Letter CLXXXVII.

Antipater to Basil.

“Twice cabbage is death,” says the unkind proverb.  I, however, though I have called for it often, shall die once.  Yes:  even though I had never called for it at all!  If you do die anyhow, don’t fear to eat a delicious relish, unjustly reviled by the proverb!

ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙῼ

[1] Δὶς κράμβη θάνατος, ἡ βάσκανός φησι παροιμία. Ἐγὼ δὲ πολλάκις αἰτήσας ἅπαξ ἀποθανοῦμαι, πάντως δὲ καὶ μὴ αἰτήσας. Εἰ δὲ πάντως, μὴ κατόκνει ἐσθίειν ὄψον ἡδύ, μάτην ὑπὸ τῆς παροιμίας λοιδορηθέν.