This was the way in which the sophist of Thessalia argued, from whence came the term, a Sicilian proverb, and Athenæus is, perhaps, playing on the proverb. 19. As to the meals the heroes took in Homer, there was first of all breakfast, which he calls ἄριστον, which he mentions once in the Odyssey, Ulysses and the swineherd, noble man, First lit the fire, and breakfast then began.[17:1] And once in the Iliad, Then quickly they prepared to break their fast.[17:2] But this was the morning meal, which we call ἀκρατισμὸς, because we soak crusts of bread in pure wine (ἄκρατος), and eat them, as Antiphanes says-- While the cook the ἄριστον prepares. And afterwards he says-- Then when you have done your business, Come and share my ἀκρατισμὸς. And Cantharus says-- _A._ Shall we, then, take our ἀκρατισμὸς there? _B._ No; at the Isthmus all the slaves prepare The sweet ἄριστον,-- using the two words as synonymous. Aristomenes says-- I'll stop awhile to breakfast, then I'll come, When I a slice or two of bread have eaten. But Philemon says that the ancients took the following meals--ἀκράτισμα, ἄριστον, ἑσπέρισμα, or the afternoon meal, and δεῖπνον, supper; calling the ἀκρατισμὸς breakfast, and ἄριστον[18:1] luncheon, and δεῖπνον the meal which came after luncheon. And the same order of names occur in Æschylus, where Palamedes is introduced, saying-- The different officers I then appointed, And bade them recollect the soldiers' meals, In number three, first breakfast, and then dinner, Supper the third. And of the fourth meal Homer speaks thus-- And come thou δειελιήσας.[18:2] That which some call δειλινὸν is between what we call ἄριστον and δεῖπνον; and ἄριστον in Homer, that which is taken in the morning, δεῖπνον is what is taken at noon, which we call ἄριστον, and δόρπον is the name for the evening meal. Sometimes, then, ἄριστον is synonymous with δεῖπνον; for somewhere or other Homer says-- δεῖπνον they took, then arm'd them for the fray. For making their δεῖπνον immediately after sunrise, they then advance to battle. 20. In Homer they eat sitting down; but some think that a separate table was set before each of the feasters. At all events, they say a polished table was set before Mentes when he came to Telemachus, arriving after tables were already laid for the feast. However, this is not very clearly proved, for Minerva may have taken her food at Telemachus's table. But all along the banqueting-room full tables were laid out, as is even now the custom among many nations of the barbarians, Laden with all dainty dishes, as Anacreon says. And then when the guests have departed, the handmaidens Bore off the feast, and clear'd the lofty hall, Removed the goblets and the tables all.