Here's an arena for our noble art. Always remember this. And concerning another cook (whose name is Seuthes) the same poet speaks in the following manner— Seuthes, in the opinion of those men, Is a great bungler. But I'd have you know, My excellent friend, the case of a good cook Is not unlike that of a general. The enemy are present,—the commander, A chief of lofty genius, stands against them, And fears not to support the weight of war:— Here the whole band of revellers is the enemy, It marches on in close array, it comes Keen with a fortnight's calculation Of all the feast: excitement fires their breasts, They're ready for the fray, and watch with zeal To see what will be served up now before them. Think now, that such a crowd collected sits To judge of your performance. [Sidenote: COOKS.] 21. Then you know there is a cook in the Synephebi of Euphron; just hear what a lecture he gives— When, Carion, you a supper do prepare, For those who their own contributions bring, You have no time to play, nor how to practise For the first time the lessons you've received. And you were yesterday in danger too; For not one single one of all your tenches Had any liver, but they all were empty. The brain was decomposed too.—But you must, O Carion, when at any future time You chance a band like this to thus encounter, As Dromon, Cerdon, and Soterides, Giving you all the wages that you ask'd, Deal with them fairly. Where we now are going To a marriage feast, there try experiments. And if you well remember all my rules, You are my real pupil; and a cook By no means common: 'tis an opportunity A man should pray for. Make the best of it, The old man is a miser, and his pay Is little. If I do not find you eating up The very coals, you're done for. Now go in; For here the old man comes himself, behold How like a skin-flint usurer he looks! 22. But the cook in Sosipater's Liar is a great sophist, and in no respect inferior to the physicians in impudence. And he speaks as follows—