Volume 1

The Deipnosophists, or, Banquet of the learned, of Athenæus / literally translated by C.D. Yonge, B.A. ; with an appendix of poetical fragments, rendered into English verse by various authors, and a general index.

  • Athenaeus
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Deipnosophists, or, Banquet of the learned, of Athenæus / literally translated by C.D. Yonge, B.A. ; with an appendix of poetical fragments, rendered into English verse by various authors, and a general index. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    BANQUETS. . c. 97.] In every kind of luxury. There Arere rivers With tender pulse and blackest soup o’erflowing, Whicli ran down brawling through the narrow dishes, Bearing the crusts and spoons away in the flood. Then there were dainty closely kneaded cakes; So that the food, both luscious and abundant. Descended to the gullets of the dead. There were black-puddings and large boiling slices Of well-mix’d sau.sages, which hiss’d within The smoking streamlet in the stead of oysters. There too were cutlets of broil’d fish well season’d With sauce of every kind, and cook, and country. There were huge legs of pork, most tender meat. Loading enormous platters; and boil’d pettitoes Sending a savoury steam; and paunch of ox; And well-cured chine of porker, red with salt, A dainty dish, on fried meat balls upraised. There too were cakes of groats svell steep’d in milk. In large flat dishes, and rich plates of beestings. B. Alas, you will destroy me. Why do you Remain here longer, when you thus may dive Just as you arc beneath deep Tartarus'! A. What Avill you say then Avhen you hear the rest I For roasted thru.<hes nicely brown’d and hot Flew to the mouths o’ the guests, entreating them To deign to swallow them, besprinkled o’er With myrtle leaves and flowers of anemone. And plates of loveliest apples hung around Above our heads, hanging in air as it seem’d. And maidens in the most transparent robes, .1 list come to womanhood, and crowned with roses. Did through a strainer pour red mantling cups Of fragrant wine for all who wish’d to drink. And whatsoe’er each guest did eat or drink Straight reappear’d in twofold quantity. 97. And ill his Persians he say.s— But what need, I pray you nmv. Have we of all you ploughmen. Or carters, mowers, rcapera too. Or coopers, or bras.s-founders! What need ive seed, or furrow’s line 1 For of their own accord Rivers do floiv down every road ('Though half choked up with comfits) Of rich black soup. Avhich rolls along Within its greasy flood Achilles’s fat barley-cake, And streams of sauce which flow Straight down from Plutus’s own springs. For all the guests to relish.