44. With respect to Vetches.—Crobylus says—
They took a green vetch,
And toss'd it empty, as if playing cottabus.
These are the sweetmeats of the wretched monkey.
And Homer says—
Black beans spring up, or vetches.
Xenophanes the Colophonian says, in his Parodies—
These are what one should talk of near the fire,
In winter season, on soft couch reclined,
After a plenteous meal, drinking rich wine,
And eating vetches.[89:1] Then a man may ask,
"Who are you? How old are you, my friend?
How many years old were you when the Mede came?"
And Sappho says—
Golden vetches on the sea-shore grew.
But Theophrastus, in his book on Plants, calls some kinds of vetches κρεῖοι. And Sophilus says—
This maiden's sire is far the greatest man,
A regular κρεῖος vetch.