Kitap 2
65
Heraclides the Tarentine, in his Banquet, says—The onion, and the snail, and the egg, and similar things, appear to be productive of seed; not because they are very nutritious, but because their original natures are similar, and because their powers resemble that. And Diphilus says—"Onions are difficult to digest, but very nutritious, and good for the stomach. And, moreover, they are productive of moisture, and cleansing, but they dim the eyes, and excite the amatory propensities. But the proverb says— The onion will do you no good if you have no strength yourself. But those onions which are called the royal onions, really do stimulate the amatory propensities, for they are superior to the other kinds; and next to them are the red ones. But the white ones, and the Libyan onions, are something like squills. But the worst of all are the Egyptian.
66
But the white onions, called βόλβιναι, are fuller of good juice than the common onions; but they are not so good for the stomach, because the white portion of them has a certain thickness in it. Yet they are very tolerably wholesome, because they have a good deal of harshness in them, and because they promote the secretions. And Matron, in his Parodies, mentions the βολβίνη— But sowthistles I will not even name, Plants full of'marrow, crown'd on th' heads with thorns; Nor the white onions, minstrels of great Jove, Which his dear Child, incessant rain, has nourish'd Whiter than snow storms, and like meal to view, Which, when they first appeared, my stomach loved.
