Kitap 7
94
There is also a fish called the mormyrus, a most nutritious fish, as Icesius says. But Epicharmus, in his Hebe's Marriage, calls it the myrmes, unless, at least, he means a different fish by this name. But his expression is— The sea-swallow, the myrmes too, And they are larger than the colias tunny. But Dorion, in his book upon Fishes, calls them mormylus, with a λ. But Lynceus of Samos, in his treatise on the Art of buying Fish, which he addressed to some friend of his, who was very difficult to please when making his purchases, says, "But it is not a useless plan, with reference to men who are obstinate, and who will not abate their price, when you are standing by to disparage their fish, quoting Archstratus (who wrote the book called The voluptuous Life), or some other poet, and repeating this verse:— The mormyrus that haunts the pebbly shore, Is a bad, good-for-nothing, worthless fish. And again you may quote— Buy an amia in the autumn . . . . 'But now 'tis spring.' And again you may proceed, if it should be the proper season— How good the cestreus is when winter comes. 'But now,' you will say, ' it is summer.' And you will go on in this way for some time; and in this way you will drive away a good many of those who are standing about, and who might become purchasers. So when you have done this, you will by this means compel the man to take whatever price you choose to give."
