of the
Hellenes, used to mess privately at home. Tracing more than half the
current misdemeanours to this custom, (2) he was determined to drag
his people out of holes and corners into the broad daylight, and so
he invented the public mess-rooms. Whereby he expected at any rate to
minimise the transgression of orders.

(1) Lit. "with each age."; see Plut. "Lycurg." 25; Hesychius, {s. u.
irinies}; "Hell." VI. iv. 17; V. iv. 13.

(2) Reading after Cobet, {en touto}.

As to food, (3) his ordinance allowed them so much as, while not
inducing repletion, should guard them from actual want. And, in fact,
there are many exceptional (4) dishes in the shape of game supplied
from the hunting field. Or, as a substitute for these, rich men will
occasionally garnish the feast with wheaten loaves. So that from
beginning to end, till the mess breaks up, the common board is never
stinted for viands, nor yet extravagantly furnished.

(3) See Plut. "Lycurg." 12 (Clough, i. 97).

(4) {paraloga}, i.e. unexpected dishes, technically named {epaikla}
(hors d'oeuvres), as we learn from Athenaeus, iv. 140, 141.

So also in the matter of drink. Whilst putting a stop to all unnecessary
potations, detrimental alike to a firm brain and a steady gait, (5) he
left them free to quench thirst when nature dictated (6); a method which
would at once add to the pleasure whilst it diminished the danger of
drinking. And indeed one may fairly ask how, on such a system of common
meals, it would be possible for any one to ruin either himself or his
family either through gluttony or wine-bibbing.

(5) Or, "apt to render brain and body alike unsteady."

(6) See "Agesilaus"; also "Mem." and "Cyrop."

This too must be borne in mind, that in other states equals in age, (7)
for the most part, associate together, and such an atmosphere is little
conducive to modesty. (8) Whereas in Sparta Lycurgus was careful so
to blend the ages (9) that the younger men must benefit largely by the
experience of the elder--an education in itself, and the more so since
by custom of the country conversation at the common meal has reference
to the honourable acts which this man or that man may have performed in
relation to the state. The scene, in fact, but little lends itself to
the intrusion of violence or drunken riot; ugly speech and ugly deeds
alike are out of place. Amongst other good results obtained through this
out-door system of meals may be mentioned the