Book 9
67
And Mnesimachus, in his Horse-breeder, provides the following things for dinner— Come forth, O Manes, from the chamber Deck'd with the lofty cypress roof; Go to the market, to the statues Of Maia's son, where all the chiefs Of the tribes meet, and seek the troop Of their most graceful pupils, whom Phidon is teaching how to mount Their horses, and dismount from them. I need not tell you now their names. Go; tell them that the fish is cold, The wine is hot, the pastry dry, The bread dry, too, and hard. The chops Are burnt to pieces, and the meat Taken from out the brine and dish'd. The sausages are served up too; So is the tripe, and rich black puddings. Those who 're in-doors are all at table, The wine cups all are quickly drain'd, The pledge goes round; and nought remains But the lascivious drunken cordax.The cordax was a lascivious dance of the old comedy; to dance it off the stage was considered a sign of drunkenness and indecency. The young men all are waxing wanton, And ev'rything's turn'd upside down. Remember what I say, and bear My words in mind. Why stand you gaping like a fool? Look here, and just repeat the message Which I've just told you; do,—I will Repeat it o'er again all through. Bid them come now, and not delay, Nor vex the cook who's ready for them. For all the fish is long since boil'd, And all the roast meat's long since cold. And mention o'er each separate dish;— Onions and olives, garlic too, Cucumbers, cabbages, and broth, Fig-leaves, and herbs, and tunny cutlets, Glanis and rhinè, shark and conger, A phyxicinus whole, a tunny, A coracinus whole, a thunnis, A small anchovy, and a tench, A spindle-fish, a tail of dog-fish, A carcharias and a torpedo; A sea-frog, lizard, and a perch, A trichias and a phycis too, A brinchus, mullet, and sea-cuckoo. A turtle, and besides a lamprey, A phagrus, lebias, and grey mullet, A sparus, and æolias, A swallow, and the bird of Thrace, A sprat, a squid, a turbot, and Dracænides, and polypi, A cuttle-fish, an orphus too; A crab, likewise an escharus, A needle-fish, a fine anchovy, Some cestres, scorpions, eels, and loaves. And loads of other meat, beyond My calculation or my mention. Dishes of goose, and pork, and beef, And lamb, and mutton, goat and kid; Of poultry, ducks and partridges, Andjays, and foxes. And what follows Will be a downright sight to see, So many good things there will be. And all the slaves through all the house Are busy baking, roasting, dressing, And plucking, cutting, beating, boiling, And laughing, playing, leaping, feasting, And drinking, joking, scolding, pricking. And lovely sounds from tuneful flutes, And song and din go through the house, Of instruments both wind and string'd. Meantime a lovely scent of cassia, From Syria's fertile land, does strike Upon my sense, and frankincense, And myrrh, and nard * * * * * * * * Such a confusion fills the house With every sort of luxury.
