Kitap 15
3
The prize also which was proposed for those who gained the victory in drinking was called κότταβος, as Euripides shows us in his Œneus, where he says— And then with many a dart of Bacchus' juice, They struck the old man's head. And I was set To crown the victor with deserved reward, And give the cottabus to such. The vessel, too, into which they threw the drops was also called κότταβος, as Cratinus shows in his Nemesis. But Plato the comic poet, in his Jupiter Ill-treated, makes out that the cottabus was a sort of drunken game, in which those who were defeated yielded up their toolsCasaubon says these tools (σκευάρια) were the κρηπῖδες (boots) and κότυλος (small cup) mentioned in the following iambics. to the victor. And these are his words— A. I wish you all to play at cottabus While I am here preparing you your supper. * * * * * * * * Bring, too, some balls to play with, quick,-some balls, And draw some water, and bring round some cups. B. Now let us play for kisses.This line, and one or two others in this fragment, are hopelessly corrupt. A. No; such games I never suffer. I challenge you all to play the cottabus, And for the prizes, here are these new slippers Which she doth wear, and this your cotylus. B. A mighty game! This is a greater contest Than e'en the Isthmian festival can furnish.
