And Dicæarchus the Messenian, the pupil of Aristotle, in his treatise on Alcæus, says that the word λατάγη is also a Sicilian noun. But λατάγη means the drops which are left in the bottom after the cup is drained, and which the players used to throw with inverted hand into the κοτταβεῖον. But Clitarchus, in his treatise on Words, says that the Thessalians and Rhodians both call the κότταβος itself, or splash made by the cups, λατάγη. 3. The prize also which was proposed for those who gained the victory in drinking was called κότταβος, as Euripides shows us in his Œneus, where he says— And then with many a dart of Bacchus' juice, They struck the old man's head. And I was set To crown the victor with deserved reward, And give the cottabus to such. The vessel, too, into which they threw the drops was also called κότταβος, as Cratinus shows in his Nemesis. But Plato the comic poet, in his Jupiter Ill-treated, makes out that the cottabus was a sort of drunken game, in which those who were defeated yielded up their tools[112] to the victor. And these are his words— _A._ I wish you all to play at cottabus While I am here preparing you your supper. * * * * * * * * * Bring, too, some balls to play with, quick,—some balls, And draw some water, and bring round some cups. _B._ Now let us play for kisses.[113] _A._ No; such games I never suffer . . . . I challenge you all to play the cottabus, And for the prizes, here are these new slippers Which she doth wear, and this your cotylus. _B._ A mighty game! This is a greater contest Than e'en the Isthmian festival can furnish. 4. There was a kind of cottabus also which they used to call κάτακτος, that is, when lamps are lifted up and then let down again. Eubulus, in his Bellerophon, says— Who now will take hold of my leg below? For I am lifted up like a κοτταβεῖον. [Sidenote: THE COTTABUS.] And Antiphanes, in his Birthday of Venus, says— _A._ This now is what I mean; don't you perceive This lamp's the cottabus: attend awhile; The eggs, and sweetmeats, and confectionery Are the prize of victory. _B._ Sure you will play For a most laughable prize. How shall you do? _A._ I then will show you how: whoever throws The cottabus direct against the scale (πλάστιγξ), So as to make it fall—— _B._ What scale? Do you Mean this small dish which here is placed above? _A._ That is the scale—he is the conqueror. _B._ How shall a man know this? _A._ Why, if he throw So as to reach it barely, it will fall Upon the manes,[114] and there'll be great noise. _B._ Does manes, then, watch o'er the cottabus, As if he were a slave? And in a subsequent passage he says—