"I trust you will not forget your old friend Euphobias. Now you can set him up to all the wine he wishes in the taverns of the Forum."
The philosopher took the couch at the farther end of the table, and he refused the crown offered him by the slave.
"I have not come for flowers; I have come to eat. I can find plenty of roses merely by taking a stroll in the country; but what I do not find in Saguntum is a crust of bread for a philosopher."
"Are you hungry?" asked Sónnica.
"I am more thirsty than hungry. I have spent the whole day talking in the Forum; they all listened to me, but it never occurred to any one to refresh my throat."
According to the Grecian custom an arbiter bibendi must be chosen, a guest of honor who should propose the toasts, announce the moment for drinking, and direct the conversation.
"Let us choose Euphobias," said Alorcus, with the grave humor of a Celtiberian.
"No!" protested Sónnica. "One night we put him in charge of the banquet for a joke, and we were all drunk before the third course. He proposed a potation at every mouthful."
"Why choose a king?" said the philosopher. "We already have one at Sónnica's side. Let it be the Athenian!"
"Yes, let it be he," said the elegant Lachares, "and may he not allow you to speak during the whole night, insolent parasite!"