stroked her with her hand, Her golden buckler scratched this petty wound. And I suppose, sir, when you stroke any of your scholars, you use your right hand, and not your left; and it is likely that Venus, the most dexterous of all the goddesses, soothed the heroines after the same manner. > Greek: 4.2. πρῶτον οὖν ὁ Μάξιμος ἔφη τῶν ἐπῶν οὕτως ἐχόντων ἔνθʼ ἐπορεξάμενος μεγαθύμου Τυδέος υἱὸς ἄκρην οὔτασε χεῖρα, μετάλμενος ὀξέι δουρί, δῆλόν ἐστιν, ὅτι τὴν ἀριστερὰν πατάξαι βουλόμενος οὐκ ἐδεῖτο μεταπηδήσεως, ἐπεὶ κατὰ τὴν ἀριστερὰν τὴν δεξιὰν εἶχεν ἐξ ἐναντίου προσφερόμενος· καὶ γὰρ εὔλογον ἦν τὴν ἐρρωμενεστέραν χεῖρα καὶ μᾶλλον τοῦ Αἰνείου φερομένου περιεχομένην ἐκεῖνόν τε τρῶσαι καὶ τὴν τρωθεῖσαν προέσθαι τὸ σῶμα. δεύτερον, εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν αὐτῆς ἀνακομισθείσης, καὶ τὴν Ἀθηνᾶν ἀναγελάσαι λέγουσαν ἦ μάλα δή τινα Κύπρις Ἀχαιιάδων ἀνιεῖσα Τρωσὶν ἅμα σπέσθαι, τοὺς νῦν ἔκπαγλα φίλησε. τῶν τινα καρρέζουσα Ἀχαιιάδων βαθυκόλπων, πρὸς χρυσῇ περόνῃ καταμύξατο χεῖρα ἀραιήν. οἶμαι δὲ καὶ σέ εἶπεν ὦ βέλτιστε διδασκάλων, ὅταν τινὰ τῶν μαθητῶν φιλοφρονούμενος καταψᾷς καὶ καταρρέζῃς, μὴ τῇ ἀριστερᾷ χειρὶ τοῦτο ποιεῖν ἀλλὰ τῇ δεξιᾷ. καθάπερ εἰκός ἐστι καὶ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην, ἐπιδεξιωτάτην θεῶν οὖσαν, οὕτω φιλοφρονεῖσθαι τὰς ἡρωίδας. [¶12] 5.1. THESE discourses made all the other company merry; but Sospis the rhetorician, seeing Hylas the grammarian sit silent and discomposed (for he had not been very happy in his exercises), cried out, “But Ajax’s soul stood far apart;” and raising his voice repeated the rest to him, But sit, draw near, and patiently attend, Hear what I say, and tame your violent rage. To this Hylas, unable to contain, returned a scurvy answer, saying that Ajax’s soul, taking her lot in the twentieth place in hell, changed her nature, according to Plato, for a lion’s; but, for his part, he could not but often think upon the saying of the old comedian,’Tis better far to be an ass, than see Unworthier men in greater honor shine. At this Sospis, laughing heartily, said: But in the mean time, before we have the pack-saddles on, if you have any regard for Plato, tell us why he makes Ajax’s soul, after the lots drawn, to have the twentieth choice. Hylas, with great indignation, refused, thinking that this was a jeering reflection on his former miscarriage. Therefore my brother began thus: What, was not Ajax counted the second for beauty, strength, and courage, and the next to Achilles in the Grecian army? And twenty is the second ten, and ten is the chiefest of numbers, as Achilles of the Greeks. We laughing at this, Ammonius said: Well, Lamprias, let this suffice for a joke upon Hylas; but since you have voluntarily taken upon you to give an account of this matter, leave off jesting, and seriously proceed. > Greek: 5.1. ταῦτα τοὺς ἄλλους ἅπαντας ἡδίους ἐποίησε, μόνον δὲ τὸν γραμματικὸν Ὕλαν ὁ ῥήτωρ Σῶσπις ὁρῶν ἀποσιωπῶντα καὶ βαρυθυμούμενον οὐ πάνυ γὰρ εὐημέρησεν ἐν ταῖς ἐπιδείξεσιν ἀνεφώνησεν οἴη δʼ Αἴαντος ψυχὴ Τελαμωνιάδαο· τὰ λοιπὰ μεῖζον φθεγγόμενος ἤδη πρὸς ἐκεῖνον ἐπέραινεν, ἀλλʼ ἴθι δεῦρο, ἄναξ, ἵνʼ ἔπος καὶ μῦθον ἀκούσῃς ἡμέτερον· δάμασον δὲ μένος καὶ ἀτειρέα θυμόν· ἔτι δʼ ἀνώμαλος ὢν ὑπʼ ὀργῆς ὁ Ὕλας ἀπεκρίνατο σκαιῶς τὴν μὲν Αἴαντος ἔφη ψυχὴν εἰκοστὴν λαχοῦσαν ἐν Ἅιδου διαμείψασθαι κατὰ τὸν Πλάτωνα φύσιν λέοντος· αὑτῷ δὲ πολλάκις παρίσταθαι καὶ τὰ τοῦ κωμικοῦ γέροντος ὄνον γενέσθαι κρεῖττον, ἢ τοὺς χείρονας ὁρᾶν ἑαυτοῦ ζῶντας ἐπιφανέστερον. καὶ ὁ Σῶσπις γελάσας ἀλλʼ ἕως μέλλομεν ἐνδύεσθαι τὸ κανθήλιον, εἴ τι κήδῃ Πλάτωνος, δίδαξον ἡμᾶς, ᾧτινι λόγῳ τὴν τοῦ Τελαμωνίου ψυχὴν πεποίηκεν ἀπὸ κλήρου βαδίζουσαν εἰκοστὴν ἐπὶ τὴν αἵρεσιν· ἀποσκορακίσαντος δὲ τοῦ Ὕλα χλευάζεσθαι γὰρ ᾤετο δυσημερῶν, ὑπολαβὼν ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἡμῶν τί οὖν; εἶπεν οὐ δευτερεῖα μὲν ὁ Αἴας κάλλους καὶ μεγέθους καὶ ἀνδρείας ἀεὶ φέρεται μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πηλείωνα, τὰ δʼ εἴκοσι δευτέρα δεκάς, ἡ δὲ δεκὰς ἐν τοῖς ἀριθμοῖς κράτιστος, ὡς ἐν τοῖς Ἀχαιοῖς ὁ Ἀχιλλεύς; γελασάντων δʼ ἡμῶν ταῦτα μέν ὁ Ἀμμώνιος εἶπεν ὦ Λαμπρία, κείσθω σοι πεπαιγμένα πρὸς Ὕλαν· ἡμῖν δὲ μὴ παίζων ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ σπουδῆς, ἐπεὶ τὸν λόγον ἑκὼν ἐξεδέξω, δίελθε περὶ τῆς αἰτίας. [¶13] 5.2. This startled Lamprias a little, but, after a short pause, he continued thus: Plato often tells merry stories under borrowed names, but when he puts any fable into a discourse concerning the soul, he hath some considerable meaning in it. The intelligent nature of the heavens he calls a flying chariot, intimating the harmonious whirl of the world. And here he introduceth one Er, the son of Harmonius, a Pamphylian, to tell what he had seen in hell; intimating that our souls are begotten according to harmony, and are agreeably united to our bodies, and that, when they are separated, they are from all parts carried together into the air, and from thence return to second generations. And what hinders but that twentieth (εἰκοστόν) should intimate that this was not a true story, but only probable and fictitious (αἰκοός), and that the lot fell casually (εἰκῆ). For Plato always toucheth upon three causes, he being the first and chiefest philosopher that knew how fate agrees with fortune, and how our free-will is mixed and complicated with both. And now he hath admirably discovered what influence each hath upon our affairs. The choice of our life he hath left to our free-will, for virtue and vice are free. But that those who have made a good choice should live religiously, and those who have made an ill choice should lead a contrary life, he leaves to the necessity of fate. But the chances of lots thrown at a venture introduce fortune into the several conditions of life in which we are brought up, which pre-occupates and perverts our own choice. Now consider whether it is not irrational to enquire after a cause of those things that are done by chance. For if the lot seems to be disposed of by design, it ceaseth to be chance and fortune, and becomes fate and providence. > Greek: 5.2. θορυβηθεὶς οὖν ὁ Λαμπρίας, εἶτα χρόνον οὐ πολὺν ἐπισχὼν, ἔφη πολλαχοῦ μὲν ἡμῖν τὸν Πλάτωνα προσπαίζειν διὰ τῶν ὀνομάτων· ὅπου δὲ μῦθόν τινα τῷ περὶ ψυχῆς λόγῳ μίγνυσι, χρῆσθαι μάλιστα τῷ νῷ. τοῦ τε γὰρ οὐρανοῦ τὴν νοητὴν φύσιν ἅρμα καλεῖν πτηνὸν διὰ τὴν ἐναρμόνιον τοῦ κόσμου περιφοράν, ἐνταῦθά δὲ τὸν αὐτάγγελον τῶν ἐν Ἅιδου Πάμφυλον γένος Ἁρμονίου πατρὸς Ἦρα δʼ αὐτὸν ὀνομάζειν, αἰνιττόμενον ὅτι γεννῶνται μὲν αἱ ψυχαὶ καθʼ ἁρμονίαν καὶ συναρμόττονται τοῖς σώμασιν, ἀπαλλαγεῖσαι δὲ συμφέρονται πανταχόθεν εἰς τὸν ἀέρα· κἀκεῖθεν αὖθις ἐπὶ τὰς δευτέρας γενέσεις τρέπονται. τί δὴ κωλύει καὶ τὸ εἰκοστὸν εἰρῆσθαι πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἀληθὲς ἀλλʼ εἰκὸς τοῦ λόγου καὶ πλαττόμενον, ἢ πρὸς τὸν κλῆρον ὡς εἰκῆ καὶ κατὰ τύχην γιγνόμενον; ἀεὶ μὲν γὰρ ἅπτεται τῶν τριῶν αἰτιῶν, ἅτε δὴ πρῶτος; ἢ μάλιστα συνιδών, ὅπη τὸ καθʼ εἱμαρμένην τῷ κατὰ τύχην αὖθίς τε τὸ ἐφʼ ἡμῖν ἑκατέρῳ καὶ συναμφοτέροις ἐπιμίγνυσθαι καὶ συμπλέκεσθαι πέφυκε. νῦν δὲ θαυμαστῶς, ἣν ἔχει δύναμιν ἐν τοῖς ἡμετέροις πράγμασιν ἕκαστον, ὑποδεδήλωκε, τὴν μὲν αἵρεσιν τῶν βίων τῷ ἐφʼ ἡμῖν ἀποδιδούς· ἀρετὴ γὰρ ἀδέσποτον καὶ κακία· τὸ δʼ εὖ βιοῦν τοὺς ὀρθῶς ἑλομένους καὶ τἀναντία τοὺς κακῶς εἱμαρμένης ἀνάγκῃ συνάπτων. αἱ δὲ τῶν κλήρων ἀτάκτως διασπειρομένων ἐπιπτώσεις τὴν τύχην παρεισάγουσι καὶ τροφαῖς καὶ πολιτείαις, ὧν ἕκαστοι λαγχάνουσι, πολλὰ τῶν ἡμετέρων προκαταλαμβάνουσαν. ὅρα δή, μὴ τῶν κατὰ τύχην αἰτίαν ζητεῖν ἄλογόν ἐστιν· ἂν γὰρ ἔν τινι λόγῳ φαίνηται γεγονὼς ὁ κλῆρος, οὐκέτι γίγνεται κατὰ τύχην οὐδʼ αὐτομάτως ἀλλʼ ἔκ τινος εἱμαρμένης καὶ προνοίας. [¶14] 5.3. Whilst Lamprias was speaking, Marcus the grammarian seemed to be counting to himself, and when he had done, he began thus: Amongst the souls which Homer mentions in his Νεκυία, Elpenor’s is not to be reckoned as mixed with those in hell, but, his body being not buried, as wandering about the banks of the river Styx. Nor is it fit that we should reckon Tiresias’s soul amongst the rest,— On whom alone, when deep in hell beneath, Wisdom Proserpina conferred, to discourse and converse with the living even before he drank the sacrifice’s blood. Therefore, Lamprias, if you subtract these two, you will find that Ajax was the twentieth that Ulysses saw, and Plato merrily alludes to that place in Homer’s Νεκυία. > Greek: 5.3. ἔτι δὲ τοῦ Λαμπρίου λέγοντος, ὁ γραμματικὸς ἤδη Μᾶρκος ἐδόκει τι συλλογίζεσθαι καὶ διαριθμεῖν πρὸς αὑτόν· ἔπειτα παυσαμένου, τῶν Ὁμηρικῶν ἔφη ψυχῶν ὅσας ἐν Νεκυίᾳ κατωνόμακεν, ἡ μὲν Ἐλπήνορος οὔπω καταμεμιγμένη ταῖς ἐν Ἅιδου διὰ τὸ μὴ τεθάφθαι τὸν νεκρὸν ὥσπερ ἐν μεθορίοις πλανᾶται· τὴν δὲ Τειρεσίου ταῖς ἄλλαις οὐκ ἄξιον δήπου συγκαταριθμεῖν, ᾧ καὶ τεθνειῶτι νόον πόρε Περσεφόνεια οἴῳ πεπνῦσθαι καὶ διαλέγεσθαι καὶ ξυνιέναι τῶν ζώντων, πρὶν ἢ πιεῖν τοῦ αἵματος. ἂν οὖν ταύτας ὑπεξελόμενος, ὦ Λαμπρία, τὰς ἄλλας διαριθμῇς, αὐτὸ συμβαίνει, τὴν Αἴαντος εἰκοστὴν εἰς ὄψιν ἀφῖχθαι τοῦ Ὀδυσσέως καὶ πρὸς τοῦτο παίζειν τὸν Πλάτωνα τῇ Ὁμηρικῇ Νεκυίᾳ προσαναχρωννύμενον. [¶15] 6.1. Now when the whole company were grown to a certain uproar, Menephylus, a Peripatetic philosopher, called to Hylas by name and said: You see that this question was not propounded by way of mockery and flouting; but leave now that obstinate Ajax, whose very name (according to Sophocles) is ill-omened, and betake yourself to Neptune. For you are wont to recount unto us how he has been oftentimes overcome,—here by Minerva, in Delphi by Apollo, in Argos by Juno, in Aegina by Jupiter, in Naxos by Bacchus,—and yet has borne himself always mild and gentle in all his repulses. In proof whereof, there is even in this city a temple common to him and Minerva, in which there is also an altar dedicated to Oblivion. Then Hylas, who seemed by this time to be more pleasantly disposed, replied: You have forgotten, Menephylus, that we have abolished the second day of September, not in regard of the moon, but because it was thought to be the day on which Neptune and Minerva contended for the seigniory of Attica. By all means, quoth Lamprias, by as much as Neptune was every way more civil than Thrasybulus, since not being like him a winner, but the loser,... (The rest of this book to Question XIII is lost; with the exception of the titles that follow, and the fragment of Question XII.) … … … … … … but men are to be deceived with oaths. > Greek: 6.1. θορυβησάντων δὲ πάντων, Μενέφυλος ὁ Περιπατητικὸς προσαγορεύσας τὸν Ὕλαν ὁρᾷς εἶπεν ὡς οὐκ ἦν τὸ ἐρώτημα χλευασμὸς οὐδʼ ὕβρις· ἀλλʼ ἀφείς, ὦ μακάριε, τὸν δυστράπελον Αἴαντα καὶ δυσώνυμον, ὥς φησι Σοφοκλῆς, γενοῦ μετὰ τοῦ Ποσειδῶνος, ὃν αὐτὸς εἴωθας ἱστορεῖν ἡμῖν ἡττώμενον πολλάκις, ἐνταῦθα μὲν ὑπʼ Ἀθηνᾶς ἐν Δελφοῖς δʼ ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος ἐν Ἄργει δʼ ὑπὸ τῆς Ἥρας ἐν Αἰγίνῃ δʼ ὑπὸ τοῦ Διὸς ἐν Νάξῳ δʼ ὑπὸ τοῦ Διονύσου, πρᾶον δὲ πανταχοῦ καὶ ἀμήνιτον ὄντα περὶ τὰς δυσημερίας· ἐνταῦθα γοῦν καὶ νεὼ κοινωνεῖ μετὰ τῆς Ἀθηνᾶς, ἐν ᾧ καὶ βωμός ἐστι Λήθης ἱδρυμένος. καὶ ὁ Ὕλας ὥσπερ ἡδίων γενόμενος ἐκεῖνο δέ σε εἶπεν ὦ Μενέφυλε, λέληθεν, ὅτι καὶ τὴν δευτέραν τοῦ Βοηδρομιῶνος; ἡμέραν ἐξαιροῦμεν οὐ πρὸς τὴν σελήνην, ἀλλʼ ὅτι ταύτῃ δοκοῦσιν ἐρίσαι περὶ τῆς· χώρας οἱ θεοί.πάντα εἶπεν ὁ Λαμπρίας ὅσῳ τοῦ Θρασυβούλου γέγονε Ποσειδῶν πολιτικώτερος, εἰ μὴ κρατῶν ὡς ἐκεῖνος, ἀλλʼ ἡττώ … … … … … … [¶16] 12.1. And Glaucias said: I have heard that this speech was used against Polycrates the tyrant, and it may be that it was spoken also to others. But why do you demand this of me? Because verily, quoth Sospis, I see that children play at odd and even with cockal bones, but Academics with words. For it seems to me that such stomachs differ in nothing from them who hold out their clutched fists and ask whether they hold odd or even. Then Protogenes arose and called me by name, saying: What ail we, that we suffer these rhetoricians thus to brave it out and to mock others, being demanded nothing in the mean time, nor put to it to contribute their scot to the conference—unless peradventure they will come in with the plea that they have no part of this table-talk over the wine, being followers of Demosthenes, who in all his life never drank wine. That is not the reason, said I; but we have put them no questions. And now, unless you have any thing better to ask, methinks I can be even with these fellows, and put them a puzzling question out of Homer, as to a case of repugnance in contrary laws. > Greek: 12.1. … ὅρκοις δʼ ἄνδρας ἐξαπατητέον. καὶ ὁ Γλαυκίας ἐγὼ μέν ἔφη κατὰ Πολυκράτους ἀκήκοα τοῦ τυράννου λεγόμενον τὸν λόγον τοῦτον· εἰκὸς δὲ καὶ καθʼ ἑτέρων λέγεσθαι· σὺ δὲ πρὸς τί τοῦτʼ ἐρωτᾷς;ὅτι νὴ Δίʼ ὁ Σῶσπις ἔφη τοὺς μὲν παῖδας ἀστραγάλοις ὁρῶ τοὺς δʼ Ἀκαδημαϊκοὺς λόγοις ἀρτιάζοντας· οὐδὲν γὰρ οἱ τοιοῦτοι στόμαχοι διαφέρουσι τῶν ἐρωτώντων, πότερον ἄρτια τῇ χειρὶ συνειληφότες ἢ περιττὰ συντείνουσιν. ἐπαναστὰς οὖν ὁ Πρωτογένης καί με καλέσας ἐξ ὀνόματος τί παθόντες εἶπε τοὺς ῥήτορας τούτους τρυφᾶν ἐῶμεν, ἑτέρων καταγελῶντας, αὐτοὺς δὲ μηδὲν ἐρωτωμένους μηδὲ συμβολὰς λόγων τιθέντας; εἰ μὴ νὴ Δία φήσουσι μηδὲν αὐτοῖς μετεῖναι τῆς ἐν οἴνῳ κοινωνίας, Δημοσθένους ἐπαινέταις καὶ ζηλωταῖς οὖσιν, ἀνδρὸς ἐν ἅπαντι τῷ βίῳ πιόντος οἶνον. οὐκ αἴτιον ἔφην ἐγώ τοῦτο τούτων, ἀλλʼ ἡμεῖς οὐδὲν αὐτοὺς ἠρωτήκαμεν εἰ δὲ μή τι σὺ χρησιμώτερον ἔχεις, ἐγώ μοι δοκῶ προβαλεῖν αὐτοῖς ἐκ τῶν Ὁμήρου ῥητορικῶν θέσεων μίαν ἀντινομικήν. [¶17] 13.1. WHAT question will you put them, said Protogenes? I will tell you, continued I, and let them carefully attend. Paris makes his challenge in these express words: Let me and valiant Menelaus fight For Helen, and for all the goods she brought; And he that shall o’ercome, let him enjoy The goods and woman; let them be his own. And Hector afterwards publicly proclaiming this challenge in these express words: He bids the Trojans and the valiant Greeks To fix their arms upon the fruitful ground; Let Menelaus and stout Paris fight For all the goods; and he that beats have all. Menelaus accepted the challenge, and the conditions were sworn to, Agamemnon dictating thus: If Paris valiant Menelaus kills, Let him have Helen, and the goods possess; If youthful Menelaus Paris kills, The woman and the goods shall all be his. Now since Menelaus only overcame but did not kill Paris, each party hath somewhat to say for itself, and against the other. The one may demand restitution, because Paris was overcome; the other deny it, because he was not killed. Now how to determine this case and clear the seeming repugnances doth not belong to philosophers or grammarians, but to rhetoricians, that are well skilled both in grammar and philosophy. > Greek: 13.1. τίνʼ ἔφη ταύτην;ἐγώ σοι φράσω εἶπον ἅμα καὶ τούτοις προβάλλων διὸ τὸν νοῦν ἤδη προσεχέτωσαν. ὁ γὰρ Ἀλέξανδρος ἐπὶ ῥητοῖς δήπου πεποίηται τὴν πρόκλησιν οὕτως αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ ἐν μέσσῳ καὶ ἀρηίφιλον Μενέλαον συμβάλετʼ ἀμφʼ Ἑλένῃ καὶ κτήμασι πᾶσι μάχεσθαι. ὁππότερος δέ κε νικήσῃ κρείσσων τε γένηται, κτήμαθʼ ἑλὼν εὖ πάντα γυναῖκά τε οἴκαδʼ ἀγέσθω· καὶ πάλιν ὁ Ἕκτωρ ἀναγορεύων καὶ τιθεὶς εἰς μέσον πᾶσι τὴν πρόκλησιν αὐτοῦ μονονουχὶ τοῖς αὐτοῖς ὀνόμασι κέχρηται· ἄλλους μὲν κέλεται Τρῶας καὶ πάντας Ἀχαιοὺς τεύχεα κάλʼ ἀποθέσθαι ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ, αὐτὸν δʼ ἐν μέσσῳ καὶ ἀρηίφιλον Μενέλαον οἴους ἀμφʼ Ἑλένῃ καὶ κτήμασι πᾶσι μάχεσθαι. τῷ δέ κε νικήσαντι γυνὴ καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἕποιτο. δεξαμένου δὲ τοῦ Μενελάου, ποιοῦνται τὰς συνθήκας ἐνόρκους, ἐξάρχει δʼ Ἀγαμέμνων εἰ μέν κεν Μενέλαον Ἀλέξανδρος καταπέφνῃ, αὐτὸς ἔπειθʼ Ἑλένην ἀγέτω καὶ κτήματα πάντα· εἰ δὲ κʼ Ἀλέξανδρον κτείνῃ ξανθὸς Μενέλαος, κτήμαθʼ ἑλὼν εὖ πάντα γυναῖκά τε οἴκαδʼ ἀγέσθω. ἐπεὶ τοίνυν ἐνίκησε μὲν οὐκ ἀνεῖλε δʼ ὁ Μενέλαος, μεταλαβόντες ἑκάτεροι τὴν ἀξίωσιν ἰσχυρίζονται τοῖς τῶν πολεμίων, οἱ μὲν ὡς νενικημένου τοῦ Πάριδος ἀπαιτοῦντες, οἱ δʼ ὡς μὴ τεθνηκότος οὐκ ἀποδιδόντες. πῶς οὖν ἔφην τὴν δίκην ταύτην ἰθύντατʼ ἂν εἴποι τις καὶ διαιτήσειε τὴν ἀντινομίαν, οὐ φιλοσόφων οὐδὲ γραμματικῶν, ἀλλὰ ῥητόρων ἔργον ἐστὶ φιλογραμματούντων ὥσπερ ὑμεῖς καὶ φιλοσοφούντων. [¶18] 13.2. Then Sospis said: The challenger’s word is decisive; for the challenger proposed the conditions, and when they were accepted, the other party had no power to make additions. Now the condition proposed in this challenge was not killing, but overcoming; and there was reason that it should be so, for Helen ought to be the wife of the bravest. Now the bravest is he that overcomes; for it often happens that an excellent soldier might be killed by a coward, as is evident in what happened afterward, when Achilles was shot by Paris. For I do not believe that you will affirm, that Achilles was not so brave a man as Paris because he was killed by him, and that it should be called the victory, and not rather the unjust good fortune, of him that shot him. But Hector was overcome before he was killed by Achilles, because he would not stand, but trembled and fled at his approach. For he that refuseth the combat or flies cannot palliate his defeat, and plainly grants that his adversary is the better man. And therefore Iris tells Helen beforehand, In single combat they shall fight for you, And you shall be the glorious victor’s wife. And Jupiter afterwards adjudges the victory to Menelaus in these words: “The conquest leans to Menelaus’s side.” For it would be ridiculous to call Menelaus a conqueror when he shot Podes, a man at a great distance, before he thought of or could provide against his danger, and yet not allow him the reward of victory over him whom he made fly and sneak into the embraces of his wife, and whom he spoiled of his arms whilst he was yet alive, and who had himself given the challenge, by the terms of which Menelaus now appeared to be the conqueror. > Greek: 13.2. ὁ μὲν οὖν Σῶσπις ἔφη κυριώτερον εἶναι τὸν τοῦ προκεκλημένου λόγον, ὥσπερ νόμον· ἐκεῖνος γάρ, ἐφʼ οἷς διαγωνιοῦνται, κατήγγειλεν· οἱ δὲ δεξάμενοι καὶ ὑπακούσαντες οὐκέτι κύριοι προστιθέντες. ἡ δὲ πρόκλησις οὐ περὶ φόνου καὶ θανάτου γέγονεν, ἀλλὰ περὶ νίκης καὶ ἣττης· καὶ μάλα δικαίως. ἔδει γὰρ τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ κρείττονος εἶναι, κρείττων δʼ ὁ νικῶν, ἀποθνήσκειν δὲ πολλάκις συμβαίνει κἀγαθοῖς ὑπὸ κακῶν, ὡς ὕστερον Ἀχιλλεὺς ἀπέθανεν τοξευθεὶς ὑπὸ Πάριδος· καὶ οὐκ ἂν οἶμαι φαίημεν Ἀχιλλέως ἧτταν γεγονέναι τὸν θάνατον οὐδὲ νίκην ἀλλʼ ἄδικον εὐτυχίαν τοῦ βάλλοντος. ἀλλʼ ὁ Ἕκτωρ ἥττητο καὶ πρὶν ἀποθνήσκειν, μὴ δεξάμενος ἀλλὰ δείσας καὶ φυγὼν ἐπερχομένου τοῦ Ἀχιλλέως· ὁ γὰρ ἀπειπάμενος καὶ φυγὼν ἧτταν ἀπροφάσιστον ἣττηται καὶ συγκεχώρηκε κρείττονα τὸν ἀντίπαλον εἶναι. διὸ πρῶτον μὲν ἡ Ἶρις ἐξαγγέλλουσα τῇ Ἑλένῃ φησὶ μακρῇς ἐγχείῃσι μαχήσονται περὶ σεῖο τῷ δέ κε νικήσαντι φίλη κεκλήσῃ ἄκοιτις ἔπειθʼ ὁ Ζεὺς τῷ Μενελάῳ τῆς μάχης τὸ βραβεῖον ἀπέδωκεν εἰπών νίκη μὲν φαίνετʼ ἀρηιφίλου Μενελάου. γελοῖον γάρ, εἰ τὸν μὲν Ποδῆν ἐνίκησε πόρρωθεν ἀκοντίσας μὴ προσδοκήσαντα μηδὲ φυλαξάμενον, τοῦ δʼ ἀπειπαμένου καὶ δραπετεύσαντος καὶ καταδύντος εἰς τοὺς κόλπους τῆς γυναικὸς ἐσκυλευμένου ζῶντος, οὐκ ἄξιος ἦν τὰ νικητήρια φέρεσθαι, κατὰ τὴν αὐτοῦ πρόκλησιν ἐκείνου κρείττων φανεὶς καὶ περιγενόμενος. [¶19] 13.3. Glaucias subjoined: In all laws, decrees, contracts, and promises, those latest made are always accounted more valid than the former. Now the later contract was Agamemnon’s, the condition of which was killing, and not only overcoming. Besides the former was mere words, the latter confirmed by oath; and, by the consent of all, those were cursed that broke them; so that this latter was properly the contract, and the other a bare challenge. And this Priam at his going away, after he had sworn to the conditions, confirms by these words: But Jove and other Gods alone do know, Which is designed to see the shades below; for he understood that to be the condition of the contract. And therefore a little after Hector says, “But Jove hath undetermined left our oaths,” for the combat had not its designed and indisputable determination, since neither of them fell. Therefore this question doth not seem to me to contain any contrariety of law, since the former contract is comprised and overruled by the latter; for he that kills certainly overcomes, but he that overcomes doth not always kill. But, in short, Agamemnon did not annul, but only explain the challenge proposed by Hector. He did not change any thing, but only added the most principal part, placing victory in killing; for that is a complete conquest, but all others may be evaded or disputed, as this of Menelaus, who neither wounded nor pursued his adversary. Now as, where there are laws really contrary, the judges take that side which is plain and indisputable, and mind not that which is obscure; so in this case, let us admit that contract to be most valid which contained killing, as a known and undeniable evidence of victory. But (which is the greatest argument) he that seems to have had the victory, not being quiet, but running up and down the army, and searching all about, “To find neat Paris in the busy throng,” sufficiently testifies that he himself did not imagine that the conquest was perfect and complete when Paris had escaped. For he did not forget his own words: And which of us black fate and death design, Let him be lost; the others cease from war. Therefore it was necessary for him to seek after Paris, that he might kill him and complete the combat; but since he neither killed nor took him, he had no right to the prize. For he did not conquer him, if we may guess by what he said when he expostulated with Jove and bewailed his unsuccessful attempt: Jove, Heaven holds no more spiteful God than thou. Now would I punish Paris for his crimes; But oh! my sword is broke, my mighty spear, Stretched out in vain, flies idly from my hand! For in these words he confessed that it was to no purpose to pierce the shield or take the head-piece of his adversary, unless he likewise wounded or killed him. > Greek: 13.3. ὑπολαβὼν δʼ ὁ Γλαυκίας ἔφη πρῶτον μὲν ἔν τε δόγμασι καὶ νόμοις ἔν τε συνθήκαις καὶ ὁμολογίαις κυριώτερα τὰ δεύτερα νομίζεσθαι καὶ βεβαιότερα τῶν πρώτων· δεύτεραι δʼ ἦσαν αἱ δι Ἀγαμέμνονος ὁμολογίαι τέλος ἔχουσαι θάνατον, οὐχὶ ἧτταν τοῦ κρατηθέντος. ἔπειτʼ ἐκείνη μὲν λόγοις, αὗται δὲ καὶ μεθʼ ὅρκων εἵποντο καὶ προσῆσαν ἀραὶ τοῖς παραβαίνουσιν, οὐχ ἑνὸς ἀνδρὸς ἀλλὰ πάντων ἀποδεχομένων καὶ συνομολογούντων· ὥστε ταῦτα γεγονέναι κυρίως ὁμολογίας, ἐκείνας δὲ μόνας προκλήσεις. μαρτυρεῖ δʼ ὁ Πρίαμος, μετὰ τὰ ὅρκια τοῦ ἀγῶνος ἀπιὼν, καί, Ζεὺς μέν που τό γε οἶδε καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι, ὁπποτέρῳ θανάτοιο τέλος πεπρωμένον ἐστίν· ᾔδει γὰρ ἐπὶ τούτοις τὰς ὁμολογίας γεγενημένας· διὸ καὶ μετὰ μικρὸν ὁ Ἕκτωρ φησὶν ὅρκια μὲν Κρονίδης ὑψίζυγος οὐκ ἐτέλεσσεν· ἀτελὴς γὰρ ἔμεινεν ὁ ἀγὼν, καὶ πέρας ἀναμφισβήτητον οὐκ εἶχε μηδετέρου πεσόντος. ὅθεν ἔμοιγε δοκεῖ μηδʼ ἀντινομικὸν γεγονέναι τὸ ζήτημα, ταῖς δευτέραις ὁμολογίαις τῶν πρώτων ἐμπεριεχομένων ὁ γὰρ ἀποκτείνας νενίκηκεν, οὐ μὴν ὁ νικήσας ἔκτεινεν. συνελόντι δʼ εἰπεῖν, Ἀγαμέμνων οὐκ ἔλυσε τὴν τοῦ Ἕκτορος πρόκλησιν ἀλλʼ ἐσαφήνισεν, οὐδὲ μετέθηκεν ἀλλὰ προσέθηκε τὸ κυριώτατον, ἐν τῷ κτεῖναι τὸ νικῆσαι θέμενος· αὕτη γάρ ἐστι νίκη παντελής, αἱ δʼ ἄλλαι προφάσεις καὶ ἀντιλογίας ἔχουσιν, ὡς ἡ παρὰ Μενελάου μήτε τρώσαντος μήτε διώξαντος. ὥσπερ οὖν ἐν ταῖς ἀληθιναῖς ἀντινομίαις οἱ δικασταὶ τῷ μηδὲν ἀμφισβητήσιμον ἔχοντι προστίθενται, τὸν ἀσαφέστερον ἐάσαντες οὕτως ἐνταῦθα τὴν ἀπροφάσιστον καὶ γνώριμον τέλος ἄγουσαν ὁμολογίαν βεβαιοτέραν χρὴ καὶ κυριωτέραν νομίζειν, ὃ δὲ μέγιστόν ἐστιν, αὐτὸς ὁ δοκῶν κρατεῖν, οὐκ ἀποστὰς φυγόντος οὐδὲ παυσάμενος, ἀλλὰ πανταχόσε φοιτῶν ἀνʼ ὅμιλον εἴ που ἐσαθρήσειεν Ἀλέξανδρον θεοειδέα μεμαρτύρηκεν ἄκυρον εἶναι καὶ ἀτελῆ νίκην, ἐκείνου διαπεφευγότος· οὐδʼ ἠμνημόνει τῶν ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ διειρημένων, ἡμέων δʼ ὁπποτέρῳ θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα τέτυκται, τεθναίη, ἄλλοι δὲ διακρινθεῖτε τάχιστα. διὸ ζητεῖν μὲν ἀναγκαῖον ἦν αὐτῷ τὸν Ἀλέξανδρον, ὅπως ἀποκτείνας συντελέσῃ τὸ τοῦ ἀγῶνος ἔργον· μὴ κτείνας δὲ μηδὲ λαβὼν οὐ δικαίως ἀπῄτει τὸ νικητήριον. οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐνίκησεν, εἰ δεῖ τεκμήρασθαι τοῖς ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ λεγομένοις, ἐγκαλοῦντος τῷ Διὶ καὶ τὰς ἀποτεύξεις ὀδυρομένου· Ζεῦ πάτερ, οὔ τις σεῖο θεῶν ὀλοώτερος ἄλλος· ἦ τʼ ἐφάμην τίσασθαι Ἀλέξανδρον κακότητος, νῦν δέ μοι ἐν χείρεσσιν ἄγη ξίφος, ἐκ δέ μοι ἔγχος ἠίχθη παλάμηφιν ἐτώσιον, οὐδʼ ἔβαλόν μιν αὐτὸς γὰρ ὁμολογεῖ μηδὲν εἶναι τὸ διακόψαι τὸ ἀσπίδιον καὶ λαβεῖν ἀπορρυὲν τὸ κράνος, εἰ μὴ βάλοι μηδʼ ἀποκτείνειε τὸν πολέμιον. ## 20. Book IX · chapters 14–15 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/20/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/plutarch-table-talk/20/#p-N [¶0] 14.1. THIS discourse ended, we poured out our offerings to the Muses, and together with a hymn in honor of Apollo, the patron of the Muses, we sung with Erato, who played upon the harp, the generation of the Muses out of Hesiod. After the song was done, Herod the rhetorician said: Pray, sirs, hearken. Those that will not admit Calliope to be ours say that she keeps company with kings, not such, I suppose, as are busied in resolving syllogisms or disputing, but such who do those things that belong to rhetoricians and statesmen. But of the rest of the Muses, Clio abets encomiums, for praises are called κλέα; and Polymnia history, for her name signifies the remembrance of many things; and it is said that all the Muses were somewhere called Remembrances. And for my part, I think Euterpe hath some relation to us too, if (as Chrysippus says) her lot be agreeableness in discourse and pleasantness in conversation. For it belongs to an orator to converse, as well as plead or give advice; since it is his part to gain the favor of his auditors, and to defend or excuse his client. To praise or dispraise is the commonest theme; and if we manage this artfully, it will turn to considerable account; if unskilfully, we are lost. For that saying, “Gods! how he is honored and beloved by all,” chiefly, in my opinion, belongs to those men who have a pleasing and persuasive faculty in discourse. > Greek: 14.1. ἐκ τούτου σπονδὰς ἐποιησάμεθα ταῖς Μούσαις, καὶ τῷ Μουσηγέτῃ Ἀπόλλωνι παιανίσαντες συνῄσαμεν τῷ Ἐράτωνι πρὸς τὴν λύραν ἐκ τῶν Ἡσιόδου τὰ περὶ τὴν τῶν Μουσῶν γένεσιν. μετὰ δὲ τὴν ᾠδὴν Ἡρώδης ὁ ῥήτωρ ἀκούετʼ ἔφη ὑμεῖς οἱ τὴν Καλλιόπην ἀποσπῶντες ἡμῶν, σὺν τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν αὐτὴν παρεῖναί φασιν, οὐκ ἀναλύουσι δήπου συλλογισμοὺς οὐδʼ ἐρωτῶσι μεταλλάττοντας, ἀλλὰ ταῦτα πράττουσιν ἃ ῥητόρων ἐστὶ καὶ πολιτικῶν ἔργα. τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ἥ τε Κλειὼ τὸ ἐγκωμιαστικὸν προσάγεται· κλέα γὰρ ἐκάλουν τοὺς ἐπαίνους· ἥ τε Πολύμνια τὸ ἱστορικὸν ἔστι γὰρ μνήμη πολλῶν· ἐνιαχοῦ δὲ καὶ πάσας·, ὥσπερ ἐν λείῳ, τὰς Μούσας Μνείας καλεῖσθαι λέγουσιν. ἐγὼ δὲ μεταποιοῦμαὶ τι καὶ τῆς Εὐτέρπης· εἴπερ, ὥς φησι Χρύσιππος, αὕτη τὸ περὶ τὰς ὁμιλίας ἐπιτερπὲς εἴληχε καὶ κεχαρισμένον. ὁμιλητικὸς γὰρ οὐδὲν ἧττον ἢ δικανικὸς ὁ ῥήτωρ καὶ συμβουλευτικός· αἱ γὰρ ἕξεις ἔχουσι καὶ εὐμενείας καὶ συνηγορίας καὶ ἀπολογίας· πλείστῳ δὲ τῷ ἐπαινεῖν χρώμεθα καὶ τῷ ψέγειν, ἐν τούτοις οὐ φαύλων οὐδὲ μικρῶν τυγχάνοντες, ἂν τεχνικῶς τοῦτο πράττωμεν ἂν δʼ ἀπείρως καὶ ἀτεχνῶς, ἀστοχοῦντες· τὸ γάρ ὦ πόποι, ὡς ὅδε πᾶσι φίλος καὶ τίμιός ἐστιν ἀνθρώποις … δὲ μᾶλλον, ὡς τὸ περὶ τὰς ὁμιλίας εὐάρμοστον ἔχουσι, πειθὼ καὶ χάριν οἶμαι προσήκειν. [¶1] 14.2. Then said Ammonius to Herod: We have no reason to be angry with you for grasping all the Muses, since the goods that friends have are common, and Jove hath begotten a great many Muses, that every man may be plentifully supplied; for we do not all need skill in hunting, military arts, navigation, or any mechanical trades; but learning and instruction is necessary for every one that “Eats the fruits of the spacious earth.” And therefore Jove made but one Minerva, one Diana, one Vulcan, but many Muses. But why there should be nine, and no more nor less, pray acquaint us; for you, so great a lover of, and so well acquainted with, the Muses, must certainly have considered this matter. What difficulty is there in that? replied Herod. The number nine is in every body’s mouth, as being the first square of the first odd number; and as doubly odd, since it may be divided into three equal odd numbers. Ammonius with a smile subjoined: Boldly said; and pray add, that this number is composed of the first two cubes, one and eight, and according to another composition of two triangles, three and six, each of which is itself perfect. But why should this belong to Muses more than any other of the Gods? For we have nine Muses, but not nine Cereses, nine Minervas or Dianas. For I do not believe you take it for a good argument, that the Muses must be so many, because their mother’s name (Mnemosyne) consists of just so many letters. Herod smiling, and every body being silent, Ammonius desired our opinions. > Greek: 14.2. καὶ ὁ Ἀμμώνιος οὐκ ἄξιον ἔφη σοι νεμεσᾶν, ὦ Ἡρώδη, καὶ πλείῃ χειρὶ τῶν Μουσῶν ἐπιδραττομένῳ· κοινὰ γὰρ τὰ φίλων. καὶ διὰ τοῦτο πολλὰς ἐγέννησε Μούσας ὁ Ζεύς, ὅπως ᾖ πᾶσιν ἀρύσασθαι τῶν καλῶν ἀφθόνως· οὔτε γὰρ κυνηγίας πάντες οὔτε στρατείας οὔτε ναυτιλίας οὔτε βαναυσουργίας, παιδείας δὲ καὶ λόγου δεόμεθα πάντες εὐρυεδοῦς ὅσοι καρπὸν αἰνύμεθα χθονός ὅθεν Ἀθηνᾶν μίαν καὶ Ἄρτεμιν καὶ Ἥφαιστον ἕνα, Μούσας δὲ πολλὰς ἐποίησεν. ὅτι δʼ ἐννέα καὶ οὐκ ἐλάττους οὐδὲ πλείους, ἆρʼ ἂν ἡμῖν φράσειας; οἶμαι δέ σε πεφροντικέναι φιλόμουσον οὕτω καὶ πολύμουσον ὄντα.τί δὲ τοῦτο σοφόν; εἶπεν ὁ Ἡρώδης· πᾶσι γὰρ διὰ στόματός ἐστι καὶ πάσαις ὑμνούμενος ὁ τῆς ἐννεάδος ἀριθμός, ὡς πρῶτος ἀπὸ πρώτου περισσοῦ τετράγωνος ὢν καὶ περισσάκις περισσός, ἅτε δὴ τὴν διανομὴν εἰς τρεῖς ἴσους λαμβάνων περισσούς. καὶ ὁ Ἀμμώνιος ἐπιμειδιάσας ἀνδρικῶς ταυτὶ διεμνημόνευσας· καὶ πρόσθες αὐτοῖς ἔτι τοσοῦτον, τὸν ἀριθμὸν ἐκ δυεῖν τῶν πρώτων κύβων συνηρμόσθαι μονάδος καὶ ὀγδοάδος, καὶ καθʼ ἑτέραν αὖ πάλιν σύνθεσιν ἐκ δυεῖν τριγώνων, τριάδος καὶ ἑξάδος ὧν ἑκάτερος καὶ τέλειός ἐστιν. ἀλλὰ τί ταῦτα ταῖς Μούσαις μᾶλλον ἢ τοῖς ἄλλοις θεοῖς; προσῆκεν, ὅτι Μούσας ἔχομεν ἐννέα, Δήμητρας δὲ καὶ Ἀθηνᾶς καὶ Ἀρτέμιδας οὐκ ἔχομεν; οὐ γὰρ δήπου καὶ σὲ πείθει τὸ Μούσας γεγονέναι τοσαύτας, ὅτι τοὔνομα τῆς μητρὸς αὐτῶν ἐκ τοσούτων γραμμάτων ἐστίν. γελάσαντος δὲ τοῦ Ἡρώδου καὶ σιωπῆς γενομένης, προὔτρεπεν ἡμᾶς ἐπιχειρεῖν ὁ Ἀμμώνιος. [¶2] 14.3. My brother said, that the ancients celebrated but three Muses, and that to bring proofs for this assertion would be pedantic and uncivil in such a company. The reason of this number was (not as some say) the three different sorts of music, the diatonic, the chromatic, and harmonic, nor those stops that make the intervals nete, mese, and hypate; though the Delphians gave the Muses this name erroneously, in my opinion, appropriating it to one science, or rather to a part of one single science, the harmoniac part of music. But, as I think, the ancients, reducing all arts and sciences which are practised and performed by reason or discourse to three heads, philosophy, rhetoric, and mathematics, accounted them the gifts of three Gods, and named them the Muses. Afterwards, about Hesiod’s time, the sciences being better and more thoroughly looked into, men subdividing them found that each science contained three different parts. In mathematics are comprehended music, arithmetic, and geometry; in philosophy are logic, ethics, and physics. In rhetoric, they say the first part was demonstrative or encomiastic, the second deliberative, the third judicial. None of all which they believed to be without a God or a Muse or some superior power for its patron, and did not, it is probable, make the Muses equal in number to these divisions, but found them to be so. Now, as you may divide nine into threes, and each three into as many units; so there is but one rectitude of reason, which is employed about the supreme truth, and which belongs to the whole in common, while each of the three kinds of science has three Muses assigned to it, and each of these has her separate faculty assigned to her, which she disposes and orders. And I do not think the poets and astrologers will find fault with us for passing over their professions in silence, since they know, as well as we, that astrology is comprehended in geometry, and poetry in music. > Greek: 14.3. εἶπεν οὖν ὁ ἀδελφός, ὅτι τρεῖς ᾔδεσαν οἱ παλαιοὶ Μούσας· καὶ τούτου λέγειν ἀπόδειξιν ὀψιμαθές ἐστι καὶ ἄγροικον ἐν τοσούτοις καὶ τοιούτοις ἀνδράσιν. αἰτία δʼ οὐχ ὡς ἔνιοι λέγουσι τὰ μελῳδούμενα γένη, τὸ διάτονον καὶ τὸ χρωματικὸν καὶ τὸ ἐναρμόνιον οὐδʼ οἱ τὰ διαστήματα παρέχοντες ὅροι, νήτη καὶ μέση καὶ ὑπάτη· καίτοι Δελφοί γε τὰς Μούσας οὕτως ὠνόμαζον, οὐκ ὀρθῶς ἑνὶ μαθήματι, μᾶλλον δὲ μορίῳ μαθήματος ἑνὸς τοῦ μουσικοῦ, τῷ γʼ ἁρμονικῷ, προστιθέντες. ἁπάσας δʼ ὡς ἐγὼ νομίζω τὰς διὰ λόγου περαινομένας ἐπιστήμας καὶ τέχνας οἱ παλαιοὶ καταμαθόντες ἐν τρισὶ γένεσιν οὔσας, τῷ φιλοσόφῳ καὶ τῷ ῥητορικῷ καὶ τῷ μαθηματικῷ, τριῶν ἐποιοῦντο δῶρα καὶ χάριτας θεῶν ἃς Μούσας ὠνόμαζον. ὓστερον δὲ καὶ καθʼ Ἡσίοδον ἤδη μᾶλλον ἐκκαλυπτομένων τῶν δυνάμεων, διαιροῦντες εἰς καὶ εἴδη τρεῖς πάλιν ἑκάστην ἔχουσαν ἐν αὑτῇ διαφορὰς ἑώρων ὦν ἐν μὲν τῷ μαθηματικῷ τὸ περὶ μουσικήν ἐστι καὶ τὸ περὶ ἀριθμητικὴν καὶ τὸ περὶ γεωμετρίαν, ἐν τῷ φιλοσόφῳ τὸ λογικὸν καὶ τὸ ἠθικὸν καὶ τὸ φυσικόν, ἐν τῷ ῥητορικῷ τὸ ἐγκωμιαστικὸν πρῶτον γεγονέναι λέγουσι, δεύτερον τὸ συμβουλευτικόν, ἔσχατον δὲ τὸ δικανικόν. ὧν μηδὲν ἄθεον μηδʼ ἄμουσον εἶναι ἄμοιρον κρείττονος καὶ ἡγεμονίας ἀξιοῦντες, εἰκότως ἰσαρίθμους τὰς Μούσας οὐκ ἐποίησαν ἀλλʼ οὔσας ἀνεῦρον. ὥσπερ οὖν τὰ ἐννέα διαίρεσιν εἰς τρεῖς λαμβάνει τριάδας, ὧν ἑκάστη πάλιν εἰς μονάδας διαιρεῖται τοσαύτας· οὕτως ἓν μέν ἐστι καὶ κοινὸν ἡ τοῦ λόγου περὶ τὸ κύριον ὀρθότης, νενέμηνται σύντρεις εἰς τῶν τριῶν γενῶν ἕκαστον· εἶτα πάλιν αὖ μοναδικῶς ἑκάστη μίαν περιέπει λαχοῦσα καὶ κοσμεῖ δύναμιν. οὐ οἶμαι τοὺς ποιηματικοὺς καὶ τοὺς ἀστρολογικοὺς ἐγκαλεῖν ἡμῖν ὡς παραλείπουσι· τὰς τέχνας αὐτῶν, εἰδότας οὐδὲν ἧττον ἡμῶν ἀστρολογίαν γεωμετρίᾳ ποιητικὴν δὲ μουσικῇ συννεμομένην. [¶3] 14.4. As soon as he had said this, Trypho the physician subjoined: How hath our art offended you, that you have shut the Museum against us? And Dionysius of Melite added: Sir, you have a great many that will side with you in the accusation; for we farmers think Thalia to be ours, assigning her the care of springing and budding seeds and plants. But I interposing said: Your accusation is not just; for you have bountiful Ceres, and Bacchus who (as Pindar phraseth it) increaseth the trees, the chaste beauty of the fruits; and we know that Aesculapius is the patron of the physicians, and they make their address to Apollo as Paean, but never as the Muses’ chief. All men (as Homer says) stand in need of the Gods, but all stand not in need of all. But I wonder Lamprias did not mind what the Delphians say in this matter; for they affirm that the Muses amongst them were not named so either from the strings or sounds in music; but the universe being divided into three parts, the first portion was of the fixed stars, the second of the planets, the third of those things that are under the concave of the moon; and all these are ordered according to harmonical proportions, and of each portion a Muse takes care; Hypate of the first, Nete of the last, and Mese in the middle, combining as much as possible, and turning about mortal things with the Gods, and earthly with heavenly. And Plato intimates the same thing under the names of the Fates, calling one Atropos, the other Lachesis, and the other Clotho. For he committed the revolutions of the eight spheres to so many Sirens, and not Muses. > Greek: 14.4. ὡς δὲ ταῦτʼ ἐρρήθη, τοῦ ἰατροῦ Τρύφωνος εἰπόντος τῇ δʼ, ἡμετέρᾳ τέχνῃ τί παθὼν τὸ Μουσεῖον ἀποκέκλεικας; ὑπολαβὼν Διονύσιος ὁ Μελιτεὺς πολλούς ἔφη συμπαρακαλεῖς ἐπὶ τὴν κατηγορίαν· καὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς οἱ γεωργοὶ τὴν Θάλειαν οἰκειούμεθα,· φυτῶν καὶ σπερμάτων εὐθαλούντων καὶ βλαστανόντων ἐπιμέλειαν αὐτῇ καὶ σωτηρίαν ἀποδιδόντες. ἀλλʼ οὐ δίκαια ἔφην ἐγὼ ποιεῖτε· καὶ γὰρ ὑμῖν ἔστι Δημήτηρ ἀνησιδώρα καὶ Διόνυσος δενδρέων νομὸν πολυγαθὴς αὐξάνων, ἁγνὸν φέγγος ὀπώρας ὡς Πίνδαρός φησι· καὶ τοὺς ἰατροὺς Ἀσκληπιὸν ἔχοντας ἴσμεν ἡγεμόνα καὶ Ἀπόλλωνι Παιᾶνι χρωμένους πάντα, Μουσηγέτῃ μηθέν. πάντες γάρ ἄνθρωποι θεῶν χατέουσι καθʼ Ὅμηρον, οὐ πάντες δὲ πάντων. ἀλλʼ ἐκεῖνο θαυμάζω, πῶς ἔλαθε Λαμπρίαν τὸ λεγόμενον ὑπὸ Δελφῶν. λέγουσι γάρ οὐ φθόγγων οὐδὲ χορδῶν ἐπωνύμους γεγονέναι τὰς Μούσας παρʼ αὐτοῖς· ἀλλά, τοῦ κόσμου τριχῇ πάντα νενεμημένου, πρώτην μὲν εἶναι τὴν τῶν ἀπλανῶν μερίδα, δευτέραν δὲ τὴν τῶν πλανωμένων, ἐσχάτην δὲ τὴν τῶν ὑπὸ σελήνην συνηρτῆσθαι δὲ πάσας καὶ συντετάχθαι κατὰ λόγους ἐναρμονίους, ὧν ἑκάστης φύλακα Μοῦσαν εἶναι, τῆς μὲν πρώτης ὑπάτην τῆς δʼ ἐσχάτης Νεάτην, Μέσην δὲ τὴν μεταξὺ συνέχουσαν ἅμα καὶ συνεπιστρέφουσαν, ὡς ἀνυστὸν ἐστι, τὰ θνητὰ τοῖς θεοῖς καὶ τὰ περίγεια τοῖς οὐρανίοις· ὡς καὶ Πλάτων ᾐνίξατο τοῖς τῶν Μοιρῶν ὀνόμασι τὴν μὲν Ἄτροπον τὴν δὲ Κλωθὼ τὴν δὲ Λάχεσιν προσαγορεύσας· ἐπεὶ ταῖς γε τῶν ὀκτὼ σφαιρῶν περιφοραῖς Σειρῆνας οὐ Μούσας ἰσαρίθμους ἐπέστησεν. [¶4] 14.5. Then Menephylus the Peripatetic subjoined: The Delphians’ opinion hath indeed somewhat of probability in it; but Plato is absurd in committing the eternal and divine revolutions not to the Muses but to the Sirens, Daemons that neither love nor are benevolent to mankind, wholly passing by the Muses, or calling them by the names of the Fates, the daughters of Necessity. For Necessity is averse to the Muses; but Persuasion being more agreeable and better acquainted with them, in my opinion, than the grace of Empedocles, “Intolerable Necessity abhors.” > Greek: 14.5. ὑπολαβὼν δὲ Μενέφυλος ὁ Περιπατητικὸς τὰ μὲν Δελφῶν εἶπεν ἁμωσγέπως μετέχει πιθανότητος· ὁ δὲ Πλάτων ἄτοπος, ταῖς μὲν ἀιδίοις καὶ θείαις περιφοραῖς ἀντὶ τῶν Μουσῶν τὰς Σειρῆνας ἐνιδρύων, οὐ πάνυ φιλανθρώπους οὐδὲ χρηστὰς δαίμονας· τὰς δὲ Μούσας ἢ παραλείπων παντάπασιν ἢ τοῖς τῶν Μοιρῶν ὀνόμασι προσαγορεύων καὶ καλῶν θυγατέρας Ἀνάγκης. ἄμουσον γὰρ ἡ Ἀνάγκη μουσικὸν δʼ ἡ Πειθώ, καὶ Μούσαις φιλοδαμοῦσα πολὺ μᾶλλον οἶμαι τῆς Ἐμπεδοκλέους Χάριτος στυγέει δύστλητον ἀνάγκην. [¶5] 14.6. No doubt, said Ammonius, as it is in us a violent and involuntary cause; but in the Gods Necessity is not intolerable, uncontrollable, or violent, unless it be to the wicked: as the law in a commonwealth to the best men is its best good, not to be violated or transgressed, not because they have no power, but because they have no will, to change it. And Homer’s Sirens give us no just reason to be afraid; for he in that fable rightly intimates the power of their music not to be hurtful to man, but delightfully charming, and detaining the souls which pass from hence thither and wander after death; working in them a love for divine and heavenly things, and a forgetfulness of every thing on earth; and they extremely pleased follow and attend them. And from thence some imperfect sound, and as it were echo of that music, coming to us by the means of reason and good precepts, rouseth our souls, and restores the notice of those things to our minds, the greatest part of which lie encumbered with and entangled in disturbances of the flesh and distracting passions. But the generous soul hears and remembers, and her affection for those pleasures riseth up to the most ardent passion, whilst she eagerly desires but is not able to free herself from the body. It is true, I do not approve what he says; but Plato seems to me, as he hath strangely and unaccountably called the axes spindles and distaffs, and the stars whirls, so to have named the Muses Sirens, as delivering divine things to the ghosts below, as Ulysses in Sophocles says of the Sirens, I next to Phorcus’s daughters came, Who fix the sullen laws below. Eight of the Muses take care of the spheres, and one of all about the earth. The eight who govern the motions of the spheres maintain the harmony of the planets with the fixed stars and one another. But that one who looks after the place betwixt the earth and moon and takes care of mortal things, by means of speech and song introduceth persuasion, assisting our natural consent to community and agreement, and giveth men as much harmony, grace, and order as is possible for them to receive; introducing this persuasion to smooth and quiet our disturbances, and as it were to recall our wandering desires out of the wrong way, and to set us in the right path. But, as Pindar says, Whom Jove abhors, he starts to hear The Muses sounding in his ear. > Greek: 14.6. πάνυ μὲν οὖν ὁ Ἀμμώνιος ἔφη τὴν ἐν ἡμῖν ἀκούσιον αἰτίαν καὶ ἀπροαίρετον ἡ δʼ ἐν θεοῖς ἀνάγκη δύστλητος οὔκ ἐστʼ οἶμαι δʼ οὐδὲ δυσπειθὴς οὐδὲ βιαία, πλὴν τοῖς κακοῖς, ὥς ἐστι νόμος ἐν πόλει τοῖς βελτίστοις τὸ βέλτιστον αὐτῆς, ἀπαράτρεπτον καὶ ἀπαράβατον οὐ τῷ μὲν ἀδυνάτῳ τῷ δʼ ἀβουλήτῳ τῆς μεταβολῆς. αἵ γε μὲν δὴ Ὁμήρου Σειρῆνες οὐ κατὰ λόγον ἡμᾶς; τῷ μύθῳ φοβοῦσιν, ἀλλὰ κἀκεῖνος ὀρθῶς ᾐνίττετο τὴν τῆς μουσικῆς αὐτῶν δύναμιν οὐκ ἀπάνθρωπον οὐδʼ ὀλέθριον οὖσαν ἀλλὰ ταῖς ἐντεῦθεν ἀπιούσαις ἐκεῖ ψυχαῖς, ὡς ἔοικε, καὶ πλανωμέναις μετὰ τὴν τελευτὴν ἔρωτα πρὸς τὰ οὐράνια καὶ θεῖα λήθην δὲ τῶν θνητῶν ἐμποιοῦσαν κατέχειν καὶ κατᾴδειν θελγομένας· αἱ δʼ ὑπὸ χαρᾶς ἕπονται καὶ συμπεριπολοῦσιν. ἐνταῦθα δὲ πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἀμυδρά τις οἷον ἠχὼ τῆς μουσικῆς ἐκείνης ἐξικνουμένη διὰ λόγων ἐκκαλεῖται καὶ ἀναμιμνήσκει τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν τότε· τὰ δʼ ὦτα τῶν μὲν πλείστων περιαλήλιπται καὶ καταπέπλασται σαρκίνοις ἐμφράγμασι καὶ πάθεσιν, οὐ κηρίνοις· ἣ δὲ διʼ εὐφυΐαν αἰσθάνεται καὶ μνημονεύει, καὶ τῶν ἐμμανεστάτων ἐρώτων οὐδὲν ἀποδεῖ τὸ πάθος αὐτῆς, γλιχομένης καὶ ποθούσης λῦσαί τε μὴ δυναμένης ἑαυτὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ σώματος. οὐ μὴν ἔγωγε παντάπασι συμφέρομαι τούτοις· ἀλλά μοι δοκεῖ Πλάτων ὡς ἀτράκτους καὶ ἠλακάτας τοὺς ἄξονας, σφονδύλους δὲ τοὺς ἀστέρας, ἐξηλλαγμένως ἐνταῦθα καὶ τὰς Μούσας Σειρῆνας ὀνομάζειν εἰρούσας τὰ θεῖα καὶ λεγούσας ἐν Ἅιδου, καθάπερ Σοφοκλέους Ὀδυσσεὺς φησι Σειρῆνας εἰσαφικέσθαι Φόρκου κόρας, θροοῦντε τοὺς Ἅιδου νόμους Μοῦσαι δʼ εἰσὶν ὀκτὼ καὶ συμπεριπολοῦσι ταῖς ὀκτὼ σφαίραις, μία δὲ τὸν περὶ γῆν εἴληχε τόπον. αἱ μὲν οὖν ὀκτὼ περιόδοις ἐφεστῶσαι τὴν τῶν πλανωμένων ἄστρων πρὸς τὰ ἀπλανῆ καὶ πρὸς ἄλληλα συνέχουσι καὶ διασῴζουσιν ἁρμονίαν· μία δὲ τὸν μεταξὺ γῆς καὶ σελήνης τόπον ἐπισκοποῦσα καὶ περιπολοῦσα, τοῖς θνητοῖς, ὅσον αἰσθάνεσθαι καὶ δέχεσθαι πέφυκε, χαρίτων καὶ ῥυθμοῦ καὶ ἁρμονίας ἐνδίδωσι, διὰ λόγου καὶ ᾠδῆς πειθὼ πολιτικῆς καὶ κοινωνητικῆς συνεργὸν ἐπάγουσα παραμυθουμένην καὶ κηλοῦσαν ἡμῶν τὸ ταραχῶδες καὶ τὸ πλανώμενον ὥσπερ ἐξ ἀνοδίας ἀνακαλουμένην ἐπιεικῶς καὶ καθιστᾶσαν. ὅσσα δὲ μὴ πεφίληκε Ζεύς, ἀτύζονται βοὰν Πιερίδων ἀίοντα κατὰ Πίνδαρον. [¶6] 14.7. To this discourse Ammonius, as he used to do, subjoined that verse of Xenophanes, “This fine discourse seems near allied to truth,” and desired every one to deliver his opinion. And I, after a short silence, said: As Plato thinks by the name, as it were by tracks, to discover the powers of the Gods, so let us place in heaven and over heavenly things one of the Muses, Urania. And it is likely that those require no distracting variety of cares to govern them, since they have the same single nature for the cause of all their motions. But where are a great many irregularities and disorders, there we must place the eight Muses, that we may have one to correct each particular irregularity and miscarriage. There are two parts in a man’s life, the serious and the merry; and each must be regulated and methodized. The serious part, which instructs us in the knowledge and contemplation of the Gods, Calliope, Clio, and Thalia seem chiefly to look after and direct. The other Muses govern our weak part, which changes presently into wantonness and folly; they do not neglect our brutish and violent passions and let them run their own course, but by apposite dancing, music, song, and orderly motion mixed with reason, bring them down to a moderate temper and condition. For my part, since Plato admits two principles of every action, the natural desire after pleasure, and acquired opinion which covets and wishes for the best, and calls one reason and the other passion, and since each of these is manifold, I think that each requires a considerable and, to speak the truth, a divine direction. For instance, one faculty of our reason is said to be political or imperial, over which Hesiod says Calliope presides; Clio’s province is the noble and aspiring; and Polymnia’s that faculty of the soul which inclines to attain and keep knowledge (and therefore the Sicyonians call one of their three Muses Polymathia); to Euterpe everybody allows the searches into nature and physical speculations, there being no greater, no sincerer pleasure belonging to any other sort of speculation in the world. The natural desire to meat and drink Thalia reduceth from brutish and uncivil to be sociable and friendly; and therefore we say θαλιάζειν of those that are friendly, merry, and sociable over their cups, and not of those that are quarrelsome and mad. Erato, together with Persuasion, that brings along with it reason and opportunity, presides over marriages; she takes away and extinguisheth all the violent fury of pleasure, and makes it tend to friendship, mutual confidence, and endearment, and not to effeminacy, lust, or discontent. The delight which the eye or ear receives is a sort of pleasure, either appropriate to reason or to passion, or common to them both. This the two other Muses, Terpsichore and Melpomene, so moderate, that the one may only cheer and not charm, the other only please and not bewitch. > Greek: 14.7. τούτοις ἐπιφωνήσαντος τοῦ Ἀμμωνίου τὰ τοῦ Ξενοφάνους ὥσπερ εἰώθει ταῦτα δεδοξάσθαι μὲν ἐοικότα τοῖς ἐτύμοισι καὶ παρακαλοῦντος ἀποφαίνεσθαι καὶ λέγειν τὸ δοκοῦν ἕκαστον, ἐγὼ μικρὸν διασιωπήσας ἔφην ὅτι καὶ Πλάτων αὐτὸς ὥσπερ ἴχνεσι τοῖς ὀνόμασι τῶν θεῶν ἀνευρίσκειν οἴεται τὰς δυνάμεις· καὶ ἡμεῖς ὁμοίως μὲν τιθῶμεν ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ περὶ τὰ οὐράνια μίαν τῶν Μουσῶν·, ἣ Οὐρανία φαίνεται· καὶ εἰκὸς ἐκεῖνα μὴ πολλῆς μηδὲ ποικίλης κυβερνήσεως δεῖσθαι, μίαν ἔχοντα καὶ ἁπλῆν αἴτιον φύσιν· ὅπου δὲ πολλαὶ πλημμέλειαι πολλαὶ δʼ ἀμετρίαι καὶ παραβάσεις, ἐνταῦθα τὰς ὀκτὼ μετοικιστέον, ἄλλην ἄλλο κακίας καὶ ἀναρμοστίας εἶδος ἐπανορθουμένας. ἐπεὶ δὲ τοῦ βίου τὸ μὲν σπουδῇ τὸ δὲ παιδιᾷ μέρος ἐστί, καὶ δεῖται τοῦ μουσικῶς καὶ μετρίως, τὸ μὲν σπουδάζον ἡμῶν ἥ τε Καλλιόπη καὶ ἡ Κλειὼ καὶ ἡ Θάλεια, τῆς περὶ θεοὺς ἐπιστήμης καὶ θέας ἡγεμὼν οὖσα, δόξουσιν ἐπιστρέφειν καὶ συγκατορθοῦν· αἱ δὲ λοιπαὶ τὸ μεταβάλλον ἐφʼ ἡδονὴν καὶ παιδιὰν ὑπʼ ἀσθενείας μὴ περιορᾶν ἀνιέμενον ἀκολάστως καὶ θηριωδῶς, ἀλλʼ ὀρχήσει καὶ ᾠδῇ καὶ χορείᾳ ῥυθμὸν ἐχούσῃ καὶ ἁρμονίᾳ καὶ λόγῳ κεραννύμενον εὐσχημόνως καὶ κοσμίως ἐκδέχεσθαι καὶ παραπέμπειν. ἐγὼ μέντοι, τοῦ Πλάτωνος ἐν ἑκάστῳ δύο πράξεων ἀπολείποντος ἀρχάς, τὴν μὲν ἔμφυτον ἐπιθυμίαν ἡδονῶν τὴν δʼ ἐπείσακτον δόξαν ἐφιεμένην τοῦ ἀρίστου, καὶ τὸ μὲν λόγον τὸ δὲ πάθος ἔστιν ὅτε καλοῦντος, ἑτέρας δʼ αὖ πάλιν τούτων ἑκατέρου διαφορὰς ἔχοντος, ἑκάστην ὁρῶ μεγάλης καὶ θείας ὡς ἀληθῶς παιδαγωγίας δεομένην. αὐτίκα τοῦ λόγου τὸ μέν ἐστι πολιτικὸν καὶ βασιλικόν, ἐφʼ ᾧ τὴν Καλλιόπην τετάχθαι φησὶν ὁ Ἡσίοδος· τὸ φιλότιμον δʼ ἡ Κλειὼ μάλιστα κυδαίνειν καὶ συνεπιγαυροῦν εἴληχεν ἡ δὲ Πολύμνια τοῦ φιλομαθοῦς ἐστι καὶ μνημονικοῦ τῆς ψυχῆς· διὸ καὶ Σικυώνιοι τῶν τριῶν Μουσῶν μίαν Πολυμάθειαν καλοῦσιν. Εὐτέρπῃ δὲ πᾶς ἄν τις ἀποδοίη τὸ θεωρητικὸν τῆς περὶ φύσιν ἀληθείας, οὔτε καθαρωτέρας οὔτε καλλίους ἑτέρῳ γένει παραλιπὼν εὐπαθείας καὶ τέρψεις. τῆς δʼ ἐπιθυμίας τὸ μὲν περὶ ἐδωδὴν καὶ πόσιν ἡ Θάλεια κοινωνητικὸν ποιεῖ καὶ συμποτικὸν ἐξ ἀπανθρώπου καὶ θηριώδους· διὸ τοὺς φιλοφρόνως καὶ ἱλαρῶς συνόντας ἀλλήλοις ἐν οἴνῳ θαλιάζειν λέγομεν, οὐ τοὺς ὑβρίζοντας καὶ παροινοῦντας· ταῖς δὲ περὶ συνουσίαν σπουδαῖς ἡ Ἐρατὼ παροῦσα μετὰ πειθοῦς λόγον ἐχούσης καὶ καιρὸν ἐξαιρεῖ καὶ κατασβέννυσι τὸ μανικὸν τῆς ἡδονῆς καὶ οἰστρῶδες, εἰς φιλίαν καὶ πίστιν οὐχ ὕβριν οὐδʼ ἀκολασίαν τελευτώσης. οἵδε καὶ ὀφθαλμῶν ἡδονήν, εἶδος εἴτε τῷ λόγῳ μᾶλλον εἴτε τῷ πάθει προσῆκον εἴτε κοινὸν ἀμφοῖν ἐστιν, αἱ λοιπαὶ δύο, Μελπομένη καὶ Τερψιχόρη, παραλαβοῦσαι κοσμοῦσιν· ὥστε τὴν μὲν εὐφροσύνην μὴ κήλησιν εἶναι, τὸ δὲ μὴ γοητείαν ἀλλὰ τέρψιν. [¶7] 15.1. AFTER this, a match of dancing was proposed, and a cake was the prize. The judges were Meniscus the dancing-master, and my brother Lamprias; for he danced the Pyrrhic very well, and in the Palaestra none could match him for the graceful motion of his hands and arms in dancing. Now a great many dancing with more heat than art, some desired two of the company who seemed to be best skilled and took most care to observe their steps, to dance in the style called φορὰν παρὰ φοράν. Upon this Thrasybulus, the son of Ammonius, demanded what φορά signified, and gave Ammonius occasion to run over most of the parts of dancing. > Greek: 15.1. ἐκ τούτου πυραμοῦντος ἐπῆραν τουτʼ ἐσπᾶσι νικητήριον ὀρχήσεως· ἀπεδείχθη δὲ κριτὴς μετὰ Μενίσκου τοῦ παιδοτρίβου Λαμπρίας ὁ ἀδελφός· ὠρχήσατο γὰρ πιθανῶς τὴν πυρρίχην καὶ χειρονομῶν ἐν ταῖς παλαίστραις ἐδόκει διαφέρειν τῶν παίδων. ὀρχουμένων δὲ πολλῶν προθυμότερον ἢ μουσικώτερον, δύο τοὺς εὐδοκίμους καὶ βουλομένους ἀνασῴζειν τὴν ἐμμέλειαν ἠξίουν τινὲς ὀρχεῖσθαι φορὰν παρὰ φοράν. ἐπεζήτησεν οὖν ὁ Θρασύβουλος Ἀμμωνίου τί βούλεται τοὔνομα τῆς φορᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ Ἀμμωνίῳ περὶ τῶν μερῶν τῆς ὀρχήσεως πλείονα διελθεῖν. [¶8] 15.2. He said they were three,—φορά, σχῆμα, and δεῖξις. For dancing is made up of motion and manner (σχέσις), as a song of sounds and stops; stops are the ends of motion. Now the motions they call φοραί, and the gestures and likeness to which the motions tend, and in which they end, they call σχήματα: as, for instance, when by their own motions they represent the figure of Apollo, Pan, or any of the raging Bacchae. The third, δεῖξις, is not an imitation, but a plain downright indication of the things represented. For the poets, when they would speak of Achilles, Ulysses, the earth, or heaven, use their proper names, and such as the vulgar usually understand. But for the more lively representation, they use words which by their very sound express some eminent quality in the thing, or metaphors; as when they say that streams do “babble and flash;” that arrows fly “desirous the flesh to wound;” or when they describe an equal battle by saying “the fight had equal heads.” They have likewise a great many significative compositions in their verses. Thus Euripides of Perseus, “He that Medusa slew, and flies in air;” and Pindar of a horse, When by the smooth Alpheus’ banks He ran the race, and never felt the spur; and Homer of a race, The chariots, overlaid with tin and brass, By fiery horses drawn ran swiftly on. So in dancing, the σχῆμα represents the shape and figure, the φορά shows some action, passion, or power; but by the δεῖξις are properly and significatively shown the things themselves, for instance, the heaven, earth, or the company. Which, being done in a certain order and method, resembles the proper names used in poetry, decently clothed and attended with suitable epithets. As in these lines, Themis the venerable and admired, And Venus beauteous with her bending brows, Dione fair, and Juno crowned with gold. And in these, From Hellen kings renowned for giving laws, Great Dorus and the mighty Xuthus, sprang, And Aeolus, whose chief delight was horse. For if poets did not take this liberty, how mean, how grovelling and flat, would be their verse! As suppose they wrote thus, From this came Hercules, from the other Iphitus. Her father, husband, and her son were kings, Her brother and forefathers were the same; And she in Greece was called Olympias. The same faults may be committed in that sort of dancing called δεῖξις, unless the representation be lifelike and graceful, decent and unaffected. And, in short, we may aptly transfer what Simonides said of painting to dancing, and call dancing mute poetry, and poetry speaking dancing; for poesy doth not properly belong to painting, nor painting to poesy, neither do they any way make use of one another. But poesy and dancing have much in common, especially in that sort of song called Hyporchema, in which is the most lively representation imaginable, dancing doing it by gesture, and poesy by words. So that poesy may bear some resemblance to the colors in painting, while dancing is like the lines which mark out the features of the face. And therefore he who was the most famous writer of Hyporchemes, who here even outdid himself, sufficiently evidenceth that these two arts stand in need of one another. For, whilst he sings these songs, … he shows what tendency poetry hath to dancing; whilst the sound excites the hands and feet, or rather as it were by some cords distends and raiseth every member of the whole body; so that, whilst such songs are pronounced or sung, they cannot be quiet. But now-a-days no sort of exercise hath such bad depraved music applied to it as dancing; and so it suffers that which Ibycus as to his own concerns was fearful of, as appears by these lines, I fear lest, losing fame amongst the Gods, I shall receive respect from men alone. For having associated to itself a mean paltry sort of music, and falling from that divine sort of poetry with which it was formerly acquainted, it rules now and domineers amongst foolish and inconsiderate spectators, like a tyrant, it hath subjected nearly the whole of music, but hath lost all its honor with excellent and wise men. These, my Sossius Senecio, were almost the last discourses which we had at Ammonius’s house during the festival of the Muses. > Greek: 15.2. ἔφη δὲ τρία εἶναι, τὴν φορὰν καὶ τὸ σχῆμα καὶ τὴν δεῖξιν. ἡ γὰρ ὄρχησις ἔκ τε κινήσεων καὶ σχέσεων συνέστηκεν, ὡς τὸ μέλος τῶν φθόγγων καὶ τῶν διαστημάτων ἐνταῦθα δʼ αἱ μοναὶ πέρατα τῶν κινήσεών εἰσι. φορὰς μὲν οὖν τὰς κινήσεις ὀνομάζουσι, σχήματα δὲ σχέσεις καὶ διαθέσεις, εἰς ἃς φερόμεναι τελευτῶσιν αἱ κινήσεις, ὅταν Ἀπόλλωνος ἢ Πανὸς ἤ τινος Βάκχης σχῆμα διαθέντες ἐπὶ τοῦ σώματος γραφικῶς τοῖς εἴδεσιν ἐπιμένωσι. τὸ δὲ τρίτον, ἡ δεῖξις, οὐ μιμητικόν ἐστιν, ἀλλὰ δηλωτικὸν ἀληθῶς τῶν ὑποκειμένων ὡς γὰρ οἱ ποιηταὶ τοῖς κυρίοις ὀνόμασι δεικτικῶς χρῶνται, τὸν Ἀχιλλέα καὶ τὸν Ὀδυσσέα καὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ τὸν οὐρανὸν ὀνομάζοντες, ὡς ὑπὸ τῶν πολλῶν λέγονται· πρὸς δὲ τὰς ἐμφάσεις καὶ τὰς μιμήσεις καὶ ὀνοματοποιίαις χρῶνται καὶ μεταφοραῖς, κελαρύζειν καὶ καχλάζειν τὰ κλώμενα τῶν ῥευμάτων λέγοντες, καὶ τὰ βέλη φέρεσθαι λιλαιόμενα χροὸς ἆσαι, καὶ τὴν ἰσόρροπον μάχην ἴσας ὑσμίνη κεφαλὰς, ἔχειν· πολλὰς δὲ καὶ συνθέσεις τῶν ὀνομάτων κατὰ μέλη μιμητικῶς σχηματίζουσιν, ὡς Εὐριπίδης ὁ πετόμενος ἱερὸν ἀνὰ Διὸς αἰθέρα γοργοφόνος, καὶ περὶ τοῦ ἵππου Πίνδαρος ὅτε παρʼ Ἀλφεῷ σύτο δέμας ἀκέντητον ἐν δρόμοισι παρέχων καὶ Ὅμηρος ἐπὶ τῆς ἱπποδρομίας ἅρματα δʼ αὖ χαλκῷ πεπυκασμένα κασσιτέρῳ τε ἵπποις ὠκυπόδεσσιν ἐπέτρεχον· οὕτως ἐν ὀρχήσει τὸ μὲν σχῆμα μιμητικόν ἐστι μορφῆς καὶ ἰδέας, καὶ πάλιν ἡ φορὰ πάθους τινὸς ἐμφαντικὸν ἢ πράξεως ἢ δυνάμεως· ταῖς δὲ δείξεσι κυρίως αὐτὰ δηλοῦσι τὰ πράγματα, τὴν γῆν, τὸν οὐρανόν, αὐτοὺς τοὺς πλησίον· ὃ δὴ τάξει μέν τινι καὶ ἀριθμῷ γιγνόμενον ἔοικε τοῖς ἐν ποιητικῇ κυρίοις ὀνόμασι μετά τινος κόσμου καὶ λειότητος ἐκφερομένοις, ὡς τὰ τοιαῦτα καὶ Θέμιν αἰδοίην ἑλικοβλέφαρὸν τʼ Ἀφροδίτην Ἥρην τε χρυσοστέφανον καλήν τε Διώνην· καὶ Ἕλληνος δʼ ἐγένοντο θεμιστοπόλοι βασιλῆες, Δῶρός τε,Ξοῦθός τε καὶ Αἴολος ἱππιοχάρμης εἰ δὲ μή, τοῖς ἄγαν πεζοῖς καὶ κακομέτροις, ὡς τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐγένοντο τοῦ μὲν Ἡρακλῆς τοῦ δʼ Ἴφικλος· καί τῆς δὲ πατὴρ καὶ ἀνὴρ καὶ παῖς βασιλεῖς, καὶ ἀδελφοί, καὶ πρόγονοι· κλῄζει δʼ Ἑλλὰς Ὀλυμπιάδα. τοιαῦτα γὰρ ἁμαρτάνεται καὶ περὶ τὴν ὄρχησιν ἐν ταῖς δείξεσιν, ἂν πιθανότητα μηδὲ χάριν μετʼ εὐπρεπείας καὶ ἀφελείας ἔχωσι. καὶ ὅλως ἔφη μεταθήσειν τὸ Σιμωνίδειον ἀπὸ τῆς ζωγραφίας ἐπὶ τὴν ὄρχησιν· ποίησιν γὰρ εἶναι τὴν ὄρχησιν σιωπῶσαν, καὶ φθεγγομένην ὄρχησιν πάλιν τὴν ποίησιν· ὅθεν εἶπεν οὔτε γραφικῇ μετεῖναι ποιητικῆς οὔτε ποιητικῇ γραφικῆς, οὐδὲ χρῶνται τὸ παράπαν ἀλλήλαις. ὀρχηστικῇ δὲ καὶ ποιητικῇ κοινωνία πᾶσα καὶ μέθεξις ἀλλήλων ἐστί, καὶ μάλιστα μιμούμεναι περὶ τὸ ὑπορχημάτων γένος ἐνεργὸν ἀμφότεραι τὴν διὰ τῶν σχημάτων καὶ τῶν ὀνομάτων μίμησιν ἀποτελοῦσι. δόξειε δʼ ἂν ὥσπερ ἐν γραφικῇ τὰ μὲν ποιήματα τοῖς χρώμασιν ἑοικέναι τὰ δʼ ὀρχήματα ταῖς γραμμαῖς, ὑφʼ ὧν ὁρίζεται τὰ εἴδη. δηλοῖ δʼ ὁ μάλιστα κατωρθωκέναι δόξας ἐν ὑπορχήμασι καὶ γεγονέναι πιθανώτατος ἑαυτοῦ τὸ δεῖσθαι τὴν ἑτέραν τῆς ἑτέρας τὸ γάρ ἀπέλαστον ἵππον ἢ κύνα Ἀμυκλαίαν ἀγωνίῳ ἐλελιζόμενος ποδὶ μίμεο καμπύλον μέλος διώκων· ἢ τό οἷος ἀνὰ Δώτιον ἀνθεμόεν πεδίον πέταται θάνατον κεροέσσᾳ τε εὑρέμεν ματεύων ἐλάφῳ τὰν δʼ ἐπʼ αὐχένι στρέφοισαν ἕτερον κάρα πάντʼ ἐπʼ οἶμον καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς μονονοὺ λειόθεν τὴν ἐν ὀρχήσει διάθεσιν τὰ ποιήματα καὶ παρακαλεῖν τὼ χεῖρε καὶ τὼ πόδε, μᾶλλον δʼ ὅλον ὥσπερ τισὶ μηρίνθοις ἕλκειν τὸ σῶμα τοῖς μέλεσι καὶ ἐντείνειν, τούτων δὲ λεγομένων καὶ ᾀδομένων, ἡσυχίαν ἄγειν μὴ δυναμένοις. αὐτὸς γοῦν ἑαυτὸν οὐκ αἰσχύνεται περὶ τὴν ὄρχησιν οὐχ ἧττον ἢ τὴν ποίησιν ἐγκωμιάζων, ὅταν δὲ γηρῶσαι νῦν ἐλαφρὸν ὄρχημʼ ἀοιδᾷ ποδῶν μιγνύμεν, Κρῆτα μιν καλέοισι τρόπον. ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν οὕτως τὸ νῦν ἀπολέλαυκε τῆς κακομουσίας ὡς ἡ ὄρχησις. διὸ καὶ πέπονθεν ὃ φοβηθεὶς Ἴβυκος ἐποίησε δέδοικα μή τι πὰρ θεοῖς ἀμπλακὼν τιμὰν πρὸς ἀνθρώπων ἀμείψω. καὶ γὰρ αὕτη καὶ πάνδημόν τινα ποιητικὴν προσεταιρισαμένη τῆς δʼ οὐρανίας ἐκπεσοῦσʼ ἐκείνης τῶν μὲν ἐμπλήκτων καὶ ἀνοήτων κρατεῖ θεάτρων, ὥσπερ τύραννος ὑπήκοον ἑαυτῇ πεποιημένη μουσικὴν ὀλίγου δεῖν ἅπασαν, τὴν δὲ παρὰ τοῖς νοῦν ἔχουσι καὶ θείοις ἀνδράσιν ὡς ἀληθῶς τιμὴν ἀπολώλεκε. ταῦτα σχεδόν, ὦ Σόσσιε Σενεκίων, τελευταῖα τῶν ἐν τοῖς Μουσείοις τότε παρʼ Ἀμμωνίῳ τῷ ἀγαθῷ φιλολογηθέντων.