45. But Baton of Sinope, the orator, in his treatise on Thessaly and Hæmonica, distinctly asserts that the Roman Saturnalia are originally a very Greek festival, saying that among the Thessalians it is called Peloria. And these are his words:—"When a common festival was being celebrated by all the Pelasgi, a man whose name was Pelorus brought news to Pelasgus that there had been some violent earthquakes in Hæmonia, by which the mountains called Tempe had been rent asunder, and that the water of the lake had burst through the rent, and was all falling into the stream of the Peneus; and that all the country which had formerly been covered by the lake was now laid open, and that, as the waters were now drained off, there were plains visible of wondrous size and beauty. Accordingly, Pelasgus, on hearing this statement, had a table loaded with every delicacy set before Pelorus; and every one else received him with great cordiality, and brought whatever they had that was best, and placed it on the table before the man who had brought this news; and Pelasgus himself waited on him with great cheerfulness, and all the rest of the nobles obeyed him as his servants as often as any opportunity offered. On which account, they say that after the Pelasgi occupied the district, they instituted a festival as a sort of imitation of the feast which took place on that occasion; and, sacrificing to Jupiter Pelor, they serve up tables admirably furnished, and hold a very cordial and friendly assembly, so as to receive every foreigner at the banquet, and to set free all the prisoners, and to make their servants sit down and feast with every sort of liberty and licence, while their masters wait on them. And, in short, even to this day the Thessalians celebrate this as their chief festival, and call it Peloria." [Sidenote: SWEETMEATS.] 46. Very often, then, as I have said, when such a dessert as this is set before us, some one of the guests who were present would say— Certainly, second thoughts are much the best; For what now can the table want? or what Is there with which it is not amply loaded? 'Tis full of fish fresh from the sea, besides Here's tender veal, and dainty dishes of goose, Tartlets, and cheesecakes steep'd most thoroughly In the rich honey of the golden bee; as Euripides says in his Cretan Women: and, as Eubulus said in his Rich Woman— And in the same way everything is sold Together at Athens; figs and constables, Grapes, turnips, pears and apples, witnesses, Roses and medlars, cheesecakes, honeycombs, Vetches and law-suits; bee-strings of all kinds, And myrtle-berries, and lots for offices, Hyacinths, and lambs, and hour-glasses too, And laws and prosecutions.