19. And once when a pig was served up before us, the half of which was being carefully roasted, and the other half boiled gently, as if it had been steamed, and when all marvelled at the cleverness of the cook, he being very proud of his skill, said—And, indeed, there is not one of you who can point out the place where he received the death wound; or where his belly was cut so as to be stuffed with all sorts of dainties. For it has thrushes in it, and other birds; and it has also in it parts of the abdomens of pigs, and slices of a sow's womb, and the yolks of eggs, and moreover the entrails of birds, with their ovaries, those also being full of delicate seasoning, and also pieces of meat shred into thin shavings and seasoned with pepper. For I am afraid to use the word ἰσίκια before Ulpian, although I know that he himself is very fond of the thing. And, indeed, my favourite author Paxamus speaks of it by this name, and I myself do not care much about using no words but such as are strictly Attic. Do you, therefore, show me now how this pig was killed, and how I contrived to roast half of him and to boil the other side.—And as we kept on examining him, the cook said,—But do you think that I know less about my business than the ancient cooks, of whom the comic poets speak? for Posidippus, in his Dancing Women, speaks as follows—and it is a cook who is represented as making the following speech to his pupils— 20. My pupil Leucon, and the rest of you, You fellow servants—for there is no place Unfit to lecture upon science in; Know that in the cookery no seasoning Is equal to the sauce of impudence. And, if I must confess the whole o' the truth, You'll find this quality of great use everywhere. See now, this tribune, who displays a breastplate All over scales, or dragon wrought in steel, Appears some Briareus; but when th' occasion Calls for his might, he proves a very hare. So when a cook with helpers and attendants Comes to some stranger, and his pupils brings, Calling the servants of the house mere humbugs, Mere cummin splitters, famine personified; They all crouch down before him: but if you bear Yourself with honesty and spirit towards him, He'll fly half flay'd with fear. Do you remember, And, as I bade you, give fair room for boasting, And take you care to know the taste of the guests; For as in any other market, so This is the goal which all your art should seek, To run straight into all the feasters' mouths As into harbour. At the present moment We're busied about a marriage feast— An ox is offer'd as the choicest victim; The father-in-law is an illustrious man, The son-in-law a person of like honour; Their wives are priestesses to the good goddess. Corybantes, flutes, a crowd of revellers Are all assisting at the festival.