The Deipnosophists, or Banquet of the Learned of Athenaeus Part 68

??st??e? d' ??a??.

And once, at supper, when the man who had invited him had set loaves of black bread before him, he said; "Do not give me too many, lest you should darken the room." And Pausimachus said of a certain parasite who was maintained by an old woman, "That the man who lived with the old woman fared in exactly the contrary manner to the old woman herself; for that he was always large." And he is the man of whom Machon writes in this manner:--

They say that Moschion the water drinker Once, when he was with friends in the Lyceum, Seeing a parasite who was used to live Upon a rich old woman, said to him, "My friend, your fate is truly marvellous; For your old dame does give you a big belly."

And the same man, hearing of a parasite who was maintained by an old woman, and who lived in habits of daily intimacy with her, said--

Nothing is strange henceforth, she brings forth nothing, But the man daily doth become big-bellied.

And Ptolemy, the son of Agesarchus, a native of Megalopolis, in the second book of his history of Philopator, says that men to dine with the king were collected from every city, and that they were called jesters.

49. And Posidonius of Apamea, in the twenty-third book of his histories, says, "The Celtae, even when they make war, take about with them companions to dine with them, whom they call parasites. And these men celebrate their praises before large companies a.s.sembled together, and also to private individuals who are willing to listen to them: they have also a description of people called Bards, who make them music; and these are poets, who recite their praises with songs. And in his thirty-fourth book, the same writer speaks of a man whose name was Apollonius, as having been the parasite of Antiochus surnamed Grypus, king of Syria. And Aristodemus relates that Bithys, the parasite of king Lysimachus, once, when Lysimachus threw a wooden figure of a scorpion on his cloak, leaped up in a great fright; but presently, when he perceived the truth, he said, "I, too, will frighten you, O king!--give me a talent." For Lysimachus was very stingy. And Agatharchides the Cnidian, in the twenty-second book of his history of Europe, says that Anthemocritus the pancratiast was the parasite of Aristomachus, the tyrant of the Argives.

50. And Timocles has spoken in general terms of parasites in his Boxer, when he calls them ?p?s?t??? in these words--

You will find here some of the parasites (?p?s?t???) Who eat at other men's tables till they burst, That you might say they give themselves to athletes To act as quintain sacks.

And Pherecrates, in his Old Women, says--

_A._ But you, my friend Smicythion, will not Get your food (?p?s?t???a?) quicker.

_B._ Who, I pray, is this?

_A._ I bring this greedy stranger everywhere, As if he were my hired slave or soldier.

For those men are properly called ?p?s?t??? who do any service for their keep. Plato says, in the fourth book of his treatise on Politics, "And the ?p?s?t??? do these things, who do not, as others do, receive any wages in addition to their food." And Aristophanes says, in his Storks--

For if you prosecute one wicked man, Twelve ?p?s?t??? will come against you, And so defeat you by their evidence.

And Eubulus says, in his Daedalus--

He wishes to remain an ?p?s?t???

Among them, and will never ask for wages.

51. And Diphilus, in his Synoris (and Synoris is the name of a courtesan), mentioning Euripides (and Euripides is the name given to a particular throw on the dice), and punning on the name of the poet, says this at the same time about parasites:--

_A._ You have escaped well from such a throw.

_S._ You are right witty.

_A._ Well, lay down your drachma.

_S._ That has been done: how shall I throw Euripides?

_A._ Euripides will never save a woman.

See you not how he hates them in his tragedies?

But he has always fancied parasites, And thus he speaks, you'll easily find the place: "For every rich man who does not feed At least three men who give no contribution, Exile deserves and everlasting ruin."

_S._ Where is that pa.s.sage?

_A._ What is that to you?

'Tis not the play, but the intent that signifies.

And in the amended edition of the same play, speaking of a parasite in a pa.s.sion, he says--

Is then the parasite angry? is he furious?

Not he; he only smears with gall the table, And weans himself like any child from milk.

And immediately afterwards he adds--

_A._ Then you may eat, O parasite.

_B._ Just see How he disparages that useful skill.

_A._ Well, know you not that all men rank a parasite Below a harp-player?

And in the play, which is ent.i.tled The Parasite, he says--

A surly man should never be a parasite.

52. And Menander, in his Pa.s.sion, speaking of a friend who had refused an invitation to a marriage feast, says--

This is to be a real friend: not one Who asks, What time is dinner? as the rest do.

And, Why should we not all at once sit down?

And fishes for another invitation To-morrow and next day, and then again Asks if there's not a funeral feast to follow.

And Alexis in his Orestes, Nicostratus in his Plutus, Menander in his Drunkenness, and in his Lawgiver, speak in the same way; and Philonides, in his Buskins, says--

I being abstinent cannot endure Such things as these.

But there are many other kindred nouns to the noun pa??s?t??: there is ?p?s?t??, which has already been mentioned; and ????s?t??, and s?t???????, and a?t?s?t??; and besides these, there is ?a??s?t?? and ?????s?t??: and Anaxandrides uses the word ????s?t?? in his Huntsmen--

A son who feeds at home (????s?t??) is a great comfort.

And a man is called ????s?t?? who serves the city, not for hire, but gratis. Antiphanes, in his Scythian, says--

The ????s?t?? quickly doth become A regular attendant at th' a.s.sembly.

And Menander says, in his Ring--

We found a bridegroom willing to keep house (????s?t??) At his own charges, for no dowry seeking.

And in his Harp-player he says--

You do not get your hearers there for nothing (????s?t???).

Crates uses the word ?p?s?t??? in his Deeds of Daring, saying--

He feeds his messmate (?p?s?t???) while he s.h.i.+vers thus In Megabyzus' house, and he will have Food for his wages.