For to serve up and take away each dish In regular order, and to know the time When quick t' advance them, and when slowly bring, And how each guest may feel towards the supper, And when hot dishes should be set before him, When warm ones, and when regular cold meat Should be served up, depends on various branches Of strategetic knowledge, like a general's. _B._ Since then you've shown me what I wish'd to know, May you, departing now, enjoy yourself. [Sidenote: COOKS.] 23. And the cook in the Milesians of Alexis is not very different from this, for he speaks as follows— _A._ Do you not know, that in most arts and trades 'Tis not th' artificer who alone has pow'r O'er their enjoyment? Those who use them too Contribute all their part, if well they use them. _B._ How so? Let me, O stranger, understand. _A._ The duty of the cook is but to dress And rightly season meat; and nothing more. If, then, the man who is to eat his meat, And judge of it, comes in proper time, He aids the cook in that his business. But if he come too late, so that the joint Already roasted must be warm'd again, Or if he come too soon, so that the cook Is forced to roast the meat with undue haste, He spoils the pleasure which he might have had From the cook's skill by his unpunctuality. I class a cook among philosophers; You're standing round; my fire is alight; See how the numerous dogs of Vulcan's pack Leap to the roof; . . . . . . . . . . . You know what happens next: And so some unforeseen necessity Has brought on us alone this end of life. 24. But Euphron, whom I mentioned a little while ago, O judges, (for I do not hesitate to call you judges, while awaiting the decision of your sense,) in his play called the Brothers, having represented a certain cook as a well-educated man of extensive learning, and enumerating all the artists before his time, and what particular excellence each of them had, and what he surpassed the rest in, still never mentioned anything of such a nature as I have frequently prepared for you. Accordingly, he speaks as follows—