8. Well was it then that Ariston the Chian said that that was the most agreeable drink which partook at the same time of both sweetness and fragrance; for which reason some people prepare what is called nectar about the Olympus which is in Lydia, mixing wine and honeycombs and the most fragrant flowers together. Though I am aware indeed that Anaxandrides says that nectar is not the drink, but the meat of the gods:-- Nectar I eat, and well do gnaw it; Ambrosia drink, (you never saw it); I act as cupbearer to Jove, And chat to Juno--not of love; And oftentimes I sit by Venus, With marplot none to come between us. And Alcman says-- Nectar they eat at will. And Sappho says-- The goblets rich were with ambrosia crown'd, Which Hermes bore to all the gods around. But Homer was acquainted with nectar as the drink of the gods. And Ibycus says that ambrosia is nine times as sweet as honey; stating expressly that honey has just one-ninth part of the power of ambrosia as far as sweetness goes. 9. One fond of wine must be an honest man; For Bacchus, for his double mother famed, Loves not bad men, nor uninstructed clowns, says Alexis. He adds, moreover, that wine makes all men who drink much of it fond of talking. And the author of the Epigram on Cratinus says-- If with water you fill up your glasses, You'll never write anything wise But wine is the horse of Parnassus, That carries a bard to the skies. And this was Cratinus's thought, Who was ne'er with one bottle content, But stuck to his cups as he ought, And to Bacchus his heart and voice lent. His house all with garlands did shine, And with ivy he circled his brow, To show he nought worshipp'd but wine, As, if he still lived, he'd do now. Polemo says that in Munychia a hero is honoured of the name of Acratopotes:[64:1] and that among the Spartans statues of the heroes Matton and Ceraon were erected by some cooks in the hall of the Phiditia.[64:2] And in Achaia a hero is honoured called Deipneus, having his name from δεῖπνον, a supper. But from a dry meal there arise no jokes, nor extempore poems, though, on the other hand, such an one does not cause any boasting or insolence of mind; so that it is well said-- Where are the empty boasts which Lemnos heard When season'd dishes press'd the ample board, When the rich goblets overflow'd with wine? though Aristarchus the grammarian put a mark against the line which represents the Greeks as getting insolent through much eating. For he said that it was not every sort of cheerfulness and satiety which engendered boasting and jesting and ridiculous actions; but that these things proceeded only from such revelling as made men beside themselves, and inclined them to falsehood,--from drunkenness, in fact. 10. On which account Bacchylides says:--