Book 2
80
But Nicander the Colophonian, in the second part of his Dictionary, says that the lettuce is called βρένθις by the Cyprians. And it was towards a plant of this kind that Adonis was flying when he was slain by the boar. Amphis in his Ialemus says— Curse upon all these lettuces (θριδάκιναι)! For if a man not threescore years should eat them, And then betake himself to see his mistress, He'll toss the whole night through, and won't be equal To her expectations or his own. And Callimachus says that Venus hid Adonis under a lettuce, which is an allegorical statement of the poet's, intended to show that those who are much addicted to the use of lettuces are very little adapted for pleasures of love. And Eubulus says in his Astuti— Do not put lettuces before me, wife, Upon the table; or the blame is yours. For once upon a time, as goes the tale, Venus conceal'd the sadly slain Adonis; Beneath the shade of this same vegetable; So that it is the food of dead men, or of those Who scarcely are superior to the dead. Cratinus also says that Venus when in love with Phaon hid him also in the leaves of the lettuce: but the younger Marsyas says that she hid him amid the grass of barley.
