And how the guests may feel inclined for eating, And, as regards the dishes too, themselves, When is the proper time to serve some hot, Some warm, some cooling, some completely cold, Is all discuss'd in the Tactician's science. _Gent._ Then, as you've pointed out to me what's needful, Go, get you gone, and rest yourself a bit.—ANON. * * * * * ALEXIS. (Book ix. § 23, p. 596.) _A._ You surely must confess that, in most arts, The pleasure that results from the perfection Is not enjoy'd by him alone, whose mind The rich invention plann'd, or by whose hands 'Tis fashion'd into shape; but they who use it Perhaps partake a larger portion still. _B._ As I'm a stranger, pray inform me how? _A._ For instance, to prepare a sumptuous feast, We must provide a tolerable cook; His work once done, his function's at an end. Then, if the guests for whom it is prepared Come at the proper moment, all is well, And they enjoy a most delicious treat. If they delay, the dishes are all cold, And must be warm'd again; or what has been Kept back, is now too hastily despatch'd, And is served up ill dress'd, defrauding thus The act itself of its due merit.—ANON. * * * * * EUPHRON. (Book ix. § 24, p. 597.) I have had many pupils in my time, But you, my Lycus, far exceed them all In clear and solid sense, and piercing judgment. Young as you are, with only ten months' study, I send you forth into the world, a cook, Complete and perfect in the rules of art. Agis of Rhodes alone knew how to broil A fish in due perfection; Nereus, too, Of Chios, for stew'd congers had no equal; For from his hands, it was a dish for th' gods. Then for _white thrion_, no one could exceed Chariades of Athens; for black broth, Th' invention and perfection's justly due To Lamprias alone; while Aponètus Was held unrivall'd for his sausages. For lentils, too, Euthynus beat the world; And Aristion above all the rest Knew how to suit each guest, with the same dish Served up in various forms, at those repasts Where each man paid his share to deck the board.— After the ancient Sophists, these alone Were justly deem'd the seven wise men of Greece.—ANON. * * * * * STRATO. (Book ix. § 29, p. 601.)