Book 7
40
And Archedicus, in his Treasure, another philosophical cookling, speaks in this way— In the first place the guests invited came While still the fish lay on the dresser raw. Give me some water. Bring the fish up quick. Then placing all my pans upon the fire, I soak'd the ashes well with oil, and raise A rapid heat. Meantime the fragrant herbs And pleasant sharpness of the seasonings Delight my master. Quickly I serve up Some fish exactly boiled; retaining all His juice, and all his unextracted flavour; A dish which any free-born man must know How to appreciate rightly. In this manner At the expense of one small pot of oil I gain employment at full fifty banquets. And Philostephanus, in his Delian, gives a catalogue of the names of some celebrated cooks in these lines, and those which follow them— In my opinion you, O Dædalus, Surpass all cooks in skill and genius, Save the Athenian Thimbron, call'd the Top. So here I've come to beg your services, Bringing the wages which I know you ask.
