And is allow'd by many to have left
Most choice receipts, and rare inventions
Useful and pleasing; yet in many things
He was profoundly ignorant, and speaks
Upon report, without substantial proof
Or knowledge of his own. We must not trust,
Nor give our faith to loose conjectures thus;
For in our art we only can depend
On actual practice and experiment.
Having no fix'd and settled laws by which
We may be govern'd, we must frame our own,
As time and opportunity may serve,
Which if we do not well improve, the art
Itself must suffer by our negligence.
B. You are indeed a most renown'd professor;
But still you have omitted to point out
The properties of that most skilful cook
Who furnish'd splendid feasts with so much ease.
A. Give but the word, and you shall see me dress
A thrion in such style! and other dainties
To furnish out a full and rich repast,
That you may easily conceive the rest;
Nay, you will think yourself in Attica,
From the sweet fragrance, and delicious taste;
And then the whole so various, and well-dress'd,
You shall be puzzled where to fix your choice,
From the stored viands of so rich a board.—Anon.
Mnesimachus. (Book x. § 18, p. 663.)
Dost know whom thou'rt to sup with, friend?—I'll tell thee;
With gladiators, not with peaceful guests;
Instead of knives we're arm'd with naked swords,
And swallow firebrands in the place of food:
Daggers of Crete are served us for confections,
And for a plate of pease a fricassee
Of shatter'd spears: the cushions we repose on
Are shields and breastplates, at our feet a pile
Of slings and arrows, and our foreheads wreath'd
With military ensigns, not with myrtle.—Cumberland.
