And Teleclides used the word ἐπεσθίειν, in his Prytanes, in this manner:—
Τύριον ἐπεσθίοντα, eating cheese.
And Eupolis used the word ἐπιφαγεῖν in his Taxiarchs—
Wishing to eat (ἐπιφαγεῖν) of nothing
But just an onion and three pickled olives.
And Aristophanes, in his Plutus, says—
Once, out of poverty, he ate up (ἐπήσθιεν) everything.
70. But there was another class of men somewhat different from the cooks, called τραπεζοποιοὶ, setters out of tables. But what their office was is plainly stated by Antiphanes, in his Sojourner—
Hither I come, and bring this table-setter,
Who soon shall wash the cloths, and trim the lamps,
Prepare the glad libations, and do every thing
Which to his office may pertain.
And it is worth inquiring whether the τραπεζοκόμος is the same person as the τραπεζοποιός. For king Juba, in his treatise on Similitudes, says that the τραπεζοκόμος is the same person who is called by the Romans structor, quoting from the play of Alexander, which is entitled Potation—
Now for to-morrow I must get a flute-player,
A table-setter, and a workman too.
This was my master's reason for despatching me
On this commission from his country seat.