Book 8
29
But Antiphanes, in his Rich Man, gives us a catalogue of epicures, in the following lines:— Euthymus too was there, with sandals on, A ring upon his finger, well perfumed, Silently pondering on I know not what. Phœnicides too, and my friend Taureas, Such great inveterate epicures that they Would swallow all the remnants in the market; They at this sight seem'd almost like to die, And bore the scarcity with small good humour; But gather'd crowds and made this speech to them:— "What an intolerable thing it is That any of you men should claim the sea, And spend much money in marine pursuits, While not one fin of fish comes to this market! What is the use of all our governors Who sway the islands? We must make a law That there should be copious importation Of every kind of fish. But Matron now Has carried off the fishermen; and then There's Diogeiton, who, by Jove, has brought The hucksters over to keep back for him All the best fish; and he's not popular For doing this, for there is mighty waste In marriage feasts and youthful luxury." But Euphron, in his Muses, says,— But when at some fine banquet of young men Phœnicides perceived a smoking dish Full of the sons of Nereus, he held bach His hands, with rage excited. Thus he spoke:— "Who boasts himself a clever parasite At eating at the public cost? who thinks To filch the dainty dishes from the middle? Where's Corydus, or Phyromachus, or Nillus? Let them come here, they shall get nought of this."
