B. Why I shall be quinquagenarian.

Epicharmus says—

A.And what is this?
B.A τρίπους.
A.How is that?
Has it not four feet? 'tis a τετράπους.
B.It may be strictly; but its name is τριπους.
A.Still I can see four feet.
B.At all events
You are no Œdipus, to be so puzzled.

[[81]] And Aristophanes says—

A.Bring me one τράπεζα more,
With three feet, not one with four.
B.Where can I a τρίπους τράπεζα find?

33. It was a custom at feasts, that a guest when he had lain down should have a paper given to him, containing a bill of fare of what there was for dinner, so that he might know what the cook was going to serve up.

We find a fruit called Damascenes. Now many of the ancient writers mention Damascus, a city of great reputation and importance; and as there is a great quantity of plum-trees in the territory of the Damascenes, and as they are cultivated there with exceeding care, the tree itself has got to be called a Damascene, as being a kind of plum different from what is found in other countries. The fruit is more like prunes. And many writers speak of them, and Hipponax says—

I have a garland of damascenes and mint.

And Alexis says—

A.And in my sleep I thought I saw a prize.
B.What was it?
A.Listen—There came up to me,
While still within th' arena's spacious bounds,
One of my rivals, bringing me a crown—
A ripe revolving crown of damascenes.
B.Oh Hercules! and were the damascenes ripe?