3
It was rather a silly affair, Philo, and yet you want me to publish it abroad and tell what happened when heads were turned with wine, when it all should be forgotten and the whole business put down'to a god— . Dionysus, I mean, who scarcely permits anyone to remain uninitiated in his rites and a stranger to his revels. Don’t you think it rather bad form to enquire into such matters minutely? The proper thing is to leave them behind you in the diningroom when you go away. As you know, there is a saying from the poets: “I hate to drink with him that hath a memory.” Author unknown: quoted also by Plutarch (Prooemium to Quaest. Sympos.). See also Index to Corpus Paroemiogr. Gr. And Dionicus did not do right, either, to blab it all to Charinus and besprinkle philosophers with the copious dregs of their stale cups. As for me—get out with you! I shan’t tell you anything of the kind!
4
That is all put on, Lycinus. But you needn’t have acted that way with me, for I know very well that you are much more eager to talk than I to listen, and I have an idea that if you had nobody to listen to you, you would enjoy going up to a pillar or a statue and pouring it all out in a stream, without a pause. In fact, if I should wish to go away now, you would not let me go untold, but would hold me and follow me and entreat me. And now I am going to take my turn at putting on. (Turns to‘another friend.) If you like, let’s go and find out about it from someone else. (To Lyctnus.) You may keep your story to yourself!
4
Don’t get angry! I will tell you, since you are so anxious, but don’t you tell a lot of people.
4
If I have not forgotten all I know of you, Lycinus, you will do that better than I can, and you will lose no time in telling everybody, so that I shan’t be needed.
5
But first tell me one thing—was it to celebrate the wedding of his son Zeno that Aristaenetus entertained you?
5
No, he was marrying his daughter Cleanthis to the son of Eucritus the banker, the lad who is studying philosophy.
