But Metagenes says this—

The river Crathis bears down unto us
Huge barley-cakes, self-kneaded and self-baked.
The other river, called the Sybaris,
Rolls on large waves of meat and sausages,
And boilèd rays all wriggling the same way.
And all these lesser streamlets flow along
With roasted cuttle-fish, and crabs, and lobsters;
And, on the other side, with rich black-puddings
And forced-meat stuffings; on the other side
Are herbs and lettuces, and fried bits of pastry.
Above, fish cut in slices and self-boil'd
Rush to the mouth; some fall before one's feet,
And dainty cheese-cakes swim around us everywhere.

And I know too that the Thurio-Persæ and the play of Nicophon were never exhibited at all; on which account I mentioned them last.

99. Democritus now having gone through this statement distinctly and intelligently, all the guests praised him; but Cynulcus said,—O messmates, I was exceedingly hungry, and Democritus has given me no unpleasant feast; carrying me across rivers of ambrosia and nectar. And I, having my mind watered by them, have now become still more exceedingly hungry, having hitherto swallowed nothing but words; so that now it is time to desist from this interminable discussion,

[[425]]and, as the Pæanian orator says, to take some of these things, "which if they do not put strength into a man, at all events prevent his dying"—

For in an empty stomach there's no room
For love of beauteous objects, since fair Venus
Is always hostile to a hungry man;

as Achæus says in Æthon, a satyric drama. And it was borrowing from him that the wise Euripides wrote—

Venus abides in fulness, and avoids
The hungry stomach.

And Ulpian, who was always fond of contradicting him, said in reply to this,—But still,

The market is of herbs and loaves too full.