Book 10
37
And Timocles speaks of half and half in his Conisalus,— And I'll attack you straight with half and half, And make you tell me all the truth at once. And Alexis, in his Dorcis, or the Caressing Woman, says— I drink now cups brimming with love to you, Mixed in fair proportions, half and half. And Xenarchus, or Timocles, in his Purple, says— By Bacchus, how you drink down half and half! And Sophilus, in his Dagger, says,— And wine was given in unceasing flow, Mix'd half and half; and yet, unsatisfied, They ask'd for larger and for stronger cups. And Alexis, in his play entitled The Usurer, or Liar, says— A. Don't give him wine quite drown'd in water, now;— Dost understand me? Half and half, or nearly: That's well. B. A noble drink: where was the land That raised this noble Bacchus by its flavour, I think he came from Thasos. A. Sure 'tis just That foreigners should foreign wines enjoy, And that the natives should drink native produce. And again, in his Supposititious Son, he says— He drank and never drew his breath, as one Would quaff rich wine, mix'd half and half with care. And Menander, in his Brethren— Some one cried out to mingle eight and twelve, Till he with rivalry subdued the other (κατέσεισε). And the verb κατασείω was especially used of those who fell down from drinking, taking its metaphor from the shaking down fruit from the tree.
37
And Alexis, in his Man cut off, says— He was no master of the feast at all, But a mere hangman, Chæreas his name; And when he'd drunk full twenty cups of wine, Mix'd half and half, he ask'd for more, and stronger.
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And Diodorus of Sinope, in his Female Flute-player, says— When any one, O Crito, drinks ten cups, Consider, I do beg you, whether he Who never once allows the wine to pass Is in a fit state for discussion.
