Book 6
52
Crates uses the word ἐπισίτιος in his Deeds of Daring, saying— He feeds his messmate (ἐπισίτιον) while he shivers thus In Megabyzus' house, and he will have Food for his wages. And he also uses the word in a peculiar sense in his Women dining together, where he says— It is a well-bred custom not to assemble A crowd of women, nor to feast a multitude; But to make a domestic (οἰκοσίτους) wedding feast. And the word σιτόκουρος is used by Alexis, in his Woman sitting up all Night or the Weavers— You will be but a walking bread-devourer (σιτόκουρος) And Menander calls a man who is useless, and who lives to no purpose, σιτόκουρος, in his Thrasyleon, saying— A lazy ever-procrastinating fellow, A σιτόκουρος, miserable, useless, Owning himself a burden on the earth. And in his Venal People he says— Wretch, you were standing at the door the while, Having laid down your burden; while, for us, We took the wretched σιτόκουρος in. And Crobylus used the word αὐτόσιτος (bringing one's own provisions), in The Man hanged— A parasite αὐτόσιτος, feeding himself, You do contribute much to aid your master. And Eubulus has the word κακόσιτος (eating badly, having no appetite), in his Ganymede— Sleep nourishes him since he's no appetite (κακόσιτος). And the word ὀλιγόσιτος (a sparing eater) occurs in Phrynichus, in his The solitary Man— What does that sparing eater (ὀλιγόσιτος) Hercules there? And Pherecrates, or Strattis, in his Good Men— How sparingly you eat, who in one day Swallow the food of an entire trireme.
