Book 6
81
When Democritus had made this speech, and had asked for some drink in a narrow-necked sabrias, Ulpian said, And what is this sabrias? And just as Democritus was beginning to treat us all to a number of interminable stories, in came a troop of servants bringing in everything requisite for eating. Concerning whom Democritus, continuing his discourse, spoke as follows:—I have always, O my friends, marvelled at the race of slaves, considering how abstemious they are, though placed in the middle of such numbers of dainties; for they pass them by, not only out of fear, but also because they are taught to do so; I do not mean being taught in the Slave-teacher of Pherecrates, but by early habituation; and without its being necessary to utter any express prohibition respecting such matters to them, as in the island of Cos, when the citizens sacrifice to Juno. For Macareus says, in his third book of his treatise on Coan Affairs, that, when the Coans sacrifice to Juno, no slave is allowed to enter the temple, nor does any slave taste any one of the things which are prepared for the sacrifice. And Antiphanes, in his Dyspratus,The exact meaning of this title is disputed, some translate it, hard to sell, or to be sold, others merely miserable. says— 'Tis hard to see around one savoury cakes, And delicate birds half eaten; yet the slaves Are not allow'd to eat the fragments even, As say the women. And Epicrates, in his Dyspratus, introduces a servant expressing his indignation, and saying— What can be worse than, while the guests are drinking, To hear the constant cry of, Here, boy, here! And this that one may bear a chamberpot To some vain beardless youth; and see around Half eaten savoury cakes, and delicate birds, Whose very fragments are forbidden strictly To all the slaves—at least the women say so; And him who drinks a cup men call a belly-god; And if he tastes a mouthful of solid food They call him greedy glutton: from the comparison of which iambics, it is very plain that Epicrates borrowed Antiphanes's lines, and transferred them to his own play.
