Coptè and grapes, dried figs, and pears and peaches,
Apples and almonds."
These are the words of Clearchus. But Sopater the farce-writer, in his drama entitled Pylæ, says—
Who was it who invented first black cakes (κοπταὶ)
Of the uncounted poppy-seed? who mix'd
The yellow compounds of delicious sweetmeats?
Here my excellent cross-examiner, Ulpian, you have authorities for κοπτή; and so now I advise you ἀπεσθίειν some. And he, without any delay, took and ate some. And when they all laughed, Democritus said;—But, my fine word-catcher, I did not desire you to eat, but not to eat; for the word ἀπεσθίω is used in the sense of abstaining from eating by Theopompus the comic poet, in his Phineus, where he says—
Cease gambling with the dice, my boy, and now
Feed for the future more on herbs. Your stomach
Is hard with indigestion; give up eating (ἀπέσθιε)