Lucian, Hermotimus, Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator), 58

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[58]

Hermotimus

This is buffoonery, Lycinus; I should not have expected it of you. Now tell me, did you ever buy wine? in person, I mean.

Lycinus

Many a time.

Hermotimus

Well, did you go to every wine vault in town, one after another, tasting and comparing?

Lycinus

Certainly not.

Hermotimus

No; as soon as you find good sound stuff, you have only to get it sent home.

Lycinus

To be sure.

Hermotimus

And from that little taste you could have answered for the quality of the whole?-

Lycinus

Yes.

Hermotimus

Now suppose you had gone to all the wine-merchants and said: I want to buy a pint of wine; I must ask you, gentlemen, to let me drink the whole of the cask which each of you has on tap; after that exhaustive sampling, I shall know which of you keeps the best wine, and is the man for my money. If you had talked like that, they might have laughed at you, and, if you persisted in worrying them, have tried how you liked water.

Lycinus

Yes; it would be no more than my deserts.

Hermotimus

Apply this to philosophy. What need to drink the whole cask, when you can judge the quality of the whole from one little taste?

Hermotimus. Lucian. Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator). Medford, MA, USA. 2023-08-01.

Current edition Perseus

Hermotimus, or the Rival Philosophies (English) (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 2. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.)

Editions (2)

Ἑρμότιμος ἢ Περὶ Αἱρέσεων Perseus (Lucian. Luciani Samosatensis Opera, Vol. 1. Jacobitz, Karl, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1909.) — 58 focus

Ἑρμότιμος

ταυτὶ μέν, ὦ Λυκῖνε, βωμολοχικὰ καὶ οὐ κατὰ σέ. σὺ δὲ εἰπέ μοι, ἤδη ποτὲ οἶνον ἐπρίω αὐτός;

Λυκῖνος

καὶ μάλα πολλάκις.

Ἑρμότιμος

ἆρʼ οὖν περιῄεις ἅπαντας ἐν κύκλῳ τοὺς ἐν τῇ πόλει καπήλους ἀπογευόμενος καὶ παραβάλλων καὶ ἀντεξετάζων τοὺς οἴνους;

Λυκῖνος

οὐδαμῶς.

Ἑρμότιμος

χρὴ γάρ, οἶμαι, σοι τῷ πρώτῳ χρηστῷ καὶ ἀξίῳ ἐντυχόντι ἀποφέρεσθαι.

Λυκῖνος

νὴ Δία.

Ἑρμότιμος

καὶ ἀπό γε τοῦ ὀλίγου ἐκείνου γεύματος εἶχες ἂν εἰπεῖν ὁποῖος ἅπας ὁ οἶνός ἐστιν;

Λυκῖνος

εἶχον γάρ.

Ἑρμότιμος

εἰ δὲ δὴ ἔλεγες προσελθὼν τοῖς καπήλοις, Ἐπειδὴ κοτύλην πρίασθαι βούλομαι, δότε μοι, ὦ οὗτοι, ἐκπιεῖν ὅλον ἕκαστος ὑμῶν τὸν πίθον, ὡς διὰ παντὸς ἐπεξελθὼν μάθοιμι ὅστις ἀμείνω τὸν οἶνον ἔχει καὶ ὅθεν μοι ὠνητέον· εἰ ταῦτʼ ἔλεγες, οὐκ ἂν οἴει καταγελάσαι σου αὐτούς, εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐπὶ πλέον ἐνοχλοίης, τάχʼ ἂν καὶ προσχέαι τοῦ ὕδατος; 799

Λυκῖνος

οἶμαι ἔγωγε καὶ δίκαιά γʼ ἂν πάθοιμι.

Ἑρμότιμος

κατὰ ταὐτὰ δὴ καὶ ἐν φιλοσοφίᾳ. τί δεῖ ἐκπιεῖν τὸν πίθον δυναμένους γε ἀπʼ ὀλίγου τοῦ γεύματος εἰδέναι ὁποῖον τὸ πᾶν ἐστιν;

Σκύθης ἢ πρόξενος Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 6. Kilburn, Kenneth, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1959 (unrenewed copyright).) — 58 focus

ΕΡΜΟΤΙΜΟΣ

Ταυτὶ μέν, ὦ Λυκῖνε, βωμολοχικὰ καὶ οὐ κατά σε. σὺ δὲ εἰπέ μοι· ἤδη ποτὲ οἶνον ἐπρίω αὐτός;

ΛΥΚΙΝΟΣ

Καὶ μάλα πολλάκις.

ΕΡΜΟΤΙΜΟΣ

Ἆρ' οὖν περιῄεις ἅπαντας ἐν κύκλῳ τοὺς ἐν τῇ πόλει καπήλους ἀπογευόμενος καὶ παραβάλλων καὶ ἀντεξετάζων τοὺς οἴνους;

ΛΥΚΙΝΟΣ

Οὐδαμῶς.

ΕΡΜΟΤΙΜΟΣ

Χρὴ γὰρ οἶμαί σοι τῷ πρώτῳ χρηστῷ καὶ ἀξίῳ ἐντυχόντι ἀποφέρεσθαι.

ΛΥΚΙΝΟΣ

Νὴ Δία.

ΕΡΜΟΤΙΜΟΣ

Καὶ ἀπό γε τοῦ ὀλίγου ἐκείνου γεύματος εἶχες ἂν εἰπεῖν ὁποῖος ἅπας ὁ οἶνός ἐστιν;

ΛΥΚΙΝΟΣ

Εἶχον γάρ.

ΕΡΜΟΤΙΜΟΣ

Εἰ δὲ δὴ ἔλεγες προσελθὼν τοῖς καπήλοις, Ἐπειδὴ κοτύλην πρίασθαι βούλομαι, δότε μοι, ὦ οὗτοι, ἐκπιεῖν ὅλον ἕκαστος ὑμῶν τὸν πίθον, ὡς διὰ παντὸς ἐπεξελθὼν μάθοιμι ὅστις ἀμείνω τὸν οἶνον ἔχει καὶ ὅθεν μοι ὠνητέον. εἰ ταῦτα ἔλεγες, οὐκ ἂν οἴει καταγελάσαι σου αὐτούς, εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐπὶ πλέον ἐνοχλοίης τάχα ἂν καὶ προσχέαι τοῦ ὕδατος;

ΛΥΚΙΝΟΣ

Οἶμαι ἔγωγε καὶ δίκαιά γ' ἂν πάθοιμι.

ΕΡΜΟΤΙΜΟΣ

Κατὰ ταὐτὰ δὴ καὶ ἐν φιλοσοφίᾳ. τί δεῖ ἐκπιεῖν τὸν πίθον δυναμένους γε ἀπ' ὀλίγου τοῦ γεύματος εἰδέναι ὁποῖον τὸ πᾶν ἔστιν;

Translations (1)

The Scythian or Consul Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 6. Kilburn, Kenneth, translator. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1959 (unrenewed copyright).) — 58 focus

HERMOTIMUS

This is mere burlesque and not like you. Now you tell me: have you ever bought wine yourself?

LYCINUS

Of course, many a time.

HERMOTIMUS

Then did you go round all the wine-merchants of the city in turn, tasting and comparing and judging the wines?

LYCINUS

Not at all.

HERMOTIMUS

I think that you must take away the first wine you come to that is good and satisfactory.

LYCINUS

Certainly.

HERMOTIMUS

Could you have said from that brief tasting what was the quality of the whole?

LYCINUS

Yes.

HERMOTIMUS

If you had approached the wine-merchants and said: “I wish to buy half a pint of wine; each of you give me, please, the whole jar to drink, so that when I have drained it all I may learn who has the better wine and who is to receive my custom”—if you had said this, do you not think that they would have laughed at you, and if you troubled them further, you might have had a jug of water poured on you?

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Ἑρμότιμος ταυτὶ μέν, ὦ Λυκῖνε, βωμολοχικὰ καὶ οὐ κατὰ σέ. σὺ δὲ εἰπέ μοι, ἤδη ποτὲ οἶνον ἐπρίω αὐτός;

Λυκῖνος καὶ μάλα πολλάκις.

Ἑρμότιμος ἆρʼ οὖν περιῄεις ἅπαντας ἐν κύκλῳ τοὺς ἐν τῇ πόλει καπήλους ἀπογευόμενος καὶ παραβάλλων καὶ ἀντεξετάζων τοὺς οἴνους;

Λυκῖνος οὐδαμῶς.

Ἑρμότιμος χρὴ γάρ, οἶμαι, σοι τῷ πρώτῳ χρηστῷ καὶ ἀξίῳ ἐντυχόντι ἀποφέρεσθαι.

Λυκῖνος νὴ Δία.

Ἑρμότιμος καὶ ἀπό γε τοῦ ὀλίγου ἐκείνου γεύματος εἶχες ἂν εἰπεῖν ὁποῖος ἅπας ὁ οἶνός ἐστιν;

Λυκῖνος εἶχον γάρ.

Λυκῖνος οἶμαι ἔγωγε καὶ δίκαιά γʼ ἂν πάθοιμι.

Ἑρμότιμος κατὰ ταὐτὰ δὴ καὶ ἐν φιλοσοφίᾳ. τί δεῖ ἐκπιεῖν τὸν πίθον δυναμένους γε ἀπʼ ὀλίγου τοῦ γεύματος εἰδέναι ὁποῖον τὸ πᾶν ἐστιν;

ΕΡΜΟΤΙΜΟΣ Ταυτὶ μέν, ὦ Λυκῖνε, βωμολοχικὰ καὶ οὐ κατά σε. σὺ δὲ εἰπέ μοι· ἤδη ποτὲ οἶνον ἐπρίω αὐτός;

ΛΥΚΙΝΟΣ Καὶ μάλα πολλάκις.

ΕΡΜΟΤΙΜΟΣ Ἆρ' οὖν περιῄεις ἅπαντας ἐν κύκλῳ τοὺς ἐν τῇ πόλει καπήλους ἀπογευόμενος καὶ παραβάλλων καὶ ἀντεξετάζων τοὺς οἴνους;

ΛΥΚΙΝΟΣ Οὐδαμῶς.

ΕΡΜΟΤΙΜΟΣ Χρὴ γὰρ οἶμαί σοι τῷ πρώτῳ χρηστῷ καὶ ἀξίῳ ἐντυχόντι ἀποφέρεσθαι.

ΛΥΚΙΝΟΣ Νὴ Δία.

ΕΡΜΟΤΙΜΟΣ Καὶ ἀπό γε τοῦ ὀλίγου ἐκείνου γεύματος εἶχες ἂν εἰπεῖν ὁποῖος ἅπας ὁ οἶνός ἐστιν;

ΛΥΚΙΝΟΣ Εἶχον γάρ.

ΛΥΚΙΝΟΣ Οἶμαι ἔγωγε καὶ δίκαιά γ' ἂν πάθοιμι.

ΕΡΜΟΤΙΜΟΣ Κατὰ ταὐτὰ δὴ καὶ ἐν φιλοσοφίᾳ. τί δεῖ ἐκπιεῖν τὸν πίθον δυναμένους γε ἀπ' ὀλίγου τοῦ γεύματος εἰδέναι ὁποῖον τὸ πᾶν ἔστιν;

HERMOTIMUS This is mere burlesque and not like you. Now you tell me: have you ever bought wine yourself?

LYCINUS Of course, many a time.

HERMOTIMUS Then did you go round all the wine-merchants of the city in turn, tasting and comparing and judging the wines?

LYCINUS Not at all.

HERMOTIMUS I think that you must take away the first wine you come to that is good and satisfactory.

LYCINUS Certainly.

HERMOTIMUS Could you have said from that brief tasting what was the quality of the whole?

LYCINUS Yes.

LYCINUS I do think so, and I should deserve it.

HERMOTIMUS Apply the same consideration to philosophy. Why drain a butt when the tasting of a little can indicate the quality of the whole?

Stable identifiers

Ἑρμότιμος

ταυτὶ μέν, ὦ Λυκῖνε, βωμολοχικὰ καὶ οὐ κατὰ σέ. σὺ δὲ εἰπέ μοι, ἤδη ποτὲ οἶνον ἐπρίω αὐτός;

Λυκῖνος

καὶ μάλα πολλάκις.

Ἑρμότιμος

ἆρʼ οὖν περιῄεις ἅπαντας ἐν κύκλῳ τοὺς ἐν τῇ πόλει καπήλους ἀπογευόμενος καὶ παραβάλλων καὶ ἀντεξετάζων τοὺς οἴνους;

Λυκῖνος

οὐδαμῶς.

Ἑρμότιμος

χρὴ γάρ, οἶμαι, σοι τῷ πρώτῳ χρηστῷ καὶ ἀξίῳ ἐντυχόντι ἀποφέρεσθαι.

Λυκῖνος

νὴ Δία.

Ἑρμότιμος

καὶ ἀπό γε τοῦ ὀλίγου ἐκείνου γεύματος εἶχες ἂν εἰπεῖν ὁποῖος ἅπας ὁ οἶνός ἐστιν;

Λυκῖνος

εἶχον γάρ.

Λυκῖνος

οἶμαι ἔγωγε καὶ δίκαιά γʼ ἂν πάθοιμι.

Ἑρμότιμος

κατὰ ταὐτὰ δὴ καὶ ἐν φιλοσοφίᾳ. τί δεῖ ἐκπιεῖν τὸν πίθον δυναμένους γε ἀπʼ ὀλίγου τοῦ γεύματος εἰδέναι ὁποῖον τὸ πᾶν ἐστιν;

ΕΡΜΟΤΙΜΟΣ

Ταυτὶ μέν, ὦ Λυκῖνε, βωμολοχικὰ καὶ οὐ κατά σε. σὺ δὲ εἰπέ μοι· ἤδη ποτὲ οἶνον ἐπρίω αὐτός;

ΛΥΚΙΝΟΣ

Καὶ μάλα πολλάκις.

ΕΡΜΟΤΙΜΟΣ

Ἆρ' οὖν περιῄεις ἅπαντας ἐν κύκλῳ τοὺς ἐν τῇ πόλει καπήλους ἀπογευόμενος καὶ παραβάλλων καὶ ἀντεξετάζων τοὺς οἴνους;

ΛΥΚΙΝΟΣ

Οὐδαμῶς.

ΕΡΜΟΤΙΜΟΣ

Χρὴ γὰρ οἶμαί σοι τῷ πρώτῳ χρηστῷ καὶ ἀξίῳ ἐντυχόντι ἀποφέρεσθαι.

ΛΥΚΙΝΟΣ

Νὴ Δία.

ΕΡΜΟΤΙΜΟΣ

Καὶ ἀπό γε τοῦ ὀλίγου ἐκείνου γεύματος εἶχες ἂν εἰπεῖν ὁποῖος ἅπας ὁ οἶνός ἐστιν;

ΛΥΚΙΝΟΣ

Εἶχον γάρ.

ΛΥΚΙΝΟΣ

Οἶμαι ἔγωγε καὶ δίκαιά γ' ἂν πάθοιμι.

ΕΡΜΟΤΙΜΟΣ

Κατὰ ταὐτὰ δὴ καὶ ἐν φιλοσοφίᾳ. τί δεῖ ἐκπιεῖν τὸν πίθον δυναμένους γε ἀπ' ὀλίγου τοῦ γεύματος εἰδέναι ὁποῖον τὸ πᾶν ἔστιν;

HERMOTIMUS

This is mere burlesque and not like you. Now you tell me: have you ever bought wine yourself?

LYCINUS

Of course, many a time.

HERMOTIMUS

Then did you go round all the wine-merchants of the city in turn, tasting and comparing and judging the wines?

LYCINUS

Not at all.

HERMOTIMUS

I think that you must take away the first wine you come to that is good and satisfactory.

LYCINUS

Certainly.

HERMOTIMUS

Could you have said from that brief tasting what was the quality of the whole?

LYCINUS

Yes.

LYCINUS

I do think so, and I should deserve it.

HERMOTIMUS

Apply the same consideration to philosophy. Why drain a butt when the tasting of a little can indicate the quality of the whole?