Book 2
8
In the first place, there was a Lucanian boar, taken when the gentle south wind blew, Either by buying it cheap, or keeping it too long, the boar was tainted; but our host would insinuate that it had a particular flavor, by being taken when the wind was south, which made it delicate and tender. as the father of the entertainment affirmed; around it sharp rapes, lettuces, radishes; such things as provoke a languid appetite; skirrets, anchovies, dregs of Coan wine. These once removed, one slave, tucked high with a purple cloth, The table was made of maple, a cheap and common wood; but Nasidienus, in an air of polite extravagance, makes the slaves wipe it with a purple napkin. wiped the maple table, and a second gathered up whatever lay useless, and whatever could offend the guests; This was the pretense, that nothing might offend his guests, but his design was that nothing might be lost. swarthy Hydaspes advances like an Attic maid with Ceres' sacred rites, bearing wines of Caecubum; Alcon brings those of Chios, undamaged by the sea. It was customary to mix sea-water with the strong wines of Greece; but Fundanius, when he tells us that the wine Alcon carried had not a drop of water in it, would have us understand that this wine had never crossed the seas, and that it was an Italian wine which Nasidienus recommended for Chian. Here the master [cries], "Maecenas, if Alban or Falernian wine delight you more than those already brought, we have both."
