And Cynulcus said on this,—I only wish that you had played at that Thracian game and been hanged yourself. For you have kept us in suspense till we are almost famished, as if we were waiting for the rising star, till which arises, those who have invented this beautiful philosophy say that it is unlawful to taste of any food at all. But I, wretched man that I am, according, to the words of Diphilus the coming poet—
Am almost become a mullet from the extremity of hunger.And you yourselves also have forgotten those admirable verses of the poet, who said—
For it is not a bad thing to eat supper at a proper season.And the admirable Aristophanes has said in his Cocalus—
But it is now, O father, altogether noon,[p. 252] But for me it would be much better to sup as the men are represented as supping in the banquet given by Parmeniscus the Cynic,—than to come hither and see everything carried round us as if we all had fevers. And when we laughed at this, one of us said,—-But my most excellent fellow, do not grudge giving us the account of that Parmeniscean banquet. And he, raising himself up, said—
When it is right for the young men to sup.
I swear to you most solemnly, my friends,according to the words of the sweet Antiphanes, who, in the Woman given in Marriage, said—
I swear to you, O men, by the god himself,
From whom the joys of drunkenness and wine
Do come to mortal men, that I prefer
This happy life which here is mine at present,
To all the splendid pomp of king Seleucus.
'Tis sweet to eat e'en lentils without fear,
But sad to sleep on down in daily terror.
