Kitap 9
36
These passages I have quoted to you on the part of us who are still alive, my well-fed friend Ulpian. For you too, as it seems to me, agree so far with Alexis as to eat no living animals. And Alexis, in his Attic Woman, speaks in the following manner— The man who first did say that no philosopher Would eat of living things, was truly wise. For I am just come home, and have not bought A living thing of any kind. I've bought Some fish, but they were dead, and splendid fish. Then here are joints of well-fed household lamb, But he was killed last week. What else have I? Oh, here's some roasted liver. If there be A man who can this liver prove to have Or soul or voice or animation, I will confess I've err'd and broken the law. So now after all this let us have some supper. For just see, while I am talking to you, all the pheasants have flown by me, and are gone out of reach, disregarding me, because of your unseasonable chattering. But I should like you to tell me, my master Myrtilus, said Ulpian, where you got that word ὀλβιογάστωρ, and also whether any ancient author mentions the pheasant, and I— Rising at early morn to sail . . . . not through the Hellespont, but into the market-place, will buy a pheasant which you and I may eat together.
