Book 2
24
Arresting the losers and putting them in irons, they sent them off to be punished still more severely than before. An account of this battle was written by Homer, and as I was leaving he gave me the book to take to the people at home, but later I lost it along with everything else. The poem began: This time sing me, O Muse, of the shades of the heroes in battle! But to return—they cooked beans,An allusion to the Pyanepsia, the Athenian Beanfeast. as is their custom when they are successful at war, hdd a feast in honour of the victory and made a great holiday. Pythagoras was the only one who did not take part in it; he sat by himself and went dinnerless because he detested beans.
