The Deipnosophists, or Banquet of the Learned of Athenaeus Part 11

[25:1] "?p????a, a hyporcheme or choral hymn to Apollo, near akin to the Paean. It was of a very lively character, accompanied with dancing (whence the name) and pantomimic action; and is compared by Athenaeus to the ???da? (630 E). Pindar's Fragments, 71-82, are remains of hyporchemes."--Liddell & Scott, in voc. ?p????a.

[26:1] That is to say, in the eighteenth book of the Iliad, which relates the making of the arms for Achilles by Vulcan.

[27:1] Odyss. ix. 7.

[28:1] Iliad, xiv. 173.

[28:2] Schweighauser says here that the text of this fragment of Eupolis is corrupt, and the sense and metre undiscoverable.

[29:1] The Ninth Book.

[30:1] Odyss. xviii. 191.

[30:2] Ib. x. 195.

[30:3] Iliad, xiii. 736.

[32:1] This is a pun which, cannot be rendered in English, ?ata???ss?a?

meaning to be changed, of money; and to be reconciled, of enemies.

[40:1] Iliad, x. 572.

[40:2] Odyss. x. 362.

[46:1] This is no part of Pyth. 1 or 2, but a fragment of another ode.

[50:1] ??a??a is Greek for a thorn.

[52:1] ??t?t??, by itself, _i.e._ unmixed.

[52:2] ?ap??a?, _i.e._ smoky.

BOOK II.

1. The conversation which you reported to me did not allow me to give up a considerable portion of the day to sleep, as it was of a very varied nature.

Nicander of Colophon says that wine, ?????, has its name from neus:--

neus pour'd the juice divine In hollow cups, and call'd it wine.

And Melanippides of Melos says--

'Twas neus, master, gave his name to wine.

But Hecataeus of Miletus says, that the vine was discovered in aetolia; and adds, "Orestheus, the son of Deucalion, came to aetolia to endeavour to obtain the kingdom; and while he was there, a b.i.t.c.h which he had brought forth a stalk: and he ordered it to be buried in the ground, and from it there sprang up a vine loaded with grapes. On which account he called his son Phytius. And he had a son named neus, who was so called from the vines: for the ancient Greeks," says he, "called vines ???a?. Now neus was the father of aetolus." But Plato in his Cratylus, inquiring into the etymology of the word o?nos, says, that it is equivalent to ???????, as filling the mind, ????, with ???s??, or self-conceit.

Perhaps, however, the word may be derived from ???s??, succour. For Homer, giving as it were the derivation of the word, speaks nearly after this fas.h.i.+on--

And then you will be succour'd (???sea?) if you drink.

And he too constantly calls food ??e?ata, because it supports us.

2. Now the author of the Cyprian poems, whoever he was, says--

No better remedies than wine there are, O king, to drive away soul-eating care.

And Diphilus the comic poet says--

O Bacchus, to all wise men dear, How very kind you do appear; You make the lowly-hearted proud, And bid the gloomy laugh aloud; You fill the feeble man with daring, And cowards strut and bray past bearing.

And Philoxenus of Cythera says--

Good store of wine which makes men talk.

But Chaeremon the tragedian says, that wine inspires those who use it with

Laughter and wisdom and prudence and learning.

And Ion of Chios calls wine

Youth of indomitable might, With head of bull; the loveliest wight Who ever rank'd as Love's esquire, Filling men with strength and fire.

And Mensitheus says--

Great was the blessing, when the G.o.ds did show Sweet wine to those who how to use it know; But where bad men its righteous use pervert, To such, I trow, it will be rather hurt.

For to the first it nourishment supplies, Strengthens their bodies, and their minds makes wise; A wholesome physic 'tis when mix'd with potions, Heals wounds as well as plasters or cold lotions.

Wine to our daily feasts brings cheerful laughter, When mix'd with proper quant.i.ties of water; Men saucy get if one-third wine they quaff; While downright madness flows from half-and-half; And neat wine mind and body too destroys; While moderation wise secures our joys.

And well the oracle takes this position, That Bacchus is all people's best physician.

3. And Eubulus introduces Bacchus as saying--

Let them three parts of wine all duly season With nine of water, who'd preserve their reason; The first gives health, the second sweet desires, The third tranquillity and sleep inspires.

These are the wholesome draughts which wise men please, Who from the banquet home return in peace.

From a fourth measure insolence proceeds; Uproar a fifth, a sixth wild licence breeds; A seventh brings black eyes and livid bruises, The eighth the constable next introduces; Black gall and hatred lurk the ninth beneath, The tenth is madness, arms, and fearful death; For too much wine pour'd in one little vessel, Trips up all those who seek with it to wrestle.

And Epicharmus says--

_A._ Sacrifices feasts produce, Drinking then from feasts proceeds.

_B._ Such rotation has its use.

_A._ Then the drinking riot breeds; Then on riot and confusion Follow law and prosecution; Law brings sentence; sentence chains; Chains bring wounds and ulcerous pains.

And Panyasis the epic poet allots the first cup of wine to the Graces, the Hours, and Bacchus; the second to Venus, and again to Bacchus; the third to Insolence and Destruction. And so he says--