§15κατανείμαντες δὲ αὐτοὶ κατ’ ἀξίαν ἑκάστῳ πρὶν ἥλιον δῦναι πεμπόντων τοῖς φίλοις.
Let them themselves distribute according to the worth of each and send it to their friends before the sun sets.
οἱ δὲ ἀποκομίζοντες μὴ πλείους τριῶν ἢ τεττάρων, οἱ πιστότατοι τῶν οἰκετῶν, ἤδη πρεσβῦται.
Let those carrying it be no more than three or four, the most trustworthy of the servants, already elderly.
ἐγγραψάσθω δὲ ἐς γραμμάτιον ὅ τι τὸ πεμπόμενον καὶ ὅσον, ὡς μὴ ἀμφότεροι ὑποπτεύοιεν τοὺς διακομίζοντας.
Let it be written in a small tablet what is sent and how much, so that both may not suspect the carriers.
αὐτοὶ δὲ οἱ οἰκέται μίαν κύλικα ἕκαστος πιόντες ἀποτρεχόντων, ἀπαιτούντων δὲ μηδὲν πλέον.
Let the servants themselves, having each drunk one cup, run back, demanding nothing more.
Τοῖς πεπαιδευμένοις διπλάσια πάντα πεμπέσθω· ἄξιον γὰρ διμοιρίτας εἶναι.
To the educated, let everything be sent double; for they deserve to have a double share.
τὰ δὲ ἐπὶ τοῖς δώροις λεγόμενα ὡς μετριώτατα καὶ ὀλίγιστα ἔστω.
Let the things said over the gifts be as moderate and few as possible.
ἐπαχθὲς δὲ μηδεὶς μηδὲν συνεπιστελλέτω μηδὲ ἐπαινείτω τὰ πεμπόμενα.
Let no one add any offensive message, nor praise the things sent.
Πλούσιος πλουσίῳ μηδὲν πεμπέτω μηδὲ ἑστιάτω Κρονίοις ὁ πλούσιος τὸν ἰσότιμον.
Let no rich man send anything to another rich man, nor let the rich man feast his equal during the Cronian festival.
τῶν εἰς τὸ πεμφθῆναι προχειρισθέντων φυλασσέσθω μηδὲν μηδὲ μετάνοια εἰσίτω ἐπὶ τῇ δωρεᾷ.
Let nothing of what has been prepared to be sent be kept back, nor let regret enter for the gift.
Εἴ τις πέρυσιν ἀποδημῶν δι’ αὐτὸ ἄμοιρος κατέστη, ἀπολαμβανέτω κἀκεῖνα.
If anyone, being abroad last year, was thereby deprived of his share, let him receive those things as well.
Διαλυόντων δὲ οἱ πλούσιοι καὶ χρέα ὑπὲρ τῶν φίλων τῶν πενήτων καὶ τὸ ἐνοίκιον, οἵτινες ἂν καὶ τοῦτο ὀφείλοντες καταβαλεῖν μὴ ἔχωσι.
Let the rich also pay the debts on behalf of their poor friends, and the rent, whoever owe this and have no means to pay.
καὶ ὅλως, πρὸ πολλοῦ μελέτω αὐτοῖς εἰδέναι ὅτου μάλιστα δέονται.
And in general, let them care long beforehand to know what they need most.
§16Ἀπέστω δὲ καὶ τῶν λαμβανόντων μεμψιμοιρία, καὶ τὸ πεμφθὲν ὁποῖον ἂν ᾖ, μέγα δοκείτω.
Let complaints also be absent from those receiving, and let the gift, whatever it may be, seem great.
οἴνου ἀμφορεὺς ἢ λαγὼς ἢ ὄρνις παχεῖα Κρονίων δῶρον μὴ δοκείτω, μηδὲ τὰς Κρονικὰς δωρεὰς εἰς γέλωτα φερέτωσαν.
Let not an amphora of wine, a hare, or a fat bird seem a trifling Cronian gift, nor let them turn the Cronian gifts into laughter.
Ἀντιπεμπέτω δὲ ὁ πένης τῷ πλουσίῳ ὁ μὲν πεπαιδευμένος βιβλίον τῶν παλαιῶν, εἴ τι εὔφημον καὶ συμποτικόν, ἢ αὐτοῦ σύγγραμμα ὁποῖον ἂν δύνηται, καὶ τοῦτο λαμβανέτω ὁ πλούσιος πάνυ φαιδρῷ τῷ προσώπῳ καὶ λαβὼν ἀναγινωσκέτω εὐθύς.
And let the poor man send in return to the rich: the educated man, a book of the ancients, if there is one auspicious and suitable for a symposium, or his own writing, whatever he is able to produce; and let the rich man receive this with a very cheerful countenance and, having received it, read it immediately.
Ἢν δὲ ἀπωθῆται ἢ ἀπορρίψῃ, ἴστω τῇ τῆς ἅρπης ἀπειλῇ ἔνοχος ὤν, κἂν πέμψῃ ὅσα ἐχρῆν.
If he rejects it or throws it away, let him know that he is liable to the threat of the sickle, even if he sent as much as he ought.
οἱ δὲ ἄλλοι οἱ μὲν στεφάνους, οἱ δὲ λιβανωτοῦ χόνδρους πεμπόντων.
Let the others send, some garlands, others grains of frankincense.
Ἢν δὲ πένης ἐσθῆτα ἢ ἄργυρον ἢ χρυσὸν παρὰ τὴν δύναμιν πέμψῃ πλουσίῳ, τὸ μὲν πεμφθὲν ἔστω δημόσιον καὶ καταπραθὲν ἐμβαλλέσθω εἰς τὸν θησαυρὸν τοῦ Κρόνου, ὁ δὲ πένης ἐς τὴν ὑστεραίαν πληγὰς παρὰ τοῦ πλουσίου λαμβανέτω τῷ νάρθηκι εἰς τὰς χεῖρας οὐκ ἐλάττους διακοσίων καὶ πεντήκοντα.
If a poor man, contrary to his means, sends clothing, silver, or gold to a rich man, let the sent item be public property and, having been sold, let it be cast into the treasury of Cronus; and let the poor man on the following day receive from the rich man blows with a giant fennel on his hands, no fewer than two hundred and fifty.
§173.
3.
ΝΟΜΟΙ ΣΥΜΠΟΤΙΚΟΙ
Λούεσθαι μὲν ὁπόταν τὸ στοιχεῖον ἑξάπουν ᾖ, τὰ δὲ πρὸ τοῦ λουτροῦ κάρυα καὶ πεσσοὶ ἔστωσαν.
SYMPOSIAST LAWS Let them bathe when the shadow on the sundial is six feet long, and before the bath let there be walnuts and dice.
Κατακείσθω ὅπου ἂν τύχῃ ἕκαστος.
Let each recline wherever he happens to be.
ἀξίωμα ἢ γένος ἢ πλοῦτος ὀλίγον συντελείτω ἐς προνομήν.
Let prestige, birth, or wealth contribute little to preference of seats.
Οἴνου τοῦ αὐτοῦ πίνειν ἅπαντας, μηδ’ ἔστω πρόφασις τῷ πλουσίῳ ἢ στομάχου ἢ κεφαλῆς ὀδύνη, ὡς μόνον δι’ αὐτὴν πίνειν τοῦ κρείττονος.
Let everyone drink the same wine, nor let there be any excuse for the rich man of a stomachache or a headache, so that only because of this he drinks the better wine.
Μοῖρα κρεῶν κατ’ ἴσον ἅπασιν.
An equal portion of meat for everyone.
οἱ διάκονοι πρὸς χάριν μηδενὶ μηδέν, ἀλλὰ μηδὲ βραδυνέτωσαν μηδὲ παραπεμπέσθωσαν ἔστ’ ἂν αὐτοῖς δοκῇ, ὁπόσα χρὴ ἀποφέρειν.
Let the attendants do nothing for favor to anyone, nor let them delay or pass by until it pleases them, as to what they must bring.
μηδὲ τῷ μὲν μεγάλα, τῷ δὲ κομιδῇ μικρὰ παρατιθέσθω, μηδὲ τῷ μὲν ὁ μηρός, τῷ δὲ ἡ γνάθος συός, ἀλλ’ ἰσότης ἐπὶ πᾶσιν.
Nor let large portions be set before one and utterly small ones before another, nor the thigh to one and the jaw of the pig to another, but let there be equality in all things.
§18Ὁ οἰνοχόος ὀξὺ δεδορκέτω ἐκ περιωπῆς ἐς ἕκαστον, καὶ ἔλαττον ἐς τὸν δεσπότην, καὶ ἐπ’ ὀξύτερον ἀκουέτω, καὶ κύλικες παντοῖαι.
Let the cupbearer watch sharply from a high position at everyone, and less so at the master, and let him listen more sharply; and let there be cups of all kinds.
καὶ ἐξέστω παρέχειν, ἤν τις ἐθέλῃ, φιλοτησίαν.
And let it be permitted to offer, if anyone wishes, a loving cup.
πάντες πᾶσι προπινέτωσαν, ἢν ἐθέλωσι, προπιόντος τοῦ πλουσίου.
Let all toast to all, if they wish, after the rich man has toasted first.
μὴ ἐπάναγκες ἔστω πίνειν, ἤν τις μὴ δύνηται.
Let it not be compulsory to drink, if anyone is unable.
Ἐς τὸ συμπόσιον μήτε ὀρχηστὴν μήτε κιθαριστὴν αὐτοὺς ἄγειν ἄρτι μανθάνοντα ἐξέστω, ἤν τις ἐθέλῃ.
Into the symposium, let it not be permitted for them to bring a dancer or a cithara-player who is just learning, even if anyone wishes.
Σκώμματος μέτρον ἔστω τὸ ἄλυπον ἐπὶ πᾶσιν.
Let the measure of jesting be that which is painless to all.
Πεττευέτωσαν ἐπὶ καρύων.
Let them play games for walnuts.
ἤν τις ἐπ’ ἀργυρίῳ πεττεύσῃ, ἄσιτος ἐς τὴν ὑστεραίαν ἔστω.
If anyone plays for money, let him go without food on the following day.
Καὶ μενέτω καὶ ἀπίτω ἕκαστος, ὁπόταν βούληται.
And let each stay and depart whenever he wishes.
Ἐπὰν δὲ τοὺς οἰκέτας ὁ πλούσιος εὐωχῇ, διακονούντων καὶ οἱ φίλοι σὺν αὐτῷ.
And when the rich man feasts his servants, let his friends also serve along with him.
Τοὺς νόμους τούτους ἕκαστον τῶν πλουσίων ἐγγράψαντα ἐς χαλκῆν στήλην ἔχειν ἐν μεσαιτάτῳ τῆς αὐλῆς, καὶ ἀναγινωσκέτω.
Let each of the rich write these laws on a bronze tablet and have it in the middle of the courtyard, and let him read it.
δεῖ δὲ εἰδέναι ὅτι ἔστ’ ἂν αὕτη ἡ στήλη μένῃ, οὔτε λιμὸς οὔτε λοιμὸς οὔτε πυρκαϊὰ οὔτε ἄλλο χαλεπὸν οὐδὲν εἴσεισιν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῖς.
And he must know that as long as this tablet remains, neither famine, nor pestilence, nor fire, nor any other harsh thing will enter their house.
ἢν δέ ποτε—ὅπερ μὴ γένοιτο—καθαιρεθῇ, ἀποτρόπαιον οἷα πείσονται.
But if ever—which may it not happen—it is cast down, what terrible things they will suffer!