Athenaeus, The Deipnosophists
C. D. Yonge, B.A., Ed.

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After this Ulpian, pledging one of his companions, said,—But, my dear friend, according to Antiphanes, who says, in his Countryman—

A. Shut now your eyes, and drink it all at once.
B. 'Tis a great undertaking.
A. Not for one
Who has experience in mighty draughts.

Drink then, my friend; and—

A. Let us not always drink

(as the same Antiphanes says, in his Wounded Man,)

Full cups, but let some reason and discussion
Come in between, and some short pretty songs;
Let some sweet strophes sound. There is no work,
Or only one at least, I tell you true,
In which some variation is not pleasant.
B. Give me, then, now at once, I beg you, wine,
Strengthening the limbs (ἀρκεσίγυιον), as says Euripides—
A. Aye, did Euripides use such a word?
B. No doubt—who else?
A. It may have been Philoxenus,
'Tis all the same; my friend, you now convict me,
Or seek to do so, for one syllable.

And he said,—But who has ever used this form πῖθι̣ And Ulpian replied,—Why, you are all in the dark, my friend, from having drunk such a quantity of wine. You have it in Cratinus, in his Ulysseses,—

Take now this cup, and when you've taken, drink it (πῖθι),
And then ask me my name.

And Antiphanes, in his Mystic, says—

A. Still drink (πῖθι), I bid you.
B. I'll obey you, then,
For certainly a goblet's figure is
A most seductive shape, and fairly worthy
The glory of a festival. We have—
Have not we? (for it is not long ago)—
Drunk out of cruets of vile earthenware.
May the Gods now, my child, give happiness
And all good fortune to the clever workman
For the fair shape that he bestow'd on thee.

And Diphilus, in his Bath, says— [p. 705]

Fill the cup full, and hide the mortal part,
The goblet made by man, with godlike wine:
Drink (πῖθι); these are gifts, my father, given us
By the good Jove, who thus protects companionship.

And Ameipsias, in his Sling, says—

When you have stirr'd the sea-hare, take and drink (πῖθι).

And Menander, in his Female Flute-player, says—

Away with you; have you ne'er drunk, O Sosilas?
Drink (πῖθι) now, I beg, for you are wondrous mad.