Book 6
8
And the same poet says in his play entitled the Caldron— There never was a better lawgiver Than rich Aristonicus. For he now Does make this law, that any fishmonger Who puts a price upon his fish, and then Sells it for less, shall be at once dragg'd off And put in prison; that by their example The rest may learn to ask a moderate price, And be content with that, and carry home Their rotten fish each evening; and then Old men, old women, boys, and all their customers, Will buy whatever suits them at fair price. And a little further on he says— There never has, since Solon's time, been seen A better lawgiver than Aristonicus. For he has given many different laws, And now he introduces this new statute, A golden statute, that no fishmonger Should sell his fish while sitting, but that all Shall stand all day i' the market. And he says Next year he will enact that they shall sell Being hung up; for so they will let off Their customers more easily, when they Are raised by a machine like gods in a play.
