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02/23/2006
The Spaniards drink beer before battle: Thursday's Latin quotation
... ut destinata morte in proelium ruerent, cum se prius epulis quasi inferiis impleuissent carnis semicrudae et celiae (sic uocant indigenam ex frumento potionem).
Florus, Short History of Roman Wars 1.34
02/16/2006
Sensuality in the Roman kitchen (1): Thursday-Friday's Latin quotation
Nec tamen domi Milonem uel uxorem eius offendo, sed tantum caram meam Photidem: suis parabat isicium fartim concisum et pulpam frustatim consectam ambacupascuae (?) iurulenta et quod naribus iam inde ariolabar, tuccetum perquam sapidissimum. Ipsa linea tunica mundule amicta et russea fasceola praenitente altiuscule sub ipsas papillas succinctula illud cibarium uasculum floridis palmulis rotabat in circulum, et in orbis flexibus crebra succutiens et simul membra sua leniter inlubricans, lumbis sensim uibrantibus, spinam mobilem quatiens placide decenter undabat. Isto aspectu defixus obstupui et mirabundus steti, steterunt et membra quae iacebant ante.
Apuleius, Metamorphoses 2.7.3. Translation by Robert Graves (Apuleius, The Golden Ass
[Penguin Books, 1950] p. 52): I found nobody at home but my charming Fotis
who was preparing pork-rissoles for her master and mistress, while the appetising smell
of haggis-stew drifted to my nostrils from an earthenware casserole on the stove.
She wore a neat white house-dress, gathered in below the breasts with a red silk band,
and as she alternately stirred the casserole and shaped the rissoles with her pretty hands, the twisting and
turning made her whole body quiver seductively.
The sight had so powerful an effect on me that for awhile I stood rooted in admiration;
and so did something else.
Edited on: 02/18/2006 9:54
Categories: Cenae, Florilegium
02/07/2006
You like rancid flavours, you drink retsina: Wednesday's food quotation
Capparin et putri cepas hallece natantis
et pulpam dubio de petasone
voras,
teque iuvant gerres et pelle melandrya cana,
resinata bibis
vina, Falerna fugis.
c. 103 Martial, Epigrams 3.77
02/05/2006
Spiced wines and medieval scansion at Waldere's feast: Sunday's Latin quotation
His et sublatis aliae referuntur edendae
atque exquisitum fervebat
migma per aurum ...
et pigmentatus crateres Bachus adornat:
illicit
ad haustum species dulcedoque potus.
Waltharius cunctos ad vinum
hortatur et escam.
c. 930 Ekkehard I, monk of St Gall, Waltharius 298 ff.
02/01/2006
Regimen for improving male sexual performance: Thursday's Latin quotation
curavi diligentius noxiosissimum corpus, balneoque praeterito modica unctione usus, mox cibis validioribus pastus, id est bulbis cochlearumque sine iure cervicibus, hausi parcius merum.
c. 66 Petronius, Satyrica 130. English translation: I took rather special care with my (very tiresome) body, skipping the hot bath and applying just a little oil; then I took some relatively strengthening foods, I mean grape-hyacinth bulbs and snails' necks served without sauce, and I swallowed some neat wine, but not too much.
01/20/2006
The appetisers at Cyprian's Feast: Saturday's Latin quotation
Mox infertur gustui cena : convivis sedentibus.
Olus captat Esaias :
et Ioanas cucurbitas,
Accepit betas Israel, : mora tincta Ezechiel,
Adam citrum manducavit, : Zacheus sicomora,
Danihel gaudet lupinis, :
Pharao peponibus,
Cain cardum lapsus captat, : Eva ficus involat,
Pruna prendit Ananias, : Rachel mala punica,
Bulbos sterilis fert
Lia, : Noe letas oleas,
Simeon nucleos capit : et Iesus oxygarum.
Iohannis Diaconi versiculi de cena Cypriani 37-46
01/03/2006
The dinner that Septicius Clarus missed: Wednesday's Latin quotation
C. Plinius Septicio Claro suo s.
Heus tu! promittis ad cenam, nec uenis? Dicitur ius: ad assem impendium reddes, nec id modicum. Paratae erant
lactucae singulae, cochleae ternae, oua bina, halica cum mulso
et niue (nam hanc quoque computabis, immo hanc in primis
quae perit in ferculo), oliuae betacei cucurbitae bulbi, alia
mille non minus lauta. Audisses comoedos uel lectorem uel lyristen uel (quae mea liberalitas) omnes. At tu apud nescio
quem ostrea uuluas echinos Gaditanas maluisti.
c. AD 96 Pliny the Younger, Letters 1.15. What did Septicius Clarus miss, and what did he enjoy instead? Click here for a translation
01/01/2006
Snack for Augustus: Monday's Latin quotation
Dum lectica ex regia domum redeo, panis unciam cum paucis acinis uuae duracinae comedi.
Augustus, Letters [quoted by Suetonius, Life of Augustus 76]. Click here for a translation