Kitap 10
87
And other lines, the first and last syllables of which give some eatable, as— Ἀργυρόπεζα θέτις θυγατὴρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος, which makes ἄρτος, bread; μητι σὺ ταῦτα ἕκαστα διείρεο, μὴ δὲ μετάλλα, which makes Μῆλα, apples.
88
And since we have made a pretty long digression about griphi, we must now say what punishment those people underwent who failed to solve the griphus which was proposed to them. They drank brine mingled with their drink, and were bound to drink the whole cup up at one draught; as Antiphanes shows in his Ganymede, where he says— A. Alas me! what perplexing things you say, O master, and what numerous things you ask me. B. But now I will speak plainly: if you know One circumstance about the rape of the child, You must reveal it quick, before you're hang'd. A. Are you then asking me a riddle, master, Bidding me tell you all about the rape Of the child? What's the meaning of your words? B. Here, some one, bring me out a halter quickly. A. What for? B. Perhaps you'll say you do not know. A. Will you then punish me with that? Oh don't! You'd better make me drink a cup of brine. B. Know you then how you ought to drink that up? A. Indeed I do. B. How? A. So as to make you pledge me. B. No, but first put your hands behind your back, Then drink it at a draught, not drawing breath. So when the Deipnosophists had said all this about the griphi, since it has taken us till evening to recollect all they said, we will put off the discussion about cups till to-morrow. For as Metagenes says in his Philothytes— I'll change my speech, by way of episode, So as to treat the theatre with many New dishes rich with various seasonings; taking the discussion about cups next.
